Alena Eckelmann

@alena.eckelmann

Founder of Kii Monogatari, my story and the story of the Kii Peninsula of Japan. Originally from East Germany, I came to Tokyo, via Berlin and London, in 2005. In summer 2011 I moved by choice to remote Kumano in the south of the Kii Peninsula where I live, work and play now, and explore every day.

The whole of the Kii Peninsula is a Healing Hub for me with its abundance of forest, mountains, rivers, waterfalls, the ocean, friendly rural communities and sacred places. This is where nature meets spirituality, and tradition meets sustainability, the new paradigm for travel post-pandemic.

My deep interest is in Japanese nature & spirituality. I love being in nature, in the forest and in the mountains, and I love spending time at temples and shrines. I am building my life and my work around these two passions.

I am a Licensed Forest Therapy (Shinrin Therapy) Guide and a Licensed Kumano Kodo and Koyasan Guide. I am also a Licensed Retreat Facilitator and I am planning retreats on the Kii Peninsula.

Last but not least, I have been the Japan Travel Partner for Wakayama and Yamagata since the conception of the platform in 2011! These two prefectures are close to my heart because they are the centers of Shugendo, a spiritual tradition of mountain ascetism. I am a Shugendo Practitioner for over ten years now and received Tokudo in 2016 at a Shugendo temple on Yoshinoyama.

Please kindly connect via my Facebook Page Kii Monogatari.

Take care, keep well, stay safe!

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Accommodation

Temple Camp in Kumano

Temple Camp or Temple Hotel, staying at Daitai-ji temple in Kumano, Wakayama, you can enjoy sauna and Zen near the famous Nachi..

Wakayama 20 6

Accommodation

Ginzan Onsen in Winter

Taisho era-style Ginzan Onsen in Yamagata Prefecture let's you travel back in time

Yamagata 14 10

Culture

Bladesmiths of Sakai

There are 75 families members of the Sakai blade-making guild. Their workshops are located in the old part of Sakai, a stretch of..

Osaka 3 2

Activities

Trekking on Mount Zao

Zao Mountain - Trekking across a volcanic landscape in summer and skiing in winter, plus winding down in hotspring waters.

Yamagata 3

Accommodation

Temple Camp in Kumano

Temple Camp or Temple Hotel, staying at Daitai-ji temple in Kumano, Wakayama, you can enjoy sauna and Zen near the famous Nachi..

Wakayama 20 6

Activities

One Day in Nachi-Katsuura

In Kii-Katsuura Town in the south of the Kii-Peninsula there is a tuna auction rivaling Tsukiji and a bay cruise rivaling Matsushima...

Wakayama 5 3

Accommodation

Temple & Adventure at Daitai-ji

You can have outdoor adventures at Daitai-ji temple in Kumano, near the Nachi Falls. Combine camping at the temple with Zen meditation...

Wakayama 3 2

Food

Yume – The Queen of Kaki

Yume, literally "dream", is also the brand name given to a high-quality persimmon produced in the Kudoyama area in Wakayama Prefecture...

Wakayama 7 2

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Alena's Japan

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Culture

Wajima Grand Festival [Cancelled]

Aug 22nd - Aug 25th

The Wajima Grand Festivals are the highlight of late summer in the Wajima area of the Noto Peninsula. The festive activities center..

Ishikawa 1 1 Free

Beauty & Spa

Wakura Onsen Resort

Alena Eckelmann

Wakura hot spring is one of Japan’s historical hot springs with a history of 1,200 years. It is located right by the ocean on ..

Ishikawa 1

Culture

Niwaka Lantern Festival

Late Aug

You might have heard of Kiriko in Wajima but do you know Niwaka? A procession of colorfully painted floats mark the end of sum..

Ishikawa 1 1

Activities

Totsukawa, Nara

Celine Villeneuve

Enjoy the regenerative hot springs and mystical forests of Totsukawa.

Nara 2 1

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