Sacred Japan: Nature, Ritual & Presence
with Ann Dyer Cervantes May 18-26, 2027
with Ann Dyer Cervantes May 18-26, 2027
This is a different kind of journey through Japan—an immersion in the quiet beauty of rural life and Japan’s centuries-old understanding of nature as sacred.
As autumn settles over misty mountains, cedar forests, temple towns, and traditional villages, we slow down to experience a way of life shaped by the simplicity of beauty, ritual, and reverence for the seasons—a world infused with the spirit of wabi-sabi, where quiet attention and the poetry of impermanence are honored.
Beginning in Kyoto, we’ll explore sacred temples, tea ceremony, Zen traditions, and the subtle art of presence. From there, we travel into the countryside—walking ancient pilgrimage paths from shrine to shrine through forests, experiencing firsthand the Shinto reverence for nature that still deeply infuses daily life in Japan. This connection to nature lies at the heart of the retreat: forest bathing beneath towering trees, restorative soaks in healing onsens, nourishing meals rooted in longevity traditions, and quiet moments that invite us back into rhythm with ourselves and the living world around us.
Our journey continues to the cultural riches of Kanazawa before returning to Kyoto for a final immersion in Japan’s refined traditions, including a rare glimpse into Kyoto’s geisha tradition, with its rich culture of music, dance, poetry, and cultivated presence.
Each day, yoga and meditation offer a grounding thread through the journey—a chance to settle, reflect, and allow the experience of Japan to move through the senses and quietly into the heart.
Ann Dyer Cervantes
Ann is the owner and director of Mountain Yoga in Oakland, California, a studio for active older adults. She has been teaching yoga for more than forty years and leading retreats around the world for over twenty.
