In that busy strip between NAIA terminal 3 and the bustling complex of Newport World Resorts lies an oasis so luxurious, so secluded, and so private one would forget that he is actually in an entertainment area.
Hotel Okura Manila, part of a global Japanese hospitality brand, which lives for refinement and the good old Japanese sophistication, has found itself true to the brand— no matter where it is.
It was my first time to be in the hotel, a certified 5-star accommodation, and an exciting venue for a quiet and relaxing birthday ‘salubong’. At first, making it relaxing was a challenge as I got too excited to see the hotel and try its amenities. But I was able to calm myself and enjoy all the luxury Hotel Okura Manila has to offer.
There are 80 Hotel Okura’s in the world. More than half or 54 of them are in Japan and 26 overseas. The Manila hotel is the only one in the Philippines. It has 190 rooms in 9 categories. I stayed in a Hinoki-yu, one of the over 60 rooms with its own Hinoki bathtub. That’s the centerpiece and a top amenity in itself.
I have been seeing photos online on how beautiful the Hinoki-yu room is. And it is amazing to finally try it for myself. Aside from my own Hinoki bathtub, there are three other things that make it stand out from other accommodations. First, the room is wrapped in a calming Japanese inspiration of classic wooden elements and splendid stone finishings. The walls are so detailed there is not a spot that does not speak elegance.
Second is the space. The room is huge and good enough to accommodate a small party of 8 to 10. Although the maximum for sleeping guests is only 5, its 46-square meter space is bigger than most one bedroom condominium cuts in Metro Manila.
Third, the room project the subtlety of Japanese motifs. The Origami crane sculpture and a Japanese pocket garden, called the tsubo-niwa, took me to Japan even for a night. Japan remains to be my favorite country and spending my birthday, without the stresses of travel, is a blessing.
The Hinoki tub, highlighted because of its wooden finish, is a great amenity. You would not need any hotel amenity actually as you can spend hours here. It is named after a tree in Japan which is mostly used in traditional temples. What’s making it expensive is the limited supply of this wood because the Hinoki is a slow-growing tree.
Aside from the bathtub, the other highlight here is the tourist-favorite high-tech Japanese toilet bowl. Complete with a detachable remote control which detects if someone goes inside the room to automatically open the bowl cover, this signature Japanese technology has the blower, the interior bidet-like sprinkler, the warm seats, and the aroma spray. You can remember your first trip to Japan in an instant while doing your business, or just sitting there to feel the warm seats.
The Hinoki room is also complete with a king-size bed, your own Yukata sets, a separate rainfall shower, and a surround-sound TV system which elevates your Netflix moments.
If you have the energy to go outside your room, Hotel Okura Manila is one of the only 6 Philippine hotels recognized in the 2024 Michelin Guide. Its restaurants, the Yawaragi and the Yamazato, will fill not just your tummies with good food, but also your souls with contentment.
What a good birthday break it was. It was a thorough Japanese experience without leaving Manila, and a very satisfying and rest without leaving an entertainment area. I will definitely be back again Hotel Okura Manila.
