Tohoku – October 2024
Tohoku – October 2024
The Cycle of Water and Life Begins in Forests
The mountains of the Tohoku region are covered with virgin forests of beech and maple trees. These trees store rainwater, which slowly percolates underground. Water gushes out as spring water rich in minerals that have been naturally filtered over the years. Clean water irrigates fields, and is essential for traditional Japanese industries such as sake and tofu making.
People living in the Tohoku region understand the value of spring water that supports their lives in various aspects, including health, lifestyle, culture, and the environment, and by carefully protecting it, they are enjoying the benefits of spring water for many years to come.2
| STORY |
-Forests-
The spring water of Tohoku begins in lush, deep forests blessed with abundant rain and clean air.
Appi Highlands: Forest Bathing / Sea of Clouds / Waterfall / Autumn Leaves Viewing
-Satoyama (Mountain Villages) -
Water from forests flows through Satoyama, where people and nature live in harmony. Fresh ingredients grown in Satoyama are served in Japanese cuisine that respects the sense of the season.
Sendai Satoyama: Hot Springs / Bubbling Brook Meditation / Local Gastronomy / Horseback Riding, etc.
-Ocean-
Water pours into the ocean and returns to its origin. New life dwells there, and lives go on, appreciating Mother Earth.
MATSUSHIMA: Zazen (Zen Meditation) / Nature and Cultural Appreciation in Matsusima, etc.
- Better Sleep
- Stress Relief
- Concentration Improvement
- Allergy Relief
- Overall Health Improvement
The Cycle of Water and Life Begins in Forests
- Date
- October 7, 2024 - October 11, 2024 (4nights)
- Area
- Iwate, Miyagi
- Wellness Experiences
- Forest Bathing / Sea of Clouds / Waterfall / Autumn Leaves Viewing / Hot Springs / Bubbling Brook Meditation / Local Gastronomy / Horseback Riding / Hot Springs / Bubbling Brook Meditation / Local Gastronomy / Nature and Cultural Appreciation in Matsusima
- Price
- $ 5,100
Early Bird Offer - Get a 5% discount on the tour price when you book our tour 70 days prior to your departure date.
- Please Note:
- All prices are in US dollars.
All prices are per person based on twin occupancy. International flights are not included in the package price. The minimum number of participants required for the tour to run is 4.
Wellness Retreat Itinerary
Day1
-
09:00 AM
- Tokyo Station
- A Tranquwell representative will meet you at Tokyo Station. Then, take a Shinkansen (bullet train) ride in a comfortable GranClass (first class) seat to Morioka Station.
-
12:00 PM
- Lunch (Buckwheat Cuisine) and Welcome Reception
- Let's start the tour with Iwate's traditional healthy buckwheat dishes. This is a great opportunity to get to know each other and set your intentions for your Tranquwell journey together.
-
01:30 PM
- Cultural Immersion in Morioka
- Explore the city of Morioka, which was selected as one of the 52 places to go in 2023 by The New York Times. We will stroll through the historic streetscape, Morioka Castle Ruins Park, and visit a Nambu ironware atelier store.
-
03:10 PM
- Prayer Ceremony at Morioka Hachimangu Shrine
- We will have a prayer session for your health and safety during the trip at Morioka Hachimangu Shrine, the largest shrine in Iwate.
-
05:30 PM
- Check in to ANA InterContinental Appi Kogen Resort
- The hotel for the first two days is ANA InterContinental Appi Kogen Resort. Relax and unwind with the beautiful plateau view until dinner.
-
07:00 PM
- Dinner (Japanese-French Cuisine)
- The restaurant has a farm-to-table concept and serves an innovative fusion of Japanese-French cuisine. A creative course with specially selected local ingredients will be served.
Day2
-
06:30 AM
- Morning Wellness
- Throughout the tour, we will have morning wellness routine activities every morning from 7:00 am. Start your day by drinking hot water boiled in Nanbu Ironware, which makes water taste mild and helps to replenish iron, and then meditate in the beautiful nature of Tohoku. Boost your metabolism and clear your head to start the day.
-
09:30 AM
- Appi Nature Tour
- An expert nature guide will lead you on a gentle hike through the stunning beech forest at peak foliage.
