Janu Tokyo

From the moment we arrived off a 14 hour flight from London, we were made to feel like honoured guests. It was a perfect beginning to our Japan Adventure. The place is beyond elegant and beautiful….and the Staff are exemplary. Our room was stunning and so comfortable….every little detail was perfect. Breakfasts in the Dining Room were the highlight and we were so exhausted by the evening from sightseeing, we were more than happy to try the Grill Room and the Italian Restaurant. Both were lovely. It’s not a cheap option, but I’m so glad we chose it

I stayed with my family in early December 2024 and checked into deluxe suite for 5 nights. The location and infrastructure of the hotel is 5-star worthy. The suite layout, lobby lounge, gym and swimming pool are worthy of the Michelin 2-key accolades. However, infrastructure is only half of the hotel experiences especially for the price Janu is charging customers. I am glad to report that the concierge service has improved since its opening when other reviewer mention lack of communication from staff. My experiences with concierge before and during my stay was great. I really appreciate all the help and patience of the concierge staff in helping us to make many of our restaurant reservations. All the information have been communicated clearly and extra effort to suggest recommendations when desired reservation was not available. The 5th floor main reception staff, restaurant staff, gym receptionists were all friendly and helpful. There was a minor inconsistency in handling our gym clothes rental. Gym clothes usually came packed in a discrete tote for first 2 days but later the staff skipped providing the tote bag. It was the lapse of attention to detail that made me wonder how Michelin guide will give Janu 2-key status. Then I remember one should not trust Michelin guide for Tokyo restaurant recommendation and same logic should apply to hotel service as well. The gym and swimming pool experiences were still very enjoyable. The swimming pool and changing room staff were helpful but not intrusive. We only dined at the grill restaurant for breakfast and lobby lounge for night time drinks. The grill cooked decent breakfast. The Japanese breakfast was a disappointment. It is the same ingredients every day. I prefer the western style breakfast, but the choice was limited. We were bored after 3 days. But since breakfasts were already part of the room fee, it will be a waste not having it. Janu should learn from other 5 stars hotels in Bangkok and Asian cities on how to keep breakfast menu interesting. Lobby lounge drinks were decent but the Tokyo tower view was the main selling point not really the drink quality. The main service issue happen at the end of the trip after we checked out with 5th floor receptionist. We paid extra to have Janu concierge to reserve car service to and from airport. We understand most Tokyo hotels (even 5 stars) do not have their own hotel car fleet. They rely on 3rd party car service. Janu charge 30K yen extra compared to direct booking. So I do expect seamless service between hotel and car driver. The arrival pickup was seamless and great. But the checkout from Janu to airport is not at all. The gound floor receptionist had no idea of our reservation even after I given her our room number. She sounded very impatient as if we were bothering her. After she found our reservation she said she will call the driver since we were early. We were ok to wait next to the reception table. We noticed there were at least 4 other staff in and outside the front door. But no one care to let us know that our driver had actually arrived waiting for us for over 10 minutes. This was not the way to leave your guest with the last impression of a hotel service. There was no communication between the gound floor receptionist and front door staff. No one check on us while we wait. I do not think this is a 5 star or 2 key service. I filled out a long questionaire sent from the hotel via those automated email system after I return home. I did sing the praises about service of majority of the staff except the 1st floor receptionist. Told them about the incident waiting for the car without knowing it arrived. Usually, there will be a follow up from other hotels like Four Seasons, MO or Ritz Carlton. But there was not follow up at all. If Janu is charging at a lower price point, I will not be comparing it to Four Seasons or MO. I really do hope they will improve. Is Janu a 5 star and 2 Michelin key hotel in Tokyo and do you want to spend several thousand US dollars to find out?

