Immerse yourself in the mindful Zen culture of Japan at our Japan Yoga Retreat with onsen hot springs. Nestled in the mountains of Hakone, just 90 mins by train from Tokyo, our Japan Yoga Retreat invites you into a slower, more intentional and harmonious way of being. Staying in a traditional Japanese ryokan inn with access to both public and private onsen hot springs, you'll experience the deep restorative power of Japanese bathing culture alongside daily yoga and meditation. Nourished by seasonal Japanese cuisine and guided by the spirit of mindfulness, respect, and harmony, we'll explore sacred Buddhist temples, Shinto shrines, the beauty of Lake Ashi, and the iconic presence of Mount Fuji, allowing the quiet wisdom of Japan to gently guide you into a state of inner peace and balance.
Our retreat will be held at the stunning Japanese hot spring ryokan inn Aura Tachibana, located on a hill in the onsen town of Hakone-Yumoto, with stunning mountain vistas from the guests rooms and sky terrace, and a short 10 min walk to the traditional village of Hakone.
We will integrate and practice the key principles of a traditional Japanese tea ceremony, that are integrated into their daily life ('wei, kei, sei, jaku', meaning 'harmony, respect, purity and tranquility'), and discuss the connection between these principles, the Zen way of life and the Yoga teachings, as we cultivate presence and peace together in Japan.
The onsite healing waters of the hot volcanic onsen thermal baths will provide you with the perfect opportunity to slow down and recharge, deeply healing and rejuvenating for the body, mind and soul. Enjoy nearby walking trails or relax and wind down with an in-room massage. There's something for everyone at our Japan Yoga Retreat!
Your leader and teacher, Sally Mitchell, founder of Body Flows Retreats, spent a month living and traveling in Japan in 2025. As she connected deeply with the beautiful culture of harmony and tranquility and the healthy, hand-crafted cuisine, she was inspired to create this Japan Yoga Retreat and share the beauty with you.
There will be 2 yoga classes daily. The yoga classes will be mostly vinyasa flow yoga for all levels, linking movement with the breath for an energizing yet relaxing flow. With creative and balanced sequences, strengthening and lengthening, detoxing and pranayama, you will experience a strong, safe and supportive practice. Modifications and options will be provided for different abilities. You'll have the opportunity to play with some backbends, arm balances, and inversions if you choose, and cool down with some deep stretches to restore the body and mind. The evening classes will be yin yoga, with longer held seated and supine postures, stretching, lengthening, releasing tension and creating more space in deeper layers of connective tissues in the body. Yin yoga is also a perfect opportunity to journey inwards and practice meditation. Guided meditations will be led during many of the yoga classes.
"Sally offers a top notch yoga class no matter the venue. Her unique guided meditations / yoga asanas brings all levels of yoga together beautifully. The excursions were spectacular: boat cruise through the Loch, hikes, castle and whisky experience were first class. My husband and I have attended Body Flows Yoga Retreats for a couple of years now. We have found we can unplug from our busy professional lives and truly unwind, refocus, and retreat. Sally goes out of her way to make sure each attendee feels that special release." - Debbie T, Scotland Retreat, July 2024
"The Body Flows retreats are so much more than yoga in beautiful surroundings! They allow participants to fully emmerse themselves in the culture with optional day trips, and a delicious and healthy menu, which allows you to feed your body and soul!" - Jody L, Scotland Retreat, July 2024
"Sally's retreats are hands down the best wholistic experience you will ever encounter on a yoga retreat. From location, accommodations, excursions, menu, and environment, there is no question the amount of planning that Sally does to offer not only a yoga retreat but a cultural experience for all participants. I was blown away by my experience, and am already recruiting others to join me on another retreat in the future." - Melissa S, Scotland Retreat, July 2024
Aura Tachibama is a stunning luxury onsen hot springs Japanese ryoken inn, located on the highest hill in Hakone Yumoto, with stunning views over the mountains from the sky terrace or from your room. Just 10 minutes walk from the authentic Japanese town of Hakone Yumoto and train station, Aura Tachibama is a peaceful sanctuary that will nourish your soul.
The gourmet, creative cuisine is a masterpiece in both taste and presentation. We will enjoy breakfast and dinner every day during the retreat in the hotel's restaurant. Enjoy natural hot spring water with an abundant amount of water, with a pH of 8.7 for beautiful skin, in public or private open-air or indoor baths.
Just 97 km, and approximately 1.5 hours by train or car, from Haneda Airport (HND), the hotel is easily accessible by train, car or taxi. If you choose to get the train from the airport to Hakone Yumoto, the inn has a complimentary shuttle van to pick you up at the station.
Average weather forecast in Hakone can be found here.
Sally Mitchell, E-RYT 200 Hour Yoga and Meditation Teacher, Certified Massage Therapist, Reiki Practitioner, ChiRunning and ChiWalking Instructor, Integrative Nutrition Health Coach.
Sally's approach as a leader and teacher is holistic, balanced, mindful and grounded. Her teaching style is strong, supportive and safe, integrating movement, alignment, breath and stillness. She has been teaching yoga since 2010 and leading yoga retreats since 2014, and is grateful to have the opportunity to share the gift of yoga and meditation with others, as well as creating a like-minded community of yogis and friends. She looks forward to meeting you and being a part of your spiritual journey. Read more about Sally.
Important Note:The schedule below is tentative only and subject to changes. The final schedule will be shared with all participants a few weeks prior.
Yoga mat, comfortable clothes for yoga and hiking, walking shoes, water bottle, sun lotion and sun hat, warm and waterproof jacket or sweater for cool or wet weather, passport, travel and visa documents, power adapater if needed.
