GREAT EXPECTATIONS

On my way up, I was of course anticipating a beautiful hotel typical of
the Aman group. And perhaps more so in this case, as the bar to impress guests is certainly higher in Tokyo, the city with the most number of “Aman junkies” in the world.

“I was completely unprepared for the cavernous space of light, 30 meters high, that awaited me once the elevator doors opened. Talk about making first impressions count.”

Tokyo is also ground zero for design and technology pushed to the limit. So the pressure was definitely laid thick on Aman to come up with a Tokyo property that would dazzle. Moreover, it had to do so in a most subtle way — if this is even possible. After all, most of its jaded guests have already stayed in amazing hotels all over the world.

READ ABOUT THE BEST NEW HOTEL IN SPAIN

THE LOBBY OF AMAN TOKYO

I was one of these jaded guests and these were my lofty expectations. However, surprise greeted me upon arrival. I’ve stayed everywhere wonderful, but I was completely unprepared for the cavernous space of light, 30 meters high, that awaited me once the elevator doors opened. This was the lobby. Talk about making first impressions count.

Quite unlike any other hotel lobby in Tokyo, this is literally the equivalent of eight floors of space and soft bright light that deliberately extends one’s vision all the way to the top.

WHAT TO DO WITH WASHI PAPER

Then the designers covered the walls of about six of these floors in textured “washi” paper. They stretched these on a wooden shoji frame to resemble a traditional Japanese paper lantern. This gave the lobby an aura of unearthliness appropriate for a hotel so high up.

Meanwhile, at eye level, a calm pool of water lay at the center of attention. This was located somewhere between polished wood, rough grey stone, two Zen rock gardens and a mammoth arrangement of fragile ikebana-inspired greenery.

Then there were the views to take your breath away if you still had any left. I saw the breadth and width of the Tokyo skyline before me. This certainly made for a good combination of earth, sky, and, of course, luxury.

THE PERFECT FIT

Admittedly, this truly 21st century hotel is not for everyone. However minimalists and enthusiasts for Japanese design will immediately appreciate its aesthetics. It is stark, crisp and so seamless. Like a simple but perfectly cut little black designer dress.

READ ABOUT THE AMANEMU IN ISE

At least, this is how I felt, checking in one recent Sunday to happily call Aman Tokyo my home for four days. I was already sufficiently enamored at the outset. Nevertheless, this hotel grows on you and ends up fitting your lifestyle. By the end of my stay, I most definitely would have stayed four months or four years instead of four days — had my credit card allowed this.

Read more about the best hotels and resorts in Japan in Travelife Magazine.

The post Up in the air in Tokyo appeared first on TRAVELIFE Magazine.

The idyllic resort of Amanemu is a good two hours away from Nagoya, the largest city in central Japan. For the most part, you’re on the highway. The scenery outside is of mountains, rice fields, and quiet towns.

Once off the main road, it’s a pleasant drive that winds through forest groves and sleepy hamlets on the way to the famous shrine of Ise. This is one of the most important religious sites in Japan. Japanese have been trooping here for centuries as a rite of religious passage, to seek comfort and solace in the wisdom of the ages.

ABOUT AMANEMU

From Ise Shrine, it’s a short hop to Amanemu, a most luxuriously understated resort on a hill right by the sea. In fact, at first glance it’s almost too refined.

Chances are, you will walk into the reception area and be underwhelmed. You see, this itself is the perfect combination of restrained Japanese aesthetics and Western-style minimalism. So there you are, getting checked in and sitting in the lounge drinking your barley tea. Suddenly the stark simplicity hits you. You start asking yourself exactly it is you have traveled so far for.

THE WORLD OF AMAN

Nothing shouts glamor at Amanemu, even if the rack rates for even a one-night stay here definitely lean in this direction. Instead, everything whispers ever so subtly that you have just entered the world of the discreet and discriminating.

Of course, if you are a luxury traveler in the know, you will go here without hesitation. Or if you are an Aman junkie, as some travelers who fly to various exotic destinations simply to experience an Aman hotel or resort have started calling themselves, you will have booked your stay here without even bothering to leaf through a brochure or to look at online photos.

There is a certain kind of traveler who knows that the Aman resorts always delivers an excellent product. Regardless of where you are in the world of Aman, you see, there is a reason for every decision. This includes everything from location to design.

