Rosewood Miyakojima, Japan, Hotel Review

After a decade of repeat visits to Japan, I‘ve never lost the sense of awe sparked by Tokyo’s network of sky-scraping buildings and Kyoto’s towering bamboo stalks. I’ve dipped into bubbling onsens in Beppu and prayed at century-old temples in Nikko, but I had never made my way to the southern Japanese islands. A 2.5-hour flight from Tokyo to Okinawa’s Miyako Island changed that and marked the beginning of my first Japanese beach retreat.

My 15-minute ride from the airport zipped past fields of bamboo stalks to Rosewood Miyakojima, flanked by an ocean of distinct blues. Flat-roofed accommodations claimed their position on a golden coastline blanketed in dewy vegetation. This setting was quite a change from Tokyo’s spirited crowds and 60th-floor views.

Opened in March 2025, Rosewood Miyakojima is the Hong Kong-based luxury hospitality group’s first resort in Japan and one of the most anticipated hotel openings of 2025. The seaside sanctuary is guided by the same attention to detail and local design touches that I’ve come to love in the company’s 33 hotels around the world.

At Miyakojima, the Japanese design penchant for minimalism fosters a pleasant stillness. Helmed by Dutch design house Studio by Piet Boon, the resort is framed to draw attention to the unspoiled land it inhabits. Layers of Ryukyu limestone and wheat-colored natural textures around the property make no attempt to compete with the ocean. At every turn, the sea is the star of the show—so much so that it has its own nickname: Miyako blue.

Miyakojima, one of 49 inhabited pockets of land in the Ryukyu islands in southern Japan, is largely rural, with a population of less than 60,000 people. Known as the Island of Prayers, it’s a place of spiritual significance to its residents, which shapes the resort’s ethos. Even the ceramics and wooden sculptures around the resort pay homage to a centuries-old Paantu ritual, in which locals decorate themselves and their houses with mud and grass for good fortune.

The hotel’s commitment to Okinawan culture is so important that managing director Noriko Nakayama knocked on the doors of residents on the island to share plans for the hotel and ask for their blessing for the opening.

Personally, I’m thankful they approved. My stay made my love of Japan grow far beyond its cosmopolitan cities.

Read on for my full review of Rosewood Miyakojima as the first journalist to stay at the brand-new hotel.

The Rooms

Fifty-five villas stretch across a private peninsula surrounded by vegetation and Miyakojima’s famous blue waters. The accommodations take their names from the Okinawan dialect and reflect the topography of their location—Daya villas sit cliffside; Mui villas are situated in the mountains; Miji villas are on the tip of the peninsula; Uru villas are directly on the sand; and Isu villas stake their position on a rocky beach. Three large houses, ranging between 1,614 and 2,152 square feet, offer sea views, a dedicated butler service, and terraces with a barbecue grill and private pool.

Okinawan craftsmanship shines throughout the interiors. Miyako jofu, a delicate textile handwoven from fibers of the ramie plant used since the 16th century, is incorporated in glossy contemporary screen prints inside every room. Geometric wooden wall carvings are a nod to the Hachiji tattoo traditions native to Okinawa, worn by women as symbols of status, female strength, and protection.

Inside my oceanside villa, I was immediately drawn to the sea foam green accents and gray textured dressers that stored the addictive Okinawan pineapple cookies and rums produced from the nearby sugarcane fields. Some of my favorite brushstroke ceramic pieces in the space were by Okinawan artist Kyoji Matsuda, working to preserve the thousand-year-old heritage of Ryukyuan pottery. Walk-in closets provided ample storage space while the bathroom, cloaked in natural light and Ryokan stone, featured a freestanding bathtub and moisture-rich soap made from a resident affectionately known as the Glycerin Queen. It’s this deliberate decision to enlist Okinawans to contribute to the resort’s amenities that I appreciated the most.

A spacious living room with a banquette-style table large enough for a small family became my favorite corner to spend mornings. Steps away, my private pool was flanked by large creme-hued loungers and plants that provided privacy and shade.

Food and Drink

Four restaurants celebrate the nutrient-rich produce of the region that has contributed to the longevity of so many of its residents. Naturally fermented miso, peanut-infused jimami tofu, and fresh catches of the day handpicked each morning by the resort’s chefs guide the diverse menus. The all-day dining eatery Nagi offers both Japanese and Italian cuisine. Each morning for breakfast, I ordered slow-cooked onsen-tamago eggs, pickled vegetables, miso soup, and grilled salmon. In the evening, saffron risotto balls, fresh focaccia bread, and a marbled Miyako steak make their way to nearly every table.

