29 Oct 2019
Onsen and forest bathing underpin Aman's third Japanese site
BY Megan Whitby
Aman has opened its third resort in Japan with a minimalist spa themed around the property's natural spring water and ethereal forest bathing.
The 26-room Aman Kyoto is situated in a hidden garden close to Kinkaky-ji Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, near the centre of the prefecture.
It's been brought to life by the late architect Kerry Hill and his team, who worked on Aman's two other resorts in the country – Aman Tokyo and Amanemu in Ise-Shima National Park.
Hill, an iconic designer, drew on the country's ryokan (traditional inn) and onsen (hot spring) concepts to provide an authentic yet strikingly minimalist and contemporary Kyoto sanctuary.
The natural spring water that flows near Aman Kyoto will be central to the philosophy at the resort’s Aman Spa, and is something of great rarity in the region.
Traditional onsen bathing facilities will use water from the spring, while the treatments on offer tap into Japan’s plentiful natural apothecary – including Kyoto green tea, Tanba kuromame (black beans), saké and cold-pressed tsubaki (camellia) oil.
Also part of the experience are shiatsu, acupuncture and moxa therapies. Moxa is the burning of dried mugwort leaves on certain points of the body.
The 80-acre Aman Kyoto site comprises 72 acres of permanent forest and eight acres of impeccably kept gardens play a starring role at the resort and provide an ethereal setting for guided yoga, meditation and forest bathing. Moss-covered boulders glow emerald-like in the lush undergrowth, streams provide a soothing soundtrack and footpaths meander through a landscape of mature cedar, cypress, camellia and Japanese maple trees.
Aman chair and CEO Vladislav Doronin says: "Aman Kyoto embodies the true spirit of Aman, blending our profound respect for nature with adherence to simple, yet striking, principles of aesthetics and structure."
Aman Kyoto is owned by global investment firm, the Chartered Group, which has been the driving force behind the project.
Doronin concludes: "We look forward to unveiling the many dimensions of Kyoto through the eyes of Aman and sharing the secrets of our enchanting garden."
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