Amanemu — Hotel in Shima

We stayed at Amanemu in a Sora Villa for several nights in November 2023 and had a wonderful experience. The contemporary, Japanese buildings using clean lines, tiled-roofs, dark wood and stone to complement the lush setting and views of Ago Bay. The landscaping was exquisite — both entirely natural, but well maintained, with peaceful courtyards, gardens and views around every corner.||The villa itself was perfect. It was massive (almost 4K square feet) with two beautiful bedrooms that had their own private gardens, as well as back patios that opened up to a large, private backyard and views of the surrounding foliage and water. The entire backside of the villa across both bedrooms and the living room as well as the doors to the private gardens could be pocketed to allow the breeze of the Bay to pass through the entire unit which when combined with the sound of trees rustling and birdsong was extremely relaxing. The ceilings in the villa very high, and the bed and various daybeds inside and outside were comfortable. The mini-bar was also stocked with complimentary local beverages and snacks.||The bathrooms were open, light and visually striking with the mix of dark stone and wood. The highlight was definitely the massive stone bathtub with views to the backyard and Ago Bay. The living room has a large seating area around around a television, as well as a dining table, laundry facilities and a kitchen with Miele appliances (including a coffee/espresso maker). There is also a large work desk and separate water closet at the front of the unit.||The highlight for the villas is the commercial-grade onsen that sits just off of the main entrance. There were shower facilities, a large onsen bath in the center and one of the walls had pocket doors that opened to an additional private garden.||The rest of the facilities at the resort include an arrival pavilion, a central set of pavilions that contain the lobby, restaurant, bar, main pool and a small library, as well as a separate complex downhill that contains the spa and gym.||The arrival pavilion is where we were brought after our driver picked us up from nearby Kashikojima Station (after about a 20-minute drive). The General Manager greeted us, we completed some brief paperwork and then were taken to our accommodations.||All of the facilities at Amanemu are pristine. The restaurant was beautiful and they did a nice job of separating the space for families with children and other groups such that the noise levels were always pleasant. The food was really stellar (by Aman standards and by Japan standards). For breakfast there were plenty of Japanese and Western options. For dinner, there is an a la carte menu as well as a few tasting menu options. All of the seafood, meat and produce featured were delicious, well prepared and service was prompt and friendly. The bar is a nice space where they serve cocktails, bar snacks, local juices as well as complimentary afternoon tea and small bites every day. They were always quick to greet us when we visited the bar, even when it was empty (as it often was).||The main pool is large and nestled directly against some vegetation along with view of the Bay are the far end. It is long and would be a great place to swim laps as well as lounge at the wider end, Bay-side. There are plenty of loungers and private shower, bathroom and changing facilities nearby.||The library was stocked with interesting books about the region as well as Aman’s history and expansion plans. And was a quiet, light-filled place to read, play a board game or get some work done. Finally, the back patio in between the restaurant and the bar has a couple of nice sunken seating areas, and the whole complex is built around a peaceful courtyard.||The spa was one of the other highlights of the stay. It is a bit of a walk (or buggy ride) from most of the accommodations, but that was a welcome design decision because the setting was relaxing and its removed location encouraged us to stay longer once we had made the trek. In addition to a beautiful, light-filled gym, there were extensive spa facilities (especially relative to the limited number of people who were at the spa at any given time) including relaxation areas, steam rooms, saunas and Japanese bathing facilities. The pièce de résistance (of maybe the entire resort) was the Thermal Springs complex. These massive, co-ed facilities featured two large pools with various temperatures (including a cold plunge) that could accommodate dozens of people — though in typical Aman fashion, I never saw more than two other people using them at the same time as us (and we went for at least two hours every day).