It’s an exciting few months for luxury resort brand Aman – on the heels of their planned Dominican Republic property opening in late 2015, the brand has announced plans to open Amanemu in Ise Shima National Park in Honsu’s Mie Profecture, central Japan in the first quarter of 2016. It will be the brand’s first hot spring resort and the second property in Japan.
Celebrating Japan’s ancient onsen (mineral hot spring) tradition in serene natural surroundings, this intimate 24-suite, four-villa property will be perched on the shores of Ago Bay, known as the ‘Bay of Pearls’. The hotel will also feature a large Aman Spa, a lap pool, restaurant and lounge.
Easily accessed via high-speed rail, the hotel is 186 miles southwest of Tokyo, and a quick trip from Nagoya as well. The location is high-profile, yet relaxed — Shima will play host to the G7 Summit in 2016.
Named after the Sanskrit word for ‘peace’ and nemu meaning ‘joy’ in Japanese, Amanemu will adopt a classic Japanese aesthetic in the ryokan tradition to provide an exclusive sanctuary in harmony with its natural surroundings.
Suites will feature spacious terraces and views of Ago Bay, its islands and pearl rafts floating on the calm sea. Each suite will have its own private onsen facilities, while the Aman Spa will offer two expansive onsen bathing pavilions as well as a watsu pool, four treatment suites, a gym and yoga studio.
The resort’s restaurant, serving Japanese cuisine, will celebrate the area’s gourmet heritage of Miketsukuni (land of Imperial provisions), as it was once known as the breadbasket of the ancient Imperial Court.
In addition to exceptional nearby facilities that include an 18-hole championship golf course, Amanemu will offer bespoke Aman Journeys, seeking out the cultural nuances and finest experiences of the region, such as the UNESCO-protected pilgrimage routes of Kumano Kodō and Ise-Jingū, Japan’s most sacred Shintō shrine.
