From landmark restorations to remote retreats, these are the hotel debuts shaping the year ahead
Amanvari, Mexico
Aman brings its laid-back lifestyle to the East Cape of Baja California, Mexico, with the opening of Amanvari: an 18-key retreat and collection of branded residences. Continuing Aman’s focus on merging nature and architecture, Elastic Architects has designed thoughtfully considered villas that blur the boundary between indoors and out, showcasing Aman’s signature tranquil aesthetic through sandy-hued interiors, layers of natural stone and tropical woods, and bespoke Mexican ceramics and artworks. The Aman Spa will continue the brand’s focus on longevity, while multiple dining venues will celebrate Italian, Japanese and local cuisine.
Capella Kyoto, Japan
Opening in spring 2026, Capella Kyoto marks Capella Hotel Group’s first foray into Japan, offering a haven of heritage and harmony to the heart of Kyoto’s historic Higashiyama district. Standing four storeys high, the 89-key hotel pays homage to the city’s rich heritage through its curation of Japanese artworks and artefacts. Adjacent to the celebrated Miyagawa-chō Kaburenjo, a theatre for Geiko and Maiko dances, each guest room is furnished with soothing hues, intricate textures and reinterpreted in a contemporary manner to embrace the future while respecting the important legacy of Kyoto’s Geiko traditions.
Hoshinoya Prison, Japan
In a bid to preserve the only surviving structure of the Meiji government’s Five Great Prisons, the former Hoshinoya Nara Prison is transforming its historic walls into a timelessly elegant stay. The hotel will open its doors in summer 2026 as the only hotel in Japan set within an Important Cultural Property, featuring 48 guest rooms formed by merging former cells and softened with wood, fabric and gentle lighting, as well as an adjoining museum. Dining is kaiseki with Nara produce, and hotel activities will revolve around architecture and heritage tours into former cell blocks and communal spaces.
Azuma Farm Koiwai, Japan
Set to open on April 23, Azuma Farm Koiwai is a new boutique nature retreat developed through a collaboration between Azumi Japan and East Japan Railway Company (JR East). Conceived as an intimate countryside escape set within a secluded eight-hectare section of the storied grounds of Koiwai Farm in Iwate Prefecture, one of Japan’s most historic farmstead landscapes, the property features just 24 rooms that mirrors the locale. Experiences here focus on seasonal farm life and regional culture, including horseback riding, forest walks, Nanbu Tekki ironware crafts, and dining sourced from the surrounding mountains, farms and Sanriku coast.
Emirates Wolgan Valley, a Ritz-Carlton Lodge, Australia
Owned by Emirates and operated in partnership with Marriott International, Emirates Wolgan Valley, a Ritz-Carlton Lodge, is the world’s first Ritz-Carlton Lodge, marking a bold expansion of the luxury brand into conservation-led, low-density wilderness travel. Anchored within a 7,000-acre conservation reserve, each of the 40 private lodges comes with its own pool, generous indoor-outdoor living spaces, bespoke amenities and immersive, conservation-led experiences guided by a dedicated naturalist hub.
See also: Niccolo Chengdu is the first-time visitor’s home base in Chengdu
