Jusandi in Ishigaki

We visited Jusandi for the first time in five years - we would not have returned to Jusandi if not for the chance to experience Chef Hirose's cooking one last time before his departure from Jusandi (he is reaching mandatory retirement age, and will be leaving the property in March 2026.) Some memories are best left untouched, but after having dinner there four nights in a row on our previous stay, we were confident that the food had genuinely been exceptional and not just colored by nostalgia. Jusandi occupies a plot of land not far from the sea - only a few hundred meters from the nearest beach - but from anywhere on the property, including the villas, there is essentially no sea view. The resort is surrounded by dense, jungle-like vegetation, which has been left intact rather than cleared to open up vistas. This is probably for the best, as the property faces north, where winds can be fierce; the thick greenery likely provides a natural buffer from the elements. On our first visit, our villa had a partially obstructed ocean view, but this time there was none to speak of. That said, we enjoyed the short walk through the jungle to a small, secluded beach in a nearby cove. It is also the starting point for swims to the so-called "blue cave," where, in ideal conditions, the water glows a deep blue. We have never actually gone into the cave - time constraints, often-rough seas on the island's northern side, and the fact that we have already visited plenty of brilliant blue waters in places like Belize, the Philippines, and the cenotes of Mexico made it easy to pass this up. One of Jusandi's most appealing visual elements is its architecture. The structures are predominantly white, evoking Mediterranean villages and lending the property a soothing, minimalist feel. More wood might have added warmth, but the simple white concrete has aged gracefully, reminiscent of certain properties in Santorini or along the Amalfi Coast. Each of the five villas has a slightly different layout dictated by the land, and on our first stay we found Maani, our one-bedroom villa, narrower and more constricted than its 60m² footprint suggested. This time we stayed in the 100m² two-bedroom pool villa, Yarabu, which addressed some of those spatial issues - even if much of the additional area is devoted to the second bedroom. The squarer configuration makes the living room, which is probably not dramatically larger than those in the one-bedroom units, feel brighter and more open. It is also worth noting that Ishigaki has virtually no natural hot springs, due to geological conditions that do not favor onsen formation. In any case, Okinawa's generally warm climate means that bathing culture here leans far more toward showers than soaking tubs. Our main reason for returning, however, was the food, and on that front the experience sadly did not live up to the high standard we remembered from five years ago. The menus felt short on imagination, and both the selection and qualit

I used it for my honeymoon. I'm truly happy that I have wonderful memories of my room, the private pool, the beach, and the Blue Cave.

We loved the privacy. That is what you’re paying for here. You are completely away from the world in this little tropical dream. The pool was amazing. We also liked snorkeling at blue cave and didn’t mind that it seems to be used for tour guides. I felt better being in the ocean with a few people around. Then back to the solitude of our house. Of course there are spiders and other critters given that you are somewhere tropical. The house lizards were cute. Make sure to stock up on anything you want before your stay so you don’t have to leave. Oh, also the chef is amazing and will accommodate any dietary restrictions if you notify them with enough time.

What an amazing find! A paradise tucked away in the Ishigaki jungle and overlooking the sea. Our villa was large, airy and immaculate with its own outdoor pool and a large indoor tub overlooking the garden. The villas are cleverly designed so you are not overlooked. The staff were friendly and helpful. The highlight was the dinners. We stayed for two nights and couldn’t believe the incredibly high standard of the feast that was provided each evening. The flavours of the fusion food using local ingredients were the best we had come across in Japan and surpassed the quality of some of the best London restaurants. If you visit Jusandi do not miss out on the dinners.

Jusandi is 5 star in every aspect. The attentive service, the stunning accommodations, the lush landscape, everything is top notch. We decided to visit Ishigaki for our honeymoon, and the highlights included the infinity private pool, the incredibly sweet and attentive staff, and the chef’s nightly dinners. The food was amazing, the staff worked so incredibly hard every day and night to make sure we were taken care of, and the property is even more beautiful than the pictures. I could not recommend this place more, thank you so much!

Not only the room with the pool, but the staff were so friendly, and it was a wonderful stay. The Italian dinner was prepared with local ingredients and was very satisfying, both in flavor and quantity. Also, if I get tired of the city, I'd love to stay.

Not only the room with pool but also the staff were very friendly and it was a wonderful stay. The Italian dinner was made with local ingredients and was very satisfying in terms of taste and volume.
Also, if I get tired of the city, I would like to go to stay.

I stayed in the hotel for 3 days during my honeymoon and i wish i could stay more. This place is very beautiful i don't think words can describe it😍

This place is more like u would expect to see in Bali or Phuket but then hey why not have it here at the most unexpected place.
I really appreciate how much effort Mr Yutaka had put into this place.
The structure of building and use of space, how the layout of the private look out place for each villa. It is very set out.
We had a wonderful time at the natural spring water pool as well as the accompany of the nature.

best hotel ever