At Aman Kyoto! Redefining minimalist luxury interpretation

Aman Kyoto was originally the private garden of a celebrity, spanning 32 hectares where the original owner meticulously cultivated ancient trees and mosses over 300 years old. The most breathtaking feature is the central water courtyard—a mirror-like pond reflecting the ever-changing mountain scenery through the seasons: cherry blossom petals floating in spring, maple leaves staining red in autumn, and snow covering the karesansui (dry landscape) in winter, making it the spiritual symbol of Aman Kyoto. Sliding open the camphorwood doors, one is first greeted by floor-to-ceiling windows forming a "natural picture frame," where maple trees or cedars outside seem like extensions of the room. The tatami lounge area features low sofas and a Japanese tea table, transforming at night into sleeping quarters with silk-cotton mattresses. The hinoki wood bathtub appears to grow from the floor, allowing guests to enjoy garden views through misty glass while bathing; the washbasin, carved from a single block of black granite, contrasts beautifully with the hand-hammered copper basin. The executive chef from a three-Michelin-starred restaurant oversees the dining experience. Breakfast offers freshly made yuba (tofu skin) with truffles or Japanese porridge made with Tamba black beans. For dinner, the kaiseki menu features ingredients sourced entirely from around Kyoto: wild vegetables from Mount Hiei, sweet sea bream from Wakasa Bay, and Tamba chestnuts from Kameoka. Aman's spa is arguably Kyoto's most secluded sanctuary for relaxation. Five treatment rooms are cantilevered above the forest, with therapies blending traditional Japanese concepts and Asian herbal wisdom. The changing rooms feature a rare hinoki wood sauna, whose natural fragrance has calming effects. Aman Kyoto is within walking distance of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Kamigamo Shrine, where guests can witness priests performing the "Asa Miketsu" morning ritual. The hotel provides electric bicycles: heading west leads to Manshuin Temple Path (home to Shisendo), lined with historic teahouses; riding east takes visitors to Ichihara's firefly valley, where summer nights sparkle with fireflies like stars.