THE ART OF REST
休む芸術
A REST RESIDENCY IN Japan
4 nights / 5 days — Kitakaruizawa, Japan
24th to 28th April, 2027
There is a version of Japan that most people never slow down enough to find.
It is slower, forests and onsen towns. The forest in mid spring is filled with bright small green leaves, wild flowers appearing and the sunlight can completely penetrating the forest.
And then the onsen, mineral water sourced from a volcano and leaves your skin softer and nourished.
Five days in a private villa in Karuizawa. Ninety minutes from Tokyo stay in ancient forest with our private volcanic hot spring and a tiny group of women.
This is Japan from the inside.
What these five days actually feel like
You arrive in your own time. The villa is already warm. The forest is already waiting.
Mornings begin with slow breath, sound and movement and the particular silence of Japanese spring forest. Local tea held in both hands. The steam from the onsen rising into the crisp spring air. Gentle movement that allows you to arrive in your body.
Days unfold slowly. Forest bathing walks through mossy trails and layered colour. Long afternoons sitting among the trees with nowhere to be. Strolls through the local town. A creative workshop with a local craftsman where you make something with your hands. Sound sessions where Himalayan bowls are placed on the body and the vibration word keep in the layers of your body.
Evenings soften into sound and stillness. Locally sourced seasonal Japanese meals eaten slowly around a shared table. Conversations with new friends in as you experience a new part of Japan.
And the volcanic onsen, again and again. Once you have soaked in the mineral water that has travelled up through volcanic rock for centuries, everything else feels like it can wait.
"I don't even know where to start. What Zara created was something I didn't know I needed until I was in it.
I've been back home for a while now and I'm still using what I learnt. The practices have quietly become part of my everyday. That doesn't happen after most experiences.
My only wish was that it was longer.
The attention to detail, the pace, the way the whole retreat was held, it was clear that every single element was considered. I felt genuinely cared for from the moment I arrived."
Alexia - Guest from The Art of Rest Retreat 2025“I was going through a rough time and was under a lot of stress before attending the retreat with Zara. the retreat was out of this world! zara is sweet and considered all details. it was such a sensory experience. the moment i arrived i felt rested, the space was architecturally incredible, the food was so nourishing, everything was gentle, the movement, the breath, the sound baths from floating to vibrating on our bodies. the gift bag.. gosh where do i stop?
honestly if you want to fill your cup then this is the place to do it. highly recommend mellow habits retreats”
Steph - Guest from The Art of Rest Retreat 2025
Day One 一日目 — ground
The forest is already here
Guests arrive in their own time, ninety minutes from Tokyo. The villa waits hidden in ancient forest, volcanic boulders and moss. The onsen is warm. You unpack and spend time grounding into the space. Over a slow dinner and easy conversation we open the retreat. Strangers become familiar. You slowly start to unwind and let go of what you’ve been holding onto.
Day Two 二日目 — quieten
The forest teaches you how to slow down
Breath at dawn. Local tea in both hands. A forest bathing walk to start the day. An unhurried local lunch in town. Long afternoon in town exploring local church, and shopping stip covered by elm trees. A moxa treatment followed by an evening sound immersion. The onsen after dark.
Day Three 三日目 — Soften
Your hands remember things your mind forgets
A slow breakfast and meditation surrounded by the forest. A creative workshop with a local craftsman, making something by hand. Mossy afternoon meditative hikes through ancient forest. On body vibrational sound massage and somatic movement. A workshop on the 7 types of rest and how to create habits that you can incorporate in your everyday life. Slow dinner
Day Four 四日目 — immerse
Let Japan do what it does best
A visit to a nearby onsen town and temple. The ritual of mineral bathing that has been practised in these mountains for centuries. Seasonal Japanese meals. Time in the forest and group sound bath by a waterfall. Free time to explore an older part of time and explore local craftsmen and produce. Back at the villa we have dinner and ease into the night.
Day Five 五日目 — Carry Home
You leave with more than you arrived with
A final morning of breath and tea. The group comes together one last time not to present or process but simply to acknowledge what has moved through these five days. You leave with practices you will actually use. Not because you have to but because your body will ask for them. You do not return to the same version of yourself. You return knowing what rest actually feels like. And that is everything.
Please note that this is a sample itinerary of the 5 days and we might shift activities around depending on weather and logistics.
Who It’s For
Women who feel burnout and want a space to explore and rest.
Loves slow travel, local makers and being in nature.
Wants to practice meditation but doesn’t want to do it seated for 20minutes each day.
Who feel tired even when life looks good from the outside.
Who have been saying they will do something like this for years and keep finding reasons to wait.
Who are drawn to Japan not just for what it looks like but for what it feels like to be inside it.
Who want something that stays with them long after they land back home.
This residency is intentionally very small. Never more than six women. Because the kind of rest that happens here requires space.
You do not need to know anyone before you arrive. By the time you leave you will know people who understand exactly what you were carrying when you walked through the door.
No experience with sound, breathwork or movement required. Everything is gentle, guided and optional.
What’s Included
Five days four nights in a private villa in Kitakaruizawa inside an exclusive gated resort surrounded by ancient forest, volcanic boulders and moss
Private onsen with mineral rich volcanic hot spring water sourced from the mountains
Locally sourced seasonal Japanese meals, breakfast lunch dinner and snacks
2 x Daily breath work and sound sessions
1 x Meridian Sound Treatment - sound massage using Himalayan singing bowls
1 x Moxa treatment (East Asian medicine therapy that involves burning dried mugwort around the body to help with circulation)
Forest bathing walks through the spring forest
Creative workshop with a local craftsman
Somatic fascia movement sessions
Tea ceremonies for sensory grounding
Sleep ritual evenings
Visit to a nearby onsen town
Curated meditative objects to take home
Downtime and unstructured rest
Integration and closing circle
All you need to do it arrive.
“This was one of the most grounding, restful days I’ve had in my entire life. Zara led us through several movements of rest, and from the moment we stepped foot in the house, my nervous system felt safe to just be.
I can’t wait to come back again soon, and would highly recommend anyone who needs a break from the everyday rush of life, to spend a day with Zara and have your cup filled.”
Shauna - Guest from The Art of Rest Retreat 2025the space
Pricing is in Australian dollars. (approx. $2800 USD)
Traditional Japanese experience. Futon on the floor, shoji screens. Shared with one other woman.
Payment plan available with a deposit of $500 Australian dollars.
Your own single bed in a shared room $4000 Australian dollars.
Early bird pricing ends December 1st, 2026.
Pricing is in Australian dollars. (Approx. $3400 USD)
Payment plan available with deposit of $800.
Book the entire room just for you $4800. Share the bed with a friend for $1500. Please email us so we can add them manually.
Early bird pricing ends 1st December, 2026.
About Your Host
This residency is guided by Zara, the founder of Mellow Habits.
This residency is guided by me, Zara, the founder of Mellow Habits.
Japan is one of my favourite spots on this earth. The stillness, the culture, the nature and Karuizawa is the perfect spot to retreat and forest bathe.
One thing that makes Japan magical is not just the temples or the food or the landscapes, though all of those are incredible. It is something quieter. The way every small thing is done with complete intention, that’s the softenest that we need.
The minerals in the onsen left my skin different nourish your skin and body in a way I can’t describe, you need to experience it yourself.
I have wanted to bring The Art of Rest to Japan for a little while now. We will explore different types of rest through different practices and explore Japan from a meditative perspective.
I cannot wait to share this one with you.
With love,
Zara
Leave us a message if you want another Japan retreat in 2027
detailsspace
The villa has three bathrooms shared between guests. Showering is a communal experience in the traditional Japanese style, three showers together in an open onsen room. Bathers are welcome. This is how Japan bathes and it is part of the experience.
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Travel
Guests arrange their own flights to Tokyo and Shinkansen(bullet train) to Karuizawa is approximately ninety minutes from Tokyo. We will pick you up from Karuizawa station on the day of the retreat.
By train, the easiest and fastest way is by the Hokuriku Shinkansen from Tokyo or Ueno Station. It takes about 70-90 minutes to reach Karuizawa Station, and the ride is covered by the Japan Rail Pass, JR East Nagano-Niigata Pass or the JR Tokyo Wide Pass.
Buses are a more budget-friendly option, taking around 3.5 hours from Shinjuku or Ikebukuro. You can check companies like Willer Express or Highway-buses.jp for schedules and prices.
Retreat accommodation for 4 nights, 3 meals each day with snack and retreat activities are covered. Any other activities or treatments are additional.
Guests are responsible for Japan visa costs where applicable. Travel insurance is strongly recommended. Please wait for written confirmation before booking flights.
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Cancellation & Transfers
Cancellations more than 60 days before the residency are refundable minus the deposit 25%.
Cancellations within 60 days are non refundable due to villa and supplier commitments.
If you can no longer attend you may transfer your place to another guest at no penalty.
Please wait for retreat confirmation before booking flights.
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Exclusivity
This residency is limited to six-seven women to preserve depth, spaciousness and personalised care.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Yes. Most women who come to Mellow Habits retreats have never done a sound bath, a breathwork session or a somatic movement class before. Everything is guided, gentle and completely optional. You do not need any experience. You just need to arrive.
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This residency is designed for solo travellers. Most guests come alone. The small group size means connection happens naturally and without effort. By day two you will not feel like strangers.
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Mornings begin slowly — gentle movement or breathwork, a nourishing breakfast, time in nature. Afternoons include sound sessions, somatic work or tea ceremony. Evenings are designed for rest and integration. There is structure but there is always space. Nothing is rushed and nothing is mandatory.
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Intentionally a lot. Long lunches. Afternoons with nowhere to be. Time to read, walk or simply sit. The unstructured time is not empty — it is where the deepest rest happens.
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We hear this often. The women who hesitate the longest are usually the ones who need it most. This is not an indulgence. It is five days of deliberate investment in your nervous system, your sleep and your capacity to show up for everything and everyone in your life. You will leave not just rested but more resilient. More able. More yourself. Most guests describe it as the best money they have ever spent on themselves. Not because of what they experienced while they were there. But because of how differently they moved through life when they came home.
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Absolutely. Many guests add days before or after to explore Tokyo. Just let us know and we can suggest where to stay and what to see.
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We will send you an email with all the details but to get you started pack light, loose, comfortable clothing you can move and rest in.
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Cancellations more than 30 days before the residency are refundable minus the 30% deposit. Cancellations within 30 days are non-refundable due to villa and supplier commitments. You are welcome to transfer your place to another guest at no penalty.
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The best way is to get in touch directly at rest@mellowhabits.com. We will confirm availability and send you everything you need to know to make your decision.
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Absolutely. If you would like to talk through the retreat before committing Zara is available for a short call to answer any questions and help you decide if this is the right fit for you.
Send an email to rest@mellowhabits.com with the subject line Japan retreat and we will find a time that works.