The Art of Finding Your Zen

A Japanese-Inspired Creative & Mindfulness Retreat

Escape the everyday and immerse yourself in four days of creativity, tranquillity and Japanese-inspired indulgence. Discover the joy of creative expression, reconnect with yourself and find your own sense of Zen through mindful arts, nature, restorative rituals and exquisite Japanese hospitality.

A beautiful journey for your senses, your creativity and your soul.

Step away from the busy noise of everyday life and immerse yourself in a sanctuary of serenity, creativity, and renewal. This 4-day retreat invites you to slow down, reconnect with yourself, and experience the profound benefits of mindfulness through gentle creative practices, restorative experiences, and the timeless wisdom of Japan.

Located in Hepburn Springs, in the heart of Spa Country, Victoria, your retreat unfolds at Shizuka Japanese Ryokan & Wellness Retreat, a traditional Japanese accommodation offering elegance, peace, and an atmosphere of deep stillness. Here, mindfulness is cultivated not only through stillness, but also through creativity, cultural immersion, and a return to nature.

Guided by Creative Mindfulness teacher and Japanese craft & culture afficionado, Prue Simmons, you’ll be gently led through artistic practices designed to open the door to calm, clarity, and presence. Explore the wonders of Japanese shibori and eco-dyeing, mindfulness and creative play with watercolour painting, mindful mandalas and other guided artistic activities, with each practice becoming a pathway to deeper self-reflection and ease.

Alongside creative sessions, you’ll be introduced to the Japanese concepts of Yutori - finding peace, Ikigai – discovering joy and meaning in daily life – and Nagomi – finding balance, harmony, and fulfilment within yourself and your world. These teachings will support you in exploring what truly nourishes you, helping you to align with a more centred and purposeful way of living.

Between creative and reflective practices, you’ll be nurtured with exquisite food and restorative experiences to replenish body, mind, and spirit:

• Nourishing Japanese meals by our resident Japanese chef

• A spa massage to release tension and restore energetic balance

• A soothing Yoga Nidra & Sound Healing session to deepen relaxation

• A forest bathing (Shinrin-yoku) experience to connect you to nature

• Daily mindfulness and meditation practices for stillness and self-inquiry

• Gentle movement and breathwork to encourage balance and flow

• Unlimited access to the traditional private outdoor Japanese onsen, to soak in the healing magnesium-rich waters

Each delicious meal is a celebration of Japanese tradition and tastes, lovingly prepared by our resident Japanese chef. Dishes are both nourishing and exquisite, offering a culinary journey that supports your wellbeing and delights through the tastebuds throughout the retreat.

Every guest room is a traditional tatami room with its own private garden and deep Japanese bath, allowing you to continue your retreat experience in solitude, reflection, or quiet restoration.

This retreat is for anyone longing to step out of their everyday to de-stress, find inner peace, and embrace stillness - or those wishing to journey deeper into mindfulness, balance, and purpose. Whether you arrive seeking clarity, inspiration, or simply a pause from the busyness of life, you will leave feeling renewed, grounded, and uplifted.

No artistic experience is required. This is not about perfection, but about creative play, gentle experimentation, and self-discovery, guided with warmth and care. All that is needed is an open heart and willingness to step into stillness and self-inquiry.

This exclusive retreat offers a rare opportunity to rest, reflect, and realign in exquisite Japanese-inspired surroundings with a small, intimate group of like-minded souls.

Arrive. Exhale. Come home to yourself.

Your retreat begins with something precious: time to simply be.

Although we officially gather at 6pm, you are warmly encouraged to arrive from 2pm, giving yourself an unhurried afternoon to settle into your Japanese sanctuary and let the journey fall away.

Sink into a warm bath scented with yuzu salts. Sip Japanese tea overlooking your private garden. Open your journal, wander the local walking trails, or explore the beautiful Spa Country surrounding Hepburn Springs and Daylesford. Follow whatever feels most nourishing...even if that means doing very little at all.

This afternoon is yours to soften the pace, quiet the outside world and begin reconnecting with yourself. With nothing to organise and nowhere you need to rush, you can make room for the creativity and discovery ahead.

