A Japan Village Retreat

Held by Caroline Sherratt & Kristin Borchardt

2nd - 8th October 2027

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A return to older, kinder ways...

True village living, nestled within a secluded forest beside a mountain stream. As the seasons turn, colours soften into golden hues, inviting a natural slowing, into something more gentle, quiet, and still.

This immersive experience honours a traditional Japanese rhythm of living. Days unfold with long, nourishing yoga practices, restorative bodywork, forest bathing, and time spent soaking in the onsen. We gather in simple ceremony, through tea, presence, and shared space, fostering connection to self, each other and the land.

𖥧 Rest & Nervous System Restoring

A conscious shift from doing to being, inviting the body into stillness, spaciousness, and deep rest.

𖥧 Connection to Land & Seasonal Rhythm

Living in harmony with the natural world through forest immersion, changing seasons, and traditional rhythms of place.

𖥧 Ritual & Simple Ceremony

Honouring presence through tea, shared space, and the alive rituals that bring meaning to everyday life.

𖥧 Nourishment & Being Held

A space to receive through yoga, bodywork, onsen, and community, especially for those who are often the ones holding others.

Kurokawa Onsen

Tucked deep within the mountains of Kyushu, Japan’s southernmost main island, Kurokawa Onsen is a small village shaped by forests, rivers and the healing waters of its natural hot springs.

The onsen are the heart of the village. Hot mineral waters rise from deep within the earth, and bathing has been woven into daily life here for generations. There is something beautifully simple about the ritual, stepping out of the forest, into warm water, and allowing yourself to do very little at all.

The village itself is quiet and intimate. Moss-covered paths wind between wooden ryokans, cedar forests rise around the valley, and small bridges cross the river below.

Part of what we hope to share here is a glimpse into a different relationship with time, nature and wellbeing, one that has long been woven into Japanese life. From shinrin-yoku, or forest bathing, to the daily ritual of soaking in hot spring waters, time spent in nature is not necessarily something to be fitted around life, but something that can be part of life itself.

There is an unspoken wisdom in these practices: walking amongst trees, bathing, eating slowly, noticing the seasons, tending to simple rituals. Perhaps this is part of why Japan is so often associated with longevity, not through any single practice, but through a way of living that makes space for connection, movement, rest, community and the natural world.

Who is this Retreat for?

This retreat is for lovers of slow, intentional living; for anyone ready to return to something innate.

  • You’re in a season of life that is asking you to turn inward. Perhaps you know it is time to contract, to draw in, to gather yourself. To remember that expansion does not happen without contraction, and that there are seasons for both.

  • You want to explore your own inner tapestry. To become curious about the many threads that make up who you are — your body, your rhythms, your relationships, your desires, your histories, your hopes — and to give some of them space to be felt again.

  • You’re longing to tend to your own wellspring of vitality. Not by adding another thing to your list, but by creating the conditions for energy, creativity and aliveness to arise naturally.

  • You’re interested in rest as a way of life, not simply a way of coping. Not rest as a temporary remedy for a life that is burning you at both ends, but rest as an opportunity to reimagine and recreate a life with more spaciousness, rhythm and room to breathe.

  • You want to return to your practice with depth, curiosity and softness. The asana will be rooted in restorative practice, with an emphasis on listening, sensing and inhabiting the body rather than striving. All levels are welcome; no previous experience is needed.

  • You’re drawn to the quieter seasons. To autumn leaves, stillness, mountain air, cedar forests and the simple joy of bathing in natural hot springs. To the beauty of letting the world become a little quieter around you.

  • You’re in any chapter of the book. Beginning, ending, rebuilding, becoming, resting, grieving, celebrating or simply living. You don't need to be in a particular place in life to belong here.

  • You’re curious about re-embodying in an increasingly artificial world. About stepping away from screens, schedules and constant stimulation and returning, even temporarily, to things that are tangible: walking, eating, bathing, breathing, moving, touching, gathering.

  • You feel drawn to the rituals and simplicity of Japan. The quiet ceremony of tea. The rhythm of bathing. Seasonal food. Time in nature. The reverence for ordinary things. Ways of creating meaning through the simple act of being present.

  • You want to soften some of the armour around the heart. To spend time with others without needing to perform or produce, and to remember that being witnessed, held and met in community is part of what makes us human.

Because these times with one another are precious. To commune. To unite. To share a meal, a practice, a walk, a bath, a cup of tea. To come together in community, while still having the freedom to follow your own rhythm.

The Details:

Dates. 2-8 October 2027, six nights.

Where. Kurokawa Onsen, Kyushu, Japan

Included.

  • Six nights accommodation at our traditional ryokan

  • Two daily yoga and meditation practices, weaving restorative asana, somatic inquiry and practices for cultivating chi, with Caroline and Kristin

  • Daily breakfast and dinner at the ryokan, featuring nourishing, locally sourced seasonal food

  • Daily shared lunch at a local café

  • Two Shiatsu treatments

  • Traditional tea ceremony

  • A local seasonal workshop

  • Daily forest bathing and time amongst the surrounding landscape

  • Unlimited use of the ryokan's onsen throughout your stay

Not included.