Note: There are no yoga mats or props so please bring your own yoga mat and (optional) blocks, blanket, bolster, strap. We understand it may not be possible to bring blocks, blankets and bolsters if you are traveling by flight. We will keep this in mind during the yoga classes and adjust as needed.
Note: Dogs and other pets are not permitted. The only animals that are allowed are certified service animals, accompanied by a person with a disability.
"Sally is an incredible leader and yoga teacher. The Body Flows experience brings one into a meditative space where healing and mindfulness become possible like never before. The carefully planned itinerary made the experience very meaningful. We were able to get out into the town and connect with locals, shop owners, and beautiful outdoor spaces. The entire experience from the local cuisine to the mindful meditation made this experience transformative and I truly hope to be able to experience it again at another amazing retreat!" - Ashley N, June 2025
"This was my second retreat with Sally and I cannot wait to book another! As with the first retreat, I felt so well cared for and free to relax, grow, and be me. The attention to detail is outstanding and leaves room to fully enjoy the experience. I met so many wonderful new friends and was able to reconnect with some from the first. The positive energy of all is so lovely and I left feeling great. Retreat #3, here I come!" - Meaghan J, October 2025
All rooms have 2 twin beds and a private bathroom. You can book single or double occupancy. Some rooms can have extra beds or futons for triple or quadruple occupancy if you are traveling with a group of 3 or 4 people. All rooms contain linens, towels, soap, shampoo, conditioner, lotion, hair dryer, coffee maker.
"This retreat is the absolute best and surpassed my expectations! It was thoughtfully organized and seamlessly executed. Sally, our yoga/meditation guru was exceptional. She is very knowledgeable and guided our sessions with purpose and intentions of positivity, gratitude, and healing. The food was high quality and delicious, accommodations were very comfortable, and the surroundings were perfect for destressing and reconnection. I can't wait to plan my next retreat!" - Annie P, May 2022
All participants must be aged 18 or over.
No smoking or vaping.
Limited Availability. Register soon to secure your spot.
A non-refundable deposit of $500 is required to secure your spot or you may pay in full. The balance is due 90 days prior to the retreat. You will receive reminder emails a few days prior to your balance due date. If the retreat is less than 90 days from the date of registration, the full amount is required.
Shared rooms are female only unless you are signing up with a friend or partner and booking the whole room. If you are traveling solo and would like share a room with others, you are welcome to register for a double occupancy room and we will match you up with another solo traveler of the same sex. However, triple and quadruple occupancy are only available for friends and family members signing up together and filling the room. If you would like to share a room with a friend who is booking separately please mention their name on your registration form. To ensure a restful night for everyone, we kindly ask guests who use noise machines, music, or meditation apps at night to use headphones while in shared rooms. We also recommend bringing earplugs if you’re sensitive to noise. This helps keep the space comfortable and peaceful for all.
* $100 Early Bird Discount * when you sign up by end of day April 4, 2026. Use discount code EARLYBIRD at checkout. Not valid with other offers.
All prices are per person, not per room.
"Kaze no Tachi" Western Style Room with 2 twin beds and private onsen open-air bath with natural hot spring water
"Mori no Tachi" Japanese Style Room with tatami mats and 2 twin beds
"Mori no Tachi" Japanese Style Room with tatami mats and 2, 3 or 4 futons
We look forward to sharing this amazing journey with you in Japan!
Read our client testimonials and feedback.
View photos from previous retreats.
Please read our Body Flows Cancellation Policy.
We highly recommend purchasing Travel Insurance (with the "cancel for any reason" clause)
Important Booking Information: All prices and bookings are per person, not per room. If you would like to book for multiple people, please select the number of participants in the dropdown list in the booking system. For example, if you would like to book for 2 people in a Double Occupancy room type, please select 2 in the dropdown list, and your total price will update accordingly.
1. Which airport should I fly into for this retreat? We recommend flying into one of the Tokyo International Airports, Haneda (HND) or Narita (NRT). Taxis, Uber and rental cars are available from both airports. The retreat is also accessible from either airport by Japan's excellent and efficient train system, and approxiately 1.5 hours by train. The hotel has a complimentary shuttle to pick you up from the train station, 5 mins away. Detailed directions and transport options will be provided beforehand.
2. What’s included in the retreat package? The retreat package includes daily yoga and meditation classes, comfortable accommodations, nourishing breakfasts and dinners, boat trip on Lake Asli, visit Kamakura, Great Buddha, ancient temples and shrines, with transport included, and use of the retreat facilities including public and private onsen theramal baths, lounge, rooftop terrace, cafe. Onsite in-room massages are available for additional cost and can be booked directly with the front desk.
3. What is the daily schedule like? Each day begins with a morning yoga and meditation practice, followed by a healthy and nourishing Japanese style breakfast. After breakfast we set off for an excursion (boat trip, hike, visit ancient temples, shrines). The afternoon is free time to relax, followed by a yin yoga and yoga Nidra class before a group dinner. A detailed schedule will be shared prior to the retreat.
4. Do I need prior yoga experience to join? No prior yoga experience is required! Our retreats welcome all levels, from beginners to more experienced practitioners. We provide options and modifications to ensure everyone feels comfortable and supported and encourage participants to listen to their body and adjust as needed.
5. What is your cancellation policy? All payments are non-refundable. If you cancel more than 90 days before the retreat start date your payments may be transferred to another retreat if we are able to fill your spot. Full details are outlined in our cancellation policy here.
"Yoga is like music: the rhythm of the body, the melody of the mind, and the harmony of the soul create the symphony of life." ~ B.K.S. Iyengar
