The Ritz-Carlton Okinawa

Perched on a hill, next to a championship golf course, The Ritz-Carlton has chosen a beautiful spot on Okinawa Island.

The property is designed to make the most of the view. Glass hallways and numerous terraces catch panoramic vistas of the East China Sea. The lobby lounge has enormous windows, and afternoon tea here is a must. Drink in the Okinawan scenery while nibbling on pastries and sipping Japanese green tea.

A bamboo tunnel leads to the hotel spa, a two-storey sanctuary surrounded by subtropical forest. The treatments use indigenous ingredients, including tiger clamshells and getto plant with local healing practices to nourish and re-energise the body. Afterwards relax in the dry sauna, steam room and vitality pool.

The hotel has an indoor and outdoor swimming pool; the latter open from April to October. A chauffeur-driven car will take you the short distance to Kise Beach, a shore reserved exclusively for Ritz-Carlton guests.

There are 97 guest rooms in all, but thanks to the discrete attentiveness of the staff it feels like far fewer. All the rooms have terraces, and those above ground level have bathtubs next to floor-to-ceiling windows (with a blind for modesty). Traditional ceramics and textiles from the Ryukyu Kingdom blend with plush bedding and modern amenities including a fully stocked refreshment bar.