Ryunohara Retreats
Make time for yourself to rediscover what it means to be one with nature, to create with your hands, and to care for all that is around us.
All-inclusive 4D3N retreats in Ryujinmura, the Dragon God Village of Wakayama, Japan.
Your host, Lee Xian Jie (XJ)
Lee was a nature and history guide in Kyoto before moving to Ryujinmura in 2021 in the middle of the global pandemic to begin a new life in the Kii Peninsula, known for centuries as the island of the mainland for its inaccessibility and isolation.
I started Ryunohara as a playground of ideas.
I had wondered if it was possible to make good tea with just the sun, wind, and tea plants? Was it possible to get rice to grow the old way, before fertilisers packed in millions of tiny plastic pellets were invented, before herbicides and pesticides flooded the plains, poisoning the frogs and bees? Was it possible to not just bear living in centuries-old Japanese farmhouses—famous for their darkness and coldness, but to love living in them?
Six years later I am happy to say that the tentative answer to all of the above is yes, and on Ryunohara Retreats I will share what we at Ryunohara (for now it is not just me but team of us here) have found with you.
Shindofuji. This is what Ryunohara is about.
The Body and the Soil Are Not Two.
What the Retreats Are About
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Living with the Land
The beauty of living in a traditional farmhouse is that you are indoors and outdoors all at the same time. The ancients designed houses to protect, to breathe, to absorb, to release, everything all at once. The world at large is no different. Learn about the complex web connecting the land, flora and fauna, our human traditions, politics, and economics.
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Moving Your Body
The rugged terrain of the Kii Peninsula is a haven for lovers of the outdoors. Immerse yourself in the crystal clear waters of our many waterfalls, pristine rivers, and enjoy the blessings that abundant nature provides. Swim, paddle board, barbecue under the stars, and get your body going.
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Rediscover the Act of Creation
The act of creation is not one of just creativity but also of determination, perseverance despite the odds, and the willingness to try and try again. Witness the lives of creators who are dedicating their lives to the preservation of traditional arts and crafts while forging ahead with their own creations. Put your hands and mind to work.
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Having Fun Eating Mindfully
So much of what is popular today is made to overload our tastebuds, and at the same time over-extract from the soil. Learn to be kind to your body and to the Earth with old Chinese and Japanese food concepts like the Five Colour Theory, Shindofuji, natural farming, and 30-Ingredients-A-Day.
Tradition Meets Comfort
Stay at Ryunohara Hatago. A 120-year-old farmhouse restored without pretence. Real wood and natural persimmon extract stains are in, plywood and veneers are definitely out.
Sleep like a baby in 1 of 4 plush beds in 2 rooms. Toto’s top-of-the-line NeoRest toilet will happily greet you with an LED light and spray display when you open the door (not pictured below, come see for yourself). Rise to the calls of rare chickens.
Guests will share a common kitchen, indoors bathroom, outdoors bath with onsen water, and toilet. If you are signing up as a solo traveller you will either get a room of your own or room-share in the bigger room with another participant of the same gender.
More Room for Everyone
If you have lots of friends or family, our Retreats can take up to 4 more participants for a total of 8. This expanded version of our Retreats is bookable with a minimum of 6 participants. The 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th guests will be housed at our second guesthouse, Doratei.
Doratei is nestled in a quiet, forested grove away from the traffic, and is hugged by the Hidakawaga River. There are 4 single beds, 2 in 2 bedrooms. Like Ryunohara Hatago, Doratei is equipped with a full kitchen and automatic bath.
Please note: There is no outdoor onsen at Doratei. The en-suite onsen is at Ryunohara Hatago.
Eat Well
What we serve you depends on what’s the freshest and tastiest in the season you’re here for, so our menu changes daily and it’s next to impossible to say what we’ll serve you in the vintage lacquerware that we saved from a local shrine.
But what is for sure is that you’ll be served things like our homegrown heirloom variety of rice, eggs from our frontyard chickens, herbs and berries foraged from the forest around us, log-grown shiitake mushrooms, among other local produce.
What’s definitely not on the table: sauces or hot pot premixes that come in a retort pack, store-bought chicken bouillon, or other instant flavours.
Where We Are
Ryujinmura has mythical origins. The village is named after the Dragon God, who appeared to the great monk Kukai 1,300 years ago to reveal the whereabouts of silky-smooth but crystal-clear and completely odourless hot spring water.
