Shigira
Miyakojima

This property is located on Miyakojima, a far-flung jewel of an island in the tropics at the southern end of the Okinawa chain. 86 of its deluxe suites have their own private pools, all encompassed by beautifully landscaped grounds with stunning Pacific Ocean views. Sea turtles swim in the lagoon below the suites, and tucked away under that are the Royal Villas, accessed by self-drive gold buggies on a panoramic ocean view private road. The pinnacle of luxury at the Shigira is the far-flung Private Villas, a few minutes' buggy ride from the main buildings. These may be the ultimate in honeymoon luxury in Japan, with ocean views from the king beds, baths, private pools and even private sauna steam rooms. The island itself has several excellent beaches all an easy short taxi ride away, including the seven-mile white sand stretch of Yonehara. For such a beautiful beach it is refreshingly undeveloped, and it invariably comes in the very top ranks of Asia's best beaches. On the opposite side of the island, Yoshino beach with its coral reef and myriad shoals of fish is a paradise for snorkellers and scuba divers. For such a beautiful island it is remarkable that most of the visitors are the Japanese themselves along with neighbouring Taiwanese, and the Shigira is perhaps Japan's finest beach property.

My favourite thing is to go where I've never been.
Diane Arbus