Taketomi, Okinawa, Japan

Deliciously remote Taketomi requires a big effort to reach from Naha, but there’s really nowhere else in Japan like it in terms of atmosphere, and this newly built resort perfectly complements the landscape. Set inside the national park, its tile-roofed villas nestle behind low walls of rough, bleached. white limestone, as per the local style, which ensures maximum privacy. The interiors are fragrant, informal and natural: floor-to-ceiling windows, seagrass matting on the floors and natural, mellow-toned woods. Apart from a heated outdoor pool, facilities are minimal – most guests spend their days butterfly spotting, beach combing and exploring the back lanes by bicycle – a blissful prospect.