Whisper of the Heart
October 20th-23rd, 2025
Kamakura, Japan.
Whisper of the Heart
When the Ginko leaves turn from green to vibrant yellow, the Harvest moon rises and fades once more; when osmanthus flowers coat the streets in the sweetest perfume, Autumn is finally here. Autumn arrives with clear skies and fresh air, the bell chime of tiny crickets, the smell of sweet potatoes roasting over hot coals. Whisper of the Heart is an Autumn gathering, a retreat, a guided tour & cultural immersion in the heart of Kamakura: the Kyoto of the coast.
Our retreat takes place in a traditional house nestled between the mountains and the sea, encased by the aura of a nearby flower temple. Our retreat home is constructed from Hinoki wood, decorated with dried flowers, antique furniture and tatami floors. Here, we will sip seasonal tea, grind beans for pour over coffee, share homestyle Japanese breakfast, read, journal and sleep on futon beneath the ocean breeze.
This is a cultural immersion retreat. Together, we will visit old Japan and discover treasures from the past, uncovering messages and stories for our present. This retreat is cosy, small group peak into the quiet, hidden and local Japan, with a limit of seven guests. We take our daily meditation & movement practice in a nearby tea house, before exploring the heart of Kamakura and Kita-Kamakura, visiting lesser known mountain temples, local mochi shops, following backstreets and learning the history of the land and stories of the people who have called Kamakura home, guided by Keito Hirakawa, a photographer, menstrual educator and Kamakura local, born and raised.
Together, will participate in Zen Meditation at a temple, sit for tea ceremony in a traditional tea house, explore the town during early morning hours, soften in a herbal sauna, feast on nutritious Japanese meals, while taking moments to meditate, practice seasonal yoga and journal together. You will also have time to explore solo, guided by Keito’s recommendations, if you wish.
While you might know Kamakura as a popular beachside destination just outside of Tokyo, it has a rich and layered history, filled with spirit, literature and mystery. Kamakura is a mosaic of architectural styles, culture, and rituals from different times in history. Once the capital of Japan, many writers and entrepreneurs including Natsume Soseki and Nobel prize winner Yasunari Kawabata travelled to Kamakura to retreat, or to live. In Kamakura, they wrote famous books and poetry, and gathered to share ideas.
Today, Kamakura remains a creative and spiritual hub, with a focus on small business, healthy living and community connection and support. This retreat takes place during the Kamakura poetry festival, heightening the presence of art in the air.
Our days are spent between our tea house movement & meditation practices, tasting local foods, journalling in sacred temple gardens and discovering the rich spiritual, seasonal and cultural identity of small town Japan. There will be time for slowness and adventure, for the discovery of delight and beauty, for finally hearing, and listening to the whispers of your heart.
This is an very intimate, special experience. What we have curated is possible only through the collaboration of women creatives, chefs, and ceremonialists who live in the local area. Together, we create a circle of sisterhood, living as if we have travelled back in time to a Japan of times past. If you are someone with an interest in traditional Japanese culture, wishes to have a true ‘local’ experience and wants to explore the quiet and hidden Japan, this moment is for you.
Make Your Deposit.
Pricing and Reservation
Early bird Price (until July 15th) $2200 AUD, or equivalent in JPY.
$700 AUD non-refundable deposit is required to secure your spot. Final amount must be paid 6 weeks before the start date. Please note, payments are handled by our partner company, Idea Tours Japan. Please familiarise yourself with our terms and conditions prior to making your payment.
Inclusions:
꩜ Three nights in shared accomodation, sleeping in a traditional fashion, on futon in tatami rooms (one private room is available at an extra cost, please enquire if you are interested).
꩜ Daily homestyle Japanese Breakfast
꩜ Herbal sauna and traditional Japanese lunch in a converted Japanese farmhouse
꩜ First & last night celebratory group dinner by a local chef
꩜ Matcha Tea Ceremony in a traditional tea house
꩜ Zen meditation temple experience
꩜ Hase & Kita Kamakura tour
꩜ Storytelling workshop with Keito
꩜ Daily seasonal yoga and meditation with Emmie
꩜ A pre-retreat workshop to answer all your Japan travel questions
꩜ Japanese tea, coffee and special gifts!
