Yogyakarta’s Amanjiwo is a shining beacon for Javanese culture

As Java’s cultural capital and seat of Javanese royalty, the city serves as a custodian of ancient cultural knowledge, from dances recounting ancient epic battles to the slow art of batik-making. It is also home to Borobudur and Prambanan, two of the most important UNESCO heritage sites in Southeast Asia.

Perhaps no other hotel shows this better than Amanjiwo, an all-suite hotel with a stunning view of Borobudur set in the forested distance.

Here, Javanese culture takes center stage. The property is not only inspired by Javanese architectural elements, but infuses the entire experience with a distinctive Javanese flavor.

How to get to Yogyakarta’s Amanjiwo

Flights to Yogyakarta aren’t as plentiful as we’d like, and we highly recommend taking the only direct flight to and from Changi Airport as much as possible, even if that means it’s Air Asia.

The alternative, taking connecting flights from Singapore to Jakarta and then on to Yogyakarta, is too much of a headache. The domestic leg has a high propensity to be canceled (we know this firsthand) and getting stranded at the Jakarta airport isn’t exactly Disneyland.

However, once you are at Yogyakarta International Airport, the journey will be smooth. The airport is new and was initially built to promote tourism in the region, before the pandemic hit. There is an airport train that will take travelers to the city center in 40 minutes, but those staying in Amanjiwo will be picked up by a perfectly comfortable car for a journey that takes about 1.5 hours.

The environment in Yogyakarta

The journey will take you through the heart of Java and the car will meander through rice fields and charming little communes. Its iconic stupa, inspired by Borobudur architecture, will be seen on the left. 
The property itself is quietly majestic and feels almost like it’s been there forever. To check in, walk up its stone steps and a cavernous pavilion will envelop you in respectful silence.
Once there, admire the view of Borobudur in the distance as Amanjiwo sits atop a hill overlooking the cascading forests.

The silence here is contemplative and the music comes only from the soft cooing of a small gamelan ensemble of no more than two or three players.

Amanjiwo’s rooms

The suites at Amanjiwo are generous in size and each comes with a patio and cushioned gazebo from where you can enjoy breakfast. The 243 square meter garden suite it offers plenty of space for private lounging and a luxurious four-poster king-size bed for the most restful sleep anyone could wish for.

Decor comes via marble and wood accents and art within the rooms includes depictions of wayang kulit, or shadow puppets. Outdoors and beyond the bathroom, a sunken stone tub awaits. The staff will be more than happy to draw the bath for you and will arrive with candles on hand to set you up.

The suite is so comfortable, so huge in its entirety that it is possible not to leave it during your stay. Go ahead and have your breakfast delivered. We really enjoyed the chicken congee and nasi goreng, two classic Indonesian breakfasts that one must have anywhere in the archipelago. Here it arrives with a side of sambal (not too spicy, we assure you) and pickles that are impeccably assembled by the staff under the gazebo.

In fact, it’s the interaction with the staff that makes staying at Amanjiwo so special. The hotel’s invisible hands team is incredibly attentive and goes above and beyond to ensure that guests have a comfortable and enjoyable stay.

Verdict

Amanjiwo It’s the kind of hotel you go to if you need peace and quiet. It may be a long drive from the airport, but that also means you’ll be located deep in the heart of Java, where the soothing sounds of gamelan and birdsong await. We think a three-night stay here would be more than enough to find your center of gravity.