This article contains affiliate links. If you book through them, this site may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Our ratings are based on our own trips and on primary sources, whether or not a link is involved.
Language: English | 日本語
We have stayed at Renaissance Okinawa Resort in Onna Village twice, with grandparents, parents and children traveling together. In May 2016, there were six of us, including my parents (our son was 2 and our daughter was under 1). In June 2017, there were eight of us, with both sets of grandparents.
After two stays
For our family, it was a great hotel to visit when prices were lower. What bothered us were the summer holiday prices and the effort it took to book activities.
Our stays were before the renovation
Both stays were before the hotel renovated its lobby, restaurants and guest rooms (353 of its 377 rooms).
The work started in October 2019 (the hotel’s announcement, in Japanese) and finished in February 2021 (Kanko Keizai Shimbun, in Japanese). The rooms and lobby are different today.
Check rooms and prices at Renaissance Okinawa Resort
In 2016, we booked a package that included flights. Today you can compare prices on the booking sites below. Of the 7 booking sites we checked for 7 sets of dates, Trip.com came out lowest for the 2 nights from 12/29 (for our family’s room, the price is for the “4 adults” slot, counting children as adults). We have not confirmed whether children’s breakfast is included. (Prices checked in October 2026) See the price comparison table
Affiliate links.
Renaissance Okinawa Resort review: is it really that bad? Our verdict after two stays
No, it was not the worst. The beach, pools, dolphins and turtles were all within the resort. The grandparents could stay nearby and watch their grandchildren play without having to head out on excursions.
| What we liked | What bothered us | |
|---|---|---|
| Beach and pools | Right in front of the hotel. When it got hot, we could go straight back to the room | There are lots of small children, so I think older kids would find it harder to play |
| Activities | You can get close to dolphins and turtles. Grandma joined the dolphin program too | We had to go to the front desk to book. I think that would be a hassle with fewer adults |
| Club Savvy | The lounge was the best. We used it on both stays | A qualifying multi-night stay is required |
| Price | We went in late May, when prices were low | When we checked prices for the summer holidays, the cost was about JPY 150,000 per person |
Six of us in 2016, eight in 2017, both before the renovation
| 2016 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|
| When | 3 nights in May 2016 (then 1 night in Naha) | June 2017 |
| Who | Six (my parents, my wife and me, two kids) | Eight (both sets of grandparents, my wife and me, two kids) |
| Kids | Son aged 2, daughter under 1 (in a stroller) | Son about 3, daughter about 1 |
| What we did | Dolphin program, brushing a tortoise’s shell, the Kumanomi boat, Churaumi Aquarium, Cape Manzamo | Turtle Feeding, Dolphin Classroom, tubing, the Polynesian show, Churaumi Aquarium |
Two twin rooms, with the grandparents in their own room
In 2016 we booked two standard twin rooms: one for my parents and one for the four of us. When we booked, we also asked about the availability of connecting rooms (Flipper’s Connecting).
Booking activities took effort, but grandparents could watch the kids
The difficult part was booking activities. We had to go to the front desk to book, which I think would be a hassle with fewer adults to help.
Who watches the kids while you book
When grandparents come along, they can watch the kids while you make the bookings. That is one advantage of traveling together.
Is Renaissance Okinawa expensive? About JPY 150,000 per person in summer
The summer we gave up after seeing the price
When we checked prices for a summer holiday stay, the cost was about JPY 150,000 per person. We stopped looking as soon as we saw the price.
Our May 2016 quote: JPY 228,100 for flights, 4 nights and a rental car
| Quoted total | JPY 228,100 |
|---|---|
| Travelers | 4 adults, 2 small children |
| Included | Round-trip flights between Haneda (Tokyo) and Naha, 3 nights at Renaissance Okinawa Resort (two twin rooms), 1 night at a hotel in Naha, a rental car |
| Dates | May 2016 (4 nights, 5 days) |
Quoted amount; final payment unknown
JPY 228,100 was the quote we received when we booked. We do not know the final amount we paid.
