Hotel Hamahigashima Resort

Hamahiga is one of the four islands you can drive or ride to across Kaichu Doro, and this small hotel sits above Muruku beach with a private stairway down to the sand. There are 26 rooms, the superior twins at 42 square metres with a wide view of the sea. Breakfast is served in Restaurant Hapina, which seats 40 behind big windows, and dinner is either creative French built on local produce or an Okinawan spread with awamori. The airport is about 70 minutes away using the expressway.

A winter guest gets the beach for walks, and the hotel publishes nothing on heating the pool. Hamahiga makes a quiet place to sleep after the Kaichu Doro ride, and the sacred sites of Amamichu and Shirumichu are on the island. Ask the hotel about a place for the bike.