Ryunohara Retreats

Discover hidden Wakayama.
Try traditional crafts.
Make new friends.
Eat farm fresh.
Start anew

6 days, 5 nights. 4 spots per Retreat.
Accommodation, meals, activities all-inclusive.

Try something new

  • Dye with natural materials

  • Plant & harvest rice

  • Harvest herbs for tempura

    Harvest herbs for tempura

  • Binchotan kiln

    Visit a binchotan charcoal kiln

  • Waterfall meditation

  • Okuno-san moulding paper

    Make traditional washi paper

Eat well

Bento featuring seasonal ingredients and homegrown non-pesticide, non-herbicide rice

Breakfast featuring eggs our chickens laid

Hot pot dinner featuring locally-grown vegetables and wagyu beef

Go deep into Japan’s spiritual heartlands

Discover new destinations with each Retreat.

  • Hashiguiiwa Rocks

    Coastal drives

    Get up close and personal with natural monuments off Wakayama’s shores

  • Hidden waterfalls

    Visit waterfalls deep in the rolling hills of the Kii mountain range

  • Kumano Kodo

    Ancient spiritual trails

    Hike trails pilgrims have used for centuries deep in the Kii Mountain Range

  • Nachisan

    Magnificent wonders

    Explore some of Japan’s greatest natural wonders

  • Senjojiki

    Fauna and flora

    Get close and personal with tiny life forms in the forests, fields, and sea

  • Mt Gomazan

    Autumnal delights

    Be immersed in orange, yellow and red when you come to some of the Kii Peninsula’s highest mountains

  • Crystal-clear rivers

    You don’t have to venture far for beauty. This river flows a short walk away from your accommodation

  • Jizo at Mt Koya

    Spiritual centres

    Discover some of Japan’s oldest shrines and temples

  • Shirahama

    Pristine shores

    Try edible seaweed right on the beach

Stay at Ryunohara Hatago, our 120-year-old farmhouse.

4 beds in 2 bedrooms
Recently retrofitted with a modern kitchen, toilet, and bathroom.

Sample itinerary

Every retreat is different because we’ll do and see what’s seasonal.
You’ll get the finalised itinerary 30 days before the retreat begins.

  • Day 1

    Arrive at Kii-Tanabe Station by 2pm.

    Visit Kizzekyo Gorge for sound meditation.

    Check in to Ryunohara Hatago.

    Welcome dinner featuring local produce and Ryunohara rice served in a clay pot.

  • Day 2

    Tour of main house after breakfast. Get introduced to a traditionally-thatched house first built over 300 years ago.

    Help feed the chickens and goats their breakfast.

    Tea by the river in front of Ryunohara Hatago, followed by a bento lunch on the river banks.

    Tenugui cloth dyeing workshop by Negi-chan.

    Dinner at the main house.

  • Day 3

    Breakfast of duck noodle soba soup.

    Help transplant rice seedlings into a rice field fed by natural springs.

    Onigiri rice ball lunch with curry soup featuring locally-made miso.

    Rest and relax - You’ll get a rundown of the books in the library with recommendations based on your interests.

    Hearty dinner at a local eatery popular for their tonkatsu pork cutlets.

  • Day 4

    Japanese breakfast featuring local produce, then we set off for Mt Koya, a UNESCO-listed site. We stop for panoramic views of the Kii mountain range.

    Tour of the main monastery at Mt Koya, with a backgrounder to Shingon Buddhism.

    Lunch at a restaurant that served the Japanese Emperor on his visit to Mt Koya.

    Gaze up at the giant trees at Mt Koya’s Okunoin cemetery.

    Shabu shabu dinner with Kumano wagyu at a minshuku restaurant.

  • Day 5

    Continental breakfast, then we set off!

    Hike the Hyakkenzan Valley and see 6 waterfalls, learn about waterfall meditation, and the stories behind the medicinal plants that grow everywhere in natural forests.

    Drink tea brewed with waterfall water, and enjoy a bento lunch by the falls.

    Stop by a friendly old lady’s coffee house for siphoned coffee.

    Return to Ryunohara to help skewer meat and vegetables for the yakitori dinner.

