Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, also present in Japan, is a luxury hotel chain headquartered in Toronto, Canada. It is well-known that they have many fans worldwide, with a reputation for creating hotels and resorts that leverage the unique characteristics of their locations and for their meticulous hospitality. In Japan, they operate the Four Seasons Hotel Marunouchi Tokyo and the Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto. The opening of a facility in Otemachi is also planned (exciting!). However. This story is about Bali, Indonesia. Did you know? Bali is home to two hotels with completely different personalities.

One is the seaside resort, Four Seasons Resort Bali at Jimbaran Bay (hereinafter, "Jimbaran Bay"), and the other is the forest resort nestled along a valley, Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan (hereinafter, "Sayan"). In fact, a journey hopping between these two Four Seasons resorts is currently popular not only among Four Seasons fans and Bali aficionados but also among hotel enthusiasts.

I recently had the pleasure of enjoying a luxurious back-and-forth trip between "Jimbaran Bay" and "Sayan." While the experience was more blissful than I could have imagined, I will introduce the characteristics of Bali's two Four Seasons resorts and recommended ways to spend your time, trying to avoid sounding too boastful.

First, let's start with the seaside resort, "Jimbaran Bay." Jimbaran, popular with Japanese visitors, is about a 20-minute drive from Ngurah Rai International Airport, Bali's gateway. If you've been to Bali before, you'll know. The "Ikan Bakar" (seafood barbecue) lining the Jimbaran beach is a specialty of Jimbaran, indeed, of Bali. Locals and tourists alike enjoy seafood BBQs amidst the rising smoke, in good spirits.

"Jimbaran Bay" is located along a 4.8km stretch of golden sandy beach embraced by Jimbaran Bay, not far from the Ikan Bakar spots. Its grounds cover approximately 14 hectares (about three Tokyo Domes). It's vast! Opened in 1993, it is known as a pioneer that was among the first in Bali, and indeed globally, to feature all-villa accommodations with private pools, a concept now adopted by many resorts.

Upon arriving at the resort, which felt like no time at all from the airport, a moment of pure bliss awaited. Beyond the lobby lay Jimbaran Bay! "Jimbaran Bay" is built on a gentle hill, so from the entrance, looking past the lobby, the main pool is visible down the stairs, and beyond that, the sea stretches out serenely. The hustle and bustle of "Ikan Bakar" seemed a world away (laughs).

Of course, I had seen pictures beforehand, but the beauty surpassed them. Is this paradise? Incidentally, the lobby floor is marble (gorgeous!). During the day, it sparkled so brightly it seemed to reflect the blue of the sky.

I learned that the entire "Jimbaran Bay" resort is designed to resemble a traditional Balinese village. The main building, where the lobby is located, features traditional Balinese architecture with alang-alang (thatch) roofing. This main building is likened to a temple, and surrounding it are 147 villas, modeled after traditional Balinese houses called "bale." Balinese Hindu statues and shrines are scattered throughout the grounds.

The design follows the natural contours of the hillside facing the sea, and it's a joy that most rooms offer ocean views. Guests can feel as if they are residents of a southern village, where colorful flowers bloom in abundance. — I wish I could be a resident of such a luxurious village!

The guest rooms incorporate natural Balinese materials and traditional motifs throughout, while also offering modern conveniences. In fact, "Jimbaran Bay" completed renovations of its villas in June 2017. The redesigned spaces now feature living areas indoors (previously outdoors, apparently), making stays even more comfortable.

With photogenic four-poster beds (Four Seasons originals by Simmons), roll-up bathtubs, private pools overlooking the sea, daybeds, and outdoor showers to enhance the resort mood, it's so wonderful and comfortable that one might want to stay holed up in the room for about three years! But it would be a shame to stay only in the room! The abundance of public spaces is also one of the reasons why "Jimbaran Bay" receives high praise from travel professionals.

There is much I would like to introduce and write about, but what I personally want everyone to experience is a treatment at the spa facility, "Healing Village Spa"! The high quality of spa facilities at "Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts" is already well-established, but at "Jimbaran Bay," they offer high-quality treatments that harmonize the mind and body, utilizing Balinese traditions and nature.

For example, there are treatments like "Jimbaran Waters," which purifies the mind and body with water-themed treatments, and "Wave of Desire," which adjusts the chakras of desire and pleasure. Furthermore, there are many unique treatments, such as "Suara Jimbaran," which uses musical instruments (Gamelan gongs) for purification before body and facial treatments. I found myself intrigued by all of them, making it quite a dilemma.

Additionally, "Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts" is known for its wide variety of activities, and "Jimbaran Bay" is no exception. They offer various activities that allow guests to experience Balinese traditions and culture, such as temple tours and art & culture tours (some are free to participate in). However, what deserves special mention is the cooking class. Although I couldn't participate this time due to timing, they have a dedicated cooking school, "Jala Cooking Academy," where one can learn authentic Indonesian cuisine. While many resorts offer cooking classes where you can learn local dishes, this is the first time I've encountered one with such a well-equipped facility.

Here's another special piece of information.

Along the beach is "Sundara," a beach club and restaurant featuring an infinity pool overlooking Jimbaran Bay. The restaurant serves modern cuisine inspired by Asian flavors. It's popular not only with hotel guests but also as a date spot for locals.

The pride of "Sundara" is its infinity pool, offering a panoramic view of Jimbaran Bay, which is an impressive 57 meters long – the longest in Bali.

Daybeds by the pool are available for free for resort guests, but external guests can also use them for a fee. Most flights from Bali to Japan are evening departures. After checking out of the resort, spending time at "Sundara," which means "beautiful" in Sanskrit, while admiring Jimbaran Bay is a wise choice. Incidentally, the design of "Sundara" was handled by the Tokyo-based design firm "SPIN," which also designed NOBU Tokyo, NOBU Hong Kong, and the popular Bali attraction "Rock Bar."

Oh, and speaking of Japan, the Executive Pastry Chef at "Jimbaran Bay" is Yusuke Aoki. He is Japanese (and quite handsome). Mr. Aoki is a rising star who won the Valrhona Chocolate Chef Competition in 2018, and his delicate sweets are a major draw. At "Sundara," you can also try his competition-winning creation, "Samurai," which incorporates Japanese ingredients like kelp and sansho pepper.

Four Seasons Resort Bali at Jimbaran Bay
Four Seasons Resort Bali at Jimbaran Bay

Address | Jimbaran, Bali, 80361, Indonesia
Tel. | +62-361-701010
HP |www.fourseasons.com/jp/jimbaranbay

Continued in Part 2