This page comprises the Information Pack documents for the
retreat|recreate JAPAN GARDENS & BOTANICAL CRAFTS TOUR 26 November – 10 December 2026
APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN: TWO spots left
We are delighted to present this 14 night/15-day autumnal garden tour of Japan
Come, explore this endlessly fascinating country with us through the lens of its botanic delights. Experience various types of Japanese gardens – dry landscapes, moss gardens, pond & stroll gardens, Zen rock gardens, water & mirror gardens and bamboo groves, plus lush landscapes and serene vistas.
Visit spectacular botanical sites including two of the famous ‘Three Great Gardens of Japan’, Zen temples set in stunning garden landscapes, a UNESCO World Heritage-listed village of thatched roof ‘Gassho-zukuri’ farmhouses, world famous museums, and stunning cultural sites in Tokyo, Shogawa, Kanazawa and Kyoto.
Participate in four hands-on botanical experiences including a bonsai workshop, an ikebana class, a bamboo carving demonstration and a botanical dyeing workshop.
Enjoy a traditional tea ceremony, visit a washi papermaking village, spend an incredible night in a Buddhist temple and witness the morning fire and drumming rituals, be inspired by superb garden design and craftsmanship, and experience traditional Japanese culture and hospitality, all in the company of a small group of likeminded garden & culture enthusiasts. It promises to be the trip of a lifetime!
This Information Pack comprises three documents (at the bottom of the page):
- Itinerary & Price
- Trip Notes
- Application Form & Booking Conditions
1. Please read all documents thoroughly to determine if the tour is right for you, noting the insurance, health, fitness and mobility requirements.
2. To apply for a place on the tour, please download and complete the Application Form and Fitness to Travel declaration and submit them by email to retreatrecreate@gmail.com Please write JAPAN GARDEN in the subject header of your email.
Important Notes:
- a deposit of AUD$1500 will be required to secure your booking. Instructions for payment will be provided to successful applicants;
- the tour price and inclusions can be found on the last page of the Itinerary;
- If AUD (Australian dollar) is not your local currency you may wish to use XE online currency converter for a guide to an approximate equivalent price, however all payments must be made in AUD;
- this tour is gender inclusive;
- if we don’t reach our minimum group size (9) the tour will not proceed and your deposit will be refunded, or credited to a future tour;
- places are not allocated on a first-come-first-serve basis as we assess applicants’ fitness, and also need to juggle applications against available single/twin rooms, however our Japan tours can sell quickly so we recommend you don’t delay;
- if we receive more applications than there are places, unsuccessful applicants may request to be added to the waiting list;
- the itinerary provided doesn’t include names of hotels, etc. A more detailed itinerary will be provided to successful applicants closer to departure
- travellers need to have good fitness and mobility to participate in this tour. See the Trip Notes and Application Form for more details.
We’re very excited about our botanical Japan tour and hope you are too! We have made a couple of tweaks to our already fabulous itinerary and this year’s tour promises to be better than ever.
We’ve tried to anticipate all questions by providing information on costs, conditions, workshops and activities etc, in the documents below but if you have any further queries, please don’t hesitate to contact us. (Note, read this web page and the document contents first – most answers are there!)
NB: some people have reported difficulty accessing the documents below. If you can’t download them please let us know and we’ll email you a copy.
retreat | recreate 