  • Day 6

    One last breakfast together before heading down to Kii-Tanabe Station.

    We’ll stop by Toragamine Pass for a group photo together with the rolling mountains in the background.

    Arrive at Kii-Tanabe Station for the next leg of your journey.

Pricing

1 spot

¥240,000

Base price

2 spots

¥432,000

10% off (¥216,000/spot)

3 spots

¥612,000

15% off (¥204,000/spot)

All 4 spots

¥768,000

20% off (¥192,000/spot)

What’s included

  • Accommodation

  • 14 meals: 5 breakfasts, 4 lunches & 5 dinners

  • All activities and tours

  • Consumption tax

  • Pick up and drop off from Kii-Tanabe Station (complimentary, available upon request on the first day and last day)

What’s not included

  • Flights or train rides to Kii Tanabe Station

  • Snacks or drinks you may purchase on the way to our destinations

2024 Retreats

Retreat 1

Sun 24 March -
Fri 29 March

0 spots left

Retreat 2

Thu 4 April -
Tue 9 April

0 spots left

Retreat 7

Sun 21 July -
Fri 26 July

0 spots left

Retreat 8

Wed 16 October -
Sun 20 October

0 spots left

Retreat 4

Sun 5 May -
Fri 10 May

0 spots left

Retreat 3

Mon 22 April -
Sat 27 April

0 spots left

Retreat 6

Thu 20 June -
Tue 25 June

3 spots left

Retreat 5

Sun 9 June -
Fri 14 June

4 spots left

Retreat 10

Mon 11 Nov -
Sun 16 Nov

0 spots left

Retreat 9

Fri 25 October -
Wed 30 October

0 spots left

RSVP

RSVP

Sign up with this form. You’ll be sent payment details (PayPal, Wise, or local bank transfer), and once payment’s confirmed you’re booked!

FAQs

Do you cater to food allergies or dietary preferences?

Yes, we can prepare meals that are halal, kosher, vegetarian, vegan or gluten-free. Please note that you may not be able to enjoy the full range of produce we have on offer.

Does everyone share the accommodation?

There are 4 single beds at Ryunohara Hatago and 4 spots per Retreat. There are 2 bedrooms, one with 2 beds, and other with 2 beds. If you book 1 spot, you will have to share the accommodation with 3 others. The kitchen, toilet, and bathroom are shared between the 4 participants.

Are there snakes or bugs in the summer?

Yes. Insect repellent will be provided, but you will encounter bugs from June to end-September. Long sleeves and pants that cover your ankles are recommended in those months. We’ll send you a packing list along with the finalised itinerary.

How fit do I have to be?

Each Retreat includes outdoor activities. The hikes we take are physically demanding, but not technically challenging. Tea picking, rice planting, and other farm activities likewise require some stamina but are not overly strenuous. If you have physical disabilities or a heart condition, consider booking all 4 spots for a customised itinerary.

I cannot swim; is that OK?

Yes, you do not have to participate in water activities if you don’t want to, or can’t swim.

Is there a minimum or maximum age?

Participants must be at least 18 years old. The standard activities are for ages 18 and up. If you wish to take children along please book all 4 spots and we’ll create a child-friendly itinerary for you. There is no maximum age.

Could you include flights and train tickets if I pay more?

No, we are not licensed to process flights or train tickets. You will need to meet us at Kii-Tanabe Station, where we can pick you up with other Retreat participants.

How do I get to the pickup point

To get to Kii-Tanabe Station, take the Kuroshio train from Osaka Station (2 hours 25 minutes, ¥5,610) or Kansai International Airport (2 hours 4 minutes, ¥4,720). All seats on the Kuroshio are reserved, so get your ticket at the ticket counter (credit cards accepted).

How do I pay?

Please pay in full via PayPal or bank transfer to confirm your spot. Payment details will be sent to you by email after you fill in the form above.

What’s the refund policy?

Full refund if cancelled at least 1 calendar month before the retreat begins. 50% refund if cancelled 15 days to 1 calendar month before the retreat begins. No refund if cancelled within 14 days before the retreat begins. Full refund in the event the retreat cannot be held due to strong typhoons, earthquakes or other natural disasters.