Mast Brothers Cupcake

I’m dreaming about the Mast Brothers cupcake I had last month in Williamsburg.  The cake itself was alright, but the frosting? Wow.  Creamy, buttery, deep chocolate decadence!

Hoshinoya Taketomi Hotel

Planning to escape to Taketomi?  If you’re ready to splurge, Hoshinoya is the hotel for you.  Being a historical island with very little development, this is a place for star gazers.

Sobatei Takenoko

You don’t think I’d post about Taketomi without some foodie posts, did you? :)  My husband is a noodle fanatic so he tried to get as many bowls of okinawan soba in his stomach as possible.  Sobatei Takenoko on the northwest side of ‘downtown’ Taketomi was one of our favorites.  Friendly service, a homey atmosphere, great noodle texture and homemade soup make this place a must-eat!  Plus, it’s just a stone’s throw from West Pier, which makes it convenient too!

Taketomi Island Beaches

It’s surprising that Taketomi is so low key.  With beaches like this, I’d expect more of a Waikiki situation, but that’s not the case at all.  There are no beach hawkers or over priced vendors.  In fact, you won’t even find a vending machine.  It’s as if you’ve discovered a pristine paradise that no one knows about yet.  Just park your bike rental and enjoy.

Taketomi Island, Okinawa

Ishigaki is a great island to use as a hub for exploring many of the Yaeyama Islands including Yonaguni, Iriomote, Kohama, Hateruma, and Taketomi.  All of these islands are connected by a high speed ferry, which runs from early morning to early evening.  You can also stay overnight at most of these islands.  Taketomi is a small island just a 10 minute ride from Ishigaki, and in that 10 minutes, you travel back through time a few hundred years.