Japan Retreat

October 24-October 31

Join Marla for a week of yoga in Nikko, the home of many Japanese cultural treasures where we will practice yoga in a pristinely restored Buddhist temple located on the grounds of a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Between asana and pranayama classes and exquisite gourmet vegetarian meals, your afternoons can be spent soaking in an onsen (thermal hot springs) located in the hotel, exploring the shops and cafes of downtown Nikko, walking the many nature trails, or visiting shrines and temples. On the sixth day of the retreat, we will visit nearby Mashiko, one of Japan’s famous pottery towns and then drive to Tokyo for our last night. The hotel in Tokyo is centrally located for exploration of the city or easy access to the International airport.

Several special excursions and activities have been arranged so that you can fully appreciate Nikko and learn more about Japanese culture

• Traditional Japanese tea ceremony in the restored Emperor’s Summer Palace
• Guided tour of historic Toshogu and Futara shrines and Rinnoji temple
• Morning temple Chanting by special invitation
• Guided mountain hike to Shinto shrines and Buddhist meditation trails
• Visit to the pottery town of Mashiko in Tochigi prefecture where you will have an opportunity to visit the museum, view many styles of Mashiko pottery (available for purchase at reasonable prices and can be packed for shipping).
• Visit to Edowonderland, an Edo-era cultural park

ABOUT NIKKO:
An hour and a half (train ride) from Tokyo, Nikko is famous for Japan’s most lavishly decorated shrine complex and mausoleum of the founder of the Tokugawa shogunate.

Nikko has been a center of Shinto and Buddhist mountain worship for centuries, and Nikko National Park offers scenic, mountainous landscapes, lakes, waterfalls, hot springs, wild monkeys and hiking trails. It is a popular destination for the viewing of the changing Autumn leaves and this retreat has been timed to coincide with this beautiful seasonal event.

The entire hill in Nikko where the yoga hall, ancient temples and shrines are located is a protected UNESCO World Heritage site. As non-traditional methods of construction are prohibited, only manual techniques were used (no machines) on the recent restoration of the temple and asana room.

Don’t miss this extraordinary opportunity to study and practice yoga in a peaceful natural setting and immerse yourself in a fascinating cultural experience. While staying at a traditional Japanese Inn and enjoying gourmet vegetarian cuisine you’ll also experience the world famous season of Autumnal leaves in Nikko.

Pricing Information:
$2500 per person

Includes:

• All Asana and Pranayama classes with Marla
• Six nights accommodation in Nikko (double occupancy)
  • In a traditional Japanese style hotel/modern ryokan (Western style rooms/beds available upon request). All Japanese rooms have a river view and include a private bathroom, daily traditional yukata wear, daily onsen bath or sauna and on site spa (treatments/massage have extra fee)
• One night accommodation (double occupancy) in Tokyo
• 3 seasonal multi-course vegetarian Japanese dinners in the Nikko hotel
• 3 gourmet vegetarian dinners in Nikko’s finest Japanese restaurants:
  • Kaiseki meal at a 300 year-old traditional home restaurant
  • Buddhist cuisine featuring tofu and the local specialty of yuba in what the NY Times describes as a “lovely Japanese restaurant, with a simple tatami room and a view of pines, moss, and bonsai.”
  • French/Japanese restaurant.
• Daily breakfast
• Morning temple chanting
• Tea ceremony
• Visit to an Edo-era cultural park
• Guided temple and shrine tour of the UNESCO World Heritage Site
• Mountain Hike to Shinto shrines and along Buddhist meditation trails
• Transportation from Nikko to Mashiko and from Mashiko to Tokyo on 10/30.
• Transportation between Nikko Station and hotel on 10/24

Not included:

• Transportation to Nikko (including airfare to Japan and train or bus to Nikko)
  • A chartered bus from the Narita airport to Nikko on October 24 can be arranged for a fee if enough participants are interested.
• Transportation from Tokyo to Narita airport
• Daily lunch

Travel Insurance is recommend. Two reputable organizations for worldwide travel coverage are Travelex (www.travelex.com) and STA (www.statravel.com).

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Nikko Retreat

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