A Journey Into the Japanese Culture Of Wellness

This retreat invites you into the textural beauty and living traditions of Japan — where moss, cedar, stone, and ritual create a world that feels both ancient and alive. From the timeless refuge of Tokyo’s hidden temple gardens to the sacred foothills of Mount Fuji, the contemplative gardens of Kyoto and the monastic stillness of Koyasan, we invite you to soften the edges of daily life and step back into presence.

The Heart of the Retreat: Rituals of wellness & presence

Rooted in the wisdom of Ichigo Ichie—the beauty of the unrepeatable moment—this journey is a gentle immersion into Japan’s culture of wellness. Here, every practice becomes an invitation to quiet the mind, listen deeply, and let the beauty of the world move you.

The Rhythm of the retreat journey

Experience Japan not as a tourist, but as a revered guest welcomed into its wisdom and ancient customs.

The Destinations

Across eight nights—from October 26 to November 3, 2027— this Japan yoga and wellness retreat moves through four distinct landscapes—urban, mountain, cultural, and monastic—each offering its own rhythm and invitation:

• Tokyo welcomes you with austere Shinto shrines tucked inside a modern cityscape, offering a gentle landing and your first taste of mindful travel in Japan.

• Fujiyoshida softens the senses with the sacred presence of Mount Fuji, mineral‑rich onsen waters, and forests that invite slow, mindful walking. Here, ancient pilgrimage paths, crystal‑clear spring ponds, and quiet mountain air create a restorative landscape where the body unwinds and the rhythm of the retreat deepens.

• Kyoto the cultural capital of Japan, opens the door to ceremony, craft, and centuries-old traditions—tea, calligraphy, gardens, temples—each one a portal into presence and the contemplative heart of this yoga retreat.

• Koyasan a mountaintop sanctuary, draws you into stillness, where cedar forests, lantern-lit pathways, and monastic rituals invite deep inner listening as the journey moves into its most devotional landscape.

TOKYO

Your journey begins in Asakusa, a historic district where quiet, lantern-lit pathways run alongside ancient temples. After settling in, we will gather for an intimate welcome dinner—a gentle landing, a moment to exhale, and the beginning of our shared practice of presence. The following morning, after a restful night and breakfast, we visit Meiji Shrine, and experience a traditional Shinto purification ritual—an embodied gesture of intention, and arrival. The forested pathways, towering torii gates, and quiet expanses of the shrine offer a powerful threshold into the deeper rhythm of the retreat.

Highlights:

• Stay in Asakusa near Sensō‑ji Temple

• Welcome dinner to ground and arrive

• Guided visit to Meiji Shrine

• Participation in traditional Shinto purification ritual

FUJIYOSHIDA

We leave the city behind for the cooling, forested foothills of Mount Fuji, a UNESCO World Heritage Site revered by pilgrims, poets and spiritual seekers. Settle into Kaneyamaen, a celebrated luxury ryokan (traditional inn), where your days will unfold with sunrise yoga overlooking Fuji's silhouette and quiet walks through sacred shrines and crystal-clear spring ponds. A guided Shinrin-yoku (forest bathing) walk invites you deeper into presence, while your evenings are reserved for soaking in mineral-rich thermal waters (onsen).

Highlights:

• Scenic journey to the sacred foothills of Mount Fuji

• Luxury ryokan stay at the acclaimed Kaneyamaen

• Morning yoga attuned to the mountains and forest

• Traditional Onsen Experience

• Seasonal Kaiseki Dinner

• Visits to Chureito Pagoda, Oshino Hakkai & Sengen Shrine

• Guided Shinrin-yoku (Forest Bathing)

KYOTO

Ride the Shinkansen to Kyoto, enjoying a smooth and scenic journey into the cultural heart of Japan. Arriving here, you step into a city where beauty is practiced as a living art and centuries-old traditions flourish.

Our days here unfold along the whispering pathways of the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, the contemplative temple gardens of Tenryu-ji, and the quiet canals of the Philosopher’s Path. Through immersive cultural practices—from morning yoga with a local teacher to the meditative brushstrokes of Zen calligraphy—we explore presence as an embodied practice. Our time in Kyoto culminates in a rare, private evening with a geiko or maiko in Gion, offering an intimate window into classical dance and centuries-old artistry.

Highlights:

• Three nights in Kyoto, the cultural heart of Japan

• Scenic Shinkansen (bullet train) journey from the shadows of Mount Fuji

• Walk the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest & Tenryu-ji’s contemplative gardens

• Serene walk along the historic Philosopher’s Path

• Private kimono dressing ritual & traditional tea ceremony guided by a tea master

• Zen calligraphy (shodō) workshop focused on breath and intention

• Morning yoga practice attuned to Kyoto’s unique movement lineage

• Private Ozashiki gathering) with a Kyoto geiko or maiko, followed by a celebratory group dinner

KOYASAN

From Kyoto, we ascend into the sacred stillness of Koyasan for our final two nights. Founded over twelve centuries ago, this remote mountaintop village is the spiritual heart of Shingon Buddhism and offers a profound landscape for deep inner listening. We will reside in a historic shukubō (temple lodging) run by resident monks—an active monastery where the rhythms of daily life are shaped by quiet devotion. Here, every step becomes a living ritual, whether you are waking to the ring of temple bells, witnessing the elemental power of the morning fire ceremony, or walking among the towering, moss-draped cedars of Okunoin.

