In December 2024, I checked into the Premier Room at Janu Tokyo. Occupying the first 13 levels of Residence A Tower of the glitzy Azabudai Hills skyscraper complex, the 122-room hotel is the first and flagship property of the new Janu brand launched from the Aman group.
The “modern urban village” Azabudai Hills houses a selection of cafes, restaurants and high-end boutiques, including Tokyo’s largest Hermès store. Haneda International Airport and Narita International Airport are 30 and 90 minutes away by car respectively, while Tokyo Station is less than 15 minutes away; the Tokyo Kamiyachō (Hibiya Line) and Roppongi-Itchome (Namboku Line) metro stations are a short walk away. Nearby attractions include the popular teamLab Borderless Tokyo as well as sister developments Roppongi Hills and Toranomon Hills.
For the uninitiated, the Janu brand (the word means ‘soul’ in Sanskrit) is dedicated to social connections, collective exploration and uplifting experiences, which sets it apart from its sibling brand Aman’s focus on exclusivity, serenity and privacy. There are multiple Janu openings in the pipeline, in locations including Dubai and Thailand.
Notable nearby hotels include The Tokyo EDITION Toranomon, The Okura Tokyo, The Ritz-Carlton Tokyo, Andaz Tokyo and Grand Hyatt Tokyo. Aman properties in Japan include Aman Tokyo, Aman Kyoto and Amanemu.
The UTW (“Under Ten Words”): The Ethereal Aman Tokyo’s Earth(l)y, Social-Focused Sibling In Azabudai Hills.
The must-dos (if any): Enjoy the luxurious bath amenities in your room; have breakfast at Janu Grill; spend time in the spa/fitness centre; indulge in a sumibiyaki experience at Sumi.
JANU TOKYO
Designed by longtime Aman collaborator Jean-Michel Gathy and his Denniston consulting firm (who also designed Jumeirah Bali, Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok at Chao Phraya River, Aman New York and Marina Bay Sands as well as the upcoming Aman Nai Lert Bangkok and Rosewood Hoi An), the hotel marries Japanese minimalism with European flair – think an abundance of natural light, large empty spaces and dramatic French lampshades. On the ground level, two Aman Essentials boutiques retailing skincare, accessories and apparel quietly underline the hotel’s Aman connection. Upon your arrival for check-in at the fifth-floor lobby, you are immediately greeted by an impressive floor-to-ceiling direct view of the Eiffel-esque Tokyo Tower, a structure capable of being admired from the private balconies of many of the rooms.
The hotel offers a whopping eight dining destinations: Janu Grill, the 4F grill restaurant where breakfast is served; afternoon tea space Janu Lounge, cocktail concept Janu Bar and Chinese restaurant Hu Jing on the 5th level; sushi restaurant Iigura on the 2nd level; street level concepts Janu Patisserie and Italian restaurant Janu Mercato; and charcoal grill omakase restaurant Sumi, which is accessible via a private elevator steps away from the main building entrance which connects you to the main Azabudai Hills shopping complex.
The hotel’s crown jewel is their spa and wellness facility, which spans four floors and over 4,000sqm. The fitness centre is Tokyo’s largest, with Technogym, SkillX and Outrace equipment – think battle ropes, wall balls, punching bag, gym ladders, ball trampoline and many more, a playground perfect for Crossfit and Hyrox enthusiasts – as well as a golf simulator, a boxing ring, a yoga studio, a private personal training studio (complete with state-of-the-art InBody body composition analysis technology which I only have access to at my own personal training gym in Singapore) and even a spin studio. Rental of fitness attire and shoes (On Cloudflow shoes, specifically) is complimentary. The fitness centre is open not just to hotel guests but also to those with a membership, and the latter have access to an exclusive relaxation lounge not available to hotel guests.
On the aquatic side of things, the spa offers a 25-metre swimming pool and heated lounge pool along with Japanese baths, hydrotherapy and thermal facilities. At night, the swimming pool space was bathed in a warm, sensually orange glow, and it dawned on me that, while Aman Tokyo was celestial in its place (literally) in the sky above, its lower-floor sister property was one of an earth(l)ier persuasion.
For those who seek extraordinary pampering, the hotel offers seven treatment rooms as well as two Spa Houses, each with hydrotherapy facilities and either a Banya (a Russian-style wood-lined sauna) or Hammam (a Turkish-style steam room with a large heated marble treatment table).
While it is natural that special guest experiences (e.g. personal training, private tours, meeting a geisha etc) would incur additional charges, I had enjoyed various complimentary experiences at other ultra-luxury hotels (e.g. a group Qi Flow class at Jumeirah Bali, a memorable matcha-whisking session at Aman Kyoto etc). Given the hotel’s dedication to collective experiences as well as emphasis on fitness classes as a focal point of its marketing, I was surprised and disappointed to learn that, in the entire schedule of wellness activities that ranged from yoga, meditation and mat pilates sessions to Skill X and Outrace-based workout classes, the only experience which was complimentary was a 15-minute stretch session, which I duly attended. The team and our instructor himself caveated prior to the session that the latter was not conversant in English, but he was nonetheless effective in instruction.
