Hoshinoya Okinawa, a coastal resort in Yomitan Village, Okinawa Prefecture, will offer "Awamori Discovery" (泡盛ディスカバリー) from December 11, 2026 to February 28, 2027. The program invites guests to explore the depth of awamori, where a 600-year tradition meets the innovation of barrel aging.
It focuses on two approaches: the traditional kame (甕, jar) aging that awamori has long been known for, and the barrel aging that distilleries have taken up in recent years. Through a tasting of awamori aged in different ways in the guest room and a dinner with original awamori pairings, the program presents the cutting edge of an evolving awamori.
1. "Awamori Invitation" Compares Aging Methods, Past and Future
The "Awamori Invitation" (泡盛インビテーション) is an in-room tasting that compares awamori aged in different ways. Winter nights in Okinawa, with their cool, quiet air, are an ideal time to enjoy the flavors of barrel-aged awamori.
Guests can compare the mellow depth produced by traditional kame aging with the beautiful amber color and rich, whisky-like aroma that innovative barrel aging brings. Learning how aging methods change awamori is a chance to discover a new side of it.
2. "Awamori Geo Guide" Traces the Source of Awamori's Water
The "Awamori Geo Guide" (泡盛ジオガイド) follows the source of the water that forms the backbone of awamori's flavor. Guests visit a limestone cave and learn why water once welled up so abundantly on Okinawa, an island of coral reefs.
They then visit Kamimura Shuzo (神村酒造), a distillery that uses this clean water to protect tradition while taking on innovations such as barrel aging. By experiencing the gifts of nature and the passion of the makers who carry the craft into the future, guests deepen their understanding of awamori.
3. "Awamori Pairing" Dinner Explores Barrel-Aging Innovation
Guests enjoy six original "Awamori Pairings" (泡盛ペアリング) at a dinner themed "Ryukyu Gastronomia – Bellezza –" (琉球ガストロノミア), which elevates Okinawan ingredients with Italian cooking techniques. Barrel-aged awamori paired with rich squid ink pasta brings out the sweet, vibrant flavor characteristic of barrel aging.
Awamori is also served in a finely crafted sake vessel called a chibugwa (ちぶぐゎー). The word means "small container" (a sake cup) in the Okinawan dialect, and it refers to a very small traditional Okinawan sake vessel that fits in the palm of the hand. As the awamori comes into contact with air, its rich aroma gradually opens up over time. The dinner is a dining experience in which guests learn about the differences in aging methods and savor the flavors and aromas through the meal.
Sample Schedule
| Day | Time | Activity |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | 3:00 PM | Check-in |
| Day 1 | 5:00 PM | "Awamori Invitation" |
| Day 2 | 8:00 AM | Wake-up drink: a refreshing start with moromi vinegar (もろみ酢), a by-product of awamori making |
| Day 2 | 1:00 PM | Departure for the "Awamori Geo Guide": CAVE OKINAWA (limestone cave) and Kamimura Shuzo (distillery tour) |
| Day 2 | 5:00 PM | Return to Hoshinoya Okinawa |
| Day 2 | 7:00 PM | Dinner "Ryukyu Gastronomia – Bellezza –" with awamori pairings at the dining room |
| Day 3 | 12:00 PM | Check-out |
"Awamori Discovery" Details
| Period | December 11, 2026 to February 28, 2027 (2 nights, 3 days) |
| Price | ¥45,000 per person (tax and service charge included, accommodation fee not included) |
| Included | "Awamori Invitation" in the guest room; "Awamori Geo Guide"; dinner "Ryukyu Gastronomia – Bellezza –" with "6 Awamori Pairings" |
| Reservation | Reservations must be made at least 14 days in advance on the official website: https://hoshinoresorts.com/ja/hotels/hoshinoyaokinawa/ |
About Hoshinoya Okinawa
Hoshinoya Okinawa is a resort that lives alongside the sea, with a design that elevates Ryukyuan culture as a "Gusuku residence." Within a site surrounded by the "Gusuku Wall," inspired by Okinawa's historic sites, and a natural coastline, colorful fields and gardens, ocean-view guest rooms, and a dojo for experiencing Okinawan culture spread out along the shoreline.
- Address: 474 Gima, Yomitan Village, Nakagami District, Okinawa 904-0327
- Rooms: 100 rooms | Check-in: 3:00 PM / Check-out: 12:00 PM
- Rates: From ¥170,000 per night (per room, tax and service charge included, meals not included)
- Access: Approx. 1 hour by car from Naha Airport (airport limousine bus available, paid)
- Website: https://hoshinoresorts.com/ja/hotels/hoshinoyaokinawa/