  • International flights

  • Travel to and from Kurokawa Onsen, including flights or other transport

  • Personal activities and additional excursions

  • Snacks, drinks and meals outside those listed above

  • Travel insurance

Price (NZD). $5,600 - $6,000 per person full price. 
First Access: $5100 - $5500. Save $500 for the first 4 spots.
Payment plan available.

A non-refundable deposit of $500 secures a place.

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A Sample Day

A sample only; the rhythm shifts a little day to day depending on the energy of the group. Each holds two practices with long open hours in between, time to soak in the onsen, rest and explore the village.

6:30–8:30 am
Yoga and meditation

8:30–2:00 pm
 Free time; breakfast, ski, activities, onsen, massage, rest

2:00–4:00 pm
Group onsen crawl

4:30–6:00 pm
Restorative yin yoga

6:30 pm
Communal dinner

Intentional rituals will be dipped into the mix and will each fall on one afternoon of the week; as well as your massages, the other afternoons are yours.

Your Room:

We have four different room options across the ryokan, each offering its own character and way of experiencing Sanga.

Ego-no-ki · $5,600 NZD per person
Shared four-person room · private stone bath

Ho-no-ki · $5,800 NZD per person
Shared four-person room · private outdoor bath

Natsutsubaki · $6,000 NZD per person
Shared four-person detached cottage · private stone bath

Nejiki · $6,000 NZD per person
Two-person room · private stone bath

All prices are per person for the full six-night retreat.

First Access:

Early Bird pricing:

Ego-no-ki · $5,100 NZD
Ho-no-ki · $5,300 NZD
Natsutsubaki · $5,500 NZD
Nejiki · $5,500 NZD

Once the first four places are taken, the retreat will move to full-price bookings.

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This retreat is a rare and sacred offering, a full shift in pace from the relentless noise of modern life. An invitation to change the narrative of rush to one of rest.

Your Guides.

Facilitated by experienced and attuned practitioners, devoted to creating spaces of safety, presence, and gentle unfolding through somatic practices, yoga, and shared experience.

Caroline Sherratt

YOGA, MEDITATION & SOMATIC FACILITATOR

Caroline is a Trauma-Informed Yoga and Meditation teacher, Craniosacral Therapist and Somatic Experiencing practitioner-in-training. Her work is devoted to attunement, the practice of building intimacy with the body, and listening for what is already here.

She is deeply passionate about sharing experiential teachings on what it means to be a rested woman; exploring rest not simply as something we turn to when we are depleted, but as a way of to nourish our river of vitality, creativity and aliveness.

Drawing from somatic inquiry, restorative yoga, meditation, craniosacral therapy, therapeutic touch and relational practice, Caroline creates spaces to slow down enough to listen, soften and re-inhabit the body. Her work is informed by an ongoing study of Somatic Experiencing, the Tao of Trauma and our relationship with the natural and elemental world, exploring the body not as separate from nature, but as part of it.

Caroline also hosts restful and rewilding retreats in Aotearoa New Zealand and overseas, including Bali, Peru and Morocco. She is drawn to this work through a deep interest in the regeneration of both human body and land, and the reciprocal relationship between the two.

FOUNDER OF NOOK STUDIO/YOGA INSTRUCTOR

Kristin Borchardt

Kristin Borchardt is the founder of Nook Studios, a thoughtfully curated yoga space nestled in the heart of Mount Maunganui. With a background as a qualified Occupational Therapist and over 18 years of experience teaching yoga, Kristin brings a therapeutic and deeply intentional approach to every offering.

Her work is grounded in the belief that mindful movement and nervous system regulation are the cornerstones of holistic wellbeing. Kristin also hosts transformational yoga retreats in both New Zealand and Bali, drawing from her lifelong passion for movement, nature, and cultural connection. Her retreats blend gentle yet powerful yoga practices with nourishing food, self-inquiry, and space to simply be. Whether on the mat, in the studio, or immersed in retreat, Kristin’s work is a gentle invitation back to presence.

Travelling with care

We feel deeply about the places we travel to, and about the responsibility that comes with inviting others into them.

Travel will always have an impact. We don't want to disguise that, but to approach it with care and consideration.

For this retreat, we've chosen a small mountain village where tourism is woven into the local community and where there is an ongoing commitment to caring for the forests, water, hot springs and cultural landscape that make Kurokawa what it is.

We’ll keep our group intentionally small, stay for a meaningful length of time, use local accommodation and services, eat locally where possible, and encourage our guests to spend their time slowly and respectfully within the village.

Rather than arriving with the intention of consuming a place, we hope to arrive with curiosity, to learn from it, contribute where we can, and leave it as we found it.

