Day 1
Oct 31Sat
Warrior Introduction
- 12:00–13:00Registration
- 13:00–15:00Meditation
- 19:00–20:30Opening TalkPath of the Warrior
Mindful Retreat in Kaga Onsen 2026
Forest×Onsen×Meditation
Rest your mind
Oct 31Sat – Nov 3Tue 2026
Mori no Sumika, Kaga Onsen, Ishikawa, Japan
With David Nichtern, founder of Dharma Moon, New York. Fifty years of teaching.
- Taught in English
- Beginners and solo travelers welcome
- An international group
Fees and registration
Registration closesOct 15Thu
Experience
What you take home
A way to rest your mind
Meditation is a practical way to rest the mind. You learn the basics of posture and breath, and leave able to continue on your own.
Time in the onsen and the forest
The venue is a hot-spring inn set among four acres of forest and Japanese garden. Between sessions you soak in the onsen and walk in the woods.
Fifty years of teaching, in person
David Nichtern, founder of Dharma Moon in New York, teaches throughout the four days. You can ask him your questions directly.
An international group
Participants come from Japan and from overseas. David teaches in English, with Japanese interpretation in every session.
Teacher
David Nichtern
- Founder, Dharma Moon (New York)
- Co-founder, True Nature Meditation (Tokyo)
David Nichtern is the founder of Dharma Moon, a New York school for meditation and meditation teacher training. He has taught across North America and Europe for fifty years. His approach is practical, in plain language, and open to anyone regardless of religious background.
He began studying with Chögyam Trungpa, a pioneer in bringing meditation to the West, in the early 1970s, and carries that tradition forward in a contemporary voice. He has advised companies including Goldman Sachs on bringing meditation into their work, is the author of two books, and is a four-time Emmy-winning composer.
For First-Timers
If this is your first retreat
- New to meditation
- We start from the basics of posture and breath. You can sit on a floor cushion or on a chair.
- Coming alone
- Most participants come on their own. Outside the sessions, your time is your own.
- Language
- David teaches in English. Japanese interpretation is provided in every session.
- One day off work
- October 31 (Sat) to November 3 (Tue), which is a national holiday in Japan. If you work weekdays in Japan, you only need Monday, November 2 off.
- Direct from Tokyo
- The Hokuriku Shinkansen runs direct from Tokyo to Kagaonsen Station in about three hours. The inn is ten minutes from the station by taxi.
Theme 2026
This year's theme
The Birth of the Warrior
Meeting anxiety without being ruled by it
A warrior, in this sense, is not someone who fights. It is someone who can feel anxiety and fear without being ruled by them.
Over four days of meditation we touch Basic Goodness, the ground of warriorship, and cultivate Fearlessness.
Whether you are new to meditation or have practiced for years, you can take part.
Schedule
Four days
The days center on meditation and talks. Early mornings, the breaks between sessions and the evenings are free. On the last day we visit Natadera Temple and finish at Kagaonsen Station at 16:00.
Day 2
Nov 1Sun
Touching Basic Goodness
- 9:00–12:00Meditation & TalkBasic Goodness
- 13:30–16:30Meditation & TalkGentleness
- 19:00–20:30Meditation & TalkQ&A Discussion
Day 3
Nov 2Mon
Cultivating Fearlessness
- 9:00–12:00Meditation & TalkFearlessness
- 13:30–16:30Meditation & TalkWindhorse
- 19:00–20:30Meditation & TalkQ&A Discussion
Day 4
Nov 3Tue / Holiday
The Birth of the Warrior, then Natadera
- 8:30–11:30Meditation & TalkThe Birth of the Warrior
- 12:30–14:00Lunch at Meigetsuro
- 14:30–15:30Visit to Natadera Temple
- 16:00Finish at Kagaonsen Station
Venue
Mori no Sumika
A hot-spring resort held in the quiet of the forest
Mori no Sumika Resort & Spa sits on a low hill in Yamashiro Onsen, Kaga. Of its eight acres, about half is forest and Japanese garden.
