Staying at a Miyakojima Villa with Children | A Private Villa for Guests from Newborns Onward

When travelling with children, what can be tiring may be less the journey itself than the time spent being mindful.

Will the crying carry? Will we make the meal time? What should the adults do while putting the child to sleep? Depending on the design of the accommodation, this burden can change remarkably.

In this article, we have gathered ideas for how to spend your stay with children, along with points to know before booking. Nagine is used here as an example, but we have tried to keep the information as useful as possible for everyone.

Why a private villa suits families with children

No need to worry about crying

There are no shared corridors, and no neighbouring rooms. If your child wakes in the night or runs about early in the morning, there is no one you need to apologise to.

That alone greatly eases the tension for parents and guardians, because it frees them from constantly worrying about whether the child is being quiet enough.

You can set meal times around your child

There is no need to follow restaurant opening hours. You can let your child eat first, and for the adults to take their time afterwards. You can also warm baby food, or have dinner earlier in the day.

Nagine’s kitchen is equipped with a three-burner IH stovetop, a Miele oven microwave, a large fridge-freezer, a rice cooker, and an electric kettle. Only salt, pepper, and oil are provided as seasonings, so please bring anything you are used to using yourselves (there is no toaster).

There is still time for the adults after bedtime

In a hotel, once the child is asleep, the adults often have little choice but to remain quietly in the same room. In a private villa, after settling your child in the bedroom, you can move to the living room or terrace.

There is time to talk by the poolside, and time to read quietly, separate from bedtime. During a trip, having some time for adults that does not disappear entirely is a meaningful difference.

Planning a day in Miyakojima by age

Infants and toddlers | Reduce movement, spend more time at the villa

The more you move around, the more a child’s mood and energy tend to diminish. If you keep sightseeing plans to a minimum and allow more time at the villa and nearby, the overall trip becomes calmer.

Nagine is about a 5-minute walk from Yonaha Maehama Beach. Because you can reach the shoreline without taking the car, you can go out when the timing suits your child and return as soon as they are tired. All rooms have air conditioning and blackout curtains, so it is also possible to create a good nap environment.

Preschool age | Focus on the pool and shallow sea

Having a private pool makes it easier to shape the day. Even when the weather is not suitable for the beach, children can still play in the water, and if they become bored, they can return indoors at once.

At Nagine, the pool depth is 1.1 metres. It is a good idea to check the pool details of any property in advance.

In the strong afternoon sun, staying indoors is often more comfortable than walking around outside. Moving between the pool and the interior allows energy to be preserved. We have also written about poolside stays in A Day in a Villa with a Pool.

Elementary school age | Combine beach time with island outings

As children grow stronger, it becomes possible to combine a morning at the sea with an outing in the afternoon. Yonaha Maehama stretches for about 7 km, and in the morning the shallow sandy beach is usually less crowded and easier to walk along.

We have gathered ideas for enjoying the sea and staying safe in How to Enjoy Miyakojima’s Beaches.

Facilities that help when travelling with children

Drum-style washer-dryer

This may be the single most helpful feature on a family trip. Swimsuits, as well as clothes soiled with sand and sweat, can be washed and dried on the same day. Laundry detergent is also provided.

Because you need to pack fewer changes of clothes, the luggage itself becomes lighter.

Kitchen and large fridge-freezer

There is a rice cooker, so you can prepare rice only and adjust meals to suit your child. With the large fridge-freezer, you can buy drinks and food in bulk on arrival, and avoid having to go out shopping during the hottest hours of the day.

Separated bathroom areas

There is one bathroom with a bathtub, one separate shower room, two washbasins, and two toilets, all with washlets. While bathing a child, an adult can still use the shower.

Living room and 75-inch television

This becomes a place to retreat on rainy days or during times when you cannot go outside. There is also a Bluetooth speaker, though we ask guests to be considerate of the volume at night.

Things to know before booking

For stays with children, there are also some restrictions we would like you to know in advance. The following are examples from our property, but we hope they will serve as useful points to check.

• Children from 0 years old are welcome to stay. However, the person making the booking and the main guest must be 18 years or older.

• Children aged 5 and under stay free when sharing a bed, up to two children, and are not counted toward the occupancy. If a child’s own bedding is required, they are counted toward the occupancy regardless of age.

• Baby cots and extra beds are not available.

• There are stairs inside the building, and there is no elevator or wheelchair access. This also limits movement with a stroller.

• A safe is not provided.

• The private pool is for guests only. Pool hours and safety rules are provided on the booking page after reservation. It may not be available in bad weather.

• The entire property is non-smoking.

• For stays of up to three nights, towel changes and room cleaning are not provided during the stay. For stays of four nights or more, this is provided every three nights.

Other conditions are summarised in our Frequently Asked Questions.

Do your shopping on the day you arrive

Within driving distance, there are supermarkets, convenience stores, and drugstores. If you buy everything you need on arrival, you can reduce the number of times you need to go out during your stay.

Please check in advance whether essentials for your child, such as nappies and regular medicines, are available on the island. Surrounding information is listed in our Local Guide.

Build unhurried time into your itinerary

When travelling with children, it often works better to reduce the number of plans. Fewer transfers, more time at the villa, and enough flexibility that changes in weather do not become a problem.

A private villa is a place shaped for that purpose. You can find an introduction to Nagine in About the Villa and Gallery, and a list of facilities in Facilities & Amenities.