Aman is the ‘if you know, you know’, of hotel groups. Their lack of advertising and unrivalled feeling of exclusivity means their 34 hotels across the world are the perennial favourite of the world’s elite. The brand is best known for its secluded resorts like Amanpuri in Thailand, Amankila in Bali and Amangiri in the Utah desert, but its city hotels are just as enticing. In 2022, Aman opened the highly anticipated Aman New York – dubbed as the world’s most expensive city hotel – joining favourites like Aman Venice on the Grand Canal (the setting for George and Amal Clooney’s 2014 nuptials), Sri Lanka’s Amangalle and Aman Le Melezin on Courchevel 1850’s manicured Bellecote piste. But with Aman’s exceptional levels of service, design and experience comes a high price tag. Looking to attract a new wave of travellers and connect with the lifestyle tourism market, Aman has launched Janu, a younger, more playful counterpart injecting a dose of playfulness into the wider brand. And the first property is set to open in Tokyo, Japan, in March 2024.
While Aman means ‘peace’ in Sanskrit, Janu means ‘soul’ – a name which will inspire the brand to focus on creating energetic social spaces and human connection. While Aman properties are sanctuaries, Janu’s will act as lifestyle and social hubs, marrying the best of Aman’s main resorts with cool and creative spaces and outlets.
Like Aman hotels, Janu properties will follow the same minimalist, with Asian influences and connections to the locale. There will be a focus on social dining – such as open kitchens and countertop eating – and culinary experimentation like low-temperature cooking and fermentation. Janu will launch with three new hotels, already under construction, in Japan’s Tokyo in 2023 (already home to an Aman property), AlUla, Saudi Arabia in 2027 and Saudi’s Diriyah development. Plans were announced in 2020 for Aman Montenegro, also offering serviced residences, though no further announcements have been made.
Janu Tokyo
Janu Tokyo will mark the debut of the exciting and luxurious new lifestyle brand. Opening in March 2024, Janu Tokyo will bed down in the city’s highly anticipated ‘Modern Urban Village’ Azabudai Hills – a thirty-years-in-the-making development in the heart of the city designed to bring people together and create a zen, yet social, hub. Occupying 13 floors of the new B-2 District Tower, Aman Janu will feature 122 light-filled guest rooms (many with views of the iconic Tokyo Tower) and a host of spacious suites. There will be six dining outlets, including an open-kitchen grill offering, an Italian food emporium and two Japanese restaurants, as well as a bar, lounge and terrace. A real draw here will be Janu Tokyo’s sprawling 4,000sq m wellness space – one of the largest in the Japanese capital – which will house five movement studios, Pilates and gold training, a gym, hydrotherapy and thermal area, two indoor pools and seven treatment rooms.
Janu AlUla
It’s only right that a brand known for its striking hotels would open in one of the world’s most beautiful destinations, and guests can look forward to experiencing Janu AlUla in 2027. Janu will join two other properties from Aman in the ancient Saudi Arabian desert Kingdom – a main Aman AlUla resort (opening in 2025) and a tented camp in 2026. Janu AlUla will be a ranch-style desert resort where guests can live out their Lone Ranger fantasies. While just as design-oriented and with the same levels of service, Janu AlUla is expected to be 30% more affordable and a little less secluded than the main resort.
Janu Diriyah
In April 2023, Aman announced the opening of two new properties in Saudi’s historic Diriyah area in north Riyadh – Aman Wadi Safar and Janu Diriyah. Janu will be located near the heart of the US$63.2 billion development – which centres around the UNESCO World Heritage Site of At-Turaif (the birthplace of Saudi Arabia). While Aman Wadi Safari will be small, discreet and peaceful, sister brand Janu Diriyah will be more vicious and soulful. The property will have 120 keys, a Janu spa and several vibrant restaurants.
