Aman’s New Lifestyle Hotel Brand Has Launched—Here’s What to Expect

The Dinogo Perspective

With the launch of Janu Tokyo in March 2024, nestled within a stunning residential tower in Tokyo’s vibrant Azabudai Hills area, a fresh luxury brand has arrived in Japan. This highly anticipated opening marks the debut of a sister brand to Aman Resorts, one of the globe’s leading luxury hotel collections.

Aman, celebrated for its secluded resorts catering to a star-studded clientele and premium price points, identified a niche for a new type of hotel. According to Aman CEO Vlad Doronin, these establishments aim to maintain “Aman’s” exceptional design and warm service, while fostering a soulful experience that encourages connections through music, dining, and wellness. Thus, Janu (meaning “soul” in Sanskrit) was born, offering a more playful—and slightly more affordable—alternative to the serene and exclusive ambiance synonymous with Aman since the opening of its first resort in Phuket, Thailand, in 1988.

For its first location in Tokyo, Janu enlisted renowned architectural designer Jean-Michel Gathy and his Kuala Lumpur–based Denniston Architects studio to craft the interiors. They combine Japanese minimalism with European elements, featuring oversized French lampshades emerging from mirror-clad lobby walls and curvy sofas adorned in vibrant upholstery. Those familiar with Aman’s resorts will notice many signature elements, including generous spaces filled with natural light and the branded luggage tag attached to your suitcase upon checkout.

In the coming years, twelve additional Janu properties are planned to debut in destinations like Dubai, Thailand, and Türkiye.

Who’s it suitable for?

While its elder sibling, the tranquil Aman Tokyo, serves as a retreat from the city’s hustle, Janu immerses its guests right in the action. With numerous bars and restaurants both within the hotel and the vibrant Azabudai Hills area, it's an ideal spot for sociable couples. The expansive spa and indoor swimming pool offer a sanctuary for wellness enthusiasts, and the gym—Tokyo's largest—boasts 3,700 square feet of top-tier Technogym equipment and five dedicated workout studios, catering to fitness lovers.

The setting

Janu Tokyo is the sole hotel in the newly opened Azabudai Hills, a charming complex filled with parks, luxury boutiques, and residential buildings located to the west of the iconic red-and-white Tokyo Tower. Beneath the complex’s gently sloping rooftop gardens, designed by London’s Heatherwick Studio, visitors can explore delicatessens, health food cafés, and stalls from long-established Japanese fishmongers, dashi powder producers, and tea artisans.

TeamLabs Borderless, the immensely popular immersive digital art space that was previously situated in Tokyo’s distant harbor district, has also relocated to this complex.

The Kamiyacho metro station, accessible via an underground passage, offers direct trains to popular spots like Ginza and Roppongi, making Janu an ideal starting point for city exploration.

The accommodations

In contrast to the vibrant decor of Janu’s dining and communal spaces, the 122 guest rooms—41 of which are suites—offer a serene retreat. Each room is a peaceful haven featuring clean lines and calming hues of teal, cream, and gray, subtly influenced by Japanese design through textured sakan plaster art on the walls and sliding doors reminiscent of shoji screens. As with all Aman hotels, a significant portion of each room is dedicated to a spa-like bathroom, complete with a deep soaking tub, walk-in rain shower, and automated Japanese Toto toilets with heated seats. All rooms and most suites feature private balconies overlooking the greenery of Azabudai Hills or the vast cityscape of Tokyo—consider booking one of the Corner Suites or City View Suites for stunning floor-to-ceiling views of the iconic Tokyo Tower, which beautifully illuminates at night.

Culinary offerings

With eight restaurants and bars catering to both overnight guests and casual diners, the hotel is as much a culinary destination as it is a place to rest. For guests, mornings begin at Janu Grill, a stylish steakhouse combining NYC flair with Japanese influences, where à la carte breakfasts include expansive Japanese spreads with grilled fish and miso soup or continental options with pancakes, pastries, and fresh fruit. As the day progresses, it transitions into a relaxed venue for lunch and dinner, featuring a meat-centric menu and an extensive wine selection. On the ground floor, Mercato serves brunch through dinner, offering Italian comfort food from its marble-clad deli counters showcasing cured meats, house-made pastas, and seafood on ice. Next to it, the Janu Patisserie tempts with pastries and parfaits adorned with flower petals and gold flakes that are almost too beautiful to eat.

For an Asian flavor, Hu Jing delivers a modern take on Cantonese cuisine, featuring Peking duck, dim sum, and steamed fish complemented by an impressive selection of natural wines, all set against a backdrop of red lacquer decor reminiscent of 1920s Shanghai. Tucked away on the mezzanine level above the ground-floor gallery is Iigura, a sushi restaurant where chef Kunihiro Shinohara serves Edomae-style sashimi on a spacious hinoki wood counter. The cozy Sumi specializes in charcoal-grilled omakase menus, using seasonal ingredients, premium wagyu, and top-quality tuna.

While most dining venues feature dedicated bars for pre-dinner drinks, the Janu Bar at the end of the Lobby Lounge stands out. Known for its custom Okinawan tea blend served during afternoon tea, each of its signature cocktails encapsulates the essence of a Tokyo neighborhood. The cocktail selection includes a sukiyaki-inspired twist on the Old Fashioned made with beef fat-washed bourbon, reflecting the abundance of sukiyaki restaurants in the Ningyocho district, and a blend of matcha, rose, and orchid milk that pays homage to the geisha district of Kagurazaka.

Service and staff

Like many luxury hotels in Tokyo, the staff boasts a diverse mix of nationalities, resulting in a range of service styles from casual and friendly American vibes to the refined hospitality characteristic of Japanese omotenashi. Regardless, the staff from the check-in desk to the dining areas were consistently warm and genuinely eager to assist.

Accessibility

Multiple spacious elevators provide access to every floor and public area, with three rooms featuring accessibility enhancements such as roll-in showers and grab bars in the bathrooms.

Urban wellness

Emphasizing wellness, the hotel boasts an impressive 43,000 square feet dedicated to its spa and fitness center. This facility is equipped with an extensive range of TechnoGym equipment and training rigs from Italian brand Outrace. Guests can participate in daily group classes or opt for private sessions led by experts in one of five specialized studios, featuring a high-tech golf simulator, a Muay Thai boxing ring, and a yoga room. The wellness amenities include a stunning 82-foot lap pool and a separate heated lounge pool, alongside gender-separated hydrotherapy areas offering Japanese baths, steam rooms, and cold plunge pools. Notably, the two Spa Houses (an Aman hallmark) feature private treatment rooms, hot and cold plunge pools, an indoor-outdoor hydrotherapy area, and the option of a full-fledged hammam or banya lounge. From $944