Tenku no Mori
This luxury resort is unlike most Japanese hotels. Set amidst lush, natural surroundings, Tenku no Mori exudes a classical boutique inn kind of atmosphere, and with only five rooms, it lives up to its self-proclamation of a ‘private resort’. Guests can enjoy their meals in private dining rooms, where they’ll be served scrumptious local foods that include organic vegetables and free-range meat. Lovers of the great outdoors will be happy here, with 360-degree panoramas of the surrounding majestic mountains - perfect for those who are into hiking and/or photography. The hotel, despite its off-the-beaten-track feel, is located only a 30-minute drive from the Kagoshima airport.
Why We Love This Hotel
- Vision: Tenku no Mori- literally "the forest in the sky"- is the life's work of owner Tateo Tajima, who spent over a decade clearing bamboo forest in the Kirishima mountains before the property opened in 2004. The result is one of Japan's most singular retreats: a member of Relais & Chateaux built on the belief that nature, given enough space, can make guests human again.
- Privacy: Just three villas are available for overnight stays and two for day experiences, all spread across 60 hectares of mountain forest in Kagoshima Prefecture. Each is positioned well out of sight of the others, with its own private outdoor onsen fed by fresh spring water and unobstructed views of the Kirishima volcanic peaks- a level of seclusion that is genuinely rare anywhere in the world.
- Dining: Meals at Tenku no Mori are built around what is growing in the surrounding fields and forests at the time of your stay- organically cultivated vegetables, free-range Satsuma-jidori chicken, and freshly baked bread. Al fresco dinners on the banks of the Amori River can also be arranged for guests seeking an evening among the sounds of the forest.
- Destination
- Kirishima, Japan
Amenities
- Concierge
- Garden
- Restaurant
- Safety Deposit Boxes
- Spa
- Wi-Fi In Public Areas
Accommodation comprises five exclusive private villas, including three designed for overnight stays and two available for day-use experiences. Thoughtfully positioned across the hillside to maximize privacy and panoramic views, each villa features expansive outdoor decks and private open-air onsen baths that immerse guests in the surrounding landscape. The overnight villas also offer separate living and sleeping spaces, while each villa enjoys its own distinctive setting—from sweeping views of the Kirishima mountains to tranquil forest retreats—creating a peaceful sanctuary that blends contemporary comfort with the serenity of nature.
Akane Sasu Oka
Akane Sasu Oka is an overnight villa thoughtfully positioned to capture spectacular sunset views over the Kirishima mountains. Its distinctively shaped private open-air onsen affords clear views of the surrounding peaks, while an expansive wooden deck extends toward the landscape, offering peaceful views across the region's picturesque terraced fields. Combining contemporary comfort with a serene natural setting, the villa provides an idyllic retreat for relaxation and quiet reflection.
Hana Chiru Sato
Hana Chiru Sato is a private day-use villa designed for relaxation, featuring a bed, open-air shower, and private outdoor onsen. A spacious wooden deck frames uninterrupted 180-degree views of the Kirishima mountains, allowing guests to soak in the hot spring while overlooking the surrounding forests and rolling landscape. The villa offers a tranquil setting to unwind and reconnect with nature.
Rinu No Mori
Rinu No Mori is an overnight villa nestled within lush subtropical forest, offering the most secluded setting on the property. Separate living and sleeping pavilions are connected by a private outdoor onsen, creating a peaceful retreat immersed in nature. An open-air shower enhances the feeling of bathing among the trees, while the surrounding forest provides a tranquil atmosphere ideal for relaxation and quiet reflection.
Tenku
Tenku is the resort's largest overnight villa, perched near the hilltop to maximize privacy and sweeping views of the surrounding landscape. Designed as a secluded retreat, the villa features separate living and sleeping pavilions connected by a spacious wooden deck that extends into nature. A private open-air onsen provides the perfect setting to unwind while taking in panoramic views of the Kirishima mountains and the tranquil forests below.
Tsubame No Su
Tsubame No Su is a secluded day-use villa tucked away on the highest part of the property, offering a peaceful retreat surrounded by nature. Designed for quiet relaxation, the villa features a private bedroom and open-air onsen, providing an intimate setting to soak in the hot spring while enjoying the tranquil forest surroundings. Optional in-villa dining is also available, allowing guests to extend their experience in complete privacy.
At Tenku no Mori, the facilities are the landscape itself. Each villa's private outdoor onsen draws from fresh natural spring water, set within 60 hectares of Kirishima mountain forest with unobstructed views of the surrounding volcanic peaks. Spa treatments are available on-site, and al fresco dining on the banks of the Amori River can be arranged. Beyond the property, helicopter excursions over the Kirishima range are available for guests seeking to explore the region from above.
Dining at Tenku no Mori is built around what the surrounding land provides. Meals are prepared daily from organically grown vegetables harvested from the property's own terraced fields, alongside free-range Satsuma-jidori chicken and fresh local ingredients from the Kirishima region. Both breakfast and dinner are included in the stay, with al fresco dining on the banks of the Amori River available for guests who wish to dine among the sounds of the forest.
Seasonal Dining at Tenku no Mori
Served at your villa, dining at Tenku no Mori is a celebration of the land and the changing seasons, with menus inspired by the bounty of Kirishima and Kagoshima. Much of the produce is harvested from the resort's own chemical-free terraced gardens, complemented by locally sourced ingredients including premium Osumi beef, Satsuma chicken, freshwater fish, and wild mountain vegetables. Thoughtfully prepared to showcase the natural flavors of each ingredient, breakfast and multi-course dinners offer an authentic farm-to-table experience that reflects the rhythms of the surrounding landscape.
Exclusively Asia
With Remote Lands you'll travel with people who have made Asia the solitary focus of their own lifelong adventure. As our guest, you'll discover Asia on a journey that is completely, authentically your own, adapted from our own remarkable experiences and adventures over the years.
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Family from Minneapolis
Our family's trip to Japan was extremely well planned and well executed, on very short notice... Hats off to you!
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Catherine and her team...were able to put together a trip with exactly the kind of experiences we were dreaming of.