Villa Akatsuki

Villa Akatsuki, whose name means “daybreak” in Japanese, sits directly on the white sand of Lipa Noi, on the quiet west coast of Koh Samui. Designed by architect Riccardo Tossani, it is a rare blend of modern Thai and Japanese aesthetics: steep pitched roofs, dark polished timber, slatted doors and long reflecting pools. From the gardens you look out across the Gulf of Thailand to the Five Islands, and at dusk, with the pools lit up, the whole estate glows.

Water runs through the heart of the villa. A three-level pool faces the sea, with a thirteen-metre main pool, a long reflection pool and a children’s pool with a shallow end, so swimming, paddling and simply gazing are all a few steps apart. Loungers and blue parasols dot the lawn, and a dining pavilion with a barbecue looks over the pool to the beach, alongside an alfresco deck for meals by the sand. Indoors there is a sociable living room, a theatre room with an 85-inch screen and surround sound, an indoor spa with two massage beds and a jacuzzi, a fully equipped gym, table tennis, a motorised mahjong table and a kitchen with a wine cellar and a Japanese shaved-ice maker. Outside, a tennis court, basketball court and beach volleyball keep active guests busy.

Six bedrooms carry Japanese names, from Umi, the ocean-facing master suite, to Sora, Raku, Kokoro, Nami and Yume, each with a work desk, walk-in closet, coffee machine, Japanese-style smart toilet and yukata robes. Several suit families: Umi adds two single beds on a mezzanine, Kokoro has a small adjoining single room, and Raku has a loft with two futon mattresses. Breakfast is included, private chef service is available, and a villa manager, concierge, housekeepers and night-time security look after everything.