Miru Amami

We stumbled upon the Amami Islands while looking for a beach alternative to Okinawa or the high-rise mainland resorts. A convenient two hours and fifteen minute flight from Tokyo – one hour shorter than reaching Okinawa – the Amami Islands feel ripe for discovery as a tourist destination for their distinctive blend of nature, history and marine and land excursion offerings. Yet, they appear to enjoy their status as a low-key destination, maybe for the better: no crowds, no cruise ships, few resorts, a local feel to everything, but also an excellent road infrastructure and a well-organized tourist information system. Amami O-Shima is served by only a handful of daily fights from Tokyo, but by frequent service to the prefectural capital, Kagoshima, at the southern tip of Kyushu. Just like the Amami Islands themselves, the Miru Amami is a small hidden gem: it offers a high level of accommodations, service and food quality, all delivered without pretension and effortlessly surpassing the standards of many boutique hotels in the West. LOCATION: on the north side of Amami O-Shima and a 20 minute drive from the airport (rental cars represent the only practical way to visit the island), it overlooks a quiet bay flanked by lushly forested hills and scattered buildings. On the outskirts of a small village, it is not a secluded location, but its placement makes it feel as such. The hotel is perched atop a natural beach typical of the island, with co**** white sand dotted with coral fragments; the water temperature was perfect, with just enough waves to make it interesting. I recommend wearing the rubber booties that the hotel, of course, makes available. (The coastline is spectacular, but also sadly ruined in places by rubbish swept ashore – a harsh reminder of the unmanageable amount of trash floating on the ocean.) ROOM: we spent three nights in a Pool Villa, which easily accommodated our family of four in two separate partitioned areas, one with Western beds and the other with tatami beds. The room features plenty of storage space and a large bath with a separate wet area, plus a sizable outdoor private swimming pool with a wraparound deck and recliners to relax and star gaze. The only feature topping the brightness of its design, aimed at soaking in the sunlight and the views, was the surprising amount of thoughtful room amenities, including cosmetics, accessories, towels of all sizes, umbrellas, free quality snacks and beverages. AMENITIES: the restaurant, Amanari, really topped things off. It offers a daily rotating dinner menu featuring a surprising variety of creatively interpreted and artfully plated Japanese dishes: truly amazing what two chefs in a small kitchen can accomplish! The breakfast follows a similar concept, with a rotating choice of Japanese or Western menus. Dinner and breakfast are included in the room rate and would be a sin not to take advantage of them. The front desk also helped us arrange a day tour of the island (

The room was decorated very tastefully and it had a fantastic view. Very nice staff as well.

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