The distinction recognizes the property’s Japanese approach to hospitality, from its hinoki bathing rituals and seasonal dining to its interpretation of omotenashi with Filipino warmth.
Manila has always made room for Japanese cultureCultureshared traditions, beliefs, values, customs, arts, and social practices that define the identity and way of life of a community, society, or nation.Go to Culture Glossary, most visibly at the table, the city rife with a variety of dining concepts serving their takes on the country’s cuisine. At Hotel Okura Manila at Newport World Resorts, that affinity can be experienced through accommodation and the practice of hospitality itself. Whether it’s hinoki soaking tubs or seasonal Japanese cuisine, the property imbues its guest experiences with a Japanese sensibility paired with our recognizable Filipino warmth. Recently, that commitment to service and quality manifested through one of hospitality’s most esteemed recognitions, the 185-room hotel receiving One Michelin Key in the 2026 Michelin Guide hotel selection.
This latest accomplishment makes Newport World Resorts the only integrated resort in Manila with a Michelin KeyMichelin KeyA distinction awarded by the Michelin Guide to hotels, with one Key for a very special stay, two for an exceptional stay, and three for an extraordinary stay. Introduced inGo to Michelin Key Glossary hotel. One Michelin Key denotes “a very special stay,” and created in the tradition of the Michelin Star, the distinction is determined through anonymous inspections that consider the architecture, character, service, connection to place, and value of a hotel experience. The recognition builds on Hotel Okura Manila’s inclusion in the Guide’s 2025 hotel selection.
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Inside Hotel Okura Manila, The New One-Michelin-Key Hotel For 2026
Opened in April 2022, Hotel Okura Manila is the first Okura Nikko Hotels property in the Philippines. Its location, only a few minutes from Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3, places its Japanese approach to hospitality within easy reach of travelers arriving in Manila.
The experience begins in an atrium inspired by the charm of Japanese village streets. Wood and stone establish the material palette, joined by a glass pagoda-inspired reception area and minimalist rock garden. Rather than reproducing Japan literally, the design reinterprets familiar elements on a grander scale.
In the guest rooms, Japanese bathing culture takes center stage through the Hinoki-yu Room and Hinoki-yu Premier. Both feature soaking tubs handcrafted from hinoki sourced from Nagiso Town in the Japanese Central Alps region of Nagano. Prized for its natural aroma, the cypress lends the bath a sensory character that deviates from conventional hotel routine.
A Dining Experience That Takes You To Japan And Back
Dining also reflects the property’s Japanese perspective. Yawaragi, whose name comes from the Japanese word for harmony and being completely at ease, occupies the fifth-floor atrium lobby and serves Japanese specialties alongside Filipino favorites and international dishes throughout the day, from breakfast and lunch to afternoon tea and dinner.
On the 11th floor, the hotel’s spaces for exercise and recovery sit next to one another. The health club features jet baths, steam rooms, and saunas, with a fitness center on the same level. Beside these facilities, The SORA Rooftop Bar looks across the Manila skyline from an open-air terrace lined with cabanas and a rooftop pool.
At Yamazato, Hotel Okura Manila offers its most expansive exploration of Japanese cuisine. The signature fine-dining restaurant holds a separate Michelin distinction and is one of three Yamazato restaurants worldwide featured in the 2026 Michelin Guide.
Rather than treating Japanese fine dining as a single form, Yamazato gives each tradition its own setting and specialist. Executive Chef Keiichiro Fujino leads its kaiseki offering (the term for a multi-course Japanese meal), where seasonal ingredients are a part of the culinary story on the table. At the sushi counter, Specialty Chef Ikuma Sato prepares each piece before the guest, drawing from his training in Edomae-style sushi.
Teppanyaki brings Chef Katsuji Kato’s cooking to the center of the meal as ingredients meet the heated iron plate, while shabu-shabu takes a more communal approach, allowing diners to cook selected ingredients together at the table.
Across the property, Japanese craftsmanship and ritual are expressed through spaces, ingredients, and everyday details, creating a guest experience that carries its point of view from check-in to the final course. With One MICHELIN Key, Hotel Okura Manila now holds a place in the MICHELIN Guide’s 2026 global hotel selection.
For more information on Newport World Resorts, visit www.newportworldresorts.com and follow @newportworldresorts on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Join the Newport World Resorts Viber Community at https://newportwr.com/nwrvibercommunity for exclusive updates. Every visit is made more rewarding with an Epic Rewards membership; download the Epic Rewards Mobile App for free at the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
All photos courtesy of Newport World Resorts
Frequently Asked Questions
Hotel Okura Manila at Newport World Resorts received One Michelin Key in the 2026 Michelin Guide hotel selection. The distinction denotes “a very special stay” and recognizes a hotel’s architecture, character, service, connection to place, and value.
Hotel Okura Manila combines Japanese hospitality traditions with Filipino warmth. Opened in April 2022, it is the first Okura Nikko Hotels property in the Philippines and features Japanese-inspired architecture, hinoki soaking tubs, and seasonal Japanese cuisine.
Hotel Okura Manila offers several dining experiences, including Yawaragi, which serves Japanese specialties, Filipino favorites, and international dishes. Its signature fine-dining restaurant, Yamazato, specializes in Japanese cuisine through kaiseki, Edomae-style sushi, teppanyaki, and shabu-shabu.
The Hinoki-yu Room and Hinoki-yu Premier feature soaking tubs handcrafted from hinoki sourced from Nagiso Town in Nagano, Japan. The cypress is prized for its natural aroma, adding a sensory dimension to the hotel’s interpretation of Japanese bathing culture.
Hotel Okura Manila has a health club with jet baths, steam rooms, and saunas, alongside a fitness center. Guests can also visit The SORA Rooftop Bar, which features an open-air terrace with cabanas, a rooftop pool, and views of the Manila skyline.
