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Welcome to Yogoda Stay & Retreat. To help you plan your stay, we have compiled a guide to dining options and grocery shopping in the area. Our facility features a fully equipped shared kitchen for self-catering, and there are several local restaurants in the Hase area. Please use this guide to suit your schedule and preferences. 1. Self-Catering & Grocery Shopping Our shared kitchen is equipped with a complete set of cooking utensils, allowing you to bring your own ingredient

When international travelers plan a trekking trip to Japan, they usually flock to the congested trails of Mt. Fuji or the heavily commercialized paths of Kamikochi. But if you are looking for rugged 3,000-meter peaks, pristine alpine nature, and a true taste of rural Japan without the tourist crowds, the Southern Alps (Minami Alps) are Japan's best-kept secret. The peaceful valley of Hase in Ina City, Nagano Prefecture, serves as the ultimate basecamp for this mountain range.

At the newly unveiled "Yogoda Stay & Retreat," we are pleased to announce that we have officially launched an advance ticketing service for the Minami-Alps Mountain Bus running between Todai Park and Kitazawa Pass, specifically tailored for those venturing into the Southern Alps. When booking your accommodation through our official site, you can now purchase your bus tickets in advance as an optional feature (1,150 yen per one-way ticket). For those desiring a round-trip, ple

Thank you for visiting the official blog of Yogoda Stay & Retreat. While our previous posts have focused heavily on the genesis of Yogoda and our mystical pilgrimages through India, you might naturally be wondering, "Is this exclusively a sanctuary for practicing yoga?" While this space is indeed perfectly aligned for yoga and deep spiritual retreats, it was never designed to serve only a single purpose. This retreat is a sacred container envisioned, designed, and meticulousl

Today, I would like to share the profound origin behind our company name, "Yogoda," which I briefly touched upon at the end of my previous post. An Encounter at a Waterfront Bookstore in Fort Kochi On our Indian pilgrimage, the sacred coordinate where we first encountered Niraamaya’s yoga mats was an area called Fort Kochi in Kerala. Having once flourished as a vital trading hub, this coastal town exudes a highly unique atmosphere, where historic, European-style architecture

The Sacred Land of "Hase", Nagano First, allow me to share a little about the region we call home and the anchor of our vision: "Hase." Nestled within Ina City, Nagano Prefecture, Hase is a long, majestic valley area that stretches from north to south, beautifully embracing the expansive waters of Lake Miwa. Known as the gateway to the Southern Alps, it is also highly renowned for harboring the "Zero Magnetic Field of Bungui Pass"—a powerful, world-famous vortex of natural en

Having experienced our fateful encounter with Niraamaya, I would now like to unfold the narrative behind the actual birth and establishment of "Yogoda LLC." After leaving the Niraamaya headquarters, we visited Mumbai as the final destination of our Indian journey. The very last place we set foot in was the "Global Pagoda," where a colossal, radiant golden dome pierces the sky. Meditating in that sacred space, enveloped in a profound silence and immutable peace, our journey th

After spending over a month at the Sivananda Yoga Ashram in Madurai, South India, we found ourselves once again rocked by the rhythm of a seven-hour train journey as we made our way back to Kerala. An ashram is an environment where everything is purified and seamlessly aligned. Because of this, the moment we stepped outside and were thrown back into the chaotic roar of the Indian streets, returning to everyday reality came as a profound culture shock to our systems. And it wa

Rocked by the rhythm of the train for about seven hours, we finally arrived in Madurai—the land where our yoga ashram awaited. The journey from the station to the ashram takes about 30 minutes by car or auto-rickshaw (tuktuk). The moment we stepped out of the station, carrying our suitcases and backpacks, we were undeniably recognizable as tourists. Even before we could look around, a stream of tuktuk drivers began tailing us, eagerly offering their services. Madurai felt lik

When we finally touched down in the land of Kerala, the very first thing that caught us by surprise was the airport—it was far more grand and modern than we had ever imagined. By the time we stepped outside, it was already around midnight. We decided to head toward our pre-booked accommodation near the airport on foot. Guided only by Google Maps, my wife and I walked along a deserted road where the dry, bare red earth of the night was exposed. Before long, a guest house appea

This marks the very first post for the Yogoda blog. Hello everyone, I am Yogo, the representative of Yogoda. We are delighted to announce the launch of our website, coinciding with the official introduction of "Niraamaya"—a brand of organic cotton practice mats from Kerala, India—to the Japanese market. In this blog, I would like to gently unfold the story behind our journey: "Why did Yogoda choose to bring this extraordinary yoga mat to Japan?" I hope this space allows you t