PREMIER ROOM
Boasting a large private balcony overlooking the Tokyo cityscape, the 65sqm Premier Room plays it all understated, calming shades of neutral greys, creams and sable, with energising flashes of amber courtesy of strategically placed cushions. The room is fitted with various technological flourishes, from a smart tablet to access guest services and dimmable lighting to USB-C ports and automatic blinds. Features such as the retractable TV screen and Japanese shoji screen-esque sliding partitions which can separate the bedroom and bathroom areas allow you to adjust the expanse of the room as desired. The pantry offers Janu-branded specialty teas and Nespresso coffee facilities, while the minibar comprises soft drinks and snacks (included in your room rates) as well as a selection of beers, sakes and wines (excluded, naturally).
As with the other Aman properties I have visited, the bathrooms are cavernous, spa-like affairs with sleek vanities, giant soaking tubs, Japanese Toto toilets with heated seats as well as luxurious shower amenities (including expensive-smelling pink rock salt crystals that I may or may not have nicked to my next hotel).
In comparison with Aman Tokyo, whose rooms reveal different charms when in the day and after dark, I distinctly prefer the nighttime in-room experience at Janu Tokyo – the warm lighting brought a certain intimate, residential cosy absent from the daytime proceedings.
As my stay coincided with my birthday, the team arranged for a half bottle of Ruinart Blanc de Blancs to be delivered during turn-down service along with other birthday amenities.
DINING
Breakfast is served at Janu Grill on the 4th level. Guests can choose from three broad set menus as a starting point (Janu, Japanese and Vegan), but have the liberty to order individual dishes from each set a la carte. I went for the Japanese Breakfast, which comprised a selection of traditional dressed, dashi-soaked and simmered dishes, miso soup, steamed rice and fresh fruits alongside your choice of fish dish – options included the Grilled Black Cod or Grilled Salmon, both prepared in a saikyo miso, but I went for the Grilled Flounder, which was dressed in a bright and refreshing yuzu sauce.
Aside from the three set menus, the breakfast experience also includes the usual omelette selections (including Eggs Benedict-style) and dessert choices such as Matcha Pancakes (red bean paste, brown sugar syrup), American Waffle (whipped cream, praline sauce) and French Toast Brulee (berry compote, whipped cream).
I appreciated the fact that, unlike at Aman Kyoto where you are limited to your choice of pre-fixed set, you can have as many orders as you like. I had seconds of the Grilled Flounder and also tried the Grilled Black Cod.
On the 5th level lies Cantonese restaurant Hu Jing; afternoon tea destination Janu Lounge & Garden Terrace; and cocktail concept Janu Bar. The menu at Janu Bar comprises signature cocktails inspired by different districts in Tokyo – think the boozy, chocolate-tinged Beni Aka (Hiroo); the citrusy Beyond (Meijigingumae); and the savoury Shichimi (Nezu) which is adorned with a smear of the eponymous powder as a garnish. During my stay, the menu also included bar dish pairings with selected signature cocktails created in collaboration with Michelin-starred chef Hiroyasu Kawate of Florilege.
Janu Patisserie and Italian restaurant Janu Mercato are situated on the street level, while Japanese sushi restaurant Iigura is located on the 2nd level.
During my stay, I went for the Omakase Tomoshibi menu at sumibiyaki concept Sumi, which is housed within a separate annexe from the main hotel building and offers impressive direct views of Tokyo Tower from its limited counter seats.
Dinner was sensational. The team proudly showcased to guests the ingredients of each dish prior to preparation, from the tiger pufferfish (charcoal grilled) and grouper (shabu-shabu) to the Kuroge Wagyu (your choice of sirloin or fillet). Charcoal was lovingly deployed throughout the evening, not just on the grill but also, in one instance, to add a sexy smokiness to the salad dressing for the sashimi course, and the smoke and embers added frissons of theatrical drama throughout the evening. My favourites from the evening include the slick, smoky and scrumptious Snow Crab Rice with Mushrooms (one of the best things I have ever eaten) as well as the buttery-fat charcoal-grilled Kuroge Wagyu Fillet Sukiyaki. Other dishes include the Smoked Tuna, Sumi-grilled Minced Chicken and Soba with Sakura Shrimp.
We had the four sake pairing with our dinner, and the highlight was the Hot Sake with Grilled Pufferfish Tail (?!), which played like a nourishing but alcoholic dried cuttlefish tea (but, y’know, tasty).
The Janu brand prides itself on social connections and collective exploration, and during the course of dinner we made friends with an Asian couple from Pennsylvania who are enjoying a food-centric adventure in Japan, with Fukuoka as their next destination.
CONCLUSION
A visit to the new Janu brand’s debut and flagship inevitably leads to comparisons made between the property and its world-famous sibling, Aman Tokyo. A stay at Janu Tokyo is (slightly) more accessibly priced, the property is less austere and intimidating, and the vibes are warmer and more relaxed…although it does beg the question: if it is not an Aman, where would/should Janu’s offerings fit in amidst the ultra-luxury ecosystem of Bvlgaris, Rosewoods, Ritz-Carltons, Capella et al?
My one wish? That Janu Tokyo would introduce more complimentary fitness offerings in their guest experience programme, which would give their socially-conscious, collective exploration ethos a more corporeal realisation.
Janu Tokyo
1-2-2 Azabudai Minato-ku
106-0041 Tokyo
Japan
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