Retreat Itinerary

Study the Japanese sense of time and the microseasonal calendar.

A seasonal feast celebrating the 72 microseasons at Ototojet.

Dive into the world of textiles through the life-cycle of a kimono. From clothing to accessories.

From accessories to towels and diapers. From towels to rags. Learn about the power of sustainable techniques like sashiko stitching and fermented dyes.

Learn about dyeing techniques, tools, history, and science behind fermented indigo dye.

Make pottery by kneading fermented indigo plants into clay.

Enjoy a plant-centric meal featuring local produce to learn about the three phases of “seasonal”.

Experience traditional fermented indigo dye, its spectrum of shades and characteristics. Observe the fermented dye inhale and exhale, as it absorbs into the textile.

Learn about the Japanese terroir and its influence on vocabulary,  agriculture, and ways of eating and even perceiving. The farmer’s role as the wisdom holder. And the spectrum of foods that are produced from preservation and fermentation techniques. 

Learn the meaning of ‘satoyama’, the Japanese farmstead.

Cook rice in a traditional Japanese wood-fired stove inside a 150-year-old home.

Enjoy a meal centered around rice

Experience seasonal fermentation and preservation technique that is directed by what is bountifully available (e.g., miso in January, plums in June, persimmons in November). Enjoy a taste of what is made, along with tea and tea sweets that are specific to the microseason.

Learn about traditional Japanese architecture, as well as the value of gardens, washi, earthen walls, furniture, and everyday tools. And how each of these pieces reflects the Japanese terroir and gives way to a more sustainable way of living.

Learn about ‘shukuba’, post towns located between the old capital of Kyoto and the new capital in Edo/Tokyo, where travelers rested on their long journey during the Edo period.

Enjoy a seasonal meal while learning about the history and techniques behind traditional Japanese building construction.

Experience ‘takekomai’ bamboo frame binding and earthen wall making using 100% natural resources that are available locally. Enjoy the spectrum of hues and textures that can only be achieved through the materials behind this generational technique.

Learn about the historical and cultural context that ties Kameyama with tea, over local tea and sweets.

A day of reflection and brainstorm, toward the practical application of the practices and techniques that you learnt about over the past several days. Evaluate the current value of each of the materials, and how they may be woven into your life, wherever you call home.

A quiet walk in the mountains to take note of the surroundings with all five senses. Observing your own breath and the breath of the flora and fauna all around.

Enjoy a Kyoto-style farm-to-table meal that is served as a vignette of the season.

Learn about bathing culture. Reflect on this past week, and clear and regenerate to make space for future connection between cultures and possibilities.

Our final morning to connect our experience together with our individual journeys ahead. Enjoy an array of fresh local fruits and vegetables, accompanied by seasonal fermented and preserved foods.