Amanemu

Amanemu is poised on a hilltop overlooking the tranquil waters of Ago Bay in Ise-Shima National Park, near the holy Ise Grand Shrine.

The suites and villas are spacious and polished, with expansive walls of glass and wooden sliding screens that conceal televisions and bamboo lanterns. Doors open onto generous terraces with large daybeds, where you can relax and enjoy the expansive views over the gardens and the bay. The bathrooms encase deep soaking basalt bathtubs, and you can enjoy the serenity of your own private onsen, which draws water from nearby nutrient-rich hot springs.

At the simply-named Restaurant, expect a rotating seasonal menu, ranging from sashimi and tempura to melt-in-the-mouth wagyu beef. In addition to an abundance of fresh seafood, local produce include delicious fruit such as Nabari melons and a wide variety of vegetables. The elegant dining room, which is modelled on traditional Japanese dining houses, looks out over Ago Bay. 

The Bar and Lounge is the ideal spot for lingering over a pot of tea or a few cocktails – try the Mebuki, an enticing concoction of vodka, green tea, champagne and lime.

Inspired by Japan's centuries-old onsen tradition, the indulgent spa sprawls over 22,000sq ft and embraces the theme of water, with a communal onsen at its core, and an additional two private onsen pavilions, fed by salt-infused spring water.

After a Japanese treatment, such as the wasabi and crushed pearl foot scrub, luxuriate in the infinity pool as you admire views across the hills, the forests and the bay, or make use of the yoga studio and watsu water therapy pool.

Hop on one of the hotel bikes and head out to explore this verdant region, including the holy Shinto Ise Grand Shrine, which dates back to the 3rd century and is one of Japan’s most sacred sites. Visit with an expert guide and witness a prayer session and dancing. 

You should also explore the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Kumano Kodo pilgrimage trails, mountainous and coastal paths that have been trodden for more than a millennium and connect sacred sites across the region - and the changing seasons bring new and spectacular landscapes.

As well as dipping a toe into the region’s past, you can go for a round of golf at the 18-hole Nemu course, or fish with an expert angler and have the Amanemu chefs take care of your catch. Ago Bay has been home to Ama female freedivers for centuries, who collect pearls, shellfish, seaweed and sea urchins, and you can also dine on a special Amanemu menu with an ama in her hut (an amagoya). 

In the evening, enjoy a sunset cruise around the bay, accompanied by champagne and canapés.