Amanemu
High above Ago Bay on the Kii Peninsula — the Bay of Pearls, dotted with oyster rafts and forested islets — Amanemu is Japan's most complete onsen retreat. The 2,000-square-metre spa is designed around a large communal hot spring bath fed by the mineral-rich waters of Ise-Shima, where samurai came to heal for centuries.
Amanemu sits within Ise-Shima National Park, at the heart of one of Japan's most sacred landscapes — close to Ise-Jingu, the holiest Shinto shrine in the country, and the ancient Kumano Kodo pilgrimage trails through cedar forest. The ryokan aesthetic governs every detail: timber ceilings, woven textile shutters, low furniture, and each suite's private onsen bath drawing from the same mineral-rich spring that feeds the main spa. The Aman Spa centres on that hot spring — two private onsen pavilions, a Watsu pool, four treatment suites, and a fitness studio with glass walls overlooking the garden — and treatments are drawn from Kampo, Japan's herbal discipline rooted in Chinese medicine, using local seaweed, pearl powder, and seasonal botanicals. Seasonal wellness immersions are available; one-day programmes offer guests an introduction to the integrated approach without committing to a longer stay. The restaurant celebrates the local table: Matsusaka Wagyu, spiny lobster, abalone from Ago Bay, and vegetables from the surrounding farms, prepared with seasonal precision by chef Katsutoshi Kitahara.
Onsen · Kampo Herbs · Watsu · Shiatsu · Acupuncture · Moxibustion · Seasonal Wellness · Mindfulness · Forest Walking
The place
2000sqm Spa · Communal Hot Spring · 2 Private Onsen Pavilions · Watsu Pool · 4 Treatment Suites · Fitness Studio · Yoga Deck · Private Suite Onsens · Lap Pool · National Park Access
Location
Within Ise-Shima National Park, overlooking Ago Bay on the Kii Peninsula, Mie Prefecture — 25 minutes by helicopter from Chubu Centrair International Airport, or 2 hours by train from Nagoya.
Open in Google Maps →Extend your stay in undefined, undefined
AIVANA may earn a commission on bookings made through this link.