There is a large indoor bath with windows onto the forest, and an open-air bath. Meals are Japanese course menus.
Excursion
Natadera Temple
Where nature, history and esoteric Buddhist culture meet
On the final day, after lunch at Meigetsuro, we visit Natadera Temple.
Founded in 717 by the monk Taichō as a place of devotion to Mount Hakusan, Natadera later became an important temple of the Shingon tradition of Mount Kōya. Mountain asceticism and the esoteric teachings transmitted by Kūkai meet here, in a setting that is rare even in Japan.
Fee
Retreat fee
Joining from overseasCharged in Japanese yen: JPY 338,000 (tax included)
USD2,250
Residents of JapanTax included
JPY288,000
What's included
- All sessions
- Three nights at Mori no Sumika
- Meals, from dinner on October 31 through lunch on November 3
- Excursion to Natadera Temple
Fees are for a shared room. Shared rooms are same-gender, and the number of people depends on the size of the room. Single rooms are available for an additional fee; availability is limited.
Travel to the venue and the optional Kyoto Special Tour are not included.
Payments are processed in Japanese yen, by credit card or bank transfer. The USD amount is shown for reference.
Registration
How to register
Registration closes Thursday, October 15
Register
Fill in the form with your name, contact details and room preference. If you live in Japan, please write "resident of Japan" in the inquiry field. After you submit it, we will send you the details and payment instructions.
Go to the registration formAsk a question
If you are still deciding, or simply have a question, email the True Nature Meditation office.
Email usFAQ
Questions people ask
What language is the retreat in?
David teaches in English. Japanese interpretation is provided in every session.
I have never meditated. Can I join?
Yes. We start from the basics of posture and breath, and you will learn the mindfulness meditation David teaches in New York from the ground up.
Is it all right to come alone?
Most participants come on their own. Much of the time is spent quietly, and there is no pressure to socialize.
Are rooms shared?
The standard fee is for a shared, same-gender room. The number of people depends on the size of the room. Single rooms are available for an additional fee, subject to availability.
How does payment work?
The fee is set in Japanese yen; the USD amount is shown for reference. You can pay by credit card or bank transfer, and details follow after you submit the registration form. International cards are accepted, and your card issuer handles the currency conversion.
What should I wear or bring?
There are no special requirements. Meditation is practiced on a floor cushion or a chair, so bring loose, comfortable clothes.
How do I get to the venue?
The nearest station is JR Kagaonsen Station on the Hokuriku Shinkansen, ten minutes from the inn by taxi. See "Getting there" at the bottom of this page for routes.
Post-Retreat
Kyoto Special Tour
After the retreat, those who wish travel on to Kyoto with David: the rock garden at Ryoanji, Kenninji, Sanjusangendo, Toji and more, over two nights and three days.
- DatesNovember 3 (Tue) – 5 (Thu), 2026
- Fee (tax included)Shared room JPY 150,000 / Single room JPY 200,000
For retreat participants. Approx. USD 970 / 1,300. - Registration closesThursday, October 15
Access
Getting there
The venue is Mori no Sumika, in the Kaga Onsen area of Ishikawa Prefecture. The nearest station is JR Kagaonsen Station, ten minutes from the inn by taxi.
- From Tokyo
- Tokyo Station → Hokuriku Shinkansen (direct) → Kagaonsen StationAbout 2 hours 45 minutes to 3 hours 15 minutes, depending on the train.
- From Osaka or Kyoto
- Osaka / Kyoto Station → Limited Express Thunderbird → change to the Hokuriku Shinkansen at Tsuruga → Kagaonsen StationA little over two hours from Osaka.
- By air
- Komatsu Airport (KMQ) → about 25–30 minutes by car → Mori no SumikaMost flights to Komatsu arrive from Tokyo Haneda. Please check schedules when you book.
Registration on the first day is from 12:00 to 13:00. The retreat finishes at Kagaonsen Station at 16:00 on the final day.
