Luxury Hotels Atlas / Places / Japan / Kyoto / Aman Kyoto
Aman Kyoto
Kyoto, Japan · Aman · Apex Luxury
Set within a 32-hectare private forest at the foot of Hidari Daimonji mountain, this intimate 26-room retreat by the late Kerry Hill Architects was built on grounds once intended for a textile museum, and historically the artist colony of Hon'ami Koetsu, the Edo-period craftsman who inspired the Rinpa school of painting, with Kinkakuji's golden pavilion just 17 minutes on foot.
- 26 rooms
- Opened 2019
- Neighborhood: Kita Ward
- Rooms from 646 sq ft (60 m²)
- Architect: Kerry Hill Architects
- Interiors: Kerry Hill Architects
About Aman Kyoto
- Aman Kyoto opened in 2019 with just 26 rooms spread across latticed pavilions in a 32-hectare private forest at the foothills of Hidari Daimonji mountain.
- The site was originally conceived as a garden for a textile museum before Kerry Hill Architects transformed it into an Aman resort.
- The grounds were once the artist's colony of Hon'ami Koetsu, the Edo-period craftsman who inspired the Rinpa school of painting.
- Kinkaku-ji, the golden pavilion and UNESCO World Heritage site, is a 17-minute walk from the property.
- Each pavilion uses local hinoki cypress and moss-covered stones in a minimalist geometry that pays homage to traditional ryokan without copying them.
History
Aman Kyoto opened in 2019 on a site originally conceived as the garden for a textile museum in Kyoto's northern Takagamine district, near an artistic community linked to the 400-year-old Rinpa school of painting. The resort's latticed pavilions pay homage to traditional ryokan inns with minimalist geometry using local materials like moss-covered stones and hinoki cypress. It embodies Aman's philosophy of blending contemporary luxury with Japanese cultural serenity amid 32 hectares of forest and gardens.
The setting
Aman Kyoto is hidden within a 32-hectare private forest at the foothills of Hidari Daimonji mountain in the Takagamine district of Kita Ward, a site intended as a textile museum before the late architect Kerry Hill transformed it into a secluded sanctuary. These grounds were once the artist’s colony of Hon’ami Koetsu, the Edo-period craftsman who inspired the Rinpa school of painting and is honoured at nearby Koetsuji Temple. The golden Kinkaku-ji, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is 17 minutes on foot. Moss-blanketed stone paths, private meditation gardens, and 17 UNESCO sites within easy reach make this forested address the defining expression of Kyoto’s immersive luxury tier — seclusion and heritage in equal, extraordinary measure. 2 km from tranquil Buddhist temple. 5 km from Kyoto Imperial Palace.
Restaurants and bars
- The Living Pavilion by Aman — Restaurant · Japanese-Western
- Taka-An — Restaurant · Kaiseki
- Tea House — Restaurant · Japanese tea and sweets
Experiences
- Afternoon matcha with seasonal sweets — Each afternoon, guests are invited to savour a bowl of premium matcha with seasonal sweets.
- Nightly evening aperitif — Complimentary evening aperitifs with Champagne, wine or sparkling sake, plus snacks made with local ingredients.
- Kyoto breakfast — Japanese breakfast with fermented foods, sashimi and obanzai in a wooden box, with a choice of Kuroge Wagyu or grilled fish.
- Guided tour of the secret garden — Guided tour of Aman Kyoto's secret garden, included in the stay.
- Matcha hands-on experience — Upon request, guests can learn to prepare matcha themselves.
- Aman Spa onsen access — Access to Aman Spa's hot-spring onsen bathing facilities.
Amenities
- Aman Spa with indoor/outdoor onsen
- tea ceremony rooms
- meditation/yoga
- forest bathing/garden tours
- complimentary bikes
- hinoki baths in rooms
- no pool
Awards
- MICHELIN Two Keys (2026)
- #74 World's 50 Best Hotels (2025)
- Condé Nast Traveler Gold List (2025)
- Japan's Leading Boutique Hotel 2025 (World Travel Awards) (2025)
- World's 50 Best Hotels 51-100 (2025)
- AHEAD Asia Resort (2021)
- Forbes Five Star
- Two MICHELIN Keys
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