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Emmie
YOUR HOST
Found of The Daily Rest Tokyo and The Daily Rest online membership, Emmie is a writer, poet and teacher based in Tokyo.
Her work is a celebration of the seasons, the spaces in between and the beauty of life, even in our darkest moments.
Much of Emmie’s work is inspired by her time and deep connection with Japan and it is an honor and a pleasure to share these practices in a land and culture that has been so deeply healing for her over the years.
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Keito
YOUR HOST
A menstrual educator/storyteller and translator based in Kamakura who advocates a lifestyle in harmony with the menstrual cycle.
In her teens, she studied hula, reiki, hypnotherapy, feng shui and aura-soma, and was guided to study abroad at a university on the island of Hawaii, where she was exposed to the essential values passed down locally.
Keito’s workshops cover not only physiology, but also the relationship between menstruation and women's mental health, as well as the history, traditions and myths surrounding menstruation around the world.
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Shion
MATCHA CEREMONIALIST
While studying sado (Japanese tea ceremony) in the Urasenke tradition, I host tea gatherings and workshops to help people experience and connect with this traditional culture.
Using tea utensils and values passed down from my ancestors, I create a space where the old and the new blend naturally. Through each tea ceremony, both myself and the participants deepen our focus, engage all five senses, and become fully immersed in the moment.
With a spirit of omotenashi, I aim to offer a peaceful and meaningful experience.
Please note
This retreat takes place in a traditional Japanese house, not a luxury retreat centre or hotel. We will lodge in the traditional way, in a shared, sleepover room (3-4 women) with tatami flooring and futon beds.
Breakfast is provided every morning, as is the first and final evenings dinner, and second day lunch. We will provide you with a list of local favourite spots to eat, so you can explore on your own, or with other retreat members for any additional meals.
If you have always desired to uncover a local, spiritual Japan: if your heart desires quiet, subtle moments and backstreets over bright lights, if you are an introverted person who wants a blend of solo travel and sisterhood, Whisper of the Heart is for you.
In preparation for our time together, you may wish to immerse yourself in a few of my favourite books that have inspired this retreat:
Kokoro by Natsume Soseki
The Makioka Sisters by Jun'ichirō Tanizaki
Every Day A Good Day by Noriko Morishita
Poems by Baisao by Nahoko Press
Thousand Cranes by Yasunari Kawabata
your questions, answered.
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Our retreat house is very easily reached from Hase station on the enoden line. We will meet you at the station and walk to our retreat house together.
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Deposits are strictly non-refundable and non-transferable.
Cancellations made anytime after eight weeks before the retreat commences are also strictly non refundable or transferable, unless you are able to find someone yourself to take your spot.
By making your payment, you agree to these terms.
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Interestingly, dietary restrictions are still somewhat uncommon in Japan. If you have any dietary restrictions, please do reach out via the contact form before making your deposit, so we can be sure it’s possible to accomodate your needs.
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While it’s important to take care travelling wherever you are in the world, Japan is very safe for solo female travellers, and is well equipped for solo travel in general. We highly encourage to join this retreat solo! Most participants to our retreats do.
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We will meet at Hase station at 4pm on the 20th.
We will finish at approximately 2pm on the 23rd.
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There is nothing special you need to bring!
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Your retreat price includes insurance for the days you are on Retreat. This serves as a minimum safety measure for retreat participants. It provides basic coverage including:
• Accident-related expenses (up to 1.5 million JPY per person)
• Injury treatment expenses (up to 500,000 JPY per person)
• Illness treatment expenses (up to 500,000 JPY per person)
These are only applied during your retreat.
We strongly recommend that each traveler obtains a comprehensive overseas travel insurance policy on their own, which offers broader and more reliable protection beyond the basic coverage provided by the travel agency.