Rugby World Cup: Inside England’s swanky hotel base complete with pillow gallery, pottery workshop and karaoke bar

EDDIE JONES and his England rugby World Cup squad left typhoon-hit Tokyo for Miyazaki yesterday and arrived to a heroes’ welcome before checking into their five-star resort.

But ahead of their arrival, SunSport’s JONNY FORDHAM road-tested the facilities at the 746-room Sheraton Grande Ocean where beds cost upwards of £175-a-night.

THINGS TO DO

Have a spare £130? Then head to the hotel’s pillow gallery and pick your tailor-made bedding.

It has a try-before-you-buy service and fillings to choose from. England’s stars can decide whether to have their pillows stuffed with rubber balls or just run-of-the-mill foam.

So Owen Farrell and Co, who on arrival let off a bit steam with an impromptu water polo match, are guaranteed a good night’s sleep after a hard day of training.

They will also be able to let their loved ones know they are thinking of them in the Letter Room, where staff help you craft your own post-card to send home.

There are four spas, a pottery workshop, a karaoke bar, Segways and bikes to hire, two championship golf courses — costing from £150 a round — and horse riding.

And of course there is a pristine rugby pitch where they can ramp up their World Cup preparations ahead of their first game against Tonga on September 22.

Red Rose boss Jones said: “The thing about World Cup preparations is timing your run.

“It is a bit like getting a horse right for the Gold Cup. You have to get them right on the day. This is going to be the place where they find their feet, get in the rhythm, put the finishing touches on the World Cup preparations.

“This is a very good training place, a great hotel and you have a gym right next door.

“The stress for the players is minimal. We have warm weather, good food and good training facilities.

“The devil is in the detail. You have to get these things right. You only get one go at the World Cup.

“You have to be adaptable and get as well prepared as you can.”

THINGS TO EAT

Top Miyazaki beef chef Yuichi Kawahara showed SunSport around his restaurant at the hotel.

‘Fukami’ is one of SIXTEEN — and Kawahara even allowed us to sit in seats reserved for Tiger Woods and Brooks Koepka.

Both golf greats have plaques at the teppanyaki bar to commemorate their wins at the Phoenix Open on the neighbouring golf course.

Koepka even won a whole Miyazaki cow and had to buy a fridge to take it back home to America in.

Kawahara’s Miyazaki beef also clinched the Prime Minister Award at the Wagyu Beef Olympics!

But Jones’ favourite joint is the Beach Burger House, five minutes down the road at Hitotsuba Beach.

Jones said: “In the middle of the day I would come here and have a swim and think about what we have got to do. It is a good little spot.

“It gets you out in the air, it refreshes, it is much more fun than sitting in an ice bath.”

THINGS TO SEE

Miyazaki’s beaches will be of interest to water-sports enthusiasts Jack Nowell and Henry Slade.

This week they host the World Surfing Games before the sport’s debut at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Red Rose players who are more comfortable on land might instead fancy a trip to the English Garden, just a short walk from the hotel.

And there is also a zoo, with 1,400 different animals including Asian elephants, flamingoes and giraffes.