Press Release ZEN & Mindfulness Japan Wellness Retreat
For Immediate Release
Japanese-Born Portland Wellness Practitioner Hosts Intimate Japan Retreat Focused on Burnout Recovery and Conscious Tourism
Registered Dietitian Miho Hatanaka of House Nine Wellness & Tea announces the Zen & Mindfulness Japan Wellness Retreat — a six-day small-group wellness immersion in Shuzenji, Izu, November 9–14, 2026 — emphasizing off-the-tourist-path cultural access and working exclusively with local Japanese partners.
PORTLAND, OREGON — April 2026
Lead by Miho Hatanaka, RDN - Founder and co owner of House Nine wellness & tea
House Nine Wellness & Tea, a Japanese-owned wellness studio on SE Hawthorne in Portland, Oregon, has announced the Zen & Mindfulness Japan Wellness Retreat — a six-day premiere immersion in Shuzenji, Izu, Japan, running November 9–14, 2026. The retreat is limited to 12 guests and is led by Miho Hatanaka, RDN, a Tokyo-born Registered Dietitian and co-founder of House Nine.
The retreat is based at a boutique ryokan on the Izu Peninsula — known as "Little Kyoto" with its 1,200-year history. Shuzenji is a famous onsen town, that have been flowing since 807 AD, a short train ride from Tokyo. This unique villa-style ryokan features a private in-room onsen hot springs. Daily Kaiseki (Japanese multi course meal) with fresh produce and seafood from Izu coastlines.
The itinerary includes zazen silent meditation with a Zen Buddhist monk, a full-day immersion at Shizuoka green tea farms with multi-generational farming families, shinrin-yoku (forest bathing), a Shinto shrine visit, a wasabi field experience with local farmers, and a short hike on the Mt. Fuji from Kitaguchi Sengen Shrine — the ancient starting point of the Fujiko pilgrimage to the summit of Mt. Fuji. All activities are conducted in partnership with local businesses and travel operators.
“I’ve personally connected and talked to the farmers, the monks, the ryokan managers, and the community members. They all love the area they live in and excited to share the unique culture of it’s area. Japan is extraordinary in its well-known places but it can be overcrowded nowadays. What I want to show people is that its most nourishing offerings are in the places most visitors never find." — Miho Hatanaka, RDN, Co-Founder, House Nine Wellness & Tea
The retreat is designed for busy professionals experiencing burnout, wellness fatigue, or realigning with ikigai ( life’s purpose) — a demographic Hatanaka has observed closely through seven years operating a Portland wellness studio. Japan tourism reached $62.3 billion in market value in 2025, with wellness and burnout recovery travel identified as the sector's fastest-growing segment. House Nine's approach deliberately positions against the industry trend of high-stimulation wellness programming, drawing instead on the Japanese philosophy of ma (meaningful pause), omotenashi (wholehearted hospitality), and the therapeutic power of environments designed for genuine rest.
"During my recent visit to Japan, I sat next to a woman from Asakusa on the bus. She told me that in Asakusa, Tokyo’s most visited sightseeing spot, her neighborhood's supermarkets have been replaced by souvenir shops. That conversation made me recommit to everything I am trying to do. We are not going to the famous places. We are going to the places that have space and welcome guests with open arms— which have something genuinely irreplaceable to share."
— Miho Hatanaka, RDN
House Nine Wellness & Tea was co-founded in 2019 by Miho Hatanaka, RDN, and Sarah Shah,LMT, a trauma-informed licensed massage therapist. The studio offers therapeutic bodywork, wellness workshops, and mindful eating programs from its SE Hawthorne Boulevard location in Portland. The studio takes its name from the 9th house in astrology, which governs higher learning, expansion, spirituality, and long-distance pilgrimage.
The Zen & Mindfulness Japan Wellness Retreat runs November 9–14, 2026 in Shuzenji, Izu, Japan. Pricing begins at $5,800 per person. Full details and booking are available at housenine.com/japan. Media inquiries may be directed to miho@housenine.com.
About House Nine Wellness & Tea
House Nine Wellness & Tea provides a space for self care. A wellness studio located on SE Hawthorne Boulevard in Portland, Oregon. Founded in 2019 by Miho Hatanaka, RDN, and Sarah Shah, LMT, House Nine offers therapeutic bodywork, wellness workshops, mindful eating programs, and workplace wellness programs. The studio's operates on values including intention, connection, openness, and empowerment. Visit housenine.com
Media Contact:
Miho Hatanaka, RDN
Ready to experience wabi-sabi for yourself?
Join us November 9–14, 2026 in Shuzenji, Izu, Japan. A five-day immersion in the philosophy and practice of Japanese mindfulness — led by a guide who grew up living it.
