Aman Kyoto: the Japanese art of rejuvenation

In Kyoto, some doors open onto unsuspected worlds. The one at Aman Kyoto leads to a garden inherited from the Edo period, where maple trees, stones and water seem to have been in dialogue for centuries. Here, the journey is as much inner as cultural, in a rare balance between art, nature and well-being. Walk along mossy paths, warm up in mineral-steam onsen baths and savour exceptional cuisine, while discovering Japanese culture from an intimate angle.

An intimate place in the middle of the forest (Photo: Aman Kyoto)

A setting of nature and history

Aman Kyoto is just a few minutes from the famous Golden Pavilion (Kinkaku-ji) and sixteen other UNESCO World Heritage sites. Yet as soon as you step through its doors, you feel as if you’ve entered another world.

The estate occupies the secret gardens of Hon’ami Koetsu, a distinguished artist and calligrapher of the Edo period, who made this place a mecca for the arts in the XVIIᵉ century. Today, its 32 hectares of glades, Japanese maples, Kitayama cedars and seasonal flowers preserve this creative and contemplative soul.

In summer, azaleas and peonies punctuate the deep green of the forest; in autumn, the maples blaze in red and orange. In winter, snow wraps the garden in a silent mantle. The hotel can be reached in 30 minutes from Kyoto station and in 1 h 30 from Kansai International Airport.

Accommodations: between ryokan and contemporary design

The rooms and pavilions pay homage to the traditional Japanese inn, the ryokan, while offering the discreet comfort of Aman.

Generous volumes, natural light filtered through large bay windows, noble materials such as light-colored wood and local stone: each space is designed as an extension of the landscape. The minimalist furniture, inspired by Japanese craftsmanship, lets the space breathe and invites you to slow down.

Some suites have private gardens or unobstructed forest views. Spacious bathrooms feature deep soaking tubs to extend the Japanese bathing experience.

Well-being: reconnecting with Japanese traditions

At Aman Kyoto, well-being is rooted in Japanese wisdom and the abundance of the surrounding nature. Treatments combine ancestral rituals, precious ingredients and modern techniques to offer a holistic experience, where body, mind and senses connect.

Hot mineral springs: the soul of the spa

Aman Kyoto’s onsen baths, fed by a mineral-rich hot spring, carry on an age-old tradition born of Buddhist purification rituals in the VIᵉ century. These indoor and outdoor pools, separate for men and women, offer a moment of deep relaxation, improve circulation, soothe muscles and calm the mind.

Each treatment begins with a footbath combining hot water, sake, Nuka rice powder, sea salt and 24-carat gold leaf, a ritual inspired by traditional ryokans of the XVIᵉ century. After the treatment, guests prolong the soothing experience in the lounge, over a seasonal tea created by a Kyoto master.

The three Aman signature paths

The spa features three signature “pathways”, the pillars of the Aman approach:

Grounding : Tibetan Ku Nye massages, heated rose quartz stones, amethyst wraps and sandalwood oils to re-anchor and soothe.
Purifying : draining treatments with white quartz and marine extracts, scrubs with raw honey and seaweed, mineral mud wraps to purify and lighten.
Nourishing : moisturizing jade powder, calendula and argan oils, marma point massages to regenerate and revitalize.

These paths can be taken separately or as part of a complete three-hour journey alternating scrub, massage and facial, for deep, long-lasting results.

Aman Kyoto wellness program

Designed as a slow immersion, the Aman Kyoto signature program combines access to the onsen, meditation or yoga, a healthy lunch overlooking the gardens and personalized treatment. This half- or full-day format is ideal for experiencing the true harmony between body and mind, to the soothing rhythm of the place.

Exclusive Japanese treatments

Aman Kyoto celebrates Japanese know-how through unique treatments:

Facial treatment with 24-carat gold leaf, inspired by Kinkaku-ji, that illuminates and nourishes the skin while providing exceptional mineral nutrition.
Scrub with azuki and Kyoto silk, for gentle exfoliation and silky skin.
Shiatsu, oil-free massage using finger pressure to harmonize vital energy (ki), improve posture and reduce stress.
Acupuncture and moxibustion, traditional techniques designed to stimulate energy circulation, boost immunity and relieve muscular or nervous tension.

Aman advanced facial

Developed in Japan with the Essential Skin range, this anti-aging treatment combines ultrasonic cleansing, electrical stimulation, manual lifting massage and cryogenic ampoules to firm, smooth and illuminate the complexion. The application of a marine mineral mask and Aman x 111Skin hydrogel masks enhances skin radiance and hydration.

Holistic experiences

Well-being at Aman Kyoto is also experienced in the open air: Zen meditation, shinrin-yoku (forest bathing) in Kitayama’s maple and cedar trees, conscious breathing in the heart of the gardens… Every gesture, every fragrance and every texture harmonizes to offer deep, lasting relaxation.

Experiences: between culture and nature

Aman Kyoto invites guests to discover authentic Japan, combining cultural exploration with immersion in nature. The estate’s secret gardens are the starting point for activities designed to awaken the senses and enrich the spirit.

Zen meditation guided by a Buddhist monk allows you to enjoy the tranquility of a temple and learn the basics of an age-old practice. Lovers of traditional arts can be introduced toikebana – Japanese floral art – or the creation of miniature gardens, precise gestures that combine aesthetics and mindfulness.

For a deeper insight into local culture, the hotel organizes private visits to an ochaya, a historic teahouse, where you can share a special moment with a geiko or maiko over tea and dance. Creative minds will appreciate sumi-e ink painting classes in a Zen temple, or discovering the dyed patterns used for kimonos.

Outdoor enthusiasts can cycle through Kyoto, exploring temples, shrines and picturesque alleyways, or head off to the Uji region to visit a famous tea plantation, with tasting at the end. Each experience is designed to reveal the beauty and soul of Kyoto, at the pace you choose.

Gastronomy: the harmony of flavours and seasons

At Aman Kyoto, every meal is conceived as a continuation of the experience of the place: respect for the seasons, aesthetic presentation and balanced flavors.

At Taka-An, the chef celebrates Japanese culinary art in its most refined form, with omakase menus – sequences of dishes based on the inspiration of the day and the freshest produce. In an intimate, streamlined dining room, gestures are precise, preparation is meticulous, and each bite tells the story of a Kyoto season.

Wood fire and warmth (Photo: Aman Kyoto)

The Living Pavilion by Aman offers a more convivial atmosphere, with its wood-burning fireplace warming chilly evenings and its terrace opening onto the gardens. Here, you can enjoy both local cuisine and Western dishes, in a spirit of Japanese hospitality where every detail counts.

In the afternoon, the ritual of seasonal tea takes on the air of a gourmet ceremony: over twenty varieties of tea, accompanied by revisited Japanese and Western sweets, designed to match the season. For example, intense green matcha, floral wagashi, winter citrus pastries…

For those wishing to explore Japan’s spiritual gastronomy, the hotel also offers Shojin-Ryori, a vegetarian Buddhist cuisine. Prepared in accordance with monastic precepts, it eschews meat, fish and “gokun” ingredients (garlic, onion, spring onion) in favor of kombu broth, shiitake mushrooms and seasonal vegetables, worked in an approach that nourishes both body and soul.