By the looks of things, the new Amanemu resort in Ise Shima National Park could be the setting for an epic fantasy movie. The lush enclave will welcome Japan’s second Aman resort in Spring next year, perched on the shores of Ago Bay, also known as the Bay of Pearls.
The 24 suites and four two-bedroom villas will all boast their own discreet onsen (Japanese for hot springs), and the resort will offer an Aman Spa, lap pool, restaurant and lounge. The location in Shima, within Honshu’s Mie Prefecture, is 300km southwest of Tokyo – and the complete opposite of the metropolis’ hustle and bustle.
Amanemu is named from the Sanskrit word for ‘peace’ and nemu meaning ‘joy’ in Japanese. Aptly named, the retreat has adopted a classic Japanese aesthetic in the ryokan tradition – simply explained as a picturesque Japanese inn.
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 location, at the tip of the Osaki Peninsula, is surrounded by a rugged coastline and rich nature, which includes a bounty of seafood from the teeming waters. Gourmands can also enjoy the renowned Matsusaka variety of Wagyu beef on offer.
The resort’s Japanese cuisine restaurant celebrates the area’s gourmet heritage of Miketsukuni (land of Imperial provisions), and was once known as the breadbasket of the ancient Imperial Court.
“Following on from the opening of Aman Tokyo and continuing the Aman journey in Japan, we intend to create a true Aman experience that will provide our guests with the very best of Japan’s unique natural beauty, exquisite cuisine and omotenashi, the special spirit of hospitality,” said Olivier Jolivet, Aman’s CEO.
