Want to get away from it all? Then why not fly 2,000 km toward the Equator from Tokyo to Ishigaki, the main island of the southerly Yaeyama group in Okinawa Prefecture. And once there, then treat yourself to a stay at Club Med Kabira Beach, where you can do almost anything you want — or nothing at all.
From the airport, a hotel car makes a leisurely 40-minute drive along roads lined with palm trees and flowers to the resort in Kabira, which is known for its bay that's classed as one of the 100 most beautiful scenic spots in Japan.
Upon arrival, hotel staff offer welcoming jasmine tea known as sanpincha. Then, going through the lobby with its Asian-modern styling leads to a spacious pool bordered by loungers and white parasols. Beyond the pool, the eye is immediately drawn to the turquoise and cobalt-blue ocean fringed with gleaming white sandy beaches.