Natural high

Tokyo’s recent luxury hotel openings have tended to be nestled in the upper reaches of towering skyscrapers. For its new opening, though, Aman Resorts has brought things back down to earth. Janu is a 122-room hotel in Azabudai Hills and is the first of 12 for Aman’s new sister brand, which comes with a lifestyle label and a slightly lower price tag. 

While Aman Tokyo, tucked in the top of Otemachi Tower, was designed as an ultra-rarefied retreat from the hustle and bustle below, Janu sits in the heart of a new neighbourhood, opening onto the adjacent shopping area and featuring eight restaurants and bars. They include Hu Jing for modern Cantonese, Janu Grill for a wagyu steak and Mercato for fresh pasta and a terrace that opens onto the main square. Iigura serves sushi over a wooden counter and Sumi offers fish and meat cooked over charcoal. 

Jean-Michel Gathy, a regular Aman collaborator, led the design alongside his Kuala Lumpur studio. Janu’s rooms showcase Aman’s trademark serenity with neutral palettes, giant bathrooms and sliding doors. The architecture of the whole development maximises what the Japanese call shakkei, or “borrowed scenery”. The nearby Tokyo Tower makes the biggest impact (the Tower View Suite has views from every room) but some less well-known buildings announce themselves too, including the Reiyukai Shakaden Buddhist temple (you can’t miss the sloping roof) and, of course, the luxury shops that populate the development. 

Janu takes wellness seriously, with a spa and fitness area that sprawls across four floors. The pool boasts a width that most hotels can’t accommodate, while the athlete-level gym features a full-size boxing ring, as well as seven treatment rooms and five movement studios. The hotel – which also has two boutiques selling skincare, homeware and own-label casualwear – is one of the finishing touches to Azabudai Hills. Once the last of the shops opens and the greenery sprouts, the vision will come to life. — L  
janu.com

inventory:Tech corner
Switched on
Global

Upgrades and iterations from digital cameras to tracking tags make up this month’s round-up.

1
X100VI digital camera
Fujifilm
The latest camera from Fujifilm is the successor to the popular X100V. The new model retains the X100V’s gorgeous design and fixed lens but upgrades the sensor to 40.2 megapixels. 
fujifilm.com

Ultra Open Earbuds
Bose
These in-ears from Bose are built so that you can hear the world around you as well as your music. The design clips around the ear, like an ear cuff, but feels secure. And an auto-volume feature compensates if your surroundings suddenly become noisy.
bose.com

Phone (2a)
Nothing
The latest smartphone from Nothing is priced competitively and, while the design is arguably Nothing’s best yet, there are compromises. The back is polycarbonate rather than glass, for example, though that does make it light. The twin rear cameras perched like eyes look cool too.
nothing.tech

AirCard
Rolling Square
The Swiss-designed AirCard fits in a wallet and works with Apple Find My. If you lose your wallet, the gadget will send a message to any passing Apple device on to your iPhone.
rollingsquare.com