World’s Most Luxurious Hotel Brand Debuts a More Affordable Spinoff
Aman Resorts’ first Janu hotel in Tokyo’s luxe Azabudai Hills costs half as much as its upmarket sibling. Here’s an exclusive first look inside.
Janu Tokyo’s Chinese eatery, Hu Jing, is one of eight dining options at the hotel.
Photographer: Robert RiegerAman Resorts, arguably the world’s most exclusive hotel brand, has for 35 years made its name by charging eye-popping nightly rates—often exceeding $2,000—as the price of hyper-luxurious seclusion. Guests stay in standalone villas or sky-high penthouses; when they engage with local culture, it’s often via visits to elite ateliers that are inaccessible to the general public.
Its new spinoff brand, Janu, seeks to do the opposite. Opening on March 13 in central Tokyo, the first Janu hotel has 122 rooms across the lowest floors of a luxury residential tower, and its guests will be encouraged to circulate locally. In a bid to court a younger demographic—and create a more scalable model—it also promises (somewhat) more democratic pricing. Aman Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Vladislav Doronin says the brand has at least 12 additional destinations set for development, with further Janu hotels opening after next year.