healing through Thermal Springs and Nature
WELLNESS RETREATS FOR WOMEN CANCER SURVIVORS
Who We Are
Aletis Travel is a travel agency registered in the state of Florida that specializes in wellness retreats for post-treatment cancer survivors. Our approach to supporting women cancer survivors on their ongoing healing journey is unique in three pathways.
First, we integrate evidence-based individual and group counseling into every retreat. Medical research has consistently shown that psychological concerns are among the most common unmet needs of post-treatment cancer survivors. By combining counseling with yoga, forest bathing (Shinrin-yoku), and mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) meditation, we aim to provide our guests with meaningful, long-lasting emotional and psychological benefits.
Second, our wellness retreats are held in Hitoyoshi and its surrounding areas in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan. Hitoyoshi is renowned for its spiritual significance, natural beauty, and peaceful seclusion. It has long been appreciated by members of the Japanese Imperial Family and celebrated by prominent writers. The renowned novelist Ryotaro Shiba described Hitoyoshi as “Japan’s most prosperous hidden village,” making it an ideal setting for reflection, restoration, and healing. Our 7-day, 14-day, and 21-day retreat programs are thoughtfully designed to embrace this philosophy of slow-paced, holistic healing.
Third, since the inception of this initiative, we have received invaluable support from the local tourism and Okami Club in Hitoyoshi. The Okami Club is an association of women who manage and preserve the traditions of the region’s historic Japanese inns (ryokan). They embody the essence of Japanese hospitality (omotenashi). During the retreat, guests will have the opportunity to spend private time with these hosts, experiencing authentic Japanese traditions that nurture both physical well-being and inner peace.
Hitoyoshi’s Okami Club is a group of business women inherited the Japanese Inn from their preceding generations far back as early as the nineteen century. These women embody the sophistication and grace.
Their quite presence demonstrates influence through presence, humility, and service rather than overt authority.
Ms. Satomi Horio
At Aletis Travel, each guest is invited to share a private moment with an Okami, the respected female proprietor and hostess of a traditional Japanese inn. More than a caretaker, the Okami embodies the essence of Japanese hospitality, quiet strength, and compassionate leadership. In a society historically shaped by patriarchal traditions, the Okami has long held a unique and honored role as a guide, protector, and keeper of cultural wisdom.
These personal exchanges provide a rare opportunity to experience Japanese culture beyond sightseeing or observation. They invite a genuine meeting of hearts and perspectives, where cultural understanding flows in both directions. In this shared space of listening and reflection, guests may discover new insights into their own healing journey while gaining a deeper appreciation for the wisdom traditions that continue to shape life in rural Japan.
Courtesy of the Hitoyoshi-Kuma Tourism and Regional Development Council