-
12:00 PM
- Lunch(Outdoor Lunch)
-
02:00 PM
- Fudo Falls
- Go through the Torii gate and you will find a Japanese red bridge by the falls. Listen to the sound of the falls on the bridge and find peace in your mind.
-
07:00 PM
- Dinner (Teppanyaki)
- Teppanyaki is one of the best ways to make the most of local ingredients such as Maesawa beef, which has exceptional meat quality with fine marbling, and fresh local seafood.
Day3
-
06:30 AM
- Morning Wellness
- Various colors are folded along the slopes of the mountain, creating a spectacular view of colorful gradations known as a carpet of autumn leaves. Meditate while overlooking a sea of clouds, which is said to have a high probability of occurring in the fall.
-
09:20 AM
- Leave for Sendai
- After checking out of the hotel, take a Shinkansen (bullet train) ride to Sendai.
-
11:45 AM
- Lunch (Tempura)
- Enjoy a tempura course with carefully selected seasonal ingredients in an authentic Japanese restaurant.
-
02:30 PM
- Satoyama (Mountain Villages) Horse Riding
- Take a horse ride through peaceful Satoyama and deep forests with views of the Zao Mountains.
-
04:30 PM
- Chikusenso
- Located at the foot of Mt. Zao, the hotel is based on the concept of modern Japanese, which blends traditional Japanese culture, technology, and natural materials.
-
07:00 PM
- Dinner (Japanese Cuisine)
- Using the freshest produce and seafood in the region, the restaurant serves a Japanese course with a creative interpretation.
Day4
-
06:30 AM
- Morning Wellness
- Meditate while listening to the murmuring of the river flowing through the hotel grounds.
-
10:00 AM
- Matsushima Sightseeing
- Matsushima is one of the three most scenic spots in Japan, where poets, warlords, and other historical figures fell in love with its scenery. Take a boat ride to enjoy the spectacular scenery of the land from the sea.
-
12:00 PM
- Lunch (Japanese Cuisine)
- Enjoy Japanese cuisine that is inspired by Shojin Ryori (Buddhist cuisine) in a traditional Japanese building.
-
01:30 PM
- Japanese Garden at Entsuin Temple
- Entsuin Temple is well known for its fall foliage. Colored trees and leaves adorn the beautiful Japanese garden.
-
02:30 PM
- Zuiganji Visit
- Explore the national treasure Zuiganji Temple, one of Tohoku’s most famous Zen temples, located right by Matsushima Bay. Photo credit : Zuiganji Temple
-
03:30 PM
- Tea Ceremony
- Experience the meditative experience of a tea ceremony in the Shoin (study) of Zuiganji Temple built with sacred trees. Drinking matcha in a serene atmosphere, away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, helps you to center yourself and appreciate the beauty of stillness.
-
03:30 PM
- Zazen (Zen meditation)
- Learn Zen practices in the Onari Genkan (entrance), which used to be reserved for the heads of the Date clan and members of the Imperial family. Both Shoin and Onari Genkan are normally not open to the public, so this is a remarkable opportunity for you to have authentic wellness and cultural experiences.
-
06:10 PM
- Dinner (French)
- An authentic local gastronomic experience with a French twist. With a strong focus on local ingredients in collaboration with producers, the restaurant is known for its contribution to promoting Tohoku’s ingredients and culinary culture.
Day5
-
07:00 AM
- Morning Wellness
- Meditate while listening to the murmuring of the river flowing through the hotel grounds.
-
10:00 AM
- Nikka Whisky Miyagikyo Distillery
- In a lush canyon blessed with two clear streams, we will learn the process of making premium Japanese whiskey.
-
12:00 PM
- Lunch (Modern Japanese Cuisine)
- Lunch at an elegant modern Japanese restaurant awarded with a Michelin star.
-
02:30 PM
- Shinkansen (Bullet Train) Ride to Tokyo
- Take a Shinkansen (bullet train) ride to Tokyo. Reflect on your wellness journey in a comfortable GranClass (first class) seat.
-
04:00 PM
- Arrive at Tokyo Station
- Your Tranquwell tour come to an end. Return home with a renewed you.