Traveling when prices are lower: before the kids start elementary school
We could go in late May because my wife was on parental leave. Even when both parents work, only one of you (in our case, me) has to take time off if the other is on parental leave.
While the kids were in daycare or kindergarten, it was also easier to take time away. For us, this was a hotel to visit outside the summer holidays, before the kids started elementary school.
Up to what age can kids share a bed at Renaissance Okinawa? Not once they are in elementary school
According to the official FAQ, children aged 0–2 stay free when sharing a bed. From age 3 until they start elementary school, children sharing a bed are charged an infant facility fee. Elementary school children cannot stay by sharing a bed, and from junior high school, children pay the same rate as adults. If you book a package that includes flights, the airline’s rules apply and this table does not (same FAQ).
| Age | Sharing a bed | Charge (official) |
|---|---|---|
| 0–2 | Allowed | Free |
| Age 3 until starting elementary school | Allowed | Infant facility fee JPY 4,400 per night (JPY 6,050 for 12/29–1/3 and 4/29–5/4) |
| Elementary school | Not allowed | Varies by plan, number of guests and dates |
| Junior high school and older | — | Same rate as adults |
A baby cot costs JPY 1,000 per night and can be used for children up to age 1. Children who can pull themselves up to stand cannot use it (official Kids & Family page).
When we stayed in 2016, our son was 2 and our daughter was under 1, so under today’s rules both would be at the age to share a bed for free. If you have elementary school children, you will need to choose rooms for a number of guests where each child uses their own bed.
In summer we switched to Cebu, Taipei and train trips
Okinawa was expensive during the summer holidays, so we looked for other destinations. We found cheaper options abroad, and in some years we chose Cebu or Taipei.
After my wife’s parental leave ended, we spent our summer holidays traveling by train, for our son who loves trains. We went to Shikoku, rode the Sunrise Izumo sleeper train, took the 36+3 sightseeing train in Kyushu, and traveled around Tohoku.
JR fares for small children
Children from age 1 until they start elementary school ride free, up to two per adult. A child occupying their own reserved seat or sleeper berth needs a child ticket (JR East FAQ, in Japanese).
Where is Renaissance Okinawa Resort cheapest to book? Prices compared by season
In October 2026, we checked Renaissance Okinawa Resort prices on seven booking sites for six people across three generations (one room for the two grandparents and one for our family of four): 2 rooms, breakfast included, 2 nights, on seven sets of dates from December to March. The table below shows Trip.com and Expedia, which you can book through our links. The room is the cheapest one that fits that number of people (the room differs by site). Many plans at this hotel come with the stay benefit “Club Savvy Light” when you stay 2 consecutive nights, so we included plans that come with it. On Expedia, the screen did not show whether a plan includes it (we excluded club floor plans). As noted in “Booking on a travel site” below, plans without “Club Savvy” in the name are not eligible, so if you want to use Club Savvy, check the plan name and the benefits before booking. For the 2 nights from 12/29 (New Year holidays), Trip.com’s total came out lowest of the seven sites we checked (Trip.com’s price for our family’s room is for the “4 adults” slot). Expedia was fully booked for those dates. From 1/2, the total for the two rooms is more than JPY 200,000 higher than from 12/24.
