Tour Designers Inc.

Women’s Journeys

This journey is not about becoming someone else.
It is a time to remember the “self” you may have slowly misplaced in the busyness of everyday life, gently invited back by the winds of Okinawa.

Moments when the vermilion castle walls glow in the morning light, the forest where prayers echo softly, the warmth of local mothers laughing around the fire — each scene awakens a quiet place deep within you.

As you listen to the murmur of the river, inhale the scent of wild herbs, and hear the crackle of burning wood, your senses open, and something long dormant begins to stir.

Walking through the forest at night, you may find your breath aligning with the pulse of nature, wrapped in a feeling of being gently connected with the world around you.

And the texture of the grass you weave with your own hands will quietly remind you of the simple, steady act of “living.”

What you discover at the end of this journey is not a new version of yourself, but the self that has always been yours.
Okinawa’s nature and its people guide you toward a gentle, powerful path—a return to who you truly are.

The background
to this tour

Women’s Journeys was born from encounters with the women of Yambaru.
Women who support one another within their communities, live in harmony with nature, and honor themselves as they move through life. Witnessing their way of being gave me courage and invited me to reflect on what it truly means to “live as myself.”

Rooted in this personal experience, Women’s Journeys invites each participant to become the protagonist of her own story. Through encounters with nature, culture, and the women of the region, the journey encourages a gentle return to the self. What we provide is simply a stage and the moments that spark reflection. In the quiet of the forest or beneath the night sky, or in heartfelt conversations with local women, participants listen to their inner voice and reconnect with their own sensibilities. The small realizations that arise in those moments remain as a quiet source of strength, even after returning to everyday life.

Throughout the journey, participants and local women resonate with one another, creating a cycle of empathy and empowerment. These waves extend beyond the individual — reaching families, communities, and contributing, little by little, to a society where women can live in alignment with who they truly are.

Women’s Journeys is a travel experience that gently accompanies your life, a journey that helps you remember the light that guides you forward when you feel lost — a story of reconnection, renewal, and the deep bonds that arise when we return to ourselves.

Tour Digest

Women’s Journeys is a travel experience designed to help you quietly reconnect with yourself, while touching the land, culture, and everyday life of Okinawa.

The journey begins in Shuri, where the spirit of the Ryukyu Kingdom still lingers, and continues north to Hedo, a small community where prayer and nature coexist.
Through encounters with local storytellers, a yuta (spiritual guide), and anma—the mothers who sustain community life — you will experience the wisdom Okinawan women have inherited for generations: their way of praying, living, and nourishing themselves.

From sacred groves embraced by the forest, to night walks beneath the moonlit canopy, to meals enriched with wild herbs and seasonal plants — each moment gently reminds you of the deep connection between people and nature.

The journey concludes with crafting traditional tools using materials from Yambaru, inviting you to quietly remember what it means to live in harmony with the natural world.

It may seem like a trip outward, but in truth, it is a journey that softly brings you back to your inner self. Together with Okinawa’s nature and its people, Women’s Journeys becomes a “quiet story of renewal”—a return to who you truly are.

Example

●DAY1

Your journey begins by touching the history, culture, and daily life that shape Okinawa. In the morning, you’ll stroll through Shuri, where the memory of the Ryukyu Kingdom still lives. Passing through its vermilion gates and following the old stone paths, your perspective gently shifts — from “a place to visit” to “a place where people live.”

In the afternoon, a community sherpa (local host) guides you through the community where you will stay. Old pathways, wells, and stone walls reveal quiet stories of the people who have lived here for generations, bringing you closer to the spirit of the land.

As evening arrives, you join a local anmā (mother) to prepare Okinawan home-style dishes. Around the fire, laughter and conversation flow, along with lessons on longevity such as “eating in moderation” and enjoying awamori mindfully. The warmth at the table nurtures a gentle sense of connection with your fellow travelers.

●DAY2

Hedo, once known as the sacred site where ritual water was drawn for Ryukyu ceremonies, remains a place where prayer and nature coexist. Here, the wind, flowing water, and pulse of the earth resonate softly within you.

As you walk through sacred groves and utaki (places of prayer), you meet a yuta—a spiritual guide who has long supported her community’s rituals. Through her presence and words, you sense the depth of Okinawa’s spiritual culture.

Lunch is served at a café run by the current head of a family with generations of spiritual lineage. That very morning, the owner gathers wild herbs and flowers from the mountains, preparing them into gentle, nourishing dishes.
Each bite carries the vitality of the land.

In the afternoon, you visit Yambaru Distillery, born from local investment and community spirit. Here you learn about the owner’s journey of raising a family while running the distillery, and her hope to carry awamori forward—not only as a drink, but as a way of connecting people. Awamori here is not merely alcohol; it is a living story inherited by the community.

The day ends with a BBQ featuring Yambaru ingredients, where the aroma of charcoal and soft laughter blend into the night air.

●DAY3

Your morning begins with cooking rice in a traditional kamado hearth. Surrounded by the sound of crackling fire and rising steam, you rediscover the richness of time and care in preparing a meal.

In the afternoon, you visit BUNA SAUNA, nestled quietly in the forest. Soft steam warmed by local firewood and the scent of wild herbs envelop you, releasing tension and inviting the body to unwind. It is a moment to feel the gentle healing power of nature.

At night, you join a guide for a forest walk. Under the moonlight, the rustle of leaves and presence of nocturnal creatures heighten your senses. When you look up, the quiet sky stretches beyond the treetops, and the boundary between yourself and nature begins to dissolve.

●DAY4

Your final day begins with crafting traditional tools using local natural materials.
In old Okinawa, everyday items were handmade from the gifts of the land. Through weaving and tying with your own hands, you connect with the wisdom of living alongside nature—and the spirit of passing things on.

The landscapes, words, and human warmth encountered over four days settle quietly within you. Though the journey moves outward into the world, it gently leads you inward, toward yourself. The soft awakening in your heart casts a warm glow over the journey’s final moments.

Accommodation

We offer accommodation options tailored to your preferences.
Here are some examples of the unique properties we partner with:

◆Yambaru Hotel Nanmei Shinshitsu
Stay within a community that has endured for over 400 years, where you gently slip into the rhythms, traditions, and quiet beauty of a way of life passed down through generations.

◆BUNAGAYA
Created within a former school with 127 years of history, this unique stay is inspired by the theme of “fable.” It offers a space where the mind can freely wander between what is real and what is imagined—a place with room for stories, contemplation, and play.

【 Precautions 】

●If you have any allergies or dietary restrictions, please inform us at the time of booking.
●The itinerary may be subject to change depending on operational circumstances.
●Please note that the schedule may change or the tour may be canceled due to seasonal or weather conditions.
●If you feel unwell during the tour, please notify a staff member immediately.

＜Optional Tours＞

Yambaru Forest
Night Walk & Star Bathing

Tour Overview

As the sun sets and the forest falls into silence, the night of Yambaru quietly awakens.

Walking through the forest with a guide and a small light in hand, you begin to notice the voices of the night — the chorus of insects, the rustling of leaves, and the subtle presence of nocturnal creatures that can only be sensed in the dark.

When you pause and look up, a sky filled with stars unfolds above you. Surrounded by the darkness of the forest and the gentle light of the stars, you are invited into a moment of stillness — a quiet night of Star Bathing, where nature and self softly begin to merge.

Tour Story

As twilight fades and the forest grows quiet, the night of Yambaru slowly comes alive.

You meet your guide at the gathering point and receive a gentle introduction to the creatures of the night and safety guidelines for walking in the forest. With a small light in hand, you begin to walk slowly into the darkness.

Leaves cushion each step, the sounds of insects and wind drifting closer, then fading away. Even in the dark, the guide’s voice remains steady and calm, gently guiding your awareness to the trees before you and the subtle signs of life hidden within the forest.

This is a face of Yambaru unseen during the day — a forest shaped by silence and time.

At a clearing, the trees part and the sky opens above. Countless stars shimmer overhead. As lights are turned off and your eyes adjust to the darkness, the starry sky begins to surround you more vividly.

Bathed in starlight, with only the sounds of nature and your own breath remaining, time seems to loosen its grip.

In the quiet space between forest and sky, a sense of unity gently arises — as if nature and self momentarily overlap.

When it is time to return, a small light remains within — and the memory of Yambaru’s night continues to breathe softly inside you.

Itinerary

●Arrival at Yambaru Forest

Meet your guide at the designated gathering point. Before entering the forest, you will receive an introduction to the local ecosystem and important safety guidance, allowing your senses to gradually shift from the rhythm of daily life to the stillness of the night.

●Night Forest Walk

With a light in hand, you quietly walk along forest paths. The sounds of insects, wind moving through the trees, and the subtle presence of nocturnal life sharpen your senses. Listening to the guide’s gentle explanations, you experience the forest’s “night face” — a world entirely different from daytime.

●Star Bathing — Immersed Beneath the Night Sky

At an open area, the forest gives way to a sky full of stars. Free from city lights, the Yambaru night sky feels vast and intimate at once. Sitting or lying down, you spend time simply allowing the starlight to wash over you. In the quiet space between forest and sky, your breath slows, your body softens, and a deep sense of calm gently unfolds.