||The TripAdvisor reviews I have read that dinged Amanemu I think were often a function of English communication issues. We experienced some of this (especially around our check-out experience, which was a mess), but my wife was able to navigate in Japanese for much of the stay.||Despite a few of these mishaps, the quality of the service across the board was really high. We had the great pleasure of interacting with some of the English-speaking staff (shoutout to Reina who was an amazing help throughout our stay) and the hotel did a good job of pairing us with English-speaking folks for our meals and many of our drives.||There were a lot of standout service experiences, both overt and subtle. The restaurant host always knew who you were when you arrived at dinner. Anytime we went to the bar, someone would magically appear to serve us even if it was unstaffed and unoccupied by guests before we arrived. Housekeeping was incredible and their high standards and attention to detail sort of ruined housekeeping at the other Japan hotels where we stayed. ||One evening we wanted to visit the public beach nearby to watch the sunset (about a 30-minute walk) from the hotel. Our driver, Fujiwara, picked us up such that we arrived at the best spot right before crowds started to form, he took photos for us, waited until the sun set and then promptly returned us before the other tourists started to vacate the area. One time we went for a walk off-property, and when we returned to the front gate to call a buggy to return to our accommodations, the gateman, without a moment’s hesitation, brought out the stools he and his colleague had been sitting on moments before for my in-laws to sit while they waited. Also, for the Amanjunkies reading this — we were never asked our room number. The service paragraph could be several anecdotes longer, but the conclusion is — the service at Amanemu was excellent for us (but I do think some knowledge of Japanese goes a long way to ensuring consistently high service).||The combination of amazing accommodations (with a private onsen), incredible food, service and spa facilities and a tranquil setting makes this one of my favorite hotels in which I have stayed. If I am ever on this side of the world again, I would love to return to Amanemu — it is the kind of place I would plan a trip around and is a perfect, relaxing detour on an otherwise jam-packed...

We stayed at Amanemu in a Sora Villa for several nights in November 2023 and had a wonderful experience. The contemporary, Japanese buildings using clean lines, tiled-roofs, dark wood and stone to complement the lush setting and views of Ago Bay. The landscaping was exquisite — both entirely natural, but well maintained, with peaceful courtyards, gardens and views around every corner.||The villa itself was perfect. It was massive (almost 4K square feet) with two beautiful bedrooms that had their own private gardens, as well as back patios that opened up to a large, private backyard and views of the surrounding foliage and water. The entire backside of the villa across both bedrooms and the living room as well as the doors to the private gardens could be pocketed to allow the breeze of the Bay to pass through the entire unit which when combined with the sound of trees rustling and birdsong was extremely relaxing. The ceilings in the villa very high, and the bed and various daybeds inside and outside were comfortable. The mini-bar was also stocked with complimentary local beverages and snacks.||The bathrooms were open, light and visually striking with the mix of dark stone and wood. The highlight was definitely the massive stone bathtub with views to the backyard and Ago Bay. The living room has a large seating area around around a television, as well as a dining table, laundry facilities and a kitchen with Miele appliances (including a coffee/espresso maker). There is also a large work desk and separate water closet at the front of the unit.||The highlight for the villas is the commercial-grade onsen that sits just off of the main entrance. There were shower facilities, a large onsen bath in the center and one of the walls had pocket doors that opened to an additional private garden.||The rest of the facilities at the resort include an arrival pavilion, a central set of pavilions that contain the lobby, restaurant, bar, main pool and a small library, as well as a separate complex downhill that contains the spa and gym.||The arrival pavilion is where we were brought after our driver picked us up from nearby Kashikojima Station (after about a 20-minute drive). The General Manager greeted us, we completed some brief paperwork and then were taken to our accommodations.