Ryunohara Retreats

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

4 days, 3 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

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.
Here’s an idea of what your 4 days here might look like.

  • 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 traditional tea porridge and grilled fish from our river.

    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

    Breakfast with freshly-brewed coffee by our in-house barista Jeremiah.

    Check out at 10am.

    Visit Toragamine Peak for a panoramic view of the mountains.

    Shuttle to Kii-Tanabe Station (if you do not have your own transport).

Pricing

1 spot

¥250,000

Base price

*Note: Retreats will only be confirmed when at least 2 spots have been booked.

2 spots

¥475,000

5% off (¥237,500/spot)

3 spots

¥675,000

10% off (¥225,000/spot)

All 4 spots

¥800,000

20% off (¥200,000/spot)

If you book all 4 spots the entire accommodation will be exclusive to your group.

What’s included

  • Accommodation

  • 8 meals: 3 breakfasts, 2 lunches & 3 dinners

  • All activities and tours

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

  • Consumption tax (10%)

What’s not included

  • Flights or train rides to Kii Tanabe Station

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

2025 Retreats

Retreat 1

Tue 25 Feb -
Fri 28 Feb

4 spots left

Retreat 2

Mon 3 Mar -
Thu 6 Mar

4 spots left

Retreat 7

Wed 9 Apr -
Sat 12 Apr

2 spots left

Retreat 8

Sun 13 Apr -
Wed 16 Apr

Fully booked

Retreat 9

Thu 24 Apr -
Sun 27 Apr

Fully booked

Retreat 10 - Tea Making*

Mon 28 Apr -
Thu 1 May

Fully booked

Retreat 12

Sat 10 May -
Tue 13 May

Fully booked

Retreat 13

Fri 16 May -
Mon 19 May

Fully booked

Retreat 16

Fri 19 Sep -
Mon 22 Sep

4 spots left

Retreat 17

Thu 25 Sep-
Sun 28 Sep

4 spots left

Retreat 22

Sun 16 Nov -
Wed 19 Nov

4 spots left

Retreat 23

Fri 21 Nov -
Mon 24 Nov

4 spots left

Retreat 24

Thu 27 Nov -
Sun 30 Nov

4 spots left

Retreat 4

Sat 15 Mar -
Tue 18 Mar

4 spots left

Retreat 3

Mon 10 Mar -
Thu 13 Mar

4 spots left

Retreat 6
Sakura Cycling Trip

Mon 31 Mar -
Thu 3 Apr

4 spots left

Retreat 5

Sat 22 Mar -
Tue 25 Mar

Fully booked

*Retreats 10 and 11 will be co-hosted with tea trainer Othniel Giovanni. There is a ¥30,000 per person surcharge for these 3 retreats for the tea making workshops and tea tasting sessions.

Retreat 11 - Tea Making*

Sun 4 May -
Wed 7 May

2 spots left

Retreat 15

Fri 22 Aug -
Mon 25 Aug

4 spots left

Retreat 14

Sun 8 Jun -
Wed 11 Jun

4 spots left

Retreat 19

Fri 10 Oct -
Mon 13 Oct

4 spots left

Retreat 18

Wed 1 Oct -
Sat 4 Oct

4 spots left

Retreat 21

Mon 10 Nov -
Thu 13 Nov

4 spots left

Retreat 20

Tue 4 Nov -
Fri 7 Nov

4 spots left

RSVP

RSVP

Sign up with this form. You’ll be sent payment details, and once your payment comes through you’re booked!

FAQs

I’d like to attend but there aren’t dates that work for me. Could you open new dates for me?

Yes, we can open new dates if you would like to book all 4 spots. Enquire at hello@crafttabby.com and we’ll set up dates that work with our schedule and yours.

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, including horseflies. Long sleeves and pants that cover your ankles are recommended in those months.

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 Shin-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 our credit card gateways, Square or Stripe. 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. If the cancellation is made by the participant, the participant will bear transactional charges incurred during the refund process.