Hotel Okura Co., Ltd. has announced that the Hotel Okura Thermal Resort & Spa Cappadocia is scheduled to open in 2028 in the historic village of Mustafapaşa in the Cappadocia region of Türkiye. The project builds on an earlier Okura Spa & Resort Cappadocia initiative announced in June 2015 and is being developed with new partner KK Universal, a real estate and hospitality investment group headquartered in Türkiye.
According to Toshihiro Ogita, President of Hotel Okura Co., Ltd., the company is "honored to embark on this project together with KK Universal and are delighted to bring the Okura brand to Türkiye." The site has been expanded to meet evolving global market needs, creating a luxury resort with premier thermal and wellness facilities that blend Okura's omotenashi—Japanese-style hospitality—with the cultural heritage of Cappadocia.
On May 22, 2026, Hotel Okura signed a hotel management contract with Oluşum Grubu Gayrimenkul Yatırımları ve İnşaat Ticaret A.Ş., a hotel operating company backed by KK Universal. The property will be operated by Okura Saraylı Hotel Management A.Ş., a joint venture established in February 2015 between Hotel Okura Co., Ltd. and local partners Saraylı Turizm A.Ş. and MSIC Gayrimenkul Yatırım ve Danışmanlık Ticaret Ltd. Şti.
The signing ceremony took place in Tokyo on May 22, 2026, attended by executives including Kaan Namlıcı (Chairman of the Board, KK Universal), Kübra Akbalık Namlıcı (Board Member, KK Universal), Toshihiro Ogita (President, Hotel Okura Co., Ltd.), Itaru Ashida (Representative Director, Hotel Okura Co., Ltd.), Masao Taguchi (Executive Advisor, Hotel Okura Co., Ltd.), Marcel P. van Aelst (Vice Chairman, Okura Nikko Hotel Management Co., Ltd.), Hidechika Takasaka (President and CEO, Okura Nikko Hotel Management Co., Ltd.), Yoshinori Yamamoto (Director of the Board, Okura Nikko Hotel Management Co., Ltd.), Saruhan Saraylı (Chairman of the Board, Saraylı Group and Okura Saraylı Hotel Management A.Ş.), and Mieko Wanibuchi (Chairperson, Ginza Tailor Group Co., Ltd. and shareholder of Okura Saraylı Hotel Management A.Ş.), who plays an active role in the DEIK Türkiye-Japan Business Council.
Hotel Okura and KK Universal plan to continue discussions on future projects in Türkiye, deepening their partnership and expanding their collaborative presence in the region. Hotel Okura will pursue its growth journey in Türkiye exclusively through this partnership.
Why it matters
The entry of Hotel Okura into Türkiye's luxury thermal segment signals a strategic move by a Japanese operator to tap into Cappadocia's growing appeal as a high-end wellness destination. By partnering with a local investment group and leveraging an existing joint venture, the company reduces entry risk while gaining local expertise. The exclusive partnership with KK Universal suggests a long-term commitment to the Turkish market, potentially opening the door for further Okura-branded properties in the region. For travel trade professionals, this development adds a new luxury option in Cappadocia, a region already known for its unique landscape and hot air balloon tourism, and could attract Japanese and international travellers seeking thermal and wellness experiences.