||All of the facilities at Amanemu are pristine. The restaurant was beautiful and they did a nice job of separating the space for families with children and other groups such that the noise levels were always pleasant. The food was really stellar (by Aman standards and by Japan standards). For breakfast there were plenty of Japanese and Western options. For dinner, there is an a la carte menu as well as a few tasting menu options. All of the seafood, meat and produce featured were delicious, well prepared and service was prompt and friendly. The bar is a nice space where they serve cocktails, bar snacks, local juices as well as complimentary afternoon tea and small bites every day. They were always quick to greet us when we visited the bar, even when it was empty (as it often was).||The main pool is large and nestled directly against some vegetation along with view of the Bay are the far end. It is long and would be a great place to swim laps as well as lounge at the wider end, Bay-side. There are plenty of loungers and private shower, bathroom and changing facilities nearby.||The library was stocked with interesting books about the region as well as Aman’s history and expansion plans. And was a quiet, light-filled place to read, play a board game or get some work done. Finally, the back patio in between the restaurant and the bar has a couple of nice sunken seating areas, and the whole complex is built around a peaceful courtyard.||The spa was one of the other highlights of the stay. It is a bit of a walk (or buggy ride) from most of the accommodations, but that was a welcome design decision because the setting was relaxing and its removed location encouraged us to stay longer once we had made the trek. In addition to a beautiful, light-filled gym, there were extensive spa facilities (especially relative to the limited number of people who were at the spa at any given time) including relaxation areas, steam rooms, saunas and Japanese bathing facilities. The pièce de résistance (of maybe the entire resort) was the Thermal Springs complex. These massive, co-ed facilities featured two large pools with various temperatures (including a cold plunge) that could accommodate dozens of people — though in typical Aman fashion, I never saw more than two other people using them at the same time as us (and we went for at least two hours every day).||The TripAdvisor reviews I have read that dinged Amanemu I think were often a function of English communication issues. We experienced some of this (especially around our check-out experience, which was a mess), but my wife was able to navigate in Japanese for much of the stay.||Despite a few of these mishaps, the quality of the service across the board was really high. We had the great pleasure of interacting with some of the English-speaking staff (shoutout to Reina who was an amazing help throughout our stay) and the hotel did a good job of pairing us with English-speaking folks for our meals and many of our drives.||There were a lot of standout service experiences, both overt and subtle. The restaurant host always knew who you were when you arrived at dinner. Anytime we went to the bar, someone would magically appear to serve us even if it was unstaffed and unoccupied by guests before we arrived. Housekeeping was incredible and their high standards and attention to detail sort of ruined housekeeping at the other Japan hotels where we stayed. ||One evening we wanted to visit the public beach nearby to watch the sunset (about a 30-minute walk) from the hotel. Our driver, Fujiwara, picked us up such that we arrived at the best spot right before crowds started to form, he took photos for us, waited until the sun set and then promptly returned us before the other tourists started to vacate the area. One time we went for a walk off-property, and when we returned to the front gate to call a buggy to return to our accommodations, the gateman, without a moment’s hesitation, brought out the stools he and his colleague had been sitting on moments before for my in-laws to sit while they waited. Also, for the Amanjunkies reading this — we were never asked our room number. The service paragraph could be several anecdotes longer, but the conclusion is — the service at Amanemu was excellent for us (but I do think some knowledge of Japanese goes a long way to ensuring consistently high service).||The combination of amazing accommodations (with a private onsen), incredible food, service and spa facilities and a tranquil setting makes this one of my favorite hotels in which I have stayed. If I am ever on this side of the world again, I would love to return to Amanemu — it is the kind of place I would plan a trip around and is a perfect, relaxing detour on an otherwise jam-packed...