At the poolside bar Yukku, tapas-style dishes of wagyu burgers and crudités are served alongside a cocktail menu with brightly-colored punch cocktails that celebrate the island’s rich rum history. The attention to detail of each drink, overseen by bar manager Utaro Izaki, is a picture-worthy voyage into the region’s fresh fruits and ancient awamori, a mellow, caramel-tinged spirit made from fermented long grain rice that’s only produced in Okinawa.

At the oceanside Maas, chef Tokijiro Namada’s menu and vibrant personality give visitors more than enough reason to pull up barside and watch his meticulous slices of sashimi and preparation of grouper that is speared each night by fishermen in the nearby bay. Cocktails here are also impressive; my favorite is the briny and bright Maas sour, made with awamori, house salt stock, and shikuwasa, a small, sour citrus fruit native to Okinawa. Later this year, a fourth dining concept, Chuma, will debut in a pavilion overlooking the sea. The menu will bring together four distinct areas of washoku (Japanese cuisine): sushi, tempura, teppanyaki, and yakitori.

Activities and Experiences

Dive into the dazzlingly blue waters of Miyako with experiences that include snorkeling over coral reefs and learning about the ancient and sustainable practice of spearfishing. Rosewood Miyakojima holds a privileged position among a shoreline teeming with sea turtles. Managing director Noriko Nakayama (who also has a master’s degree in environmental science) leads a program focused on raising awareness about these sea creatures and provides one-on-one discussions about the lifespan of the region’s three turtle species and how they thrive in their habitats. An exclusive diving concierge program is headed by bi-lingual guides who can tailor itineraries to suit levels of experience and interest.

Off-site activities are also abundant. “Martial arts lessons and calligraphy workshops offer deeper insights into Okinawan heritage. Additionally, guided tours of Miyakojima’s pristine beaches, lush landscapes, and historical sites provide a comprehensive understanding of the island’s unique charm,” said Schreiner.

Guests can also visit a pottery studio for an experience that taps into the 300-year-old Ryukyu tradition of Tsuboya pottery. A highlight of my trip was a SUP and kayak experience through Miyakokima’s shaded mangroves with Zumisup. Coasting through jungly pockets over water in this rare ecosystem was a calming way to end a trip and get a peek into Okinawa’s diverse topography.

The Spa

Okinawa is home to some of the world’s longest-living people due in part to diet, strong community, and physical activity. Asaya Spa taps into this legacy of wellness with Okinawan healing rituals that include an herbal compress made of Miyako Island sea salt to promote relaxation. I was pleasantly surprised to find two of my favorite Japanese beauty brands, Lapidem Tokyo and EviDenS De Beauté, used in the spa’s treatments.

Asaya’s design is inspired by the legendary tale of the Okinawan goddess Amamikyu, who created the Ryukyu Islands from three elements: grass, trees, and stone. Six secluded individual bungalows sit behind a network of thriving greenery meant to evoke Miyakojima’s inland primeval forests.

Hydrotherapy facilities, an outdoor vitality pool, a yoga studio, and a fully equipped gym round out the hotel’s wellness offerings. Later this year, a martial arts program under the guidance of a Miyakojima karate master will be available, too.

Accessibility and Sustainability

The resort includes one accessible ocean-view villa, and all areas of the property are accessible for wheelchair users.

In-room automation and occupancy sensors are some of the energy-saving methods implemented in each room. As part of Rosewood’s Partners in Provenance program, local farmers are tapped to supply local delicacies like Okinawan pork, sea grapes, and sweet potatoes.

The Location

Slow and steady is the Okinawan way of life, and you can experience this tempo first-hand with visits to the towering stone arches of Sunayama beach and lighthouses at Cape Higashi-Hennazaki (a nationally designated “Place of Scenic Beauty”). The hotel’s concierge services bring you closer to Okinawan customs, cuisine, and craftsmanship.

You can reach Miyako airport in about 2.5 hours by plane from Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka. If you’re looking to experience a city-to-sea trip like me, Japan Airlines’ Japan Explorer Pass offers discounted domestic flights throughout Japan, making it easy to travel on nonstop flights from major cities like Tokyo and Kyoto to Okinawa.  What I love about this pass is that it encourages international travelers to visit lesser-explored destinations in Japan and can be purchased with any international airline’s air ticket originating outside of Japan.

How to Get the Most Out of Your Stay

Guests can book through the American Fine Hotels & Resorts program to enjoy exclusive benefits. Or, consider booking through a Rosewood Elite travel agency to unlock special perks such as hotel credits and upgrades.

Nightly rates at Rosewood Miyakojima start from $1,400.

Every T+L hotel review is written by an editor or reporter who has stayed at the property, and each hotel selected aligns with our core values.