LIVING YOGA: JAPAN AUTUMN RETREAT
Thu 16 Oct to Tue 21 Oct 2025
Join us as Living Yoga Retreats return to Japan for the second year, this time to the lush, natural beauty of Nagano! This very special autumn retreat is co-hosted by Leigh and her Japanese friend Yukari, who will be our guide and caretaker throughout our time together. Yukari is a seasoned Yoga teacher who will also share meditation and chanting practices with us.
Itinerary
Our journey begins on Thursday 16 October in Tateshina, Chino (easily accessible from both Haneda, Narita and Nagoya airports), a scenic area surrounded by the Yatsugatake mountain ranges. Known for its rich Jōmon heritage, which continues to shape the local culture over 10,000 years later, this rural gem will be our home base for the first three nights, during which we will take a deep dive into an immersive cultural experience off the beaten tourist path. This area is where we can enjoy the view of a snowcapped Mount Fuji, if the weather is clear.
Amidst daily morning and evening Yoga sessions, Yukari (she is a certified hiking guide) will lead us on long, pleasant walks through forest trails. We will also take the Kita-Yatsugatake Ropeway up to the highlands, to take in the amazing autumn colours of the Japanese alps.
We will then move on to Kiso, a forested mountainous valley home to picturesque towns on the historic Nakasendo ("path through the mountains"), which connected Edo (modern day Tokyo) and Kyoto. The hills of Kiso turn into a wondrous display of red, green and gold in autumn, and we will spend lots of time out in nature. We will visit Atera Valley, known for its pristine river and waterfalls, and this is where we will enjoy a BBQ lunch — a tradition in our Japan itinerary. The next day, we will visit the towns of Magome and and Tsumago. These towns are developed to provide ancient travellers on the Nakasendo with places to eat and sleep, and are, today, beautifully preserved and charming.
Our time together ends after lunch in Tsumago on Tuesday 21 October, after which we will travel together to Nakatsugawa station, where we will part ways. You can easily take trains back to Nagoya city or to other major airports to catch your flight, or to continue your travels in Japan.
A note on the Yoga practices
You do not need to be a seasoned practitioner in order to join this retreat. Our Yoga practices are designed to be inclusive for all levels of asana experience, and also holistic, incorporating elements like pranayama, meditation and mantra.
Early bird (until 31 March): SGD2,800 for twin-occupancy
Thereafter: SGD3,200 for twin-occupancy
*All rooms on this retreat are for twin-share. Single occupancy is only by request, and cannot be guaranteed.
*We have booked out two comfortable, boutique properties for our retreat. All rooms are outfitted with twin beds, and Western-style toilets and baths.
Inclusions
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Three meals daily
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Twice-daily Yoga practice and/or evening satsang to reflect on and digest what we have experienced in the day
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All activities and ticket fees to the sites we visit together as a group
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Transportation between accommodations
Exclusions
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Air tickets
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Airport transfers
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Compulsory travel insurance
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Expenses incurred should you fall ill in Japan. Please make sure your travel insurance adequately covers this.
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Any necessary Covid tests, if regulations require them then
- All other personal expenses eg. snacks, shopping, laundry
Recommended flights
Tokyo(Haneda) and Nagoya airports offer the most direct connections to and fro Chino/Natsugawa, where we will begin/end our retreat. Chino is about a 3.5-hour express train journey from both airports. The route is very straightforward. From Chino station, you will need to take a short taxi ride to our accommodation.
Singapore-Tokyo (Haneda)
Wed 15 Oct Singapore Airlines SQ636, arriving in Tokyo Haneda on 16 Oct at 06:45 hrs local time
Tue 21 Oct Singapore Airlines SQ635 departing Tokyo Haneda at 22:55 hrs local time
OR
Singapore-Nagoya
Thu 16 Oct Singapore Airlines SQ672, arriving in Nagoya at 09:00 hrs local time
Wed 22 Oct Singapore Airlines SQ671, departing Nagoya at 10:35 hrs local time
(You will have to book your own accommodation either in Nagoya city or near Nagoya airport on 21 Oct overnight; both places are easily accessible where we part ways in Natsugawa. Your commute by train will cost about 4000¥/SGD35.)
Please aim to arrive at our Tateshina accommodation no later than 4pm on Thu 16 October. Our time together ends around 3:30pm on Tue 21 October, giving you ample time to travel out to Haneda if you are taking a flight home the same day (journey will require an express train and Shinkansen ticket, total journey costs about 12,000¥/SGD105).
About Yukari
A former high school teacher for 11 years, Yukari is the founder of nida in Ometesando, Tokyo. She has been teaching Hatha Yoga, Yoga philosophy and meditation for more than 10 years, and is both a Anusara Inspired™️ and I AM Yoga Nidra™️ certified teacher.
She has always focused on sharing yoga as a way of living and being, and spends 4-6 months overseas every year to attend trainings and assist her teachers, as well as to lead her own retreats based on non-dualistic Yoga philosophy. She has been also an organiser and translator of Japan-based workshops for foreign teachers including Emily Kuser, Andrea Boni and Daphne Tse.
Yukari got certified as a hiking guide in 2023, and now holds monthly hiking tours as a part of Yoga and meditation practice. Apart from being our mama hen on this retreat, she will also share mantra chanting and Yoga nidra practices, and lead us on nature hikes!
Booking and cancellation policy
The retreat will go on so long as international travel regulations allow quarantine-free travel between Japan and Singapore. Please stay updated with the latest information on the ICA website here.
Please email Leigh to register. A non-refundable S$500 deposit will be required to secure your spot. Your space is not confirmed until I confirm that I have received your deposit. The remaining fee is to be paid in full by Friday 1 August 2025.
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Cancellations communicated in writing by Fri 19 September 2025 will receive a 25% refund.
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No refunds will be made after Fri 19 September 2025.
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To avoid paying the cancellation surcharge, you can get someone else to take your place on the retreat.
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The policy above will remain in place regardless of your reason for cancellation, including spikes in Covid cases and acts beyond our control. This is a risk you assume upon registration. Please purchase adequate travel insurance upon confirmation of your spot on the retreat.