In December 2024, I checked into the Premier Room at Janu Tokyo. Occupying the first 13 levels of Residence A Tower of the glitzy Azabudai Hills skyscraper complex, the 122-room hotel is the first and flagship property of the new Janu brand launched from the Aman group. For the uninitiated, the Janu brand (the word means ‘soul’ in Sanskrit) is dedicated to social connections, collective exploration and uplifting experiences, which sets it apart from its sibling brand Aman’s focus on exclusivity, serenity and privacy. There are multiple Janu openings in the pipeline, in locations including Dubai and Thailand. JANU TOKYO Designed by longtime Aman collaborator Jean-Michel Gathy and his Denniston consulting firm, the hotel marries Japanese minimalism with European flair – think an abundance of natural light, large empty spaces and dramatic French lampshades. On the ground level, two Aman Essentials boutiques retailing skincare, accessories and apparel quietly underline the hotel’s Aman connection. Upon your arrival for check-in at the fifth-floor lobby, you are immediately greeted by an impressive floor-to-ceiling direct view of the Eiffel-esque Tokyo Tower, a structure capable of being admired from the private balconies of many of the rooms. The hotel’s crown jewel is their spa and wellness facility, which spans four floors and over 4,000sqm. The fitness centre is Tokyo’s largest, with Technogym, SkillX and Outrace equipment – think battle ropes, wall balls, punching bag, gym ladders, ball trampoline and many more, a playground perfect for Crossfit and Hyrox enthusiasts – as well as a golf simulator, a boxing ring, a yoga studio, a private personal training studio (complete with state-of-the-art InBody body composition analysis technology which I only have access to at my own personal training gym in Singapore) and even a spin studio. Rental of fitness attire and shoes (On Cloudflow shoes, specifically) is complimentary. The fitness centre is open not just to hotel guests but also to those with a membership, and the latter have access to an exclusive relaxation lounge not available to hotel guests. On the aquatic side of things, the spa offers a 25-metre swimming pool and heated lounge pool along with Japanese baths, hydrotherapy and thermal facilities. At night, the swimming pool space was bathed in a warm, sensually orange glow, and it dawned on me that, while Aman Tokyo was celestial in its place (literally) in the sky above, its lower-floor sister property was one of an earth(l)ier persuasion. For those who seek extraordinary pampering, the hotel offers seven treatment rooms as well as two Spa Houses, each with hydrotherapy facilities and either a Banya (a Russian-style wood-lined sauna) or Hammam (a Turkish-style steam room with a large heated marble treatment table). The full review inclusive of dining experiences and photographs is available on Secret Life of Fatbacks, a luxury travel website.

The more 'pocket friendly' hotel to Aman Tokyo exceeded expectations in many ways. I was slightly put off by the negative reviews but was tempted by the location, however, from the moment we arrived, it was clear that my concerns were unfounded. Our flight was delayed and we arrived at 1am, but the staff were expecting us. Check in was seamless and swift, our suite was exquisitly designed and furnished, sensibly laid out, and offers an unobstructed view of the Tokyo Tower. The suite is spacious and designed in a user friendly and practical manner. Breakfast is semi a la carte and all versions are carefully prepared with fresh ingredient. Suite guest also have the option of having breakfast in their room with only tax added, which, is a most welcoming feature if one is on holiday and don't want to be dictated by breakfast offering in the morning. The services, as one would expect from a high end Japanese hotel, was flawless, with appropriate attention and not overbearing. The close proximity to Azabudai Hills is only a bonus at the end as the hotel is so inviting that you would not want to leave. Having stayed at Amanemu, Fayun and Summer Palace, Janu Tokyo is by far, the best in accommodation, food and services. A worthy experience if you are looking for a luxury break with no fuzz or pretence.

I was on the 10 days trip to Japan. Split into half for Tokyo and Osaka. I chose Janu because the hotel just newly opened and lacate in very good location. We can walk to subway easily. The staff were really helpful especially Saya who checked in us on the time we arrived. She really gave us the necessary details. The facilities all are perfect especially Gym. It is fully equipped with the high technology gum stuff s which is impress me a lot. The restaurants we went for breakfast is also good. I like the table which is facing Azabudai hill. I had Japanese for 4 days cause it is very delicious. We will be back next year