Pacific perspectives
July 14, 2026 - One ocean. Two worlds, where rituals and traditions flourish. Become part of the story with meke dancing and lovo feasts in Fiji. Discover the Yin Way in Kyoto with ikebana and kintsugi sessions.
Live the Bula spirit at Cultural Day in Fiji
Every Thursday at Six Senses Fiji we celebrate Cultural Day. Fijians love to gather together to share good times, and this is your chance to join in with the celebrations and traditions that thrive across the archipelago. Not only have they shaped island life for generations, it’s also a joyful experience to participate in.
It all starts with the humble coconut, known in Fiji as the “Tree of Life.” At the coconut show, you’ll learn how every part of the fruit and palm has a purpose. You can taste it in our homemade ice-cream, turn it into scrubs in Alchemy Bar, and discover how it has long supported Fijian communities as a material for clothing and shelters, and even in traditional medicine.
You can also learn to tie a sulu, the traditional wrap-around garment worn throughout Fiji. Guided by our hosts, you’ll discover the different ways this versatile piece of cloth is put on and what it represents in everyday life.
As the sun slips over the horizon, join one of Fiji’s most cherished culinary traditions: preparing a lovo feast. Coconut leaves are braided around cuts of meat before they’re carefully placed among heated stones in an earth oven. As the flavors simmer underground, your time aboveground is spent connecting with your fellow travelers and your hosts, who still have one more surprise in store.
When the lovo is unearthed three hours later, everyone gathers to feast together, and the evening comes alive with the meke. Expect to be entertained by our hosts who transform into warriors and performers treating you to traditional dances and singing songs about life in Fiji. The evening culminates with passing around the earthy tasting yaqona (also known as kava), a traditional ceremonial drink and cultural institution in Fiji. Bula!
Restorative Yin Way retreat in Kyoto
In the historic heart of Japan, Six Senses Kyoto will host a four-day women’s wellness retreat led by Hati S. Malinova, Integrative Health Expert and Wellness Projects Director at Six Senses. Open to women of all ages and life stages, it combines cultural discovery with practical wellness tools. For anyone feeling out of sync, the retreat is calibrated to restore balance.
Japan is a country steeped in rituals, and those woven throughout the retreat foster insight. Practice the art of kintsugi by repairing broken ceramics with gold lacquer and gain a deeper appreciation for the beauty that lives in imperfection. It holds up a mirror to life, revealing how to navigate emotional and physical transitions with greater awareness.
You’ll also take part in meditative ikebana flower arranging, find calm with Qigong and Daoist meditation, walk a contemplative labyrinth, and sip specially prepared herbal tea. Together, these practices are the first steps into preventative psychology, with useful knowledge to carry