(This story by Jenny Nguyen-Barron first appeared in ForbesLife)

Aman Resorts has seriously elevated the term “urban retreat” with its latest property, Aman Tokyo. Best known for their ultra luxe hideaways in the most breathtaking and isolated parts of the world, Aman has built a staunch following of wealthy vacationers in search of pure luxury, indulgence and privacy. So it’s no surprise that these self-proclaimed “Aman Junkies” have welcomed the chance to enjoy the same height of luxury and seclusion in the middle of bustling Tokyo.

In a city bursting with some of the highest quality 5-star hotels in the world, Aman has taken on a challenging task of standing out from the crowd. But with a strong focus on urban sumptuousness and serenity, the hotel manages to go beyond hotel star ratings to play in its own incredibly luxurious pool.

DESIGN

Being at the top of the 40-storey Otemachi Tower means clear days can afford a spectacular view of Mount Fuji, gesturing to Aman’s roots, which have always been synonymous with nature. Kerry Hill, a long time Aman design collaborator had been commissioned to design a space that evoked the spirit of the Aman name as well as the local Japanese aesthetic. His execution can only be described as immaculate and completely uncompromising.

Entering the main lobby, the soaring 85 ft. ceiling immediately smacks you in the face. Your gaze can’t help but remain upwards in awe of the ceiling space, which is designed to resemble a shoji lantern that’s lined with translucent washi paper backlit by incredibly realistic natural lights. Water features, Japanese gardens and Ikebana (the Japanese art of flower arrangement) plus a kimono-clad musician playing traditional Japanese string instruments create a feeling of tranquility and for lack of a better word, Zen.

ROOMS

With the largest entry-level rooms (around 764 sq. ft.) in the city, guests at Aman Tokyo are certainly not starved for space. All this room affords a large (incredibly comfortable) bed, which is unusually situated in the middle of the room, creating the impression as you sleep, that the space around you is even more abundant than it actually is. A well-designed layout allows for multiple living and dining areas and the pièce de résistance ”“ the bathroom. Heated floors and toilet seats, a rain shower and a luxuriously deep Japanese bathtub overlooking a stunning city view through floor to ceiling windows make it very hard to leave your room.

SPA

It seems irrational to book a room at any Aman without spending a good amount of time relaxing and pampering at the hotel’s lavish spa facilities ”“ a true haven for tranquillity. While a long, relaxing massage will send you off to a dreamland and wipe away any stresses you came with; it’s true that your final bill will take a generous hit. Fortunately you can avoid this by swimming in Aman’s impressive pool while enjoying the equally impressive view, both of which are available to guests free of charge.

FOOD

It’s been said before that food has not been Aman Resorts’ strong point. But this is not the case at Aman Tokyo ”“ Likely because in a city like Tokyo with arguably the world’s highest standards, only the best restaurants serving high quality food can survive. Aman was right to follow suit.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner at the hotel cater to both Japanese and western tastes and a brand new café situated on the ground floor of the Otemachi Tower amongst the green views of the manmade Otemachi Forest offers a seasonal Mediterranean focused menu.

http://www.amanresorts.com/amantokyo/home.aspx

Aman Tokyo
The Otemachi Tower,
1-5-6 Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku,
Tokyo 100-0004, Japan
+81 03 5224 3333

Suite Bedroom

Suite Bathroom

Suite Living Room

Aman Tokyo Pool

Aman Tokyo Lounge

Aman Tokyo Restaurant

Aman Tokyo Library

Aman Tokyo Cafe

Jenny is Melting Butter’s Founding Editor. She’s NYC based via Melbourne, London and Amsterdam. Her hotspot recommendations have also appeared in The Observer, ForbesLife, Belle Magazine, National Geographic Traveler Magazine and Gotham Magazine. Read about Jenny’s favourite hotspots here

(All images courtesy of Aman Tokyo)

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