It’s a wonderful space to be relaxed and recharged the energy. The service is so reliable, and also the quality of the restaurant is as good as in the top restaurant in Tokyo. Love this hotel, I hope to come back shortly!
I had a really good time in Yakushima, especially in this resort. The staff are really friendly and kind. The highlight while staying here is probably the dinner they provided here was really decent and delicious. I would definitely come back again in the near future.
Sankara is an incredible property on an amazing island. It is a peaceful, serene and supremely comfortable hotel with wonderful food. We stayed 3 nights in a Sankara Villa Suite, which - at 104 square meters - was clean, spacious and tastefully furnished and adorned. The amenities were top notch - everything from the toothbrush, moisturizing cream to in-room treats were of very high quality, showing that Sankara definitely does not skimp on the details. The hardware throughout the entire resort was equally tasteful and to a very high standard. It was modern in functionality but muted and earthly in tone, giving it a great sense of place and not dominating the incredible landscape that it's a part of. Service was warm and attentive, and was representative of Japan's "Omotenashi" ethos taken to the highest levels. Nothing was impossible, including the ability to rent a vehicle directly from Sankara on an hourly basis (not cheap, but neither is the hotel itself.) Sankara is a property that would be among the best in Aman's portolio, but raises the bar with its incredible food & beverage (something that is somewhat lacking in quite a few Amans.) The various bread offerings during breakfast at Ayana is one of the highlights - you'll just have to taste it to believe it. But the true shining star is the dinner experience at Okas. What everyone says is right; it really ought to have a Michelin star. We were initially intending to have one dinner there (on the first night), but wound up going every evening. The dishes in the tasting menu are completely different every day, and even though it is European inspired, it is not at all rich, saucy and heavy. Rather it's very much Japanese in that they do an amazing job at bring out the flavors of the incredible seasonal Japanese ingredients taken from both land and sea. The food offerings are as tasty as they are innovative. We just might consider going back to Sankara just for the dining experience, which is saying a lot given the crazy amount of awesome food options available throughout Japan. Yakushima Island is enchanting, unique and unbelievably green. We visited for the nature (especially the hiking), but Sankara contributed to a "complete" experience.…
We stayed for 4 nights in November. Yakushima is an amazing island and was a great change of pace on our Japan trip. While it was very rainy (as somewhat expected) we still managed to explore the island and it’s nature. The hotel is fabulous and the staff (including Nobu and Aki) went above and beyond making us feel welcome and ensuring we enjoy our stay. Food at Ayana was great as well, though we didn’t get to experience their restaurant Okas. Being able to rent a car from the hotel was very convenient and allowed us to explore the island. If you want to treat yourself, Sankara is the place to stay on Yakushima.
Two things stand out at Sankara Hotel & Spa that place it on my list of top places to stay anywhere in the world. The first, is the proactive, friendly, amazing staff. Never before have the staff informed me before an airline that my particular flight had been cancelled, and not to worry, because they had already rebooked me on the next flight. Upon arrival (even the second plane was running late), we were greeting by our personal concierge/butler, who was waiting with a sign for us at the airport. Driving to the resort, we were briefed on those items we had already booked in advance (like the stellar spa, and the resort guided hikes - seriously get the resort guide, so much better than hiring outside!), but we were also asked about our other interests. I love woodwork and coffee, so the butler arranged for me to take a coffee roasting course (seriously they have that here, and it was a lot of fun!), as well as a little adventure to make a small thing with the local cedar. At the resort, check in was very smooth, and came with a delicious drink, in the lounge, while our baggage was being delivered to the room. Each day we had a hike booked, when we returned, a hot bath was already poured for us. The meals, especially the evening meal, were some of the best I've had in my life (I still don't understand why the chef isn't Michelin rated yet, he's a genius with flavors and textures). Also while there, we were quickly driven from our room to the main lodge whenever we requested. At no time during our six night stay did we have to wait more than 3 minutes, they were that responsive. Every day we were greeting warmly, and were given the sense that all the staff there were happy to have us as guests, and were genuinely happy to answer our questions and again proactively try and make things happen for us. There is simply a level of detail and anticipation, observation and understanding, that I haven't even seen at Emirates resorts. I am very glad that we chose this place for our honeymoon, because even the small touches were appreciated, and the staff had the warmth and sincerity, as well as the skill to make it all work. Honestly, I can't think how they could have been better in customer service, they were as near to perfect as I've ever seen. The second thing that makes this place stellar are the amenities. Not only is the food absolutely top notch, but the spa is a peaceful, relaxing and utterly enjoyable place. Couple that with the natural beauty surrounding the resort (as the entire island is amazing), and the way the lodge takes advantage of such views, and it truly is close to paradise. With beautiful rooms with comfortable beds and the peace and quiet, this place has become extremely special to me.…
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