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A self-care weekend in Okura: a hot soak, Japanese food, and BTS

Posted by jari m on

Belated Happy Easter! Or something. My family and I will never run out of reasons to go on staycation.

Welcome to Hotel Okura Manila!

Hotel Okura Manila is a chic, minimalist Japanese hotel and a fairly new addition to the Resorts World Manila complex. In fact, it’s so new that it only had its soft opening last December. Their main lobby is still under construction.

Aside from its rooftop pool, one of the best features of this hotel features your very own hinoki wooden bathtub inside the suite. It’s a mini Japanese hot springs experience in a handcrafted tub only a few steps from your bed.

(Yes, my mom saw this on her friend’s feed, and my generous sister was almost immediately onboard.)

Hinoki cypress bathtub. This short deep soaking tub (or ofuro) is traditionally an indoor extension of Japanese outdoor hot springs. It definitely helps rejuvenate the mind.

I actually came from a morning 7PM to 6PM duty at the ambulatory care unit of the ER (thank you to my batchmates for letting me out early). So this warm soak felt extra well-deserved.

#IchibaPh #IchibaJapaneseMarketplace We had a sweet and simple dinner across the street in Newport Mall. The ramen and takoyaki were good. The tonkatsu was just so-so.
Pampering. Dropped by the convenience store across the street so I could buy some must-have face masks. We look hilarious.

Breakfast in bed, poolside morning and a BTS concert

Breakfast in bed. I am a sucker for hotel breakfast buffets, but I am also apparently a sucker for hotel breakfasts in bed! The American menu was more filling, but the Japanese breakfast was definitely more exciting and healthy. Probably.

I just realize this post feels like a spiritual sequel to our holiday stay in Okada, a nearby Japanese hotel in Entertainment City.

Rooftop pool. It was a bit of an overcast day (better for this idiot that doesn’t know how to use sunscreen). There weren’t a lot of people near the pool early on since swimming is by reservation only. At least for now.

Do you like my top? My mom crocheted it herself!

Mosaic art. My sister’s favorite art piece is The Great Wave Off Kanagawa by Hokusai. She was immediately drawn to the aesthetic of this mural.
BTS PERMISSION TO DANCE IN LAS VEGAS. We capped our short stay with front-row tickets (lol) to the official livestream of BTS’ D4 concert. Thank you to Ate Apple for sharing the experience with us! Meanwhile our mom was having some fun in the casino.

We had lunch at home and a foot spa with pedicure at Tokyo Glam in Ayala Malls by the Bay. And that was it for our short and simple easter weekend.

I felt a little but resurrected myself, to be honest. We all need for self-care weekends.

Time for rebirth, spring days, and free chocolate! Until next time. ❤️

In the pipeline of this blog:

  • Thoughts on ArtFairPH 2022
  • FM residency update feat. our teambuilding in Nasugbu
  • Lessons on loneliness, a log

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