Hakone Retreat före & villa 1/f, a forest resort hotel nestled in the rich natural surroundings of Sengokuhara in Hakone, Kanagawa Prefecture, is set to host a Crystal Bowl Sound Retreat on Tanabata night. Drawing on a collaboration with crystal bowl artist Junko, the event is part of the hotel's ongoing Creator Ambassador Program and will take place on July 7 (Tuesday, Tanabata) and 8 (Wednesday), 2026.
What Is a Crystal Bowl?
A crystal bowl is an instrument made primarily from quartz, a naturally derived material. Although it only emerged in the United States in the 1980s, its clear and distinctive tone has attracted growing attention in the fields of relaxation and wellness. Players use a mallet — a dedicated tool — to strike or gently rub the rim of the bowl, producing sound. Each bowl carries a different pitch, and when multiple bowls are played together, their tones overlap to create a soft, expansive resonance that is one of the instrument's most celebrated qualities.
Quartz is known for producing stable vibrations, and its sound is said to transmit comfortably to both the body and mind. Crystal bowls also produce overtones and what is known as "1/f fluctuation" — a rhythm found widely in the natural world, including in the sound of wind, waves, streams, campfires, and candlelight. This blend of regularity and irregularity is recognized as one of the elements that give people a sense of calm. Many who experience crystal bowl music find that even a short session quiets the mind, describing it less as "listening to sound" and more as "receiving sound with the whole body."
Not Listening to Sound — Being Inside It
On Tanabata night, the sound of crystal bowls will drift quietly through the forest of Sengokuhara in Hakone. Born from quartz rather than metal or wood, the tone of a crystal bowl is experienced less through the ears and more through the entire body.
The vibration of the sound spreads in resonance with the breath and heartbeat, guiding participants into a time of releasing thought and opening the senses. Layered with the stillness of the forest, the experience naturally carries participants into a deeper state of relaxation — a defining feature of this retreat.
Rather than "making a wish" on Tanabata, the program invites participants to "notice what lies within." Stepping away from daily life and entrusting themselves to sound and nature, each guest finds a quiet space to face their own inner feelings.
The Forest, the Sound, and the People — A Moment of Resonance
Crystal bowl artist Junko has long delivered the sound of crystal bowls through relaxation classes and events, framing it as "everyday self-maintenance." Drawing on her own experience of pushing herself too hard, she has continued to share the importance of rest time for oneself, centering on the feeling of mind and body aligning through immersion in sound.
The environment of the Hakone forest resonates deeply with the natural fluctuations and overtones inherent in the crystal bowl. When nature, sound, and the human presence share one space and influence each other, a sense of ease emerges — and that unity is the experience this program sets out to express.
Program Details
- Dates: July 7 (Tuesday, Tanabata) and July 8 (Wednesday), 2026
- Times: July 7: 4:00 PM, 7:00 PM, 9:00 PM / July 8: 7:00 AM
- Details: Crystal bowl performances will be held in forest and indoor spaces throughout the hotel. Guests are welcome to feel the resonance of the sound at their own pace, wherever they find themselves during their stay.
- Participation: Hotel guests only
Creator Ambassador — Crystal Bowl Artist Junko
Instagram: @n.relax_junko.s
Junko first encountered the crystal bowl in 2014 and began studying playing technique in earnest in 2016. Now based in Yokohama, she gives performances through relaxation classes and various events. Having once struggled with chronic fatigue and physical discomfort herself, her encounter with the crystal bowl — and the sensation in her body she felt the day after a session — gave her a tangible sense of the potential impact sound can have on body and mind. That experience deepened her commitment to the practice, leading her to where she is today. Through the crystal bowl's sound, said to carry the same "1/f fluctuation" found in nature, Junko works to help people reset the breathing and bodily rhythms that tend to fall out of balance in a busy daily life, delivering what she calls "time to remember your original senses." She continues performing with the hope that more people will come to know and use the crystal bowl as part of their everyday maintenance for a healthy mind and body.
About the Creator Ambassador Program
Working with creators across music, art, craft, workshops, film, and photography, the Creator Ambassador Program aims to generate new value through stays and experiences. For the first cohort of 2026, 23 collaborative creators have been selected, and the program has launched as each brings their own perspective and worldview to expressing the unique atmosphere and sense of time that the hotel offers. The program values both the freedom of the creator's vision and the creation of spaces where experiences and connections can open up to hotel guests. The work of linking the appeal of Hakone as a place with the possibilities of creativity is set to continue.
