Nagano Mindfulness Retreat in Nature: "No Mud, No Lotus"
Details
Join us this November for a weekend of mindfulness and renewal in Nagano. Expect inner exploration, time in nature, somatic practices, movement, onsen, hiking, digital detox, meaningful conversation, and plenty of deep rest.
The theme of this retreat is “No Mud, No Lotus.” Just as the lotus flower blossoms in the muddiest of ponds, our own healing can emerge from difficulty. The struggles that bring you here—darkness, frustration, the search for peace—are also the very conditions that can allow something beautiful to grow.
This idea might be hard to accept, and that’s okay. Through the practices we’ll share, you’ll find the nourishment and support you need, drawing strength from your own past to discover healing, insight, and resilience.
This retreat is open to everyone. If you’re new to meditation, you’re welcome. If you’ve been practicing for 10 years, you’re welcome. The retreat will be a unique experience led by two experiences guides, one with a focus on mindfulness and another on movement and expressive arts. Check out the details below and book your spot on Meetup. Feel free to message me with any questions. 🙂
Basic Details: 👇
- Theme: No mud, no lotus
- Date: Friday, November 14th 5:30 pm to Monday, November 17th noon.
- Location: Azumino, Nagano
- Price: 45,000 yen.
🏡 Accommodation: The retreat will be at the serene Iramu Karapute center in Nagano's wilderness, surrounded by the beauty of the Japanese alps. Food is cooked by the local staff and sourced from their gardens. Veggie options available. Max 10 people. 🙂 Picture of rooms here.
💴 Price: 45,000 yen. This covers the costs of the retreat including accommodation and all meals for 3 nights, 4 days. To make your payment and confirm RSVP, please send the money to the following bank account.
🙏 Dana: The teachers do not take any profit from the retreat as your meditation guide and the price covers just our costs. In the Buddhist spirit of dana, or generosity, we welcome donations at the end of the retreat. Simply give what feels right for you. You’re welcome to prepare cash in advance, or send a donation via Paypay or Paypal. These donations help us continue doing more of these retreats for the community.
✨ Included:
- Room (semi-private with a curtain in between)
- Three healthy & delicious meals a day. Light breakfast.
- Meditation cushion and yoga mat
- A safe, quiet space in nature
- Daily check-in with teacher
❌ NOT included: The cost of transportation from Tokyo to the retreat center is not included in the price. The easiest way to get to the center is by shinkansen from Tokyo to Hotaka station. This is 7,500 yen one way.
🧥 What to Bring:
- A towel for the shower + onsen
- Comfortable clothes; sweat pants, yoga pants, hoodies.
- Warm clothes - it will be cold this time of year in the mountains!
- Comfortable shoes for walking/hiking
- Water bottle
- Notebook
- An open heart and open mind :)
📍 Meeting Point: Iramu Karapute and location on Google maps. We will meet at Hotaka station. The retreat will provide free car transportation from Hotaka station to the center at 5:30pm Friday, meeting at Hotaka station. If you plan to arrive earlier or later, you can get a taxi from there to the center. If taking a car directly there, parking nearby is provided free of charge.
📵 Digital detox: We will take your phone at the start of the retreat and keep it in a safe place until lunch time on Monday. Please make arrangements to be completely offline. Emergency contact is 08051858742 (Misha). Don't worry, we'll get plenty of pictures!
📝 Waiver: Everyone is required to fill out the questionnaire and waiver before the retreat.
👥 About Your Guides:
Misha Yurchenko is a Tokyo-based certified, trauma-informed meditation teacher and somatic coach with 10+ years of experience. He has spent time on retreat around the world and practiced a range of techniques. After experiencing extreme burnout from his venture-funded startup, he founded Tokyo Mindfulness and is dedicated to helping others on their healing journeys. He takes an integrated and practical approach combining meditation, breathwork, and nervous system healing to help people let go of the ego, release old habit patterns and find inner freedom. He is the author of several books and lives in Nerima with his family.
Ariel Wu is a Registered Expressive Arts Therapist currently based in Tokyo, with a passion for bridging creativity, mental health, and interactive design. Her therapeutic work spans Hong Kong, Wuhan, and Shanghai, and she now brings her experience to Tokyo’s international community. With a background in narrative-driven game design, Ariel explores how storytelling and play can support emotional well-being and psychological resilience.
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⚠️ Everyone is required to fill out the waiver before attending. Please notify Misha if you have been diagnosed with any mental health disorders and we can discuss whether or not this is the right retreat for you.