The Hamptons of Asia: Where the Ultra-Rich Buy Their Weekend Retreats

As the Hamptons empty out with the post-Labor Day exodus, half way around the world some of Asia's favorite weekend retreats are gearing up for the best weather of the year. Summer monsoons are giving way to dryer and cooler temperatures across Southeast Asia and India, while autumns in Japan are a leaf peeper's dream.

Indeed, while the season at Sag Harbor and Amagansett lasts a few short few months, Asia's moneyed class enjoy their holiday homes all year long thanks to subtropical climates. Although there's no direct equivalent to the Hamptons for most of the big financial centers in Asia, the region's excellent rail and air networks (and growing fleet of private jets) allow wealthy weekenders to congregate in second homes that are only a couple of hours from the office.