Warm Up Your Body and Mind in a Hot Spring Town!
Duration: 4 Days
Area: Hiroshima, Ehime
4-Day Zen Retreat: Warm Up Your Body and Mind in Japan
This 4-day retreat is designed for wellness seekers looking to discover themselves and connect with like-minded individuals.
Warm up your body and mind, and rejuvenate yourself through various activities such as Zazen (Zen meditation), medicinal cuisine, Goma fire ritual, daily morning yoga, while staying in a luxury Ryokan (traditional Japanese inn) with a private hot spring.
This retreat is designed for solo travelers. If you wish to experience this tour as a couple or group, we can arrange it as a private tour with the date you have set. We also offer tailor-made tour services upon request.
Tour Highlights
- Zazen (Zen Meditation) & Walking Meditation
- Morning Yoga & Dogo Onsen Town Stroll
- Singing Bowl Meditation in a Kominka
- Goma Fire Ritual & Art Appreciation
Itinerary
Day 1: Embark on a Journey of Self-Discovery Through Zen Practice
08:30 AM
Shin-Osaka Station
A Tranquwell representative will meet you at Shin-Osaka Station. Then, take a Shinkansen (bullet train) to Fukuyama Station.o Station.
10:30 AM
Kusado Inari Shrine
In the large main hall overlooking the city of Fukuyama, we will pray for the safety of the tour.
12:00 PM
Lunch (Udon)
Try the thick yudame udon eaten by Zen monks. The dish is served in the style of a monastery meal.
12:45 PM
Zazen (Zen Meditation)
Learn Zazen (Zen meditation) and breathing techniques at the Zen Dojo of Shinshoji Temple. Meditate with a calm mind in a serene environment.
02:15 PM
Walking Zen Meditation
After a “still” Zen practice, you will have a “dynamic” Zen practice, switching body and mind to return to reality with renewed energy and clarity.
02:45 PM
Traditional Japanese Calligraphy Experience and Naming Ceremony
You will be given an original Japanese name using Kanji characters, which have meanings derived from Buddhism. You will have the opportunity to write your given name in Kanji characters with a brush and ink.
03:20 PM
Stroll Around the Temple and Enjoy the Zen Art
Stroll through the spacious Japanese garden and enjoy the collection of Zen Buddhist art and installation works to understand what is Zen.
06:30 PM
Check in to Soratomori
The hotel offers a tranquil retreat where you can harmonize body and mind, surrounded by nature. Unwind in the healing waters of your very own open-air hot spring bath, located on your private balcony. Enjoy the therapeutic benefits of the onsen in complete privacy and tranquility.
Day 2: Nourish Your Body and Mind With Healing Hot Springs and Medicinal Cuisine
06:30 AM
Morning Wellness
We’ll start our day with a refreshing walking meditation to a nearby shrine. Immerse yourself in the serene atmosphere as you focus on your breath and the rhythm of your steps.
11:00 AM
Medicinal Cuisine Cooking Class
Learn about the basic principles of medicinal cuisine, the effects of various foods on the body, and how to choose and portion ingredients based on our individual needs. Then, we will put our knowledge into practice by having a medicinal cuisine lunch.
05:20 PM
Dogo Onsen Town Stroll
Enjoy the winter atmosphere of Dogo Onsen while experiencing foot baths and hand baths.
06:30 PM
Dinner (Regional Cuisine)
A course of traditional Japanese cuisine featuring fresh seafood nurtured by the unique topography and currents of the Seto Inland Sea, complemented by seasonal local vegetables and other ingredients.
Day 3: Find Inner Peace and Balance Through a Soothing Singing Bowl Session and Embrace a Slower Pace of Life
12:40 PM
Lunch (French)
Savor a French course featuring the freshest, locally sourced vegetables.
02:30 PM
Strawberry Picking
Experience the taste of freshly picked strawberries cultivated with care using sustainable farming techniques, including reduced pesticide application. Enjoy your harvest with a cup of tea and homemade strawberry jam at the farm’s cafe.
04:45 PM
Singing Bowl Meditation
Immerse yourself in a serene meditation experience in a historic 150-year-old house. Breathe in the purity of the air and the warmth of the wood as you harmonize with the resonant vibrations of singing bowls.
06:30 PM
Dinner (Robatayaki)
Experience the authentic Japanese lifestyle by warming ourselves around a traditional irori hearth. We will savor Robatayaki (Japanese-Style Barbecue) grilled over hot coals, using fresh, local ingredients. It is a perfect way to unwind and appreciate the simple pleasures of life.e building.
Day 4: Revitalize Your Spirit With a Sacred Goma Fire Ritual and a Peaceful Walk Through Lemon Valley
09:50 AM
Goma Fire Ritual at Ishiteji Temple
Discover the ancient traditions of a 1300-year-old temple famous for its blessings of fertility and health. Take part in a sacred fire ritual to purify your spirit and ward off evil. Following the ritual, engage in the traditional practice of sand-stroking, using sacred sand gathered from 88 temples, to free yourself from worldly attachments and promote peace and well-being.
01:15 PM
Lunch (French)
Savor a French course featuring the freshest, locally sourced vegetables.
12:45 PM
Lunch (Modern Japanese Cuisine)
Lunch at an elegant modern Japanese restaurant awarded with a Michelin star.
03:00 PM
Lemon Valley Walk
Take a refreshing stroll through Lemon Valley on Ikuchijima Island, the top lemon-producing region in Japan. Enjoy the invigorating scent of lemons as you walk.
03:30 PM
Art Appreciation (The Hill of Hope)
Spanning 5,000 square meters, this garden is a serene sanctuary of white marble. Every element, from the shape and color of the surrounding landscape to the effects of wind, rain, and light, has been carefully considered. Visitors are invited to touch the marble and reflect upon the interconnectedness of nature, self, and the future.
05:30 PM
Fukuyama Station
Your Tranquwell tour has come to an end. Return home with a renewed sense of self.
Accomodation
Higashidogo SoratoMori
The hotel offers a tranquil retreat where you can harmonize body and mind, surrounded by nature. Indulge in the healing powers of our natural hot spring, a local treasure for centuries. Pamper yourself in the comfort of your private hot spring in your room, and let the soothing waters wash away your stress and rejuvenate your body.
