Tenku no Mori
Set amid the forested hills of Kirishima in southern Kyushu, Tenku no Mori is an intimate luxury retreat offering just four private villas, creating an atmosphere of complete seclusion and tranquility. Each villa is thoughtfully positioned to maximize sweeping views of the surrounding mountains and features a private open-air onsen immersed in nature. Seasonal cuisine is served in your villa and celebrates the region's exceptional produce, including organic vegetables and free-range meats sourced from local farms. Guests can further unwind with spa treatments, explore the surrounding countryside on scenic walks, or simply relax while taking in the panoramic landscapes. Despite its peaceful, off-the-beaten-path setting, the resort is conveniently located just a 30-minute drive from Kagoshima Airport (KOJ).
Why We Love This Hotel
- The Story: Tenku no Mori, literally "the forest in the sky," is the life's work of owner Tateo Tajima, who spent more than a decade transforming a bamboo forest in the Kirishima Mountains before the property opened in 2004. The result is one of Japan's most distinctive retreats, a Relais & Châteaux hideaway founded on the belief that, when given enough space, nature has the power to restore both body and mind.
- Exclusive by Design: Just three villas are available for overnight stays and one 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 natural spring water and unobstructed views of the Kirishima volcanic peaks, creating an exceptional sense of seclusion rarely found elsewhere.
- A Sense of Place: Meals at Tenku no Mori are served privately in your villa and reflect the rhythms of the surrounding landscape, with menus shaped by what is growing in the nearby fields and forests during your stay. Seasonal dishes showcase organically cultivated vegetables, free-range Satsuma-jidori chicken, and freshly baked bread, while private riverside dinners along the banks of the Amori River can be arranged for an unforgettable evening immersed in nature.
- Destination
- Kirishima, Japan
Amenities
- Concierge
- Garden
- Multilingual Staff
- Spa
- Wi-Fi In Public Areas
Accommodation comprises four exclusive private villas, including three designed for overnight stays and one 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.
Offering a simple spa, the facilities at Tenku no Mori are intentionally understated, with the focus placed on privacy, nature, and immersive experiences rather than extensive resort amenities. What the property lacks in traditional facilities is more than compensated for by its spectacular natural setting, secluded villas, and thoughtfully curated wellness and outdoor experiences. Each private villa features its own open-air onsen fed by natural hot spring water, while private riverside dining experiences and optional helicopter excursions over the Kirishima Mountains further immerse guests in the region's remarkable landscapes.
Tenku Spa
Indulge in a rejuvenating spa treatment or traditional Japanese head spa at Tenku Spa, or experience a Ayurveda, Shiatsu, or Thai massage using herbal oils.
Dining at Tenku no Mori is built around what the surrounding land provides and served at your villa. 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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What Others Say
Here is a small selection of the kind words our clients have said about us recently.
A couple from Florida - Aman Jet Expedition, Spring 2016
As the trip progressed strangers became friends. Particularly special was the effortlessness: perfect logistics, never having to worry about anything, and, of course, the charming and thoughtful way you organised everything.
A Family from Europe
Catherine and her team...were able to put together a trip with exactly the kind of experiences we were dreaming of.
Family from Minneapolis
Our family's trip to Japan was extremely well planned and well executed, on very short notice... Hats off to you!
