Best hotels in Okinawa Main Island

Right at the southernmost tip of Japan, where the country meets the azure waters of the East China Sea, is the sleepy Ryukyu Archipelago. The main island, Okinawa, is a blue zone known for its incredible quality of life, and it's a theme that runs throughout every stay at HOSHINOYA. After a scenic journey through fields of sugarcane and chrysanthemums, you'll arrive at the sanctuary and its lush gardens of cherry and papaya trees and colourful bougainvillaea. Step inside the high white walls, inspired by ancient Japanese castles, and discover sensational sea views around every corner — the perfect setting for a journey of discovery.

On the west coast of Okinawa's Main Island, where the East China Sea shows off its best turquoise, this is the first Halekulani to open beyond Hawaii (the Waikiki original has been going since 1917). It runs along a mile of coastline inside the Okinawa Kaigan Quasi-National Park, a short hop from the sea-cliff drama of Cape Manzamo. The look is pale and calm, all 'seven shades of white' chosen to throw the blues and greens outside into clarity. Everything carries a noted polish, plus a genuine longevity story: Onna sits in one of the world's original Blue Zones. Aloha, Ryukyu-style.

Okinawa's southern tip, where sugarcane fields give way to cliffs and open ocean, is mythological territory. This is where the Ryukyu creation god is said to have first set foot on Kudaka Island, visible from the point Hyakuna Garan occupies. The entire hotel is angled towards a 220-degree view that catches sunrise and sunset without you changing position. Ryukyu limestone walls and a coral-red roof recall the temples that inspired the design, while a seven-metre stone Buddha, carved from a single boulder, watches over the corridors. Breakfast and dinner are a delight – and definitely bring an appetite for tofuyo and awamori.

Head north from Naha and Okinawa's usual postcard beaches give way to the Yanbaru forest. It's here, wrapped in the fairways of the Kanehide Kise Country Club, that you'll find The Ritz-Carlton. The hotel wraps around three sides of the course, an unusual footprint for a Ritz-Carlton, so nearly every balcony gets a slice of green fairway, blue sea, or often both. Inside, expect handmade ceramics dotted about, low slate-grey furniture, and a spa that disappears into the trees, complete with a coral-tiled steam room. There's Kuroge Wagyu sizzling tableside at dinner, and a restaurant named, rather sweetly, after a rainbow.

Deep in the Yanbaru Forest on Okinawa's mountainous Motobu Peninsula, 11 concrete villas sit scattered across twenty hectares of subtropical woodland, so spread out that other guests barely cross your path. The name comes from the tea once grown here to send to Nakijin Castle, the Ryukyu Kingdom's ruined mountain fortress just up the road (now a UNESCO World Heritage site and famous for growing Japan's earliest cherry blossoms). Inside, raw concrete collides with warm hardwood, and every villa comes with its own pool, a private BBQ at dusk and a bathroom roughly the size of a studio flat. Don't expect to bump into anyone else before breakfast.

Surrounded by a coral reef and pristine national Park, ANA InterContinental Manza Beach Resort is a luxury beach resort off the coast of Okinawa Island. Experience white sandy beaches and emerald green waters on a refined private beach. Indulge in treatments at the award-winning spa, enjoy flavorful food with local ingredients from the skilled culinary team while enjoying Manzamo sunset views, and slow down your days while you relax and rejuvenate at the tranquil seaside resort.

The Busena Terrace is a beach resort that offers the ultimate island life vacation. Guests are invited to enjoy a variety of water spots activities that the island has to offer and or to relax on the white sandy beaches. Awaken to the sound of waves, and drift off to sleep with the twinkling of stars. Escape the everyday and enjoy a blissful holiday in a relaxed and luxurious space, where your mind and body can find peace. The eight unique restaurants await you. Enjoy exquisite cuisine crafted from the island's bounty in a charming setting surrounded by nature.

Skip the sand - The Naha Terrace is all about the city. Tucked into Shintoshin, Naha's business and shopping quarter, it's twenty minutes from the airport and built for guests who want Okinawa's capital, not its coastline. Rooms come with oversized windows and proper city views; go Club Floor and you'll have a guest relations officer and butler on call day and night. Three restaurants cover Japanese, Continental and teppanyaki, and the bar plays live jazz every evening (G&T optional). Six conference venues make it a solid pick for work trips too - Adan holds 460 theatre-style. There's a pool and a sauna for unwinding once the day's done. It won't give you turquoise water or powder-white beaches - for that, head to Busena or Uza - but for Naha itself, done well, this is it.

Hotel Collective embraces Okinawa's diverse culture and offers an unprecedentedly luxurious and tranquil space that fosters a natural flow of people and nature in Kokusai Street, a vibrant international area attracting tourists from both Japan and abroad. Furthermore, leveraging its excellent location in the heart of Kokusai Street, the hotel aims to become a new hub for Okinawan tourism and business, as well as an attractive destination for local residents.

Ginoza Village lies halfway up the east coast of Okinawa’s Main Island, and is known for the soothing power of its cobalt blue sea, lush green vegetation, beautiful sunrises, moonlit nights and starry skies. Why not take advantage of a gourmet resort offering the very finest cuisine, accommodation and service, and enjoy a special vacation that will help you forget the hustle and bustle of everyday life and come back to yourself.