Aman Tokyo

Occupying the top six floors of Otemachi Tower, Aman Tokyo is like a ryokan in the sky, offering the charm and authenticity of rural Japanese inns while inviting the city’s electric energy in through floor-to-ceiling windows. The experience of entering the lobby is difficult to capture in words or imagery: beneath a breathtaking lantern sat 30 metres high, a prominent Ikebana sits atop a calming water feature complemented by two traditional Japanese rock gardens. Creating a well-choreographed encounter that inspires that feeling of “I’ve arrived”. The 84 guest rooms and suites celebrate Japanese tradition with the use of camphor wood, washi paper and kakou gan granite, each with tranquil ensuite bathrooms that feature large furo soaking tubs overlooking views of Tokyo. Amanemu is located in Ise-Shima National Park, surrounded by sacred forests and Unesco World Heritage trails. To get there, it’s a three-hour drive—or a 25-minute helicopter ride—from Nagoya airport. The property’s proximity to Ago Bay looms large, from panoramic poolside views to nods to the region’s historic pearl diving culture, which dates back over 3,000 years. The menu showcases local ingredients, such as Matsusaka—a coveted variety of Wagyu—foraged herbs, and seafood from nearby waters. Amanemu’s large, freestanding pavilions are clad in dark, charcoal-tinted timbers set below tiled, Japanese minka-inspired roof lines. The intimate property features just 24 suites and six two-bedroom, steep-roofed, black cedar villas, which pay homage to Ise Jingu, Japan’s most revered Shinto shrine.

Tatler Tip:

Arrange a visit to a local Ama diver’s hut and savour hand-caught seafood as you listen to stories about the traditional and unique lifestyle of Ise-Shima’s female free divers.