Hoshinoya, Taketomi Island, Japan

This beautifully quaint resort is styled on a traditional Okinawan village and combines centuries of artisan craftsmanship with modern day luxury. The truly Okinawan experience doesn’t stop with the ornately furnished red-roofed pavilions, for guests can enjoy the likes of Taketomi Minsa weaving lessons and tours on authentic Water Buffalo carts too.

Location

Taketomi Island is located just south of Ishigaki and is part of the stunning Iriomote-Ishigaki National Park. The island is surrounded by crystal clear waters and coral reefs, and its shores are covered with heavenly white sand. Dry stone walls line the streets, behind which poke out the red-tiled rooves of this island idyll.

Your room

Red-tiled roofs and paths paved with the whitest sand colour the luscious landscape of Taketomi Island, where time stands still and traditions are nurtured rather than forgotten. At Hoshinoya Okinawa, these revered traditions have inspired a new type of communal lifestyle.

Pavilion amenities have been designed with the modern traveller in mind. These include a choice of wood flooring for those unaccustomed to tatami straw matting, relaxing sofas, and the widest of bathtubs. Every effort has been made to provide all the comforts expected of a luxury tropical resort.

The beautiful pavilions reflect the traditional architecture found on Taketomi Island. Roofs are decorated with red tiles and intricate Shisa figurines, believed to ward off evil spirits, and wall-less living areas face south onto a private yard to welcome the southern breeze coming off the ocean.

Why we like it

It’s the little things that make a difference, which is why the intricate and authentic details of this haven really set it apart from the rest. Take the Shisa figurines on the rooftops – named after the Okinawan for “lion”, these figurines stand guard on top of the roofs and are said to chase off evil spirits that attempt to invade homes and villages. They are formed from materials leftover after the making of roof tiles, so no two shisa are the same.

At the gateway of each pavilion stands a wall of stones known as a “hinpun”. Embrace local custom and enter your new home from a home from the left side of the wall to ward of any evil spirits that might threaten your island bliss…