Kumejima sits a lonely 90 kilometres west of Okinawa's Main Island, reachable by a short hop from Naha or a slower ferry that gives you time to properly check out. Cypress Resort bows in a long curve along Ohara Shinri Beach, so every room, and the infinity pool out front, faces nothing but sea, coral reef and the odd propeller plane taking off from the airstrip next door. Days here revolve around boat trips out to Hatenohama, the seven-kilometre sandbar locals call the most beautiful stretch of water in the East, and evenings on a barbecue terrace with the sunset for company. Kumejima doesn't try hard. It doesn't need to.
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Standard, Deluxe or the roomier Premier: whichever you book, the building's long curve means your room angles toward the sea, so a view is always a given. Décor runs on warm, sandy browns and plain wooden furniture, a balcony for morning coffee and the odd passing plane. Bathrooms are compact but well-done, with bidets and a bathtub, and family rooms sleep four. Ask for an upper floor for a slightly wider slice of that same view.
Every single room curves toward the sea here, so the view is non-negotiable.
Book the morning boat to Hatenohama rather than the afternoon: the light's better, the crowds thinner, and you'll have those seven kilometres of sand almost to yourself.
Getting around Kumejima without a hire car is tough going, especially by Japan's remote-island standards. The resort's lovely, but it's a short hop from the airstrip and a proper drive from everywhere else.
Cypress Resort Kumejima can be booked with Timbuktu as part of a tailor-made Japan trip, rather than as a standalone room reservation. Start online, customising one of our recommended Japan trips featuring Cypress Resort Kumejima or get advice and suggestions from one of our Japan specialists who will design the trip around your dates, check availability and handle every booking for you.
Stays at Cypress Resort Kumejima start from around $170, or US$170, per person per night as part of a tailor-made trip. The exact price depends on your travel dates, room type and the shape of the rest of your itinerary. A Timbuktu travel specialist can give you an accurate quote for your dates.
Sublime comes in island form, lapped by turquoise waters where whales breach and turtles glide by.