After 10 days of traveling around Japan, it was time for this group of 6 to chill for three days before heading back to Tokyo for our flights home. Amanemu offered a nice respite from the full days of sightseeing. Upon arrival, we were quickly whisked away to our respective Sora suites. ||The Sora suites are quite spacious with two sitting areas, a large bathroom and a walk in closet. Retractable windows on both sides of the room and in the bathroom allowed us to open up and immediately enjoy the surroundings, feeling the wind flow through our room and listening to the birds chirp. As we would find out, sleeping in the room was a delight. The bed was very comfortable with down pillows and a down duvet. The shoji screens kept the room perfectly dark until we were ready to get up and nightlights made it easy to maneuver around the room at night. The bathrooms have a deep soaking tub that has a dedicated knob for ‘onsen water’ which is incredibly hot (open the retractable windows over the tub for a wonderful experience). However, the best feature of the room was the large porch overlooking a field of vegetation out toward Ago Bay. The porch has several deep seating areas and was a wonderful place for having coffee or breakfast in the morning and cocktails in the evening. ||Food at Amanemu was a particular strong point. Who knew that breakfast could be a multi-course affair? Our party enjoyed both the Japanese and American breakfast. Food was ample and delicious to say the least. While lunch offered a more simplified menu, the dinner menus are where Amanemu really shines. We enjoyed different 8 course tasting menus each night we were there. The menus were a fusion of Japanese and continental cuisine, using local ingredients such as Ise lobster and Matsusaka beef. Our compliments to the chef and the dining room for three wonderful and memorable dinners. ||Of course, one of the stand out features of Amanemu is its onsen spa with thermal springs. While reservations are required to use the thermal springs to manage the number of people at any one time, practically speaking, we never had an issue getting access in short order. Inside the complex, there are two large pools, one is hot and one is even hotter. Around the pools is ample space to lay out and relax when you need a break. The architecture, water features and natural vegetation make for a perfectly sublime place to relax. On one afternoon, I worked out, followed by a dip in the thermal springs, followed by a massage, followed by another dip in the thermal springs - I was so relaxed that night. ||Venturing off Amanemu is fairly easy whether by bike or taxi. We used our bikes and rode for 10 mins to the neighboring Nemo Hotel where we were able to go out for a boat ride on Ago Bay. While it requires a taxi, the local town has a grocery and liquor store, should you need provisions. Check out the CoCo Curry House for a treat if you venture off property. ||While we thoroughly enjoyed our time at Amanemu, I would be remiss not to highlight some opportunities to improve: (i) typically, when you stay at an Aman, the arrival is a small ceremony with a drink, brief tour, etc. In our case, we did not experience that;|(ii) Amanemu has bikes that you can reserve to get around the property and local surrounds. On our first day, we were told that the bikes were all reserved with no indication on when some might become available. After expressing our frustration, 6 bikes were available for our use the next morning. However, being an Aman, I would think that every room should simply have two bikes allocated to it; (iii) Initial requests for spa reservations were also met with a response of ‘fully booked’ but became available the next day. Not sure how that happened, but I would suggest booking early to avoid the drama; (iv) The wine list is ridiculously priced. We recognize that we are staying at an Aman and that things will be priced accordingly, but the average price of a bottle of wine was probably $500-$600 with just a few options below $200. We ended up going into town, buying our own wine and paying a $35 corkage fee at dinner. As we looked around the room, we noted that few people were drinking wine; (v) Check your bill. We had made our own arrangements to go next door to the Nemu Hotel for a boat trip. We then paid the Nemu Hotel Y12,000 directly. Imagine our surprise when the Aman bill showed a Y24,000 charge for the same thing!!!! Double the price and they had not even been involved in the process - odd. ||Despite the bumps, we spent three days at Amanemu and thoroughly enjoyed it. From my perspective it’s was just the right amount of time to enjoy the property, without being rushed, but not too much time to feel repetitive. If you are looking for a place to go sightseeing, I would argue that this is not the place for you. The main point of Amanemu is to relax, enjoy the hospitality, take in nature, and repeatedly enjoy the thermal springs :-). ||Finally, I should also highlight a few of the staff that made our stay special. Shiori and Rina in the dining room were always amazing and kind. Yoshihiro was also very friendly and always around to help as a buggy driver, helping us with luggage, etc. Of course, the rest of the staff was very friendly and helpful. If you get a massage, ask for Eri - she delivered one of the most relaxing massage treatments I have ever received. I would also like to thank Daniel for his thoughtful handwritten notes on his favorite ramen restaurants in Tokyo...