| Booking site | From 12/8 Weekdays, 2 nights | From 12/11 Weekend, 2 nights | From 12/24 Winter break, 2 nights | From 12/29 New Year, 2 nights | From 1/2 Late winter break, 2 nights | From 3/24 Spring break, 2 nights | From 3/27 Spring break weekend, 2 nights |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trip.com | JPY 194,400*1 (as of 10/8) | JPY 230,000*2 (as of 10/8) | Display error | JPY 580,000*3*4 Lowest | JPY 473,000*3 | JPY 343,200*3 | JPY 368,000*3 |
| Expedia | JPY 399,996 (as of 10/4) | JPY 510,400*5 (as of 10/4) | JPY 283,598*3*6 | Fully booked | JPY 494,884*3*7 | — | — |
*1 Trip.com, from 12/8: price for “Superior Twin Coast View ×1 + Superior Twin Coast View (up to 4 guests) ×1”
*2 Trip.com, from 12/11: price for “Superior Twin Coast View ×2”
*3 The cheapest room for that number of people (room names as shown on the site)
*4 Trip.com, from 12/29: price for “Superior Twin Beach View + Superior Twin Beach View” (other dates: “Superior Twin Coast View + Superior Twin Coast View”)
*5 Expedia, from 12/11: Coast View was not shown, so this is two Beach View rooms (up to 4 guests)
*6 Expedia, from 12/24: price for “Superior Twin Beach View + Superior Twin Room, Beachfront, Non-Smoking (Beach, up to 4 guests, floors 4–7)”
*7 Expedia, from 1/2: price for “Superior Room With Coast View (Fourth Use) + Superior Twin Room, Sea View, Non-Smoking (Coast View, up to 4 guests, floors 4–7)”
— means we did not check that date. We did not check on any site whether the breakfast-included prices cover children’s breakfast, and we do not know the hotel’s charge for children’s breakfast, so we have not added the “Lowest” mark for dates where adding it could change the ranking. For Agoda, check the current price with the button.
Compare Renaissance Okinawa prices by date
Change the dates to see how much the summer holidays differ from May and June.
Affiliate links.
Renaissance Okinawa dolphin program: grandma joined in too
In 2016 we joined a program run by OMRC (Okinawa Marine Research Center) and touched the dolphins on the hotel grounds. Four of us took part: my wife, our son, my mother and me.
My father waited in the covered area where we had changed, which was also where the turtles were cared for.
The dolphins were on the hotel grounds, so we did not need to drive anywhere.
Dolphin Classroom in 2017
In 2017, one adult and two children from our family joined Dolphin Classroom, a 30-minute session starting at 4 p.m.
Choosing a dolphin program
- Check the current program details, prices and age limits on the official website. We took part in 2016 and 2017
Club Savvy at Renaissance Okinawa: the lounge was the best part
We had Club Savvy benefits on both stays. According to the hotel’s current website, Club Savvy applies to stays of 2 or more consecutive nights, and whether you get Club Savvy Light or Club Savvy depends on the number of nights (official site).
Booking on a travel site
- According to the hotel, travel-agency and online booking offers without “Club Savvy” in their description are not eligible. Check the offer details
The Club Savvy lounge, near the beach and pool entrance
The Savvy lounge was the highlight. It was near the ground-floor entrance leading to the beach and pools, so we made a point of using it as much as possible.
Club Savvy also gave us access to the lunch buffet.
Separately from Club Savvy, we also used the “JTB Lounge,” which comes with some plans sold by JTB. The all-you-can-eat cakes and desserts suited our family. It was heaven for the kids, and my wife and I and the grandparents loved it too. Later, we went to stay at Aoawo Naruto Resort (Tokushima), which has a JTB Lounge. It belongs to the same group as the Renaissance.
Our handwritten plan for 2017: narrowing seven activities down to two
In 2017, I listed three days’ worth of activity options covered by Savvy on hotel stationery, then chose which ones to do.
What we picked from the 2017 plan
-
Programs we joined
Turtle Feeding
2 p.m., 30 minutes
3 adults (including my mother-in-law) and 2 kidsDolphin Classroom
4 p.m., 30 minutes
1 adult and 2 kids -
Borrowed gear only
Snorkeling
On our own, not on a tour. Gear was free with Savvy -
Skipped
Fish Adventure
Fish Feeding
Turtle snack time
Turtle Swim
The Polynesian show at night
The margin of the plan said “20:30 Polynesian show,” and we watched the show that evening.
Check prices for a multi-night stay
Check the booking offer for “Club Savvy” and read the eligibility conditions.
Affiliate links.
Renaissance Okinawa breakfast: we tried every restaurant
At the time, there were about three breakfast venues to choose from, and we tried them all. Some required Savvy access, and Japanese breakfast was also available. We chose options that seemed different from the lunch buffet.
