Just an hour outside of the hum of Kyoto city you will find Arima Onsen. A quiet onsen village surrounded by lush green valleys. This is where we will escape together, in the early moments of summer to immerse in the Japanese way of beauty and lodge in a unique accomodation with a rich history, 350 years deep. Once a temple, now a traditional guesthouse and art hotel. A place where east meet west and spirituality meets luxury. This retreat space where beauty has considered for centuries, from the moment you enter the grounds.
Together, we will bathe in golden waters, sleep deeply in spacious villas, practice beauty meditations in ancient temples, feast on fresh, local skin healing foods, learn beauty and skincare rituals and perhaps the greatest privilege of all — experience a live private performance by the masters of beauty, the elusive Geisha san. A very rare experience, even for people born and raised in Japan.
One of the most revered hot spring escapes in Japan, Arima Onsen has inspired generations of artists and writers, as well as drawn visitors nation wide to find energy and healing in the six million year old hot spring baths.
Our program includes luxurious meals made with local produce, yoga & meditation sessions with a focus on deep relaxation, radiance and beauty rituals, temple zen meditation, a special Buddhist art experience and Shojin Ryori lunch, evening skincare and gua sha workshop, a visit to the local town for shopping and street food, poetry writing class, performance by Geisha and endless opportunities for deep rest, inspiration, bathing and community connection.
The Japanese Way of Beauty
In a world in which beauty standards are close to impossible, celebrating a kind of surreal perfection forever out of reach, the Japanese concept of wabi-sabi can serve as a much needed balm.
Originally developing out of the tea ceremony culture, wabi-sabi refers to the beauty in the imperfect, the impermanent and the incomplete. For example, through the lens of wabi-sabi, the beauty of a crooked wildflower is praised over a perfect rose. The moss growing over a stone sculpture is seen more beautiful than one which is perfectly clean.
During our retreat, we will reconnect and restore by bathing in the Japanese way of beauty. As you immerse in nature, spend time in medicinal baths and sacred spaces, eat well, rest and allow yourself to be completely held and taken care of, witness your luminosity return…
Pricing and Reservation
360 000 JPY.
A 80 000 JPY non-refundable deposit is required to secure your spot. Please ensure to read the terms and conditions before making your payment. Final amount must be paid 2 months before the start date.
With space for only eight guests, this is an intimate retreat hosted by Tomoko (aesthetician and founder of Glow by Tomoko) and Emmie (yoga teacher, writer & founder of The Daily Rest) where each participant has the opportunity for both connection and quiet spaciousness.
While of course you are always welcome to join with a friend, most of our guests tend (and are encouraged) to join alone. Each 100sqm villa sleeps four guests.
We will begin in the afternoon of the 6th, with a slow welcome dinner and an evening of skincare rituals, before starting our program on the 7th with a light breakfast, followed by yoga in a temple. Our retreat ends after our final breakfast on the 9th.
Included in your retreat package is accomodation, meals, activities and travel insurance for the days of the retreat.
A note from Tomoko
I am a licensed aesthetician based in Tokyo, specializing in a personalized approach to radiant, healthy, glowing skin. At my salon, Glow by Tomoko, I blend aesthetic expertise with results-oriented, individualized care, combining advanced Japanese skincare actives and devices with time-honored beauty rituals and traditional ingredients from Japan. My approach is rooted in thoughtful skin analysis, gentle touch, and rituals designed to bring out a glow that reflects your inner beauty.
But my work with beauty has never been only about exceptional products, the newest devices, or multi-step routines. What continues to inspire me is witnessing the profound impact that healthy, glowing skin can have on someone’s daily life. Our skin is our largest organ and our first line of defense against the world around us. Caring for it not only strengthens that barrier, but also boosts confidence, softens how we move through the world, and often creates a ripple effect of positivity in other areas of life. This is what I hope to create for everyone I work with.
For many years, skincare was the ritual that allowed me to slow down and reconnect with myself. I felt the difference not only in my skin, but in my perspective on life. That experience became the foundation of my dedication to helping others discover the same sense of calm, confidence, and glow through their own skin.
To me, beauty becomes real when it reflects from the inside out, when our outer glow mirrors our inner sparkle. Skincare, and the simple act of caring for our face, is a ritual that invites us to pause, to touch our skin with intention, and to nourish ourselves amid busy lives. These mindful moments have the power to transform how we feel, how we carry ourselves, and how we show up in the world.
Whenever I step into the stillness of a retreat, the noise of everyday life quiets, and I can hear myself again. Retreats have supported and reset me during times when I felt rushed, overwhelmed, or uncertain. They taught me that beauty is not something we chase. It's something we reveal when we nurture ourselves sincerely. When we step away from our usual environments, we step closer to ourselves. We listen differently. We breathe differently. We glow differently.
My wish for this retreat is: that each person leaves not only with softer, glowing skin and a calmer nervous system, but with a deeper connection to their own inner beauty, one that shines through their skin and in the way they carry themselves back into daily life.
Whether I am working in my studio in Tokyo or guiding you on retreat, my intention is always the same: to help you reconnect with the inner glow that has always been yours."
The healing waters of Arima Onsen
Arima has three types of hot-springs, among which the Kinsen, or golden hot-spring is the most famous. Apart from its soothing warmth and its relaxing golden-clay colour, Arima golden hot-spring is a ferruginous sodium chloride spring with many healing properties. As for its beauty benefits, the thermal water is mild and gentle on sensitive skin, leaving your skin feeling smooth and moisturised after taking a bath.
Arima Onsen hot spring is considered the oldest old onsen town in Japan and it has said to have existed since the age of the gods, discovered when two Shinto divinities saw three injured crows were cured after they soaked in the thermal waters.
FAQs
-
Our retreat house can be easily reached from Kamakura (about 1.5 hrs from central Tokyo). We will be in touch with exact access instructions prior to the retreat!
-
All deposits are non-refundable.
In the case you are unable to join the retreat, please do let us know with as much notice as possible.
If you payment is not made by the due date, we will be unable to confirm your participation in the retreat.
-
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.
-
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.
-
We will start around 2pm on the 20th and depart at 11am on the 23rd.
-
There is nothing special you need to bring! We will provide all yoga equipment. During our pre-retreat workshop we will discuss what you might like to bring with you on your trip to Japan.
-
Not at all, the classes are suitable for all levels - even absolute beginners!