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After visiting Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto, Lee's home was a welcome respite from the crowds. We stayed one night, but we wish we stayed longer. We rented a car and took the no-tolls route along the beautiful river through the lush terrain. A wild monkey even crossed our path at one point!
Kuminka Farmstay is part of Ryunohara, a unique farm experience. This mountain retreat offers many things to love:
The home has an old-world traditional vibe, but the interior design feels magazine-worthy, and the amenities are all modern. The beds are very comfortable, and the kitchen is fully stocked.
Nature in Japan is truly worth experiencing, as the foliage and lushness are unique. This is a great area to explore spiritual trails and waterfalls. We also went to the nearby Ryujin Onsen, one of the top three onsens for enhancing beauty. The water is known to be silky and high-quality, which smooths the skin.
Lee and his chef, Jeremiah, are not just hosts, but exceptional hosts. Their warm hospitality makes you feel genuinely welcome. Lee and Jeremiah try to live off the land as much as possible. The vegetables are regional or home-grown. They grow their rice (you'll be sad you can't have it again once you leave) and make tea from plants grown in the area. Lee knows about growing rice, local flora and fauna, and tea and is willing to impart his knowledge to those interested. He also has many animals on the property, including his sweet dog Mori, pet chickens, and goats, with which you can interact.
I recommend ordering the food served at the home as it's quite a pleasant experience. The dining room is private and feels very special, and the meals are delicious and well-presented. We had pork sukiyaki for dinner and an Asian breakfast. To celebrate my daughter's upcoming birthday, we commissioned Jeremiah to make a special dessert, and he produced a lovely banana cake with a crisp top, salted caramel, and ice cream. We are a family of foodies...I've had several recipes published in cookbooks, competed, and won several cooking contests; my younger daughter is a certified tea sommelier, and my older daughter loves exploring buzz-worthy restaurants worldwide. We appreciated the soul-satisfying food.
At some point, I hope Lee will publish a book about his journey from Singapore to attending college in Japan, building the hatogo, and creating a visionary farm compound deep in the hills of the beautiful Wakayama region. He is building an additional guest house and runs a cafe, retreats, and a volunteer program where people worldwide have come to farm rice, make tea, build with natural materials, and live in rural Japan.
Take part in Lee's journey and make it part of yours. You will cherish...
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If I can describe my experience at the retreat with one word, it would be soul nourishing. The trip turned out to be one of the best decisions I made all year, and one of those trips that would be baked into my core memory for a long time.
The Retreat While the days were packed, everything was so meticulously curated. You could tell that XJ and his team really went to great lengths to ensure an enjoyable and comfortable experience for the guests.
Some of my personal highlights: hiking through waterfalls (XJ is extremely knowledgeable and took care to make many pitstops along the way to explain and point out the natural flora and fauna around) When making our way to one of sites on the itinerary, we drove by a tree in the middle of the road. XJ stopped the car and shared that one of the famous lullabies in Japan was inspired by this tree. So we sat there in the middle of the empty road, admiring the tree as he played the music in the car and explained the story behind this tree. I share this not to be overly sentimental but I think that was a prime example of how XJ goes to great lengths to add a lot of lovely and subtle details in the program. Even down to the song curation at the guesthouse as well as the driving playlist in the car! Dining at one of the resident's house and interacting with the local community and local older folks who are so keen to meet new people and learn new cultures. It was one of the most soul-nourishing dinners I've had. The food served were incredible - my fellow retreat mate and I were fed very well throughout the program, thanks to chef Jeremiah! There were days where we would head out to eat and they were all really amazing as well! I also had a great time meeting XJ and fellow like-minded Singaporeans-turned-friends as we all congregate at XJ's beautiful little guesthouse in the small village of Ryujinmura. Some nights were spent chatting away and it was really lovely to have made new friends this way.
XJ runs a tight ship with the program - driving, translating, tour guiding, sharing knowledge, coordinating logistics mostly by himself. He is very hardworking and sincere, trying his best to accommodate to requests and also going the extra mile to ensure that his guests were well taken care of.
The Accomodation The accommodation itself was very comfortable and clean, and the place has been done up really beautifully. While there were no convenience stores or typical amenities nearby, everything was provided for and I find myself hardly missing or needing anything while I was staying there. I came to the retreat wanting to really just slow down and take a break and the guesthouse was a perfect space for it. Highly recommend to book a stay at the guesthouse even if you're not looking to join the retreat.
I enjoyed myself so much I stayed on for a couple more days as a volunteer. No better therapy than this, if you are looking for a soul-nourishing break in nature, look no further.
Will definitely hope to return and join the retreat...
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A summer retreat to be remembered, deep in the lush, green forests and mountains of southern Wakayama. Having fallen for the charms of Ryunohara in the still, sleepy winter via Airbnb, I was keen to experience it differently in the summer. My friends and I booked up all 4 spots of Retreat no.8 and entrusted ourselves into the good hands of XJ and Jeremiah for 6D5N. The itinerary was thoughtfully curated to maximize what summer has to offer in Ryujin and the greater Tanabe area.
Nature: Short hike for waterfall meditation, paddle boarding & swimming in the Hidakagawa, trail up Gomadansan to the highest peak; day trip out to the popular seaside town of Shirahama to explore the Senjojiki rocky cliffs carved by water and wind since time past. Despite blazing hot temperatures in the day, early mornings and nights were cool. On clear nights, we sat outside drinking beer and witnessed a galaxy of stars, constellations, and even shooting stars.
Local life: Small town vibes - meals at local diners; bumping into the youth baseball team and discussing the sumo competition showing on TV while eating tonkatsu; catching a taiko drum performance at a local festival; an invigorating soak in the crystal clear, silky soft, odorless water native to Ryujinmura onsens; a spontaneous stop at the Dragon Museum and meeting locals who were there to celebrate its anniversary; a natural dyeing workshop to make and bring home our own creations; lively chatter about our names and rice farming with the lovely Naochan!
Food: A culinary experience designed to showcase local produce, served with heart and soul, non-commercialized. We were nourished and pampered by Ryunohara's private chef, Jeremiah's inspired creations, the vegetarian eatery with a view, the local tonkatsu diner, and Ryujin soba farmed just right outside the restaurant. Also a visit to local microbreweries (Voyager, my fave ever), nothing like ice cold beer on a summer's day!
Lodging: The lovingly restored 120 yr old Hatago is equipped with everything a modern traveller needs and more (fluffy beds, aircon, state of art toilet and bath, full kitchen). The main house where we had our meals and could sit and relax, ensconced us in time centuries ago. Through XJ's detailed explanations, we gained an appreciation of the ancient wisdom of old Japanese homes and beliefs.
What's truly distinctive about this retreat experience is the story - the mission and passion which XJ, through Ryunohara, has been weaving into the local fabric shines through - preserving history and revitalizing traditions (organic rice farming, architecture, aesthetics, culture), sustainable eco living, treating the surrounding flora and fauna with respect and care, and fostering community.
And of course the companionship and soundtrack of many farm/pet animals, especially Shiro-chan the silkie chick peeping and chirping around us...
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