Hotel review: Aman Tokyo is a tranquil sanctuary in the heart of a city that never sleeps

Aman Tokyo boasts a total of 84 suites and signature suites, all with unique layouts and spectacular views of the city. Just like the main lobby, every room was designed and decorated with inspiration taken from traditional Japanese residences. Classic Japanese materials such as timbers, wash paper and stone feature harmoniously with modern tech fittings and luxurious fabrics.

We were hosted in a Deluxe Suite, which offers vast and unblocked views of the Imperial Palace Gardens, skyscrapers all over Tokyo and the iconic Mount Fuji on the horizon, which can be seen on a clear day (sadly, we could not witness this).

However, the main highlight of every suite offered in Aman Tokyo is undoubtedly the large furo—a deep soaking bathtub, intrinsic to the Japanese ritual of bathing. The hotel thoughtfully offers a little booklet of instructions for guests to use when drawing themselves a traditional Japanese bath and a small, aromatic Hinoki pouch to be soaked into the tub ten minutes before bathing. The refreshing aroma of the Hinoki helps to maintain a good balance between the body and mind while relaxing and revitalising the senses.

Soaking in a Hinoki bath is a tradition that has long been appreciated for centuries and being able to experience this in a property like Aman Tokyo truly elevates the stay.

Is it really a visit to an Aman property without indulging in its spa services? The Aman Spa in Tokyo is reportedly the largest hotel spa in the city spanning 2,500 sqm and occupying two floors within the entire property. Available beauty treatments include facials, massages, acupuncture (including facial acupuncture), full-body scrubs and wraps, and more.

We experienced the Signature Spa Treatment, which began with a deeply relaxing, mineral-rich foot ritual. According to Aman, this is also symbolic of an act of humble service that fosters trust, helping their guests to fully benefit from the treatments that follow. It is recommended that you inform your masseuse about any pain points or highlight any specific feeling that you want to overcome or achieve to receive the best treatment possible as this can be easily customised to your needs. 

Aman Spa Tokyo also offers an exclusive series of wellness packages that are aptly named, Aman Tokyo Seasonal Journeys. These invigorating Journeys allow guests to tap into the energy of each changing season through an innovative combination of treatments and natural ingredients. Each Journey comprises a 30-minute body scrub or wrap, followed by a 90-minute full-body massage using Japanese herbs, plants and teas.

Besides wellness treatments and fitness activities, a must-visit for guests is the aesthetically pleasing heated pool, which measures 30 square metres in size. The pool offers stunning panoramic city views, which guests can soak in while resting in one of the luxurious lounge chairs before or after a swim. On hand are attentive hotel staff members who will take care of your needs, from premium water to healthy and refreshing snacks.

The dining options at Aman include two main restaurants and an all-day dining lounge. Arva is an Italian restaurant on the 33rd floor of Aman Tokyo, the same level as the main lobby. Tucked in a corner and featuring floor-to-ceiling windows that boast expansive view of the city, the restaurant offers bold and creative Italian dishes. It also has an impressive eight-metre-tall cellar, stocked with over 850 selected wines from around the world.

Guests can opt to have breakfast at Arva too, but we chose to have our daily breakfast in the suite for a more intimate experience and to enjoy the view of the city early in the morning.

For an authentic Japanese dinner, Mushashi by Aman is worth visiting for its Edomae-style sushi. Here, the sushi is made with the freshest ingredients including fish from the local market that has been hand-selected by its master sushi chef, Hiroyuki Musashi. He personally grows and harvests the rice in his birthplace of Yamanashi prefecture for his sushi rice. But that’s not the only artisanal item offered at the restaurant. The chef also makes sake using the same rice and serves his dishes on pottery that he made.

But our favourite dining establishment was the new La Patisserie by Aman, located on the basement level of the hotel building. The newly opened pastry shop offers a selection of decadent French pastries such as petit-gateau and whole cakes, as well as homemade bread. A range of gift items are also available for purchase, including Aman’s original olive oil (which we enjoyed with bread at Arva). Its olive oil is made using the cima di melfi variety, which is native to Basilicata, Italy. It is grown, harvested, and made into oil on the same farm and carefully crafted without heating or extra filtration, allowing one to fully enjoy the original fresh scent and spicy nuances of olives.

The pieces of artwork on display at Aman Tokyo deserve special mention. Each piece has been carefully curated to showcase the creativity of local Japanese artists. For the artworks at Aman Tokyo, nature plays an integral part in the subject matter of each piece. The piece titled, Walking In A Late Autumn Forest, located on the first floor of the property was made using leaves that were collected from a nearby larch forest.

But art is made easily accessible for everyone at Aman Tokyo as each guest suite is fitted with exquisite calligraphy. 

Besides art appreciation, guests can also take advantage of bespoke experiences at Aman Tokyo which were designed exclusively with the Aman guest in mind.

There are currently three experiences available including a relaxing sunset boat ride down the Sumida River, an immersive art tour to soak in Tokyo’s rich cultural heritage and visit renowned art galleries and a behind-the-scenes look at sumo, Japan’s national sport.

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