In the evening, we come together over a light Japanese meal, meet our fellow retreat guests and gently set our intentions for the coming days.

Our first Kokoro Conversations session introduces Yutori: the invitation to create spaciousness in our lives, welcome moments of pause and give ourselves room to breathe.

You have arrived. You can begin to let go.

Soften your expectations. Awaken your creative spirit.

Begin the morning with gentle movement, meditation and flow writing, providing a quiet opportunity to listen inwardly and greet the day with presence.

After a delicious cooked Japanese breakfast, you will be guided through gentle stretching and a deeply restful Yoga Nidra practice, accompanied by the resonant sounds of Tibetan singing bowls, crystal bowls and other soothing instruments. Allow yourself to be supported as you settle into stillness and give your body time to rest.

At lunch, enjoy a beautifully prepared Japanese meal while discovering traditional approaches to cooking and eating for nourishment and wellbeing.

The afternoon invites you into the earthy beauty of Bengala, a Japanese eco-dye. Through traditional shibori folding, binding and dyeing techniques, you will explore colour, pattern and the pleasure of letting the unexpected unfold.

Each unwrapped piece offers a little moment of wonder. Here, you are free to experiment, follow your curiosity and loosen your attachment to how things “should” look. Creativity becomes an opportunity to practise letting go.

Freshly baked afternoon treats provide a delicious pause before you return to your ecodyeing explorations.

As evening arrives, gather for a sumptuous Omakase Japanese banquet. This exquisite multi-course experience celebrates seasonal produce and the chef’s artistry, inviting you to savour each dish slowly.

Our evening Kokoro Conversations explores Nagomi: finding harmony, balance and a sense of peace within the richness and complexity of everyday life.

Then the evening is yours. Continue creating in the lounge, enjoy a quiet conversation, soak beneath the sky in the private outdoor Japanese onsen, or retreat to your room for a luxurious bath and an early night.

With each gentle pause, a little more space opens within.

Follow your curiosity. Listen inwardly. Let yourself be nourished.

Today invites you to sink more deeply into the retreat experience. To find your creative flow, explore your inner world and enjoy the pleasure of being cared for.

Gentle movement, breathwork and guided meditation welcome you into the morning, followed by a delicious cooked Japanese breakfast.

With watercolour as your companion, the morning unfolds through guided creative activities that encourage self-expression and self-inquiry. Watch colour move across the page, notice what draws your attention and allow your responses to guide you. You need no artistic experience—just a willingness to explore.

After a nourishing chef-prepared lunch, continue your watercolour discoveries and other mindful creative practices. A guided Shinrin-Yoku experience in the garden invites you to slow down and awaken your senses: noticing the texture of leaves, the movement of light and the quiet details so easily missed in a busy day.

Spa treatments are also scheduled throughout the day, offering time to surrender to restorative care. Freshly baked afternoon tea adds another moment of comfort and pleasure.

As the day draws to a close, we gather for another exceptional Omakase Japanese banquet, sharing the discoveries of the day over beautifully prepared seasonal dishes.

Our final Kokoro Conversations explores Ikigai: discovering what brings meaning, joy and a sense of purpose to your life, including the small, everyday things that make life feel worth living.

Spend the rest of the evening as you wish: creating, connecting, soaking in the private outdoor onsen or enjoying the quiet of your room.

There is room here to hear yourself more clearly.

Gather what matters. Carry the calm with you.

Our final morning begins gently, with movement, meditation and flow writing. Take time to notice what has shifted, what you have discovered and what you would like to carry home.

After a delicious traditional Japanese breakfast, enjoy a final morning of slow, nourishing creativity. These mindful practices offer space to gather your reflections and consider how moments of presence, play and self-care might find a place in your everyday life.

We then come together for a closing circle, honouring our shared experience and the individual discoveries made along the way.

A final Japanese lunch gives us time to savour both the food and the company before the retreat concludes after lunch.

As you emerge from this cocoon of creativity and serenity, you will leave feeling replenished, more connected to yourself and inspired to make space for what nourishes you.

You may find yourself wishing you could stay a little longer!