Amanemu

If Aman Tokyo is the urban high-rise luxury hotel par excellence — and trust us, it definitely is — then Amanemu, in Ise-Shima National Park, is the Japanese country inn to end them all. Of course, to call an Aman hotel a country inn is to understate matters rather severely. For although the basic idea of a luxurious rural escape, complete with thermal baths and extravagant multi-course dinners, is familiar to any ryokan aficionado, Amanemu is a thoroughly modern interpretation of these timeless Japanese pleasures.

The architecture, by Kerry Hill, one of the modern masters of high-end hospitality design, is at once utterly contemporary and totally Japanese, and it sets a tone of pure tranquility. The nature reserve where it makes its home offers extraordinary beauty in every direction, and the suites and villas frame glorious views of the gardens and the waters of Ago Bay. Each of the 24 suites is enormous, and comes complete with a private onsen bath; the villas sleep up to six, and span nearly 4,000 square feet.

In terms of comfort, “faultless” is the only word that will do. Aman cuts no corners, and obsesses over details most guests won’t even notice. And while their spas are always a highlight, it’s worth visiting Amanemu just to see how they combine four treatment rooms and a yoga and fitness studio with their take on the traditional Japanese thermal-spring experience — and, while you’re there, to experience their modern version of a traditional kaiseki dinner. As always, the only reason to hesitate is the fact that, once you’ve been, you’ll never want to settle for less....