The Kumano
IKIGAI Retreat

This is not a tour. It is a guided space to discover the IKIGAI that emerges from within.

Why IKIGAI? Why Now?

When AI can do everything, what becomes of human purpose?

Two interpretations of IKIGAI exist.

Western: Find the intersection. (Doing) Japanese: Cultivate the practice. (Being)

We teach the practice.

In a solved world, being matters more than doing.

Read our perspective: "The True IKIGAI vs. The Western Myth"

Over four days, between the stillness of ancient pilgrimage paths and the energy of the coastline, we create the space for your unique IKIGAI to emerge.

https://medium.com/@zenschool/the-true-ikigai-vs-the-western-myth-rediscovering-authentic-purpose-in-the-ai-age-515485cb166e

🤝 Radical Relationality

Deep connection through shared vulnerability.

🏔️ Embodied Presence

Physical reality. The wisdom of the body.

🎭 Transcendent Play

Life as art, not utility.

https://zenschool.medium.com/ikigai2-0-in-the-ai-era-1a8ead723969

The 4-Day Flow

Our program is not a rigid schedule, but a flexible flow adapting to the group's energy.

Day 1：Release & Dialogue

Arrive.

Breathe.

Let go.

→ Shared vulnerability. Psychological safety.

Day 2：Walk & Witness

Ancient paths. Cedar silence. Sacred ground.

→ Body wisdom. Nature as teacher.

Day 3：Cultivate & Deep Dive

Soil. Water. Emergence.

→ Ecosystem as mirror. IKIGAI surfaces.

Day 4：Integrate & Begin

Integrate.

Authentic Insight.

Return.

→ Life as your art.

¥398,000 (including tax & payment fees) per person

Minimum participants: 2 people
Maximum participants: 3 people

An Intimate Dialogue

Three participants. Two facilitators.

Space enough to be seen.

Trust enough to be honest. Intimacy enough to transform.

This Retreat is For You If:

• You're at a career crossroads, contemplating your next chapter.
• You're questioning what matters when machines can do most things.
• You seek transformation and are ready for deep introspection.
• You value authentic dialogue in an intimate small-group setting.
• You are drawn to Japan's ancient spiritual heritage and the regenerative power of nature.

Two guides.

We create space.

Your IKIGAI emerges.

Kouji Miki

CEO, enmono Inc. / Founder, zenschool

For 15 years, I've guided over 200 leaders to their IKIGAI.

Most people ask: "What should I do?"

The question that liberates is: "What do I truly want?"

When you change the question,

your IKIGAI emerges.

Let's walk the ancient paths of Kumano.

Your reason for living is waiting.

Adam Lobel THE DEPTH — Ecosystem Guide & Space Holder zenschool Master / Business Analyst, Japan, Purpose Brands / Former Founder & Representative Director, Kumano Shindo / Co-founder, Sizung / Research Fellow, Institute for Future Engineering I have spent many years exploring the intersection of contemplative practice, environmental systems, and organizational life, helping individuals, communities, and organizations navigate complexity, communication, and change. I hold a B.A. in Religious Studies from the University of California, Berkeley, with a focus on Buddhism, and an M.S. in Environmental Information Science from Tokyo City University. In 2025, I spent a year guiding international guests on nine-day pilgrimages along the Kumano Kodo, guiding them through 80 kilometers of the sacred mountains and shrines of the Kii Peninsula with Walk Japan. I also co-created Sotononono, restoring a farmhouse that had stood vacant for thirty years. Through the efforts of local residents, university students, architects, forestry professionals, and collaborators from Japan and around the world, it has become a living community space once again. Kumano is known as 蘇りの地 (Yomigaeri no Chi) — the Land of Revival. For over a thousand years, pilgrims have come to these mountains seeking renewal. The journey through Kumano was often understood as a symbolic passage through death and rebirth, emerging with a deeper connection to oneself, others, and the living world. That journey remains available today. Fluent in Japanese and English.

The greatest treasure was having time to reflect on myself in an environment far removed from daily life. Especially the meditation by the sea was an unforgettable experience.

— 40s, Business Owner

The workshop, which blended Zen teachings with modern dialogue techniques, helped me find answers within myself. I am grateful to have learned practical methods I can continue using even after returning home.

— Creative Director in his 30s

Through deep conversations among participants, I gained unexpected insights. The sense of security and trust fostered by the small group setting was truly wonderful.

— 50s, university professor

1. Sacred Authenticity — The Land of Revival

For over a thousand years, pilgrims journeyed to Kumano to shed an old self and step into a new life.

They entered the mountains as if entering the land of the dead — and returned renewed.

This is not a theme park or a tourist simulation. This is the real thing.

2. Sotononono — A Living Space

Our base is Sotononono (ソトノノノ) — a 100-year-old farmhouse in Kumano City, Mie Prefecture, restored through collaboration between local community members and global experts.

Exposed cedar beams. Tatami rooms that open into meditation halls. A food forest on the hillside.

The deep blue of Kumano-nada visible from the terrace.

Kumanonada(熊野灘)

Oonikura(大丹倉)

3. Contrast — Forest, Sea, and Sacred Water

Ancient pilgrimage routes through old-growth cedar forest. The profound stillness of Omajinja shrine. The heat of Yunouchi Onsen rising from the earth. The Kitayama River running clear below open-air baths.

These contrasting stages mirror your inner journey.

To inquire about a future retreat, please complete the IKIGAI Retreat application form. Select Kamakura or Kumano and tell us your preferred dates. We will review your application and contact you individually to confirm availability and next steps.

Submitting the form does not confirm a booking or make a payment. If the details are agreed, we will send you a PayPal payment link directly.

Contact: [email protected]

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