The hotel’s current website lists Irodori’s premium Japanese breakfast and breakfast at Four Seasons as Club Savvy benefits, excluding Club Savvy Light (official site).
Four Seasons: breakfast on a terrace facing the sea
Japanese breakfast at Irodori
Dinner outside the hotel
For dinner, we ate outside the hotel at izakaya (Japanese pubs) and a tonkatsu (pork cutlet) restaurant. In 2016, we had tonkatsu at a Shimabutaya restaurant near Onna Village (a different branch from the Kumoji restaurant in Naha). That was our first visit, and we have stopped by Shimabutaya every time we visit Okinawa since (where eight of us across three generations ate in Okinawa, in Japanese).
An Okinawa family resort with a baby and a toddler: pool, beach and activities
On our first stay, our son was 2 and our daughter was under 1. My impression is that this hotel is more enjoyable for younger children.
We borrowed a stroller from the hotel
We borrowed a stroller from the hotel for our daughter. We took that stroller to Churaumi Aquarium too.
Pools: indoor slides and children’s pools with a depth of 50 cm
The hotel’s current facilities page lists a waterslide with a height of 5 m and a looping waterslide with a length of 15 m at the indoor pool. Both the indoor and outdoor pools have a children’s pool with a depth of 50 cm (official site).
When the kids get older
With so many small children around, I think older kids might find it harder to enjoy playing in the pools.
The beach: right outside the hotel, with calm water
The resort’s beach was right outside the hotel, and the water was calm. When it got hot, we could go straight back to the room. Grandma went into the sea with us, and Grandpa watched.
Activities: brushing a tortoise’s shell, the Kumanomi boat and tubing
In 2016, we took part in an activity that involved brushing a tortoise’s shell with a toothbrush. According to the hotel’s current website, the tortoises and sea turtles are in the Reef Garden (official site, Japanese page).
The Kumanomi boat
We also rode the hotel’s boat, the Kumanomi. Through the windows in the bottom of the boat we saw coral and fish.
Making a seashell photo frame
We also took part in a seashell photo-frame craft activity.
Banana boat and tubing
In 2016 only my wife and I rode the banana boat. In 2017, once the kids could join us, we went tubing in pairs: me with our daughter, and my wife with our son.
How long to spend at Churaumi Aquarium with a stroller: 7 hours, then 5
We drove from Renaissance Okinawa Resort to Churaumi Aquarium.
| Year | Time of day | Time spent |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. | About 7 hours |
| 2017 | 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. | About 5 hours |
In 2016 we also watched the dolphin show, with the sea as its backdrop.
We went around Churaumi Aquarium with a stroller
In 2016, our daughter was under 1, and we took her around in the stroller borrowed from the hotel. In 2017, we also had a meal at a table facing the large tank.
Sunset at Cape Manzamo
In 2016 we also watched the sunset at Cape Manzamo. When we went to Okinawa in 2025, rain was forecast, so we skipped Manzamo (our 2025 5-night, 6-day trip, in Japanese).
Summary: worth it if you can go off-season
After two stays at Renaissance Okinawa Resort with three generations
- A great hotel to visit when prices are lower. For us, that meant going outside the summer holidays, before the kids started elementary school
- We could enjoy the beach, pools, dolphins and turtles within the resort, with the grandparents watching nearby
- The Club Savvy lounge was the highlight. Access is subject to the conditions for your multi-night stay
- When we checked prices for the summer holidays, the cost was about JPY 150,000 per person. We had to go to the front desk to book activities, so having more adults made it easier
Other places we have stayed with three generations are in our guide to destinations and rooms for three-generation trips (in Japanese). In Okinawa we have also written about the suite with a private pool at Lequ Okinawa Chatan and Hotel AlaCOOJU Okinawa compared with Hyatt Regency Naha.
Check rooms and prices at Renaissance Okinawa Resort
You can also compare dates outside the summer holidays.
Affiliate links.
More to read