We are deep in the mountains of the Kii Peninsula, marketed today by government agencies as “Japan’s spiritual heartlands”. Centuries of isolation (the road leading here was completed only in the 1980s) resulted in pockets of well-preserved traditions not found anywhere else on the Japanese archipelago. You’ll explore parts of Japan few travellers ever see, meet people you’d never meet without introductions from a local, and taste the goodness of countryside living.
Meet up with the other participants on Day 1 at Kii-Tanabe Station, and you’ll be shuttled here over the course of an hour over windy mountain roads in a roomy 8-seater Toyota Voxy or a sturdy 5-seater Nissan Xtrail. You’ll be driven back down on the last day. We recommend flying through Kansai International Airport, a 2-hour train ride away from Kii-Tanabe Station.
Sample itinerary
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Day 1 - Settle In
2pm: Pick up from Kii-Tanabe Station.
Private check-in at Ryunohara Hatago. House tour, welcome drink, then unpack, explore, or simply enjoy the quiet mountain air.
Seasonal Welcome Dinner at the Main House, then soak under the stars in the en-suite onsen at Ryunohara Hatago.
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Day 2 - Living With Nature
Breakfast at your own pace. A home-cooked breakfast will be prepared in advance each day for you to enjoy slowly.
A quiet moment on a suspension bridge. Listening practice, breathe, and enjoy white tea made right here at Ryunohara.
Lunch at the Main House.
Satoyama Walkabout. Explore the threshold between village and forest. Learn about edible and medicinal plants, and how humans once lived in deeper reciprocity with the land.
Traditional kaiseki dinner featuring a Kumano beef shabu-shabu, lovingly prepared by our neighbour’s 80-year-old aunt at her lodging.
Soak in our wood-fired onsen bath.
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Day 3 - Sustainable Traditions
Breakfast at your own pace.
Koji Appreciation. Taste and appreciate what Japan has refined over centuries to form the basis of miso, soy sauce, and sake.
Lunch at a local restaurant.
Afternoon, depending on weather, availability, and participants’ physical ability: Paper making workshop, natural dyeing workshop, sea kayaking, or hike at a nature reserve.
Farewell Dinner at the Main House.
Soak in our wood-fired onsen bath.
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Day 4 - Leave Refreshed
Till 10am: A relaxed morning breakfast
10am: Check out from Ryunohara Hatago
11:15am: Arrive at Kii Tanabe Station
Reviews
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Ryunohara is more than just a retreat; it’s a gateway to discovering the profound beauty and rich heritage of Japan. From farming to gastronomy and local economics to its creative pool of talents; there is just so much to offer and for us to learn. This retreat is truly a must-visit for anyone seeking a genuine connection with Japan’s natural and cultural wonders.
Fang, Malaysia
Booked with friends -
If beautifully renovated Hatagos, delicious home cooked food, exploring mountainous countryside, waterfalls, black sesame ice cream, onsens, traditional crafts, rope bridges, rice, tea, goats, chickens and ducks are your thing... then this is the place for you! As a female solo traveller, I could not have felt safer. The host, staff, volunteers, and fellow guests were incredibly friendly and welcoming.
Tamarra, United Kingdom
Solo traveller -
Thank you for a creating a sanctuary for the animals and the humans that come through your door. Thank you for showing us that you are never too old or too young to do something new.
Alice, Singapore
Booked as a couple -
I signed up for this Retreat with zero expectations and almost no knowledge of what to expect. It was the best decision ever! This is something I never could have experienced just travelling by myself. Not just having the chance to stop and relax, but actually learning so much along the way.
JL Ng, Singapore
Booked with a friend -
I especially enjoyed seeing how natural resources are being transformed... how nothing gets wasted. This is especially heartening in this world of over-consumerism and fast fashion. It is not easy to take a slower pace and make the most out of what nature gives... these few days will become core memory for sure!
XT Yang, Singapore
Booked with a friend -
Our second visit here... The Retreat has refreshed us and inspired us to live life better, taking time to enjoy the nature and people that surround us... we will be back.
Di & Andrew, Australia
Booked with friends
Pricing
1 spot
JPY 300,000
2 spots - 5% discount
JPY 285,000/spot
Enter TWO at checkout to get 5% off.
3 spots - 8% discount
JPY 276,000/spot
Enter THREE at checkout to get 8% off.
4 spots - 10% discount
JPY 270,000/spot
Enter FOUR at checkout to get 10% off.
