Okada Manila, a supporter of culture and natural arts, stages its annual interpretation of the sakura-viewing culture. Dubbed as “Sakura Festival: Hanami in the City,” the hotel brings this special Japanese-Filipino celebration for the entire family to enjoy.
The long, cold winter is over, and it’s officially spring in the northern hemisphere. With this new season comes renewal, optimism, and, well, beautiful things. This is no less evident that in Japan, the country best associated with cherry blossoms or sakura, one of its national icons.
Okada Manila, a supporter of culture and natural arts, stages its annual interpretation of the sakura-viewing culture. Dubbed as “Sakura Festival: Hanami in the City,” the hotel brings this special Japanese-Filipino celebration right in the heart of Manila. And everyone’s invited to come!
Sakura traditions and Filipino Warmth
Sakura, or Japanese cherry blossoms, are iconic to the Japanese people not only because of their beauty and what the flowers symbolize, but because the moment these blooms appear, families and friends gather to share this experience. Hanami, or the custom of viewing cherry blossoms, remains timeless, because the warmth being with loved ones brings is also timeless — a feeling Filipinos understand very well.
This intersection of values—Japanese hospitality and Filipino warmth—is the foundation of Okada Manila. Now that the world of Filipinos is slowly expanding once again, Okada Manila is delivering this Japanese custom vicariously to the beautiful halls of the Crystal Corridor and the Coral Wing Foyer. Although nothing can approximate the actual experience of seeing and experiencing the festival in person while in Japan, this development is perhaps the next best thing for Filipino families in Manila to bond over.
More than sightseeing
While the sakura-filled halls are one of the highlights of the festival, “Sakura Festival: Hanami in the City” delivers more than just a beautiful view. Ongoing until March 27, guests can expect to see different live entertainment shows, including Japanese cultural dance performances, sand art by the popular Joseph the Sand Artist and other live music performances. For a complete schedule, visit okdmnl.ph/HanamiintheCity
A safe and fun Experience
Aside from the live stages, Okada Manila guests can also redeem rewards with single or accumulated receipts of at least P 500. These rewards include the kimono experience, a slot to the resort’s sakura workshop, or a sakura nail art session with The Sole Retreat’s very own in-house nail technicians.
Checked-in hotel guests and new Reward Circle members also get extra perks when they visit the hotel during the Sakura Festival. For complete details, visit okdmnl.ph/HanamiintheCity or reach out to our staff.
To complete the experience, Okada Manila continues to implement strict health and safety protocols to make sure everyone, from festival visitors to performers alike, will enjoy themselves, even after their visit. The festival organizers paid particular care to the kimono experience, where the pre-kimono experience sanitizing area is set up, a space where guests can be sanitized completely.
Previously, the integrated resort was awarded by Forbes Travel Guide and digital health leader Sharecare the VERIFIED certification badge after assessing Okada Manila’s health and safety protocols. The resort continues to be loyal to its 3T campaign (True Clean. True Safe. True Heart.) even with today’s eased restrictions.
For news and updates on Okada Manila, visit www.okadamanila.com or book your stay today okdmnl.ph/OnlineBooking.
