Amanemu: Natural mineral onsen sanctuary in Ise-Shima National Park overlooking Ago Bay with Matsusaka beef dining

Perched on the undulating green hills of Ise-Shima National Park overlooking the pearl-cultivating waters of Ago Bay, Amanemu opened in March 2016 as Aman’s first natural hot spring onsen resort. Designed by the late Kerry Hill, the retreat celebrates the timeless aesthetic of traditional Japanese minka rural residences with low-slung pavilions clad in dark cedarwood, woven rush mats, and basalt stone. Twenty-four suites and eight two-bedroom villas embrace the bay’s peaceful maritime topography, surrounded by pine forests and scenic islets.

Arrival introduces travelers to the sacred cultural heart of Japan: personal hosts welcome guests with chilled local tea before an orientation to the resort’s mineral springs. Day-one logistics focus on planning spiritual and culinary journeys: private guided visits to Ise Jingu (Japan’s most sacred Shinto shrine), meeting the legendary Ama female free-divers in their seaside fishing huts, and booking dinner featuring world-famous Matsusaka Wagyu beef.

Wellness is centered on the extraordinary 2,000-square-metre Aman Spa. The facility features two expansive outdoor mineral-rich thermal onsen pavilions fed by local saline hot springs, complemented by a 33-metre outdoor infinity pool, private onsen treatment suites, and aquatic watsu therapies. Dining is anchored in The Restaurant, celebrating the bounty of Mie Prefecture—historically known as the imperial pantry—with fresh spiny lobster, abalone, and charcoal-grilled Matsusaka beef.

Accommodations comprise 24 suites (99 square metres each, named Mori, Sora, and Nagi for their forest, sky, and bay views) and eight 366-square-metre two-bedroom villas. Every suite features floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors opening onto wide timber verandas, custom granite ofuro bathtubs supplied with continuous thermal onsen spring water, and woven rush tatami matting.

Onsen purists, culinary travelers, and couples seeking supreme natural tranquility, private in-room hot springs, and Ise Jingu spiritual access should book Amanemu without hesitation. Travelers seeking high-speed bullet train proximity or Tokyo urban energy should look elsewhere. Grounded review consensus confirms top standing with a 4.8 out of 5 on Tripadvisor across 340 reviews and a 4.7 out of 5 on Google across 310 reviews.