Nachi-Katsuura NOMAD
Outdoor zazen with Zen monk
NACHI-KATSUURA · WAKAYAMA · JAPAN

Digital Nomad
Retreat 2026

December 7–11, 2026  ·  4 Nights / 5 Days

Apply for Early Access
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OVERVIEW

Work from the World’s
Most Sacred Forest

Nachikatsuura is the gateway to the UNESCO World Heritage Kumano Kodo pilgrimage trail — ancient paths once walked by emperors, now a refuge for those who need to think deeply. For five days in December 2026, we invite 20 digital nomads to live and work from this coastal town: joining early-morning zazen at Daitaiji Temple, hiking trails that have inspired meditation for 1,000 years, and collaborating in evening unconference sessions beside an open fire.

DATES
December 7 (Mon) – 11 (Fri), 2026
DURATION
4 nights / 5 days
CAPACITY
20 participants (limited)
VENUE
Kii-Katsuura · Daitaiji Temple
HOSTED BY
Nachikatsuura Town · Newson & Company
LANGUAGE
English / Japanese
Nomads working at Daitaiji TempleNachi Falls torii gate
5-DAY PROGRAM

Five Days to Reset,
Reconnect, and Create

Each day blends focused work time with immersive local experiences — from dawn bell-ringing at the temple to the tuna auction at sunrise. No packed agenda; room to think.

1DEC 7 · MON
Arrival & First Connections
14:00Arrive at Kii-Katsuura Station — check-in & meet the group
15:00Town orientation walk — onsen district & fishing port
16:00Check-in & free time · why kumano / Guesthouse Oto
18:00WELCOMEPre-festival dinner — introductions & toast
2DEC 8 · TUE
Ideas, People & Crossroads
09:00Free time & lunch (on your own)
13:30CONFERENCEMain conference — keynotes, sessions & unconference
18:30DINNERWelcome dinner at local restaurant
3DEC 9 · WED
Explore at Your Own Pace
06:00REQUIREDFish auction & port orientation tour
09:00Free day — explore at your own pace
↳ Nachi Falls & Grand Shrine, Kumano Kodo hike, Urashima Onsen, surfing, co-working…
4DEC 10 · THU
Space, Transition & the Temple
MorningFree time · Katsuura area
13:00Check-out & transfer to Daitaiji Temple
14:00Temple check-in & inner hall tour
15:00Free time — grounds walk & rest
17:00REQUIREDBell-ringing ceremony
18:30PARTYDinner & social — DJ night at Daitaiji
5DEC 11 · FRI
Reflect, Give Thanks & Move Forward
06:30REQUIREDMorning zazen — Zen meditation hall
07:30Breakfast at Daitaiji
09:00CLOSINGClosing meetup — reflections, sharing & next steps
11:30Group photo & farewell · check-out
WHAT’S INCLUDED

Six Things You Won’t
Find Anywhere Else

Built around what makes Nachi-Katsuura genuinely different — not amenities, but encounters.

Keynote session at Daitaiji Temple
01

Keynote & Session

Buddhist philosophy meets digital nomad life — inside a tatami hall

Surfing the Kumano coast
02

Surfing the Pacific

Optional morning surf on the Kumano coastline before your workday begins

Katsuura tuna fish market
03

Katsuura Fish Market

Live tuna auction and breakfast at Japan’s premier bluefin port

Cave hot spring Hotel Urashima
04

Cave Onsen at Urashima

Evening hot spring inside a sea cave — Pacific Ocean through the arch

Unconference group session
05

Temple Unconference

Self-organized sessions on tatami — nomads set the agenda

Welcome dinner with local food
06

Local Welcome Dinner

Hot pot and local sake with the community around a shared table

2025 RETREAT HIGHLIGHTS

See What Last Year
Looked Like

16 participants · 7 nationalities · Daitaiji Temple · November 2025

Welcome gathering at local venue
Aerial view of Katsuura
Nomad with giant tuna
Turtle ferry at sunset
Fresh tuna donburi
Community selfie with kei truck
Keynote session at temple hall
PRACTICAL INFORMATION

What You Need to Know

Included in the Retreat

  • AccommodationDaitaiji Temple stay & local minpaku (4 nights)
  • Day 2Main conference
  • Day 2Welcome dinner
  • Day 3Town orientation tour — fish auction, Katsuura port & town walk
  • Day 4Temple bell-ringing experience
  • Day 4Dinner & social (DJ party)
  • Day 5Morning zazen session
  • Day 5Breakfast
  • Day 5Closing meetup

Getting There & Access

  • By TrainKii-Katsuura Station — Osaka (Kuroshio Ltd., ~2.5 hrs)
  • By PlaneNankishirahama Airport (rental car, ~1 hr)
  • Meet-upKii-Katsuura Station, 11:40 on Dec 7
  • LanguageEnglish support throughout
  • Capacity20 participants maximum
  • ApplyEarly access registration open now

Dietary requirements (vegetarian, pescatarian, etc.) accommodated. Please note in your application.

Where You'll Stay

⛩
Daitaiji Temple
1,200-year-old Zen temple. Sleep in the monks' quarters, wake to morning bells and cedar forest air.
oterastay.com/daitaiji ↗
🐟
Maguro Building
A renovated tuna warehouse turned cozy minpaku, steps from the fishing port and the morning auction.
kumano-travel.com ↗
🏠
Guesthouse Oto
A social guesthouse built around a big communal table — where nomads stay up late swapping ideas.
oto.irodori.day ↗
PRICING

Investment

All-inclusive retreat fee. Limited to 20 participants.

Best Value
Early Bird
By October 31
¥98,000
Save ¥30,000
Regular
By November 30
¥108,000
Save ¥20,000
Standard
December onwards
¥128,000
Full price

Tax included · Payment details sent upon application · Cancellation policy provided on confirmation

EARLY ACCESS

Reserve Your Place

Capacity is limited to 20. Early access registrants will be contacted in priority order when applications open in spring 2026.

No payment required at this stage. We’ll contact you when applications officially open.