SEASIDE VILLAGE 13

A villa resort where all 13 buildings are whole-villa rentals

SEASIDE VILLAGE 13 is a resort of 13 villas in Ibaruma, in the north of Ishigaki Island. Every villa is rented as a whole building, with the living room, bedroom, kitchen and laundry area all connected. Close the door and it becomes an independent house by the sea, so you don't have to worry about nighttime crying or children's voices carrying to the room next door.

There are four villa types: the 2-Bedroom Villa (97.13 square meters, for 1 to 3 adults), the 3-Bedroom Villa (119.34 square meters, for 1 to 4 adults), the Superior Villa (118.54 square meters, for 1 to 5 adults, with 2 bedrooms plus a 6-tatami Japanese-style tatami room with futon bedding for 2), and the Deluxe Villa (137.22 square meters, for 1 to 6 adults, with 2 bedrooms plus an 8-tatami Japanese-style tatami room with futon bedding for 3, and 2 bathrooms). For the Superior Villa and the Deluxe Villa you can ask about adding extra guests, and an extra bed is available for 3,000 yen per night, though some villas can take one and others cannot. Capacity is counted by the number of adults and does not include children who are co-sleeping. If you have a baby at the crawling stage, or a child at an age where falling out of bed is a worry, the Superior Villa and Deluxe Villa with their tatami rooms, where futons can be laid out, are worth considering.

Children's items available to borrow free of charge at the front desk

The front desk's free-loan items include a section for children's items: cribs, baby bedding, baby bath chairs, diaper pails, strollers, kids' plate sets, kids' chairs, children's loungewear and waterproof sheets. The general loan items also include bed guards, step stools and thermometers. Quantities are limited in every case, so it is safest to ask in advance for anything you need. Pajamas can also be borrowed free of charge at the front desk, and children's sizes are available.

Hot water for formula can be boiled in the electric kettle provided in every villa. There is no information published about lending formula-preparation pots or baby-bottle sterilizers, or about providing or warming baby food, so plan on bringing what you need. Each villa has a microwave, a toaster oven, a rice cooker, cooking utensils and tableware, so you can prepare meals for your children with groceries you buy locally.

A year-round heated pool, and Ibaruma Beach a 1-minute walk away

The outdoor heated pool is open year-round from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., closing only on cleaning and maintenance days. The adult pool is 760 cm wide by 1,360 cm long and 90-120 cm deep; the children's pool is 400 cm wide by 640 cm long and 50 cm deep. Note, however, that there is no lifeguard on duty at the pool, and use is at each guest's own responsibility. Children under school age must be accompanied by a guardian. There is no information published about whether children who are not yet out of diapers may use the pool, so please check in advance if you are thinking of using a swim diaper.

Ibaruma Beach is right beside the property, a 1-minute walk away. Beach beds and parasols are free to use, but there is no lifeguard here either, and swimming is at your own risk. The basketball court on the grounds is open for guests to use as they like, and balls can be borrowed free of charge. There is no adventure course or large play structure. Electric-assist bicycles are available to rent for 2,000 yen per bicycle per day.

Dinner: a yakiniku course, or a BBQ with ingredients you bring

Dinner runs from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., and there are two choices: a yakiniku course at the restaurant (the Ishigaki Island Japanese Black Beef Yakiniku Plan at 5,000 yen per person, or the Special Ishigaki Beef Yakiniku Plan at 10,000 yen per person), or a BBQ grill rental at the outdoor BBQ area (5,000 yen per grill, noon to 8 p.m., with ingredients brought in by guests). Both are self-cooked with no cooking assistance from staff, and both require 2 or more people and a reservation by 3 p.m. the day before. Breakfast is a one-plate meal that changes daily, served from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m., and lunch is at the clubhouse lunch cafe from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. There is no information published about children's menus or allergy accommodations. The shop is open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. and carries light meals, snacks and daily necessities.

Practical details

Check-in is from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m., and checkout is at 10 a.m. Extending checkout costs 3,000 yen per hour, and extensions beyond 3 hours are not possible. Parking is free for 13 cars and needs no reservation. Housekeeping during your stay is provided for stays of 5 nights or more, and towels are exchanged free of charge on request. Exposed tattoos and body art are not permitted inside the property or in the pool area, so anyone with them needs to cover up with a rash guard or similar. Small and medium-sized dogs may stay with their owners.