With something akin to a cult-like status among high-end travellers, Aman Resorts have been the choice of George and Amal Clooney, David Beckham, Jacqueline Kennedy and Princess Diana. So when this A-lister favourite announced the launch of Janu, a socially-focused sister brand, travel aficionados eagerly awaited what would come next.
While the original plan was to launch Janu in Montenegro, this didn't transpire and the company looked to Japan’s bustling capital instead. Janu Tokyo became the brand's first site when it opened in March. Not long after, the group announced it would be bringing the brand to the UAE, with Janu Dubai set to open in 2027.
Ahead of that, The National heads to Janu Tokyo for a flavour of what to expect when it arrives in the Emirates.
The welcome
Arriving at Narita International Airport after a 10-hour flight from Abu Dhabi with Etihad Airways, we whizz through Tokyo’s districts on the 30-minute drive to the Azabudai Hills neighbourhood where we turn into a basement-style car park.
Janu Tokyo staff greet my family and I with cold towels then whisk us inside and through the maze-like first floor of the hotel – which has Italian restaurant Mercato, a Parisian style patisserie and an Aman Essentials luxury boutique – to the lift that takes us to the fifth floor, where the main lobby and hotel reception await.
The first thing I notice is the view of the Eiffel Tower-like Tokyo Tower, glinting in the sunshine just beyond the reception desk. The Janu Bar is also here, as are the grand oversized doors that lead to Hu Jing – the hotel's popular Cantonese eatery – but with both outlets closed in the morning, the vibe is rather chilled. Check-in is polite and efficient, and we're quickly escorted to our room where luggage arrives just a moment later.
The neighbourhood
Part of a mixed-use, multipurpose neighbourhood to the east of Roppongi Hills, Tokyo's affluent Azabudai Hills neighbourhood has been designed as a city within a city.
Centred on three skyscrapers, including the glass-clad Mori JP Tower, Japan's tallest at around 330 metres, the district is home to fascinating architecture, luxury shopping, apartments and lush gardens. An entire underground city exists beneath street level with markets, coffee shops, ateliers, bars and museums.
The room
In a city where standard hotel rooms typically average 20 square metres, the 62 square metre city room is spacious and loaded with natural light. Designed by Belgian architect Jean-Michel Gathy – no stranger to luxury hotels and the same name behind Aman New York – the design ethos is Aman-inspired, think muted tones with a minimalist slant, but there's also something else at play.
A clever combination of eastern and western design features can be found throughout, such as in the sliding partitions separating the bedroom and bathroom that combine traditional Japanese fusuma screens with European atelier-inspired materials. This carries on outside, where dark balcony decking introduces a hint of industrial chic, subtly echoing the iron structure of Tokyo Tower, which looms in the background.
The service
Staff are a young group and while the majority are Japanese, others hail from places like Argentina, Colombia and Nepal. On the ground and basement floors, staff are stationed all along the corridors, something of a necessity in such a busy public area that also means travellers are never too far from someone if assistance is needed.
Despite spending nearly 48 hours in the hotel, I still found myself getting lost going from one level to another thanks to a rather confusing lift system. On one occasion, I stop and ask a member of staff how I can get to the ground level to go for a walk and not only does she call the lift for me, she escorts me down to ground level and out of the building, sharing some local recommendations to check out during my stroll.
The scene
If Aman is the want-for-nothing favourite child of travellers in the know, Janu is its edgy and in-touch-with-its-emotions younger sibling. Much like its sister resorts, service is excellent and unruffled with faultless housekeeping including small gifts at turndown.
But in contrast to Aman, a stay at Janu Tokyo is less exclusive – the room rates are slightly cheaper and restaurants and bars are open to the public. Rather than detracting from our stay, this serves to inject atmosphere into the hotel which, other than early mornings, is consistently buzzy with tourists, guests and well-heeled locals. The lobby, restaurants and bars are excellent spots to watch people walking by, whose styles wouldn't look out of place on an episode of Netflix's Next in Fashion.
Home to one of Tokyo's largest wellness centres – a whopping 4,000 square metres in size – Janu Tokyo also attracts a fitness-focused crowd, noticeable at breakfast time thanks to the number of diners sporting athletic wear. The 25-metre swimming pool is a highlight, spanning several levels and offering private membership, hydrotherapy, group fitness classes, specialist-led programmes and more.
One step outside and I am immediately in the thick of one of Tokyo's newest neighbourhoods – where office workers, tourists and locals go about their business – and pop-up events take place throughout the year.
The food
The hotel has established itself as a strong contender in Tokyo's busy dining scene (more than 137,000 restaurants and counting) with some notable offerings.
We dine at Janu Grill, which is also where breakfast is served via an a la carte menu or multicourse Japanese, American and vegan set menus. There's also a Janu Junior menu with classics like waffles and omelettes, or a mini version of the Japanese set breakfast with steamed porridge, miso soup and grilled fish.
For dinner, we try the Omakase menu (26,000 Japanese yen, $177) at Sumi, which offers a contemporary spin on the traditional Japanese sumibiyaki style of charcoal-fired cooking. This intimate haven hosts only 15 diners, with counter or table seating. Proceedings start with a flourish – welcome drinks are served and the window blinds are raised to reveal fantastic views of an illuminated Tokyo Tower.
And then the real drama begins, as 10 courses of beautifully presented dishes are served. They are all freshly prepared by chefs in the open kitchen. While the menu changes to highlight seasonal ingredients, we enjoy charcoal-grilled aubergine served with fleshy sea urchin, crispy deep-fried tofu, straw-grilled tuna and spiny lobster sashimi, before almost, but not quite, running out of capacity for the creamy Japanese wafer and mascarpone cheese paste dessert.
Insider tip
Explore a world of immersive art with a visit to the rather excellent teamLab Borderless Tokyo, Azabudai Hills in the community's underground city, just a few minutes walk from the hotel. Try to book ahead of time but if that's not possible, Janu Tokyo's concierge service can often secure tickets even when they are seemingly sold out.
High and lows
Aside from the unrivalled views of Tokyo Tower from the balcony, the Janu signature massage treatment is a delight, combining flowing strokes, infused oils and sound vibration therapy to rejuvenate even the weariest travellers.
While the 25-metre swimming pool is a serious treat in the heart of one of the world's busiest capital cities where space is often a premium, it's also bound to be a source of disappointment for families, as children under four are not allowed to use the pool, meaning they'll miss out one of the hotel's crowning facilities.
The verdict
A fresh take on a hotel brand that has a loyal following for a reason, Janu Tokyo is the perfect setting for an urban retreat and builds a solid foundation for the brand's upcoming launch in the DIFC.
The bottom line
Stays from $882 per night, excluding taxes and fees; check-in 3pm, checkout noon
This review was conducted at the invitation of the hotel and reflects hotel standards during this time. Services may change in the future
