Kyoto
Ryokan-inspired ultra-minimalist forest retreat. Warm neutral tones, natural wood and stone, no clutter, no noise. The kind of place where slowing down is the entire point.
Book a Pavilion over a room if budget allows — they sit at the highest, most secluded points of the property with completely private outlooks over the forest
Why It Matters
One of only three Aman properties in Japan, it occupies arguably the most extraordinary setting: a secret garden within the city limits, walking distance from Kinkaku-ji (the Golden Pavilion) and 16 other UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Kerry Hill's architecture is considered among his finest work, and the onsen hot springs fed by naturally occurring mineral-rich waters on the property are genuinely special. Taka-An holds two Michelin stars.
Aman Kyoto sits inside a 32-hectare private forest garden at the foot of Hidari Daimonji mountain in Kyoto's northern Takagamine district — a site that was originally slated to become a textile museum before Aman got hold of it. Designed by the late Australian architect Kerry Hill, who passed away before it opened in 2019, the resort is a masterclass in haute-minimalism: latticed timber facades, tatami floors, enormous hinoki soaking tubs, and floor-to-ceiling glass that blurs where your room ends and the forest begins. It's small — just 26 units — and deliberately so.
Where You'll Stay
7 room types available
Kaede
West-facing rooms with views of the mature maple trees and forest garden. 'Kaede' means maple in Japanese — apt, since these rooms look directly out into the canopy. The view is particularly dramatic during autumn foliage season. Same signature interiors: low platform bed, wood and stone, hinoki bath.
Nara
Rooms enveloped by woodland in the resort's most secluded areas, including the Hotaru building surrounded by bamboo. The Hotaru exterior is a contemporary timber structure set among bamboo with an illuminated stone pathway entrance. Offers a more private, forest-immersed feel than the main building rooms.
Susuki
East-facing rooms with an abundance of natural light. The name references susuki pampas grass. Interiors follow the signature minimalist ryokan aesthetic: low platform beds, warm wood paneling, tatami flooring, tokonoma alcove, and a large hinoki wood soaking tub in the bathroom. Floor-to-ceiling windows open directly to the garden.
Susuki Terrace
East-facing rooms with private terraces offering verdant garden and forest views. Same minimalist ryokan interiors as the Susuki but with the addition of an outdoor terrace — making these the best entry-level option for guests who want to sit outside in the garden.
Takagamine Pavilion
Two-bedroom east-facing pavilion on elevated ground overlooking the entire garden with Hieizan mountain in the distance. One of only two standalone pavilions at the property. Features a living room, traditional Japanese Tatami room, Western dining room, and kitchen area. Both en-suite bedrooms connect to the living-dining area. Sitting adjacent to moss-covered Tengamine stone steps and perched above a six-metre tall hand-crafted ancient stone wall, it offers floating views over the maple and cedar forest.
Two bedrooms · 165.7 sqmTakagamine Suite
One-bedroom suite on raised land with a traditional Japanese Tatami room, ample natural light, and forest garden views. East-facing. Features a living room, Western dining area, and bedroom with natural woods, floor-to-ceiling windows, and tokonoma alcove. Guests can opt for futons in the Tatami room for a more traditional ryokan experience.
165.7 sqmWashigamine Pavilion
The largest accommodation at the resort at 241 sqm, this two-bedroom pavilion sits at the highest, most secluded point of the property. Offers the most extensive views over the surrounding landscape. Features a living room, traditional Japanese Tatami room, Western dining room, kitchen, and two en-suite bedrooms with natural woods, floor-to-ceiling windows, tatami flooring, and tokonoma alcoves. Futons available in the Tatami room.
Two bedrooms · 241 sqmThe Property
Eat & Drink
2 venues on property
Restaurant
Spa & Wellness
Treatment Menu
On Property
How you'll actually spend your days.
Complimentary daily afternoon matcha service for all hotel guests — premium matcha paired with seasonal sweets. Upon request, a hands-on tea preparation lesson can be arranged. Hosted in the Tea House Senkutsu, a recently added tea house within the forest garden.