READ ABOUT LA ESPERANZA GRANADA, THE MOST ROMANTIC WEDDING VENUE IN ANDALUCIA

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION

This remote hilltop site for Amanemu was chosen for its proximity to an area of Japan rich in culture and history. Until now, it has largely remained out of the reach of upmarket travelers because of the lack of comfortable infrastructure.

This area is of course known best for the mysterious third-century grand shrine of Ise. However, this particular area of central Japan is also famous for pearl farms. Traditional Ama women divers still go diving for pearls even today.

To get to Amanemu, it’s about a two-hour drive or train ride from Nagoya, or a short chartered helicopter ride from Nagoya’s Chubu International Airport. I guess you can also take a helicopter from Narita Airport or Haneda Airport, but Chubu International Airport is closer.

Also, the vast tracts of ancient woodlands comprising the famed UNESCO World Heritage Kumano Kodo pilgrimage trails attract many nature lovers. These have remained largely untouched through the centuries. And now, with Amanemu in the same neighborhood, it’s also a pilgrimage site of sorts for luxury travelers seeking the kind of comforts only an Aman resort can offer.

Read more about the best hotels and resorts in Japan in Travelife Magazine.

The post Pilgrimage to Ise appeared first on TRAVELIFE Magazine.

Most of the 24 suites and four two-bedroom villas have views of the bay and of the pearl farms. These also have hot springs bathtubs carved out of black granite that look out onto greenery.

SIMPLE ELEGANCE AT AMANEMU

Apart from these features, Amanemu is simplicity itself. Inside these stark modern structures, you will find wooden interiors along the same lines of a Japanese shrine. The hue of brown is exactly that of a well-polished chopsticks. Inside, you’ll find more somber pottery and utensils that speak of grace and elegance.

As for the architectural features, these are so restrained that you will immediately notice a cup or a book that is not in its place. Even the three plums in a basket on the table were arranged so artlessly and yet so artistically that I preferred to take photos of them than to eat them.

HOW TO FIND PEACE

At Amanemu, you will definitely find your peace. That is, if you don’t carry it within you yet. After entering its premises, almost everything mundane will cease to matter when confronted with the seamless serenity wherever you will look. In fact, this serenity is similar to what pilgrims must experience upon reaching the famous Ise Shrine, which is just a few minutes away.

Trust me. Amanemu is sublime at its best. It will overcome you even before you realize it. By the second day, you will be experiencing joy just by sitting on the sofa on the terrace, gazing at trees and the sea.

ABOUT AMANEMU

Amanemu is quiet and serene so it’s the perfect place to get away from it all. Most of the Amanemu villas have a view of the sea and the pearl farms of Ise, except for the entry-level villas which have views of greenery.

Otherwise, the layouts of the villas at Amanemu are the same. There is the one-bedroom Amanemu villa, which is basically half of a duplex, and they are all of the same size and layout, including a hot springs bathtub. The only difference is the view.

Then you have the two-bedroom Amanemu villas which are two bedrooms joined by a living room and a common bath, although each villa is ensuite anyway. The common bath is a hot springs bath while the ensuite baths are not.

THE LARGEST HOT SPRINGS POOL IN JAPAN

In contrast to the simplicity of the villas, the spa complex is a wondrous maze of water and wellness. It’s located at the end of the estate. The design is beautiful and it has a carefully planned bathing area with a simple wooden tub as focal point.

Meanwhile, the largest outdoor hot springs pool I have ever seen in Japan is just outside. It’s not even a pool, really. Rather, it’s a collection of large and small pools that flow into each other. The pools are surrounded by stylish cabanas, lounging areas and treatment rooms. Here, in one of the treatment rooms looking out onto a rock garden, I had an excellent 90-minute shiatsu massage designed to revitalize and invigorate.

BREAKFAST AT AMANEMU

The next morning, we decided to have breakfast in our room. Meals are also served at the main restaurant. However, we could not tear ourselves away from the serenity we’d so easily become accustomed to overnight. A smiling lady delivered our Japanese breakfast to us in unvarnished wooden boxes.

Each small dish was again placed so picturesquely within its assigned space. So breakfast looked more like an artwork than food. We lingered over our meal, comforted by the understanding that life is best savoured in small but delightful doses at Amanemu. Just like our Japanese bento box breakfast.

Read more about the best hotels and resorts in Japan in Travelife Magazine.

The post Peace at all costs appeared first on TRAVELIFE Magazine.