Highlights:

• Two nights in a historic, traditional temple lodging (shukubō) run by resident monks

• Traditional Shojin Ryori (sacred Buddhist vegetarian cuisine) prepared as a mindful practice

• Morning chanting with the monks—sutras, bells, and the quiet pulse of devotion

• Goma fire ritual—an ancient ceremony of purification and elemental presence

• A yoga practice on the peaceful grounds of the monastery

• Guided walk through the sacred, cedar-lined forests of Koyasan

• Atmospheric evening walk through the lantern-lit pathways of Okunoin Cemetery

The Steady Thread: Movement & Stillness

“Yoga is not a place we visit, but the ground we return to as the world shifts around us.”

Throughout the journey, yoga serves as a steady, anchoring thread—something we return to as the landscapes shift around us.

Susan Reynolds will guide our core practice, holding space for all levels of practice. For Susan, Kyoto is a return — a place she traveled to for martial arts training and one that has remained deeply meaningful to her.

To deepen our immersion, we will also practice alongside local Japanese teachers and step into the heart of Zen temples for meditation led by resident monks, learning directly from stillness tended for centuries.

Who is This Retreat For?

This retreat is designed for travelers who crave depth, beauty, and meaningful connection. It’s for anyone who feels called to step out of their daily routine and into a different rhythm — one shaped by cultural reverence, intentional movement and the wisdom of nature. As we travel through Japan’s landscapes and traditions, you’ll be invited to attune to the subtle harmony between movement and stillness, culture and nature, ritual and daily life.

If you’re drawn to experiences that shift your inner tempo — even as you journey from place to place — this retreat will meet you beautifully.

What This Japan Retreat Includes:

✦ ACCOMMODATIONS | Refined, hand-picked stays that move in harmony with our changing landscapes—including a modern boutique stay in Tokyo, a luxury ryokan at the foothills of Mount Fuji, a contemporary sanctuary in Kyoto, and a serene, historic temple lodging (shukubō) in Koyasan. (All taxes included)

✦ LOGISTICS | Seamless, stress-free travel via the high- speed Shinkansen (bullet train) and our private luxury coach with panoramic views.
Includes all listed entry fees, roundtrip airport transfers and luggage forwarding from Kyoto so you can travel to Koyasan light and unburdened with just an overnight bag.

✦ BILINGUAL CULTURAL GUIDE | A dedicated expert accompanying us throughout the journey to offer local insights, history and seamless translation.

✦ GASTRONOMY | Daily breakfast and (5) curated group dinners, featuring a warm welcome dinner in Tokyo, a traditional, multi-course kaiseki banquet in Fujiyoshida, a seasonal dinner in Kyoto, and (2) traditional Shojin Ryori (sacred Buddhist vegetarian cuisine) dinners prepared by resident monks in Koyasan.

✦ MINDFUL MOVEMENT | Yoga & somatic movement, private Zen meditation, forest bathing (Shinrin-yoku) & guided mindfulness walks, traditional onsen experience, prayers & chanting with monks in Koyasan

✦ CULTURAL IMMERSION | Meiji Shrine purification ritual, Zen calligraphy (shodō) workshop, a private kimono-dressing experience, an authentic tea ceremony guided by a tea master, and an exclusive, private evening with a geiko or maiko in a historic Gion ochaya.

✦ SACRED LANDSCAPES | The foothills of Mount Fuji in Fujiyoshida, Forest Bathing, Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, Kyoto’s gardens and Philosopher’s Path, a mountain railway, cable‑car ascent, & sacred forest walk in Koyasan.

Retreat Dates: October 26-November 3, 2027

Early Bird Registration

Shared Accommodations: $5995
Private Accommodations: $7695

early registration ends
aug. 31st and these prices increase by $150.00

EXTEND YOUR JOURNEY | TOKYO PRE-RETREAT ADD-ON

We are curating an exclusive 2-day pre-retreat early arrival package in Tokyo designed to give you a soft landing. It’s the perfect way to adjust to the local time zone, shake off the jet lag, and enjoy some time exploring the city before our main circle begins.

Stay tuned for details & registration coming soon.

The hearts behind the journey

Robin Hearne—Retreat Leader
As the owner of Outer Banks Yoga, Robin leads with steadiness, intuition, and a deep reverence for the places and people she encounters around the world.

Retreat travel is one of her greatest joys — exploring remarkable places of depth, beauty, and cultural richness, and shaping embodied experiences rooted in the local heritage and holistic wellbeing. She leads with intention, creating journeys that respect tradition while inviting the inner shifts that arise when we travel with presence. Her retreats are grounded in deep research and thoughtful design, bringing together cultural insight and the subtle details that make travel feel unforgettable.

At the heart of Robin’s work is a love of community and the genuine connections that form when people travel together with openness and curiosity.

Susan Reynolds—Guest Teacher
Susan is an experienced yoga teacher whose work is shaped by years of disciplined practice and deep personal study. Her teaching blends strength, steadiness, and a grounded presence that helps people feel anchored, empowered and open.

She also holds a 5th‑degree black belt in Japanese Chishin Ryu karate, earned during her time training in Kyoto — an experience that continues to inform her respect for ritual, presence, and the beauty of mindful repetition. Her martial arts background brings a subtle depth to the way she moves, teaches and creates space. Sharing Japan with others feels like a natural extension of her time there, offering travelers a window into the rich traditions that shaped her own path.

Susan brings a steady, luminous presence to this journey— holding space for the group, and offering teachings and insight that deepen our experience of Japan’s inner and outer landscapes and contemplative traditions.

Questions & Practical Details

Frequently Asked Questions

Activities, schedules, and experiences are subject to change based on availability, local conditions, or any factors outside of our control.