Okinawa Hotel Ryokan Building

Okinawa Hotel Ryokan-tō: Okinawa's Oldest Hotel and a Living Monument to Postwar Architecture

Tucked away in the quiet Ōdō neighborhood of Naha City, the Okinawa Hotel stands as a rare surviving testament to the rebirth of Okinawan tourism after World War II. Founded in 1941, it is widely recognized as Okinawa's oldest hotel. The Ryokan-tō (inn wing), completed in 1961, was designed by the pioneering architect Nakaza Hisao, who is credited with inventing the iconic "hana block" (flower block) — a perforated concrete building element that has become synonymous with Okinawan architecture. In March 2024, the Ryokan-tō was officially registered as a national Registered Tangible Cultural Property, affirming its architectural and historical significance.

Historical Background

The Okinawa Hotel was originally established in 1941 by Miyazato Sadazō, known as the "father of Okinawa tourism," in the Naminoue area of Naha. The hotel served as Okinawa's sole tourist accommodation until it was commandeered by the military in 1943 and ultimately destroyed by naval bombardment in 1945 during the Battle of Okinawa.

After the war, the president of the Ryukyu Film Trading Company urged Miyazato to resume hotel management. A residence and office belonging to the president of the Kinjo Company construction firm in the Ōdō district was purchased and converted into a hotel, and operations resumed in 1951. In 1961, architect Nakaza Hisao was commissioned to design a purpose-built inn wing — the Ryokan-tō — along with the distinctive Ōdō Gate (Ufudō-mon) and the red-tile stone wall. The result was a hotel complex that could welcome VIP guests in a distinctly Okinawan setting, with 17 Japanese-style rooms and 13 Western-style rooms, hot-water boilers, flush toilets, and panoramic views of Naha.

Over the decades, the Okinawa Hotel attracted celebrated artists and intellectuals, including the wandering painter Yamashita Kiyoshi, the woodblock print master Munakata Shikō, and the renowned ceramicist Hamada Shōji. Following a major renovation completed in September 2022, the hotel continues to welcome guests today.

Why It Was Designated a Cultural Property

On November 24, 2023, the national Council for Cultural Affairs recommended the registration of four structures at the Okinawa Hotel — the Ryokan-tō, the Brick Wing (Renga-tō), the Ōdō Gate, and the red-tile stone wall — as Registered Tangible Cultural Properties. The registration was formally completed on March 6, 2024.

The Ryokan-tō was evaluated under the criterion of serving as a model of architectural design. Its U-shaped plan opens to the west, with a central wing containing a double-height entrance hall and staircase, and north and south wings accommodating guest rooms. Eaves run above the windows on each floor, and the exterior walls and balconies are adorned with hollow concrete blocks — early examples of what would become known as hana blocks. These are hallmarks of Nakaza Hisao's distinctive design philosophy. Despite several renovations over six decades, the building retains its original appearance almost entirely.

Cultural authorities praised the hotel as a rare surviving example of the origins of postwar hotel development in Okinawa, and the first postwar building in the prefecture to receive cultural property registration.

Architectural Highlights and Attractions

Hana Block (Flower Block) Design

Nakaza Hisao conceived the hana block in the 1950s, drawing inspiration from the geometric patterns of traditional Okinawan kasuri textiles. These perforated concrete blocks allow sea breezes to flow through while filtering the intense subtropical sunlight and providing privacy — a perfect marriage of function and beauty. The Okinawa Hotel's Ryokan-tō displays some of the earliest prototypes of this iconic building material, making it an essential pilgrimage site for architecture enthusiasts.

The Welcoming U-Shape

The Ryokan-tō was designed with a slightly flared U-shaped floor plan, intended to evoke the image of open arms welcoming arriving guests. Passing through the Ōdō Gate and walking toward the entrance hall, visitors experience a carefully choreographed architectural embrace.

Ōdō Gate and Red-Tile Stone Wall

The vermilion Ōdō Gate echoes the design of Shuri Castle's Shureimon, while the 92-meter stone wall of Ryukyu limestone capped with red roof tiles creates a streetscape praised by the Agency for Cultural Affairs as contributing to the historical landscape of the nation. Together, they frame the approach to the hotel in a distinctly Okinawan atmosphere.

The Brick Wing

Built around 1949 using bricks gathered from various sources in the chaotic postwar period, the Brick Wing is the oldest structure on the property. Each brick differs slightly in color and shape, bearing witness to the resourcefulness required during reconstruction. The wing once featured fireplaces — a rarity in Okinawa.

Visitor Information

The Okinawa Hotel is a fully operational accommodation where guests can stay overnight in the culturally registered Ryokan-tō itself. Japanese-style tatami rooms of various sizes (6 to 20 tatami mats, accommodating 1 to 6 guests) are available, as well as renovated Western-style rooms. The hotel features a large communal bath — a rarity in Naha — open from 15:00 to midnight and again from 6:00 to 11:00. On-site parking for approximately 50 vehicles is available.

For those who wish to learn more about the registered cultural properties, the hotel offers a guided Cultural Property Observation Tour on weekdays at 10:00 AM (approximately one hour, 500 yen per person, includes one drink). Reservations can be made at the front desk by 9:00 PM the previous day.

Access is convenient: approximately 20 minutes by car from Naha Airport, or about an 8- to 10-minute walk from Asato Station on the Yui Rail monorail line.

Surrounding Attractions

The Okinawa Hotel's location in the Ōdō district places it within easy reach of some of Naha's most vibrant neighborhoods. Sakaemachi Market, a lively maze of butcher shops, fishmongers, greengrocers, cafés, and izakaya bars, is about a 7-minute walk away and offers an authentic taste of local daily life. Kokusai Street (International Street), Naha's famous main shopping and entertainment boulevard, is also accessible on foot. Tsuboya Yachimun Street, lined with traditional Okinawan pottery studios and shops, provides a wonderful opportunity to explore the island's ceramic heritage. Shuri Castle, the reconstructed palace of the Ryukyu Kingdom and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is reachable by monorail or a short taxi ride.