Situated within a secret garden in Japan’s ancient imperial capital, the Aman Kyoto is scheduled to open 1 November 2019
Aman Resorts has announced it will open a resort in Kyoto, Japan this November, marking the third Aman resort to open in the country following Aman Tokyo and Amanemu. Located near the centre of Kyoto, Aman Kyoto will be situated in a once-forgotten secret garden hidden at the foot of the symbolic Mountain of Hidari Daimonji in Kyoto’s north district of Takagamine, within walking distance of the iconic UNESCO World Heritage Site of Kinkaku-ji Temple (Gold Pavilion).
Aman Kyoto was designed by famed Australian architecture firm, Kerry Hill Architects — who also designed Aman Tokyo and Amanemu. It consists of a series of standalone pavilions, each with a distinct function. The pavilions include the Arrival, Living, Dining, and Spa Pavilions, as well as four Guest Pavilions that house 24 guest rooms with garden or stream views, and two Two-Bedroom Villas that overlook the forest canopy.
The intimate scale of the pavilions will respect the simplicity and appropriateness of traditional Japanese architecture, as well as allowing these contemporary buildings to exist and breath with the landscape. The interiors showcase a neutral, calming Japanese aesthetic, with furniture pieces like Japanese lanterns being custom-designed and exclusive to Aman Kyoto.
The Guest Pavilions and Villas are a contemporary reimagining of the traditional ryokan (traditional inn). Minimalist in their design, the rooms will have floor-to-ceiling windows framing the spectacular natural surroundings, tatami mats covering the floors, and tokonoma providing subtle displays of appreciated artwork. The interiors will be spacious and light-filled, crafted to foster peace, relaxation, and contemplation.
The resort’s gardens will be the heart of the property. The 80-acre site comprises 72 acres of permanent forest and eight acres of exquisite gardens lovingly tended over many decades by the previous owner. A series of manicured platforms, enclosed on one side by a small stream and on another by a wooded hill, will provide the foundations for the pavilions of the resort. Graceful garden stairways and pathways will lead guests through the resort, while a formal lawn at the centre of the site will showcase large granite boulders, to define and hold court over the space.
Aman Kyoto’s signature restaurant in the Dining Pavilion will feature multi-course Japanese haute cuisine with hand-picked local produce, and the Living Pavilion will serve up an all-day menu of home-cooked Kyoto obanzai-style cuisine. Guests can also reserve bamboo picnic hampers to be enjoyed alfresco in the garden or forest glades.
The natural spring water that flows near Aman Kyoto is central to the philosophy at the resort’s Aman Spa—located in the Spa Pavilion—and is a rare and cherished resource in the region. Traditional onsen bathing facilities, using the water from a local spring, will be available to deliver relaxation and healing in their purest forms.
Aman Kyoto is scheduled to open 1 November 2019.
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