Your first destination is the peaceful countryside of the Kunisaki Peninsula on the island of Kyushu, where we stay at a beautiful temple with its own onsen. Little developed, our location is dotted with sleepy hamlets and temples with verdant forests and paddy fields interspersed with craggy ridges and mountains.

A resident Zen Buddhist priest will offer morning meditation sessions and then I will lead un uplifting Vinyasa flow class. The Japanese art of chado, the timeless and gentle traditional tea ceremony and ikebana flower art with a local expert using wild flowers and plants are part of your retreat. Between your sessions you’ll have time to soak in the Onsen and enjoy the beautiful temple gardens. Your afternoon yoga sessions will restorative and restful to help you unwind and settle after a busy day.

We will also have some exploring the area, including the old Samurai village of Kitsuki. We visit Tashibu-no-sho, a charming village with some of the most picturesque countryside found in Japan. We then walk along ancient pilgrims trails through forests to the spectacular Kumano Magai-butsu, the largest Buddha relief carvings in Japan that date back over 900 years.

Then it’s time to jump on the Shinkansen bullet train to the city of Kyoto. We have exclusive use of a small hotel near the Kamogawa river. Our time in Kyoto includes yoga at a local studio, meditation and lunch at Daitokuji temple along with a guided walking tour to Otagi Nenbutsu-ji, a temple famous for its rows of unique Buddha statues and Saihōji, a fairytale like moss temple. We also have a night tour of Gion, the famous geisha district and we will be eating are local cafes, noodle bars and restaurants to experience the many flavours and traditions of Japanese cuisine and there will be free time to explore the city at your own pace.