self guided yoga retreat japan
 

A quiet reset. A solo retreat. A path of your own.

"独歩" (Dokuho) means “walking one’s own path.” 

No fixed schedule — start when you’re ready.

This is a self-paced, autonomous retreat — perfect for those seeking time and space to move at their own pace, to recharge alone, without a fixed schedule,  You’ll have support when you need it and solitude when you want it.

Simple and spacious.
Quiet and restorative.
This is a retreat for those walking their own path.

Stay in the traditional mountain village of Nozawa Onsen and create your own retreat rhythm. Whether you’re living in Japan and need a break, or you're travelling through and want a slower, more grounded experience — this is space held for you.

Design Your Own Itinerary

This retreat is yours to shape. Each day can be as minimal or as experiential as you like.

Start your morning with yoga, linger over breakfast, then follow whatever calls — a walk through cedar forests, a soak in a quiet onsen, or simply resting with a book and a view.

Your retreat guidebook includes journalling prompts, meditation practices, and ideas for how to spend your time with intention — but how you move through each day is entirely up to you — spacious, slow, and self-chosen..

What’s provided:

  • Accomodation (simple/middle/luxury/self contained apartment)

  • 1–2 yoga classes per day with Shizen founder Rowie Geraerts @spiritualpretzel

  • Daily breakfast

  • A Personal Dokuho retreat pack including:
    • A self-guided retreat booklet with meditations, contemplative practices & journalling prompts
    • A guide to local walks, hot springs, cultural experiences & quiet corners in the village

Optional add-on experiences include:

  • E-bike tours through quiet mountain roads & countryside villages

  • Forest bathing (self-guided or with a local guide)

  • Traditional Japanese dining experiences

  • Scenic gondola ride to panoramic alpine views

  • Mountain hikes to suit all energy levels

  • Massage & bodywork sessions with trusted local therapists

  • Cultural workshops (such as soba making, basket weaving or tea ceremony)

Whether your days are filled with movement and adventure, or quiet stillness and reflection, this retreat gives you the space to tune in — and choose what feels right, moment by moment.

Sample Itineraries

Each day of your 独歩 (Dokuhō) retreat is entirely your own. Here are two examples to inspire how you might shape your time:

Minimalist Day — Quiet & Restorative

A slow, spacious day to settle the nervous system and reconnect with simplicity.

  • 7:30am – Morning tea or coffee

  • 8:00–9:00am – Morning yoga and breath work with Rowie

  • 9:30am – Nourishing breakfast

  • 10:30am–1:00pm – Journalling, reading, or resting in your room or a quiet local café

  • 1:00–2:00pm – Light lunch (at a local eatery or picnic-style)

  • 2:00–4:30pm – Onsen soak and quiet forest walk

  • 5:00–6:00pm – Optional evening yoga or self-guided meditation from your retreat booklet

  • 6:30pm – Solo dinner at a traditional Japanese restaurant or simple home-cooked meal

  • Evening – Reflective journalling or early rest

Experiential Day — Active & Immersive

A day filled with movement, exploration, and connection to the land and culture.

  • 7:30am – Morning coffee and light fruit

  • 8:00–9:15am – Energising yoga and meditation class

  • 9:30am – Healthy seasonal breakfast

  • 10:30am–1:30pm – Guided e-bike tour through nearby villages and mountain roads

  • 1:30pm – Lunch at a local Soba resturant

  • 3:00–4:30pm – Visit a traditional bathhouse

  • 5:00–6:00pm – Evening Yin yoga or restorative movement

  • 6:30pm – Multi-course kaiseki dinner or farm-table experience

  • Evening – Stargazing walk or journalling with herbal tea

You are welcome to mix and match these rhythms day by day, tuning into what you most need — stillness, movement, solitude, or connection.

Choose Your Dates

No fixed schedule — start when you’re ready.
Available year-round* *excluding Dec 15 -Feb 25

Retreat length options:
– 2-night stay
– 3-night stay
– 5-night stay

(Additional nights or tailored packages available on request.)

Retreat Pricing – 独歩 (Dokuhō) Solo Retreat

Choose your own dates | Self-guided, self-paced | Held in Nozawa Onsen

Simple Stays from / Luxury or Apartment Stays from:

2-Night Retreat

  • Simple from ¥57,000

  • Luxury/apartment from ¥93,000

3-Night Retreat

  • Simple from ¥85,000

  • Luxury/apartment from ¥140,000

5-Night Retreat

  • Simple from ¥139,000

  • Luxury/Apartment from ¥229,000

Note: Final price depends on room type and availability. Custom packages and extended stays also available.

All packages include accommodation, daily breakfast, 1–2 yoga classes per day, and a retreat welcome guide with meditations, journalling prompts, and self-guided practices.

Optional Add-Ons Available:

Curate your experience with guided e-bike tours, forest bathing, traditional dining, cultural workshops, massage therapy, or scenic gondola rides. Activities can be arranged in advance or during your stay — we’ll help you shape your ideal rhythm.

To check availability, customise your retreat, or ask a question:
📧 spiritualpretzel@gmail.com
📱 WhatsApp or LINE: +81 90 7162 5816