Fusaki Beach Resort Hotel & Villas

Set on the western shore of Ishigaki Island in Okinawa — just far enough from the crowds yet close to the island’s major sights — Fusaki Beach Resort Hotel & Villas has long been known among discerning travelers. But with its recent wins at the World Luxury Awards 2025 across the hotel, spa and restaurant categories, it’s gaining recognition on a global scale. For travelers in search of a restorative luxury experience — or for anyone seeking a refined, nature-immersive stay — it’s one of the prime destinations in Okinawa right now.

What sets Fusaki apart is how seamlessly it ties the island’s natural beauty with thoughtful design, culinary excellence and high-end wellness experiences. This is a place where Ryukyu-style red-tiled architecture blends with the calm of Ishigaki’s subtropical landscape, where you can step from your room to a glassy turquoise shoreline and where a world-class spa treatment will help you connect to the slow, soothing rhythm of island life.

Below, a guide to making the most of your stay.

Stay at Fusaki Beach Resort Hotel & Villas: A Luxury Resort That Feels Like a Hidden Village

Fusaki spans a vast oceanfront property that feels almost like its own small village. (To give a sense of its scale: There’s a complimentary golf cart service that ferries guests from the reception area to some of the more far-flung lodgings.) The design combines contemporary resort comfort with nods to traditional Ryukyu culture, most noticeably in its red-tiled roofs and warm, earthy materials.

Instead of one central building, the resort unfolds across pathways lined with tropical greenery, pools and lounging areas, and eateries and amenities are scattered throughout the property. Guests can opt to stay in the North Wing, which surrounds a lush courtyard ringed by a shallow pool; the Garden Terrace, which is like its own mini-hotel nestled into the property, with large windows and bright interiors; the Garden Villas fitted with their own private porches; or the South Wing, which offers rooms like the Fusaki Corner Suite.

The property is incredibly walkable, encouraging guests to wander freely between the beach, the pool area, the spa and the dining spaces as the mood strikes.

The beach itself is one of Ishigaki’s most photogenic stretches: wide, soft, west-facing and perfectly positioned for fiery island sunsets. Guests can opt to try jet-skiing, ride a dragon boat or go tubing, with equipment for rent right on the beach. Or they can just enjoy the resort’s multiple pools, including a children’s pool with a large waterslide, a serene beachside pool with ample seating areas and an indoor pool in the wellness center.

Eat and Drink: Award-Winning Dining and Poolside Cocktails

A major highlight of the resort — and a must-experience even for repeat visitors — is Hanaré, which received several World Luxury Awards for its dining. Helmed by Chef Seigon Sorimachi, it specializes in innovative fusion cuisine, drawing inspiration from Japanese, Chinese and Southeast Asian cultures. But the guiding spirit is of Ryukyu cuisine, and the restaurant’s multi-course menus draw deeply from local produce: island vegetables, subtropical fruits, fresh coastal seafood, and premium Okinawan pork. (Advance booking is required by 3 p.m. on the day.)

Expect seasonal dishes that highlight the region’s biodiversity. While we were there, we sampled perfectly simmered red snapper, presented in an iridescent bag you open at the table, enveloping in you in the dish’s aroma; dongpo pork made with Ishigaki’s famous pineapple pork and a variety of local vegetables, arranged with the precision of a diorama; tender beef, smoked at the table; and a delicious “fruit soup” for dessert.

Beyond Hanaré, there’s also the fusion restaurant Ryukyu Shintenchi, the sprawling buffet at Ishigaki Bold Kitchen and Beachside Grill Kachibai, which is a seasonally opened restaurant that offers American-style barbeque. For poolside drinks, head to The Star Bar, which serves tropical cocktails alongside wine and beer.

Restore: Bamford Treatments at Fusaki Spa

Wellness travelers will find the resort’s spa reason enough to make the trip. Fusaki Spa offers official Bamford treatments which originated in the Cotswolds in England, and emphasizes organic ingredients, skilled touch and a holistic approach to restoration.

At the spa, you can choose between a variety of different treatments. Options range from tension-melting body therapies using botanical oils to bespoke facials. The Bamford Signature, in particular, is recommended — the massage therapist uses warmed and cooled stones during the treatment, releasing muscle tension by running them along your skin.

In addition to the spa, the resort also has a large public open-air bath alongside smaller indoor baths, a sauna and a gym.

Beyond Fusaki Beach Resort Hotel & Villas: What To Do in Ishigaki

While many travelers choose to spend most of their time within the resort’s spacious grounds, Fusaki also serves as an ideal base for exploring Ishigaki. From here, it’s an easy drive to places like Kabira Bay, the island’s famous emerald-green lagoon; the Tamatorizaki Observatory, with sweeping coastal views; and the ferry terminal for day trips to Taketomi, Iriomote and Kuroshima. The hotel can also help you book marine activities, cruises, island tours, eco tours and cultural activities unique to the island.

But if your goal is simply to rest, the resort is set up so that you never need — or want — to leave. Morning yoga on the beach, lazy afternoons between the pool and the sea, long lunches, a treatment at Fusaki Spa and a course dinner at Hanaré create a full, deeply restorative day without ever stepping off the property.