April 17 - 24, 2026
Step away from the rush of the world and into the gentle rhythm of Japan’s countryside. This retreat is an invitation to slow down, to breathe, and to rediscover the beauty of simplicity—where mist lingers over the fields, and ancient shrines and temples rest quietly among the trees.
Izumo/Shimane & Mt. Fuji Shizuoka
We’ll travel to Izumo, home of Izumo Shrine—the sacred place where, as legend tells, the gods of Japan gather each year to weave the threads of human connection.
Then to Shizuoka, where Mount Fuji rises gracefully above rolling tea fields and timeless landscapes, inviting quiet reflection and awe.
What makes this journey truly unique is the depth of local connection:
- Learn Japanese cooking and Mindfulness practice: flower, the way of Tea, and calligraphy from the local host
- Spend time in a countryside Buddhist temple and witness everyday temple life
- Experience zazen and yoga at the home temple of Zen master Shunryu Suzuki (founder of San Francisco Zen Center and Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind)
- Relax in traditional Japanese hot spring (onsen)
- Practice yoga and meditation in nature-rich setting
- Explore UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Iwami Ginzan and Mount Fuji
- Unforgettable, breathtaking view of Mount Fuji at the hotel
- Harvest and taste tea at a tea farm in Shizuoka
- Evening Sangha: a space for presence and Community, to share what’s alive for us— thoughts, feelings, or simply silence.
Guided by locals who know these lands by heart, you’ll be welcomed into daily life and timeless tradition. Each moment becomes a practice of presence—walking, tasting, listening, and simply being.
What is included and NOT included?
This Retreat is not affiliated with Breathe Together Yoga.
What is included:
- Accommodation for 7 nights
- Meals (starting from Day 1 Dinner until Last Day breakfast, except 3 lunches)
- Road journeys via air-conditioned mini-bus and other transportations (mentioned in the itinerary)
- 2 domestic flights via Japan Airlines: from Haneda (HND) to Izumo (IZO), and IZO to Mt.Fuji Shizuoka (FSZ).
- English speaking guide
- English speaking Buddhist monk
- UNESCO World Heritage site visits at Iwami Ginzan and Mount Fuji
- Tea Farm Tour, harvesting tea and tea tasting
- Zazen and yoga at Zen Buddhist home temple of Zen Master ShunRyu Suzuki.
- Mindful practice: Flower, Tea, Calligraphy, craft at temple.
- Japanese cooking class
- Hot Spring (Onsen) in Daisen Oki National Park
- Excursions, visiting Japanese rock garden, Izumo Shrine, Toshogu, Mt. Fuji Shrine, and Mt. Fuji World Heritage Center.
- A Japanese Journal notebook and pen
- Evening Sangha: A Space for Presence and Community.
What is NOT included:
- Airfare from your home to Tokyo (either NRT or HND)
- Transportation to the hotel on arrival day (hotel located inside HND)
- Transportation to the airport on departure day (hotel located in Tokyo)
- Additional optional excursions
- 3 lunches
- Expenses of a personal nature like beverages, laundry, in-room services.
- meals/snacks and activities beyond what is mentioned in the itinerary.
- Souvenirs
Preserved Townscape as Iwami Ginzan World Heritage Site
Teachers/ Retreat Lead
Reverend Etsuko Mikame
Originally from Shimane Prefecture, Japan, Etsuko was born and raised in a Jōdo Shinshū temple—one of the largest Buddhist traditions in Japan. She is an ordained minister of the Jōdo Shinshū Hongwanji-ha tradition and holds a Yoga Alliance RYT 200 certification.
Currently serving as a kaikyōshi (overseas minister) at the San Jose Betsuin located in San Jose Japan Town, she offers mindfulness yoga classes at the temple together with Izumi.
She is devoted to offering space within the temple where people of all backgrounds—regardless of belief, tradition, or ethnicity—can come together to share moments of peace and presence through yoga.
She looks forward to welcoming participants into the temple and sharing mindful practices and journeys together.
Izumi Sato
Izumi is an E-RYT 500 yoga teacher from Shizuoka, Japan — where green tea is a daily ritual and Mount Fuji quietly watches over the land.
With a deep interest in how people live, believe, and practice across cultures, she has spent years observing the subtle rituals and values that shape daily life — beginning with her undergraduate studies in cultural anthropology and continuing through years of travel and life abroad.
Living in places like India and the U.S. gave her a fresh perspective on her own culture, allowing her to see Japan’s depth and uniqueness with renewed clarity. Now, through yoga, mindfulness, and cultural retreats, she shares those insights with others — inviting people to slow down, connect mindfully, and experience the quiet richness of Japanese tradition.
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Sangha: Community
At Izumi Sato + Being Joy Yoga Retreat,
we believe in the power of connection and support. Join our Sangha — a circle where we come together each day to share reflections and deepen our journey together.
Join us for a journey of yoga, culture, and connection in Japan’s serene landscapes. Reconnect with yourself, experience local traditions, and find joy in mindful living.
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