AJ Resort Island Ikei Jima

If the incredibly scenic drive by bridge to Ikei Island isn’t enough to entice you, then the rooftop hot tubs, buffet restaurant, private beach and even a petting zoo are just some of the things waiting for you to enjoy at AJ Resort.

Located at the very tip of the island, with nothing but nature surrounding you, the hotel has both standard rooms and private cabins, in Western and Japanese style. AJ Resort is very family-friendly, with an indoor kids station, an outdoor playground, go-carts and a swimming pool. At the mini zoo the kids can get up close and personal with bunnies, and feed the goats. The secluded beach is pristine, and water sports such as snorkeling and diving are available. The rooftop rotenburo is open until 11pm and offers uninterrupted sea views and a fantastic breeze that blows in from the ocean. The island’s and the hotel’s remoteness really allows you to feel like you have escaped to a private paradise.

Online reservations are available through the hotel website in English, as well as through all major booking sites. Ikei Jima is mostly undeveloped, with very few amenities nearby, but that’s not why I recommend the breakfast and dinner plan. The buffet at Haibisu Restaurant is incredibly delicious, with a wide range of Okinawan, Japanese and Western dishes. And when all this pampering gets to be too much for you, after enjoying a cold beer and a soak in the rooftop tub, a complimentary golf cart can even carry you back to your room.