Japan as a whole is an underrated wellness and mindfulness destination. Perhaps this is because too many tourists focus on the frantic cities of Tokyo and Osaka. But venture a bit outside of the cities, and you’ll find a culture that still highly values quietness, health and living in the moment. Only an hour away from Tokyo, Hakone is famous for its onsens (hot springs), some of which have been open to the public for over a thousand years.
If you’re on a budget, then Japan is one of the only places you probably don’t need to consider going on a retreat. There is so much peace and wellness deep-rooted in Japanese culture that finding it is inevitable. Staying in a traditional ryokan, exploring and meditating in a zen Buddhist temple, and visiting an onsen are just usual parts of Japanese culture that are already filled with intention, mindfulness and calm. You don’t need to go out of your way to find it.