Perhaps conscious travel is not about travelling perfectly, but about becoming more aware of our relationship with the places we enter.

And that feels very much in keeping with the spirit of this retreat.

HOW TO BOOK:

We’re keeping this retreat intentionally small, with just 14 guest places.

If you’d like to join us, simply email Caroline or Kristin at japanvillageretreat@gmail.com with your preferred room. We’ll personally confirm availability and send through everything you need to secure your place.

Your booking

1. Choose your room
Take a look through the room options and let us know which room you’d prefer. If your first choice is unavailable, we’ll be in touch with the closest available option.

2. Secure your place
Once your room is confirmed, we’ll send you your booking information, waiver and invoice.

A $500 NZD non-refundable deposit secures your place. If not paid in full within 10 days, the remaining balance can be paid by instalments, with the full balance due 90 days before the retreat.

3. Confirmation
Your place is confirmed once we have received your deposit and completed waiver.

Places are confirmed in the order that deposits are received, so if you have your heart set on a particular room, we recommend securing your place as soon as possible.

To enquire or book:
Email Caroline or Kristin at japanvillageretreat@gmail.com with your preferred room and we'll be
in touch personally.

Flights & Travel to Kurokawa

We recommend waiting until your retreat place has been confirmed before booking your flights.

Once your booking is confirmed, we’ll send you all the practical information you need to plan your journey to Kurokawa Onsen, including the recommended arrival time at Fukuoka Airport.

As many of us will be travelling from different places, we’ll also help connect guests where possible so you can coordinate the journey from Fukuoka to Kurokawa with others attending the retreat.

Kurokawa is a beautiful, remote mountain village, and getting there is part of the experience. We’ll make sure you have clear guidance, recommended transport options and everything you need to arrive with ease.

International flights and travel to and from Kurokawa are not included in the retreat price.

KIND WORDS FROM OUR RETREATS.

“I learned a lot about myself and came home feeling a quietness inside of me that I had been searching for but unable to tap into for many years. I got to know many amazing women who I will never forget. The hardest past of the retreat was saying goodbye.”

— Darcey, Peru 2025

““You don’t even know how much you need this. You think you’re fine, but you’re just surviving. This retreat will wake something up in you, something soft and strong and sacred. It’s going to stretch you, hold you, and remind you of who you are outside the chaos.”

— Abi, Peru 2025

“What struck me most was their innate ability to foster a space where learning, growth, and healing felt not just possible, but inevitable. They expertly guided us through various yoga sessions, workshops and discussions, creating a safe and sacred environment where we could openly share our experiences, vulnerabilities, and aspirations. It was a testament to their skill that despite our varied backgrounds and the obstacles many of us had faced, a powerful sense of sisterhood quickly blossomed.”

— Collette, Peru 2025

NEED HELP?

For anyone travelling to Japan for the first time, or who finds navigation online complicated, add a one-to-one support call.

Please email japanvillageretreat@gmail.com with your list of questions and phone number.

GET IN TOUCH

Your Questions, Answered.

  • For international travellers, Fukuoka Airport (FUK) is the closest major international airport and our recommended arrival point.

    Fukuoka is well connected internationally, with regular flights from across Asia and easy connections through major Japanese hubs.

    From Fukuoka, Kurokawa Onsen is approximately three hours by road.

    Getting There

    Kurokawa Onsen is a beautiful, remote mountain village in Kyushu, approximately 2–3 hours from Fukuoka.

    Guests will make their own way to Kurokawa Onsen, with clear travel guidance and support from us beforehand to make the journey as simple as possible.

    We’ll provide the recommended bus routes, timings and everything you need to know to arrive at the ryokan.

    Once you arrive, the week is ours to share.

  • Visa requirements depend on your nationality and can change, so please check the current entry requirements for Japan before travelling.

    Your passport should be valid for the duration of your stay. We also recommend travelling with a digital copy of your passport and your travel documents.

  • Japan uses the Japanese Yen (¥ / JPY).

    While cards are widely accepted in larger cities, Kurokawa is a small mountain village and some smaller businesses may still prefer cash. We recommend carrying some yen with you during the retreat.

  • We strongly recommend arranging comprehensive travel insurance for your time in Japan, including cover for overseas medical care, cancellations, delays and personal belongings.

  • If you have the time, we encourage you to give yourself a little space around the retreat, perhaps a few days exploring elsewhere in Japan before making your way to Fukuoka, or a slower journey home afterwards.

    *More detailed travel information, including recommended arrival windows, shuttle times and what to expect on the journey, will be included in the retreat FAQ.

  • Comfortable layers, walking shoes, something you feel comfortable bathing in, and clothing suitable for a slower, cooler mountain climate.

  • While movement and embodied practices will be part of our time together, this retreat is not centred around a traditional yoga retreat schedule. It is an invitation into a slower rhythm, weaving together movement, rest, nature, nourishment, reflection and the particular rhythms of the place we're staying.