5-7 spots - 10% discount
JPY 270,000/spot
Contact us at hello@crafttabby.com to book
All 8 spots - 15% discount
JPY 255,000/spot
Contact us at hello@crafttabby.com to book
2027 Calendar
Spring-Summer
12-15 March 2027
4 spots available
19-22 March 2027
4 spots available
26-29 March 2027
4 spots available
2-5 April 2027
4 spots available
9-12 April 2027
4 spots available
16-19 April 2027
Only 1 spot left
7-10 May 2027
4 spots available
14-17 May 2027
4 spots available
21-24 May 2027
4 spots available
Autumn-Winter
1-4 October 2027
4 spots available
8-11 October 2027
4 spots available
15-18 October 2027
4 spots available
9-12 November 2027
4 spots available
26-29 November 2027
4 spots available
3-6 December 2027
4 spots available
10-13 December 2027
4 spots available
FAQs
Could you open new dates for me?
Yes please email us at hello@crafttabby.com.
Can I join the Retreat solo or do I need a group?
Yes, you can book a single spot and join a Retreat with other guests. If you prefer privacy, book all 4 spots for an exclusive experience. Retreats go ahead even if we only get 1 spot booked.
Can children come?
Solo participants must be 19 or older. If you are travelling with children, book all 4 spots and we’ll tailor a family-friendly retreat for you.
Is the Retreat physically demanding?
There are short hikes, visits to rocky riverbeds, and if the weather permits, sea kayaking. If you or a companion have physical limitations, book all 4 spots for a custom itinerary.
Can you cater to food allergies or special diets (vegetarian, gluten-free, no beef, halal?)
Yes, we can accommodate vegetarian, no-beef, or other dietary restrictions with advance notice. Please let us know in the form when you book. Participants who require gluten-free or halal meals should book all 4 spots so that we can ensure that there is no cross-contamination. We are not halal-certified but we can order halal-certified chicken and beef.
What should we pack?
Comfortable walking shoes. Both guesthouses have air-con and heating, washer-dryer, hair dryer, and toiletries. Bring thick socks in the colder months. We’ll let you know if you need water shoes for water activities in the summer months.
Is there wifi or mobile signal at Ryunohara?
Yes, both Ryunohara Hatago and Doratei have speedy wifi and mobile signals. Coverage can be weak as we travel to locations outside the village (such as forested hikes).
Are there bugs, spiders, and snakes in the summer?
Yes, budding entomologists, arachnologists, and herpetologists will find a variety of beetles, butterflies, moths, spiders, and snakes. There are mosquitoes and horseflies nearby the river, and snakes (mostly non-venomous but also the very venomous Japanese Pit Viper) in the forest. The best time to seek them out is June to September. The Hatago has mosquito nets on every window, and we have not found a single snake indoors (as of yet).
I am afraid of birds/dogs/cats/frogs/insert animal name. Can I come?
We encourage all our visitors to face their fears head on. Our chickens, ducks and dogs are usually in enclosures or on leashes. Goats roam free to weed. You will see wild birds up close, but wild boars, deer, Japanese macaques, racoons, or bears fear us more than we fear them and they will stay away from us.
What’s the weather like?
Here are Ryujinmura’s average low and high temperatures based on 20 years of data:
January: -1.6ºC (29ºF), 7.5ºC (46ºF)
February: -1.0ºC (30ºF), 9.1ºC (48ºF)
March: 1.5ºC (34ºF), 13.1ºC (56ºF)
April: 6.1ºC (43ºF), 18.3ºC (65ºF)
May: 11.1ºC (52ºF), 23.0ºC (73ºF)
June: 16.0ºC (60ºF), 25.3ºC (78ºF)
July: 20.2ºC (68ºF), 29.0ºC (84ºF)
August: 20.7ºC (69ºF), 30.4ºC (87ºF)
September: 17.4ºC (63ºF), 26.9ºC (80ºF)
October: 11.4ºC (53ºF), 21.8ºC (71ºF)
November: 5.2ºC (41ºF), 16.1ºC (61ºF)
December: 0.3ºC (33ºF), 10.0ºC (50ºF)
What happens if it rains during the Retreat?
Rain is part of the forest experience. We are blessed lush green forests and drinkable mountain springs, which also means that the Kii Peninsula is one of the rainest locations in Japan. Most outdoor activities will go on with rain gear provided, or be swapped for equally immersive alternatives.
What is the refund policy?
Cancellations 90+ days before the retreat → 100% refund or credit, minus transaction fees incurred when you first made payment and during the refund. Refunds are made at the prevailing yen rate at the time of refund.
Cancellations 31-89 days before → 50% refund or credit, minus fees
Cancellations within 30 days or less → No credits or refunds
Late arrivals or early departures → No credits or refunds
If the Retreat is cancelled due to natural disasters or emergencies, or the illness of the host (Lee), you’ll receive a full refund or credit.