Openings
Opening 2029 (earlier reporting floated 2027)

Soneva

Soneva Okinawa

Soneva's first property in Japan, on the uninhabited Gushikawa Island in Okinawa Prefecture

Gushikawa Island, Okinawa, Japan

First look

Soneva is heading to Japan for the first time, and it has picked an unusual address: Gushikawa, an uninhabited island in Okinawa Prefecture sitting between Iheya and Izena. The working-name project is announced and under development, with the opening reported for 2029 (earlier reporting floated 2027, so we will take the timeline as a moving target until the brand commits). The plan on paper runs to roughly 129 keys, split between about 106 low-rise land rooms and around 23 overwater villas, for something like 500 guests at capacity.

What we will be watching for is whether Soneva carries its barefoot, slow-luxury template into a Japanese setting rather than a Maldivian one, and how the overwater villas read in Okinawa's waters versus the Indian Ocean originals. There is no dedicated official page yet, so the room split and timing could still shift. Reporting comes from Nikkei Asia, the Skift Daily Lodging Report and regional Okinawa outlets; once Soneva publishes a property page we will firm up the details.

Not yet scored. We publish a Fat Score only once a hotel is open and real guests have stayed and written about it — this is a first look, not a verdict.

Open now

What you can book today

Soneva Okinawais still under wraps. Here's what's already open and scored in our collection — more from Soneva, and nearby in Japan.

Soneva Fushi — Baa Atoll, Maldives
Fat Legend

Soneva

Soneva Fushi

Baa Atoll, Maldives

Soneva Fushi invented the template that half the Maldives is still trying to copy — shoes confiscated at arrival, bicycles handed over, and a dense jungle island that feels genuinely wild rather than manicured into submission. What separates it from the pack isn't one killer feature but the compounding effect of excellence across every dimension: the Barefoot Butlers are among the most praised in the Indian Ocean, the dining program spans multiple distinct restaurants (with Fresh in the Garden and Out of the Blue drawing repeat visits even on long stays), and the half-board structure is unusually generous for a property at this price point. The Baa Atoll UNESCO Biosphere Reserve location gives it a snorkeling and marine life edge that more polished, reef-deficient rivals simply can't manufacture. Longtime guests do flag that some of the island's authentic jungle is slowly thinning under recent changes, and a small number of beach villas draw criticism for noise and wildlife intrusion — the open-to-nature construction is a feature to some and a flaw to others. But with a Telegraph Top 50 ranking, a Condé Nast seal, and an extraordinary proportion of repeat guests, Fushi's position as the defining barefoot-luxury experience in the Maldives remains unchallenged.

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Soneva Jani — Noonu Atoll, Maldives
Fat Favorite

Soneva

Soneva Jani

Noonu Atoll, Maldives

Soneva Jani delivers one of the Maldives' most spectacular experiences — massive overwater villas with private waterslides, lush eco-luxury, and service that genuinely anticipates your needs. The property excels at creating magical moments (surprise honeymoon cakes, butlers who arrive in five minutes) while maintaining its environmental ethos without compromising indulgence. However, families dominate the scene, making it less ideal for romantic escapes, and the dining, while good, doesn't match the excellence of the accommodations. The sheer scale requires constant buggy transport, but that expansiveness also creates unparalleled privacy once you're in your villa.

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Aman Kyoto — Kyoto, Japan
Fat Approved

Aman

Aman Kyoto

Kyoto, Japan

Kerry Hill's forest sanctuary occupies a three-generation garden in Kyoto's foothills, delivering Aman's signature minimalist aesthetic within 32 hectares of maples and bamboo. The 26 pavilions feel like a modern ryokan, with hinoki baths and tatami accents, but the property's isolation — 30 minutes from central Kyoto — demands commitment to the retreat experience. Service fluctuates between exceptional personal attention and surprising gaps for a $4,000/night hotel, while the lack of a gym or pool may disappoint some luxury travelers. The onsen and Taka-An restaurant justify the splurge, but this works best as a forest recharge between city stays rather than a Kyoto exploration base.

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Aman Tokyo — Tokyo, Japan
Fat Favorite

Aman

Aman Tokyo

Tokyo, Japan

Aman Tokyo remains the most architecturally arresting hotel in the city — Kerry Hill's soaring washi-paper ceilings, stone soaking tubs, and floor-to-ceiling views over the Imperial Palace Gardens create a hard product so compelling that even detractors concede it. The 33rd-floor lobby arrival is the defining urban hotel moment in Tokyo, and the pool is simply in another class. Where the hotel divides opinion is service: at its best — particularly in the restaurant, where staff like Niccolo Brachelente anticipate your needs before you voice them — it lives up to every Aman legend; at its worst, the concierge struggles to secure top-tier sushi reservations and breakfast hours can feel surprisingly rigid for the price point. In-room dining quality has slipped recently enough to generate real discussion, and the property shows its age in certain fixtures relative to newer competition like Bulgari. But for the traveler who values the hard product above all — the scale, the views, the bathing ritual — no other city hotel in Tokyo comes close, and the 50 Best ranking is deserved.

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From the desk

Get the first-look verdict

We publish our verdict the week Soneva Okinawa opens. Get it in the monthly note, before the rest of the internet catches up.

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