Wealthy travelers on the prowl for a new luxury destination in Asia now have two more options to add to their itineraries, after Ritz-Carlton and Hoshino Resort opened five-start resorts in the southernmost Japanese prefecture of Okinawa.
But the new high-end Ritz-Carlton Okinawa in Nago and the equally fresh-off-the-peg Hoshinoya Okinawa resort on Taketomi Island are the first to attempt to fill a gap in the luxury hotel market that has left Okinawa off the rich radar for decades.
At first glance, Okinawa appears to have all the makings of a remarkable, subtropical travel experience -- crystal-clear waters, top-notch scuba diving, endless stretches of beach, a generous helping of UNESCO World Heritage sites and delicious local cuisine to boot.
But while more than 5.5 million travelers, the vast majority Japanese, jet to this southern getaway annually, the wealthiest among them have been hard-pressed to find what they?re looking for (if they go at all), starting with a suitable place to lay their heads.
?Top level accommodation has been sorely lacking,? said Duff Trimble, whose Toronto-based agency Wabi-Sabi Japan customizes vacations for the bespoke set. ?Tourism on the main island is more geared toward the domestic traveler on a package tour.?
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