THE PASONA natureverse retreat opened on Awaji Island in Hyogo Prefecture on June 23, 2026, overlooking Osaka Bay and designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Shigeru Ban, known for his use of natural and recycled materials. Unlike most wellness hotels built around short weekend resets, the retreat is purpose-built for long-stay wellness, opening its first phase of 11 rooms and centering its philosophy on Mibyo — the Japanese concept that wellness isn't merely the absence of illness but an ongoing state continuously shaped by lifestyle and state of mind. Stays require a minimum of three nights, though the retreat's core proposition is aimed at guests seeking genuinely extended, preventive-care immersion.
Wellness programming is built around three pillars — nutrition, exercise and sleep — supported by a clinic-backed personal program developed in collaboration with Kobe University Hospital, giving guests access to on-site medical support and monitoring throughout their stay. Guests can access thalassotherapy, personalized physical conditioning, yoga and zen meditation, including aerial Zen sessions, with movement classes designed to ease muscle tension alongside more contemplative practices. Sleep receives particular emphasis: guest rooms feature sensor-integrated beds co-developed with NITORI and MinebeaMitsumi, built on "Future Sleep" technology first showcased at Expo 2025 Osaka, which automatically adjusts sleep posture by detecting body movement through the night. All rooms also include private onsen baths fed by mineral-rich hot spring water drawn directly from the ground below.
Dining plays a central role in the wellness concept, with Michelin-starred chefs preparing wellness gastronomy built on seasonal, locally sourced Awaji Island ingredients, tying the retreat's culinary offering directly to the island's culinary tradition. Beyond treatments and cuisine, the retreat layers in rich cultural programming — performances by Pasona Group's own Music Island Project, PASONA Awaji World Ballet, PASONA Awaji Opera Company, and the taiko drum ensemble Kotan — alongside farming activities that connect guests hands-on with the island's natural environment. Comprehensive hospitality services, including housekeeping and chauffeur assistance, are built in to support comfortable, extended stays, reinforcing the retreat's positioning as a fuller, technology-integrated approach to long-term health and longevity rather than a brief indulgent getaway.