Aman Kyoto Opens in a Forest Garden Near Kinkaku-ji

Aman Kyoto opened on 1 November 2019, becoming the group’s third destination in Japan. The resort occupies a 32-hectare forest estate in the north of the city, within walking distance of the UNESCO-listed Kinkaku-ji temple.

Only three hectares of the site are manicured gardens; the remaining 29 hectares are preserved forest. Accommodation is limited to 26 rooms spread across six guest pavilions, a deliberately small count for a property of this footprint.

The architecture is by Kerry Hill Architects, the practice also behind Aman Tokyo and Amanemu. The garden has been named the Kerry Hill Garden in honour of the architect. Two presidential suites, the Washigamine and Takagamine Pavilions, each have two en-suite bedrooms, separate living and dining areas, a kitchen and tatami rooms, while the four standard categories measure 60 square metres. Every room has a hinoki cypress ofuro bathtub.

Dining is split between the Living Pavilion by Aman, built around a central fireplace and open to outside guests by reservation, and Taka-an, a Japanese restaurant that pays tribute to the artist Honami Koetsu (1558–1637). The kitchen is led by executive chef Kentaro Torii.

The Aman Spa draws on natural spring water, which is rare in the region, for its onsen bathing, and treatments use Kyoto green tea, saké and tsubaki oil. Forest bathing, or shinrin-yoku, is part of the programme.

The resort sits about 30 minutes from Kyoto Station and one hour from Osaka International Airport, surrounded by 17 UNESCO World Heritage Sites.