Janu Tokyo, the Aman Group’s latest hotel, opened its doors on March 13, 2024
The opening’s inaugural cohort of guests included many longtime Aman patrons, or “Amanjunkies” as they are affectionately known as. Janu Tokyo represents not only a new property for the group but the first of an entirely new brand with its own distinct identity. Which begs the question, what makes Aman, Aman, and Janu, Janu?
Janu draws from the provenance of its much revered older sibling. Deeply ingrained in its DNA is a keen understanding of luxury, an unparalleled attentiveness to the needs and whims of guests, and a rootedness in the ever-shifting hospitality industry. That being said, Janu diverges from its progenitor in novel and welcome ways. In Sanskrit, Aman means peace and Janu means soul. This is our first clue. If Aman is sanctuary, Janu is connectedness. It targets a guest who is defined by a more open attitude towards exploration, both of the property and its surrounding locale. Janu’s gamble is simple: that such exploration might lead to adventure and unforgettable memories. It is a gamble that has paid off.
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Departing from Aman’s preference for secluded sites, Janu is located at the heart of Azabudai Hills. Completed in 2023, this vibrant new neighborhood was developed by the MORI Building Co. Ltd., one of Japan’s top developers that brought us Roppongi Hills, Omotesando Hills, and Toranomon Hills, to name a few. Azabudai Hills houses major freestanding flagship stores of Hermès and Dior, an amazing food hall, and new dining concepts. The neighborhood begs to be explored; an adventure that might take up the entire duration of one’s stay if not for the fact that Janu Tokyo itself offers guests so much.
Janu Tokyo is a 122-room hotel with an entry-level room size of 55 sq. meters. All rooms and suites are perfectly well appointed, as one would expect of any Aman hotel. Every possible need is anticipated. Most rooms and suites have private balconies with views of the city skyline or the Azabudai Hills greenery and bustling retail flagships. Many rooms and suites interconnect, so they are perfect for families and even friend groups. I loved my corner suite with a great view of Tokyo Tower’s changing colors.
Dining- Eight food and beverage outlets make Janu a destination within a destination
Hu-Jing (Chinese Restaurant)
My first meal was at Hu-Jing, the Chinese restaurant. Quite frankly, I don’t recall ever eating in a Chinese restaurant in Japan. But I’m so glad I ate there. The Peking Duck caught me off guard at first glance. It was the smallest and leanest duck I had ever seen. It also happened to be the crispiest and most flavorful duck I have ever tasted. It was unusually wrapped: tautly like a spring roll. Eating it in small bites with no mess was so elegant. Other comfort food specialties included a decadent rendition of beef with broccoli served using cubes of Omi A5 Wagyu with peppered oyster sauce, as well as a chicken noodle soup boiled for 48 hours leaving the slivered chicken breast so tender and the broth almost milky white. Imagine all the collagen? I could go on and on, but I leave you to make discoveries on your own.
Sumi
Sumi means charcoal in Japanese. It is where sumi-e comes from, the term for that legendary Japanese genre of blank ink painting. And much like that revered art form, charcoal serves as the vehicle through which masterpieces are made. I have always enjoyed food cooked on a charcoal grill, but eating an entire meal cooked on a charcoal grill, with some dishes even infused directly with charcoal smoke, was new to me. The omakase meal served nothing but the best ingredients, which were in no way overpowered by the restaurant’s unique choice of preparation method. Paired with artisanal Hikoichi Sake from Tsukinoi and ending with cheese and ice cream heated on a charcoal grill, it was memorable to say the least.
Janu Grill
This grill restaurant serves the highest quality meat and seafood, with much of the produce sourced locally. I love Wagyu but am rarely able to consume over 200 grams of it as the marbling can be a little too overwhelming. But my Omi A5 Wagyu was so lean and tender that I inhaled my steak in minutes.
Another welcome discovery was the amazing Janu gin. Gin is typically made by distilling a neutral grain (wheat or barley) with Juniper berries and other botanicals to give it the fragrant spirit we all love. The Janu gin is made a little differently. It used rice as a base! Infused with the traditional juniper berries as well as some curveballs like sakura blossoms and tonka bean created an extremely rich, yet subtle, fragrant gin. Pairing it with Japanese yuzu and tonic water made for a simple yet unbeatable cocktail.
Iigura
Iigura serves the centuries-old tradition of Edomae-style sushi. Edomae, or Edo, is the old word for Tokyo. The Edo period which lasted for 260 years, was the so-called Samurai era. Dishes were prepared using seafood caught from Edo Bay (Tokyo Bay). Chef Shinohara does his own reinterpretation of this cuisine using the best ingredients paired with artisanal and top-brand sakes and presented in the most beautiful porcelain plates and sake crystal glasses. I felt like a modern-day princess with the impeccable presentation and seamless service.
Janu Patisserie
Every pastry was produced like a piece of edible sculpture. Something you would always expect from a Japanese patisserie. Whether to be devoured in your suite or in the pastel-colored patisserie as delicious looking as the pastries itself, you will not be disappointed.
Janu Wellness
The 4000 sqm wellness space contains a 340 sqm gym—the largest hotel workout center in the city. With a 25-meter indoor lap pool, indoor heated lounge pool, two private spa houses, nine treatment rooms, and five fitness studios equipped with hydrotherapy and thermal areas, this is a hard one to beat. The signature Janu massage is tailormade to one’s needs. I had the pleasure of having a therapist named Haruna with ultra-warm healing hands. We Asians are typically massage junkies. We know a good therapist when we experience one. I hear Haruna is only one of many gifted therapists at Janu. With an amazing spa and wellness offering, one would need several visits to experience all.
With the expansive offering at Janu and Azabudai Hills’ mall and top flagship stores, the Mori Group has successfully embraced a “Modern Urban Village” making it a unique destination. I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Hiroo Mori while dining at the Janu Grill. I recounted how my family and I experienced the 7.2 earthquake last January while on the 52nd floor of the Mori Museum and felt very safe despite the movement. Most buildings in Tokyo are not only beautiful but also built as earthquake-resistant structures. Various systems of springs or ball bearings, shock absorbers, or rubber bearings allow buildings to sway with movement rather than snapping. Currently, the tallest building in Tokyo is the Azabudai Hills Mori JP Tower which stands tall at 325.2 meters. It is also home to the luxurious Aman Residences, Tokyo. With the quality of design and construction of Janu and Azabudai Hills, one is assured of utmost safety amidst good innovative architectural design.
Despite my rather comprehensive stay, I failed to partake of all Janu had to offer. I must return to try Janu Mercato and the extremely well-stocked Janu Bar and Terrace. Perhaps there might even be live jazz at the bar when I visit again. Wishful thinking? There is a saying that one must always leave something to go back to. With its innumerable amenities and symbiotic relationship with the still-evolving Azabudai Hills, there will always be something new to go back to.
For any comments or questions: You may contact the author at maja.olivares-co@ssoa.ph
Photos courtesy of Maja Olivares-Co, Janu Tokyo, and Aman Group Sarl