10-Day Mountain Water Fasting & Detox Retreat in Tokai, Japan

The retreat is based in Tokai, Aichi, Japan, in a rural mountain setting surrounded by cedar forest. The air is clean, the nights are quiet, and there's very little to distract you — which is the point. Guests arrive at Chubu Centrair International Airport (NGO), take the Meitetsu Line to Nagoya Station, transfer to the Meitetsu Limited Express for Higashi-Okazaki Station (about 30 minutes), then catch the Meitetsu Bus bound for Asuke from bus stops 2 or 5. The bus takes roughly 70 minutes to Asuke Bus Center, and the retreat arranges a complimentary pickup from there — guests are asked to contact the team before boarding the bus so the pickup can be coordinated. If the scheduled bus is missed, a taxi can be arranged to the retreat area.

Day to day, the structure is loose. Mornings start with waking to the sounds of the forest, a gentle walk or quiet time outdoors, and hydration with water and tea. Daytime is mostly free: reading, meditation, journaling, resting, or walking into the surrounding forest and countryside. Seasonal farm activities and nature experiences are available for anyone who wants to join. In the evenings, the retreat team checks in with guidance and support, and guests are encouraged to turn in early.

What separates this from a typical detox programme is how little is imposed on you. There's no fixed class timetable, no group therapy circle, no enforced silence. The pace adapts to how you're actually feeling, which is important when you're several days into a water fast. Beginners are supported through it, and people who have fasted before can largely do their own thing. The team's role is to keep you safe and comfortable, not to push you.

On the final stretch of the stay, guests are carefully guided through the refeeding process. Meals are simple and easy to digest — sekihan (brown rice cooked with red beans), homemade miso soup, and seasonal pickles from the retreat's garden — designed to bring the body back to solid food without upsetting it. The exact menu shifts with the season and what's fresh. Meals provided are listed as none during the fasting period itself, with organic and vegetarian diets catered for during recovery.

This is a simple, authentic retreat rather than a polished resort. Rooms are clean and quiet with WiFi, shared facilities, and access to a terrace. There's free parking, heating, a garden, laundry, and an EV charger on site. The setting is deliberately understated, and the appeal is the stillness, the personal support, and the fact that you can genuinely unplug for ten days in a Japanese mountain village.

What's included

- 9 nights accommodation in a private room - Recovery meals after fasting - Specialized workshops - Water and tea served throughout the day - Pre and post retreat support from the team - Complimentary pickup from Asuke Bus Center - Free parking - WiFi connection - Access to garden and terrace - Heating and laundry facilities available

What's not included

- Airport transfers - Flight costs - Travel insurance - Visa fee - Additional activities not included in the itinerary - Additional treatments - Laundry (charged per kg) - Extra night after retreat (optional upgrade)