Stay & Play
Janu Tokyo Hotel, Azabudai Hills, Tokyo: A Soul-Full Experience
Article and photography by Steve Gillick
The first Janu Hotel in the world opened in March 2024 in Tokyo’s Azabudai Hills, an architectural showpiece of towers, residences, parkland, art galleries, and shops. The hotel is only steps away from the incredible, immersive teamLab Borderless Digital Art Museum, one of Tokyo’s most visited attractions. If hotel luxury, service, and location are essential, there is no need to look further.
Janu means ‘soul’ in Sanskrit. Jean-Michel Gathy, the renowned Aman Resorts architect (Aman is a sister brand to Janu) responsible for interior design, explained, “Janu Tokyo’s DNA exudes a youthful energy, brimming with liveliness and playfulness.” The eight open-kitchen restaurants, immense wellness center, unique spa houses, incredible views from the Tower Room Suites, and customer service ethic reinforce the vision that Janu represents a new concept in luxury hotels.
At 4000 square meters, the hotel has one of the biggest Wellness Centers in Tokyo, complete with a 340 Square meter gym plus studios designed for golf, boxing (a first for Tokyo hotels), spinning, private training, Yoga, Aerial Yoga, Pilates and Meditation. The 25-meter heated swimming pool has a large poolside area for relaxed socializing. There are two private spa houses, Hammam, a steam room with a heated marble treatment table, and Banya, a wood-clad sauna. Each includes a living area, daybed, cold plunge, hot bath, and outdoor terrace.
The hotel’s open-kitchen restaurants reflect a hybrid European-Asian motif: Janu Mercato (Italian), Hu –Jing (Chinese), IIgura (sushi and sashimi), and Sumi, a Japanese sumibiyaki (charcoal fire) grill. The Janu Grill specializes in meats and seafood, with the entrance in the middle of two impressive wine cellars, one for whites and one for reds. This is where breakfast, included for all guests, is served. The Janu Bar, designed by famed mixologist Shuzo Nagumo, offers signature cocktails named after popular Tokyo neighborhoods (Azabudai, Ginza, Shinjuku, etc.). A sense of relaxation is conveyed by the giant lampshades and cozy couches in the Janu Lounge, where afternoon tea is served. And the outdoor Garden Terrace has excellent views of Azabudai Hills and the Tokyo Tower.
The Janu Patisserie is also a go-to spot, featuring Taruni, a picture-and-taste-perfect mousse and jelly pastry that means ‘rose’ in Sanskrit.
The Janu Hotel has 122 rooms in warm, comfortable colors, including 41 Suites and 81 Standard Rooms. The minimum room size is an impressive 55 square meters (592 square feet). It’s pretty incredible to enter one of the 105 sqm (1130 Square feet) Tower View Suites and find the Tokyo Tower staring back at you! All rooms are tastefully decorated in the Japanese minimalist style and feature large bathrooms with a soaking tub and walk-in wardrobes. Many have private balconies.
The Janu Tokyo philosophy refers to “a trinity of connection, inspiration and exploration”, where spaces are designed to fulfill the needs of guests seeking a unique luxury hotel experience with the energy of the neighborhood, along with relaxation, wellness, gastronomy, and peace of mind. It’s good for the soul!
