An American school bus has arrived!
At Ernesto Zanpa, in addition to our American vintage-style Rooms, we wanted guests to experience the real America even more—so in November 2025 we introduced an authentic American school bus.
Ernesto Zanpa is located on the west coast of central Okinawa Island, surrounded by ocean and nature. The area offers spectacular viewpoints known as one of the last places on Okinawa Island to see the sunset, a natural beach perfect for snorkeling, and peaceful scenery with wide sugarcane fields—an ideal setting to enjoy a resort atmosphere reminiscent of the U.S. West Coast.
To help you feel even more of that California-inspired West Coast vibe, we decided to bring in a school bus that was actually used in the United States until just a few years ago. What arrived was a 1987 Chevrolet-based school bus built on the Chevy Van G30 platform. It’s now a rare gasoline model, and with an interior height close to 2 meters, adults can move around while standing.
Inside, we’ve kept as much of the original atmosphere as possible by retaining period equipment such as switches and seats. We’ve also added vintage movie flyers and posters to enhance the American feel.
Exclusive for guests staying at our Accommodation, we offer an approximately 1-hour bus tour around the area near our Accommodation.