Private access to Kamishichiken — the oldest of Kyoto's hanamachi (flower towns). With a personal Aman invitation, guests visit an ancient ochaya (tea house) to spend an afternoon and evening with a geiko or maiko apprentice, playing ozashiki games, drinking tea, and watching a dance performance.
Time with an Ikebana expert transforming seasonal flowers into structurally magnificent arrangements. Considered as much a form of moving meditation as an aesthetic art form. Sessions held in traditional Japanese rooms.
Aman Kyoto's gardener leads guests through the art of creating an original pot garden, working with moss, soil, stone, and wood in the traditional Japanese gardening spirit. A hands-on, meditative activity.
Private outdoor painting lesson with a local artist in a forest glade. Guests learn the ancient art of pattern dyeing (traditionally used for kimono decoration) and can make ink sketches and postcards inspired by the natural surroundings.
Aman has privileged access to an array of Kyoto temples and transformative cultural encounters out of reach for most travelers. 17 UNESCO World Heritage Sites are within easy reach, including Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) which is walkable from the property.
Guided visit to a Uji tea plantation where tea has been hand-picked for six generations. Learn about the Honzu cultivation method practiced in Uji for over 400 years. Includes a tea tasting session exploring taste and aroma profiles.
Private meditation session with a local Zen Buddhist monk in an ancient hall overlooking a Japanese garden. Guests learn and practice the principles of Zen meditation in a meaningful yet accessible setting.
Complimentary bicycles available for guests to explore the ancient city at a leisurely pace. Routes recommended by the Aman Kyoto team cover temples, shrines, and off-the-beaten-track neighborhoods. The Golden Pavilion (Kinkaku-ji) is within walking/cycling distance.
Nightly complimentary aperitif for all hotel guests just before sunset — Champagne, wine, sparkling sake, and cocktails alongside locally sourced snacks crafted by Director of Culinary Tatsuya Ozawa. A natural gathering point to watch golden hour filter through the trees and meet fellow guests.
A complimentary guided walk through Aman Kyoto's 32-hectare private forest garden. Takes approximately 60 minutes. The garden was designed by landscape architect Professor Shimoda and features Japanese maples, Kitayama cedars, moss-covered stones, stone-slab paths laid by the Asano family, and kimono-shaped tree cuttings. A small memorial garden honors architect Kerry Hill.
Morning yoga sessions on the stone pathways and in the forest garden. Forest bathing (Shinrin-yoku) while strolling through the expansive grounds is also part of the wellness offering.
Amenities & Practical Info
The details that matter for planning.
All stays include daily breakfast — choice of traditional Japanese (rolled omelets, miso soup, obanzai in wooden boxes, sashimi, Wagyu beef or grilled fish with clay pot rice) or Western options.
Aman Kyoto does not have a gym. The hotel has acknowledged this limitation and noted local regulations make additions difficult.
Spacious walk-in wardrobe leading to the bathroom in all room categories.
Each room and suite features a large square ofuro bathtub constructed from hinoki wood native to Japan. Reported to fit up to five people comfortably.
Motorized blackout curtains controllable from bed, climate control, and lighting automation throughout all rooms and pavilions.
All rooms stocked with complimentary non-alcoholic beverages. Alcoholic drinks in-room are charged separately.
Aman Kyoto does not have a swimming pool. The onsen is the primary aquatic wellness offering.
Complimentary bicycles available for all guests to explore Kyoto at leisure.
Readily available for longer journeys into Kyoto and surrounding areas.
Three private treatment rooms plus relaxation area. No gym or pool on property.
Indoor and outdoor mineral-rich hot spring bathing pools fed by naturally occurring springs on the property. Separate facilities for men and women. Open 7am–10pm daily.
A traditional tea house set within the forest garden, used for the complimentary afternoon matcha service and tea ceremony experiences.
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Rooms, dining, spa, and resort experiences — organized into one trip plan.
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