WELLNESS Modern Escape Japan
THE GREAT ESCAPE
We talk with Modern Escape Japan and hear about their wellness retreats Photos: Alfie Goodrich & MEJ Wellness tourism is coming into sharp focus as an area of huge potential growth for Japan. And not all of that growth is coming from inbound tourism. Wellness in the workplace is increasingly important for Japanese businesses, and a happy workforce is one that can escape from job-related stress. With retreats in the tranquil countryside of Japan, Modern Escape Japan (MEJ) offers opportunities to get away from it all. We spoke to Menya Hinga, co-founder; Joey Wu, co-founder and yoga instructor; and Hidetaka Mizohata, participant, to find out more about what is making MEJ the go-to choice for a break from the hustle and bustle. Housing Japan (HJ): Menya, tell us about MEJ. Menya Hinga, Founder (MH): Modern Escape Japan is the brainchild of all the founding members. For me, the idea sprung to life when we did our first SOGO Fitness retreat to Okinawa back in 2016. SOGO is a not-for-profit fitness group,
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predominantly for foreigners in Tokyo, which I set up some time back. It was after that trip that I realised there was an opportunity to offer similar retreats all over Japan, which is full of tall mountains, beautiful beaches, dense forests and breathtaking Japanese landscapes just waiting to be explored. HJ: What would you say defines a Modern Escape customer? MH: MEJ participants are friendly, outgoing and span all ages. They join us to get out of the city, connect with nature, re-energise and connect with themselves and others. Our participants are generally curious about how their health can be improved and sustained through a pattern of regular exercise and healthy food. That’s exactly what we share at our retreats. HJ: Is Modern Escape Japan solely based around out-of-Tokyo retreats? Or do you have events in the city? MH: As the name suggests, our retreats occur outside urban environments. We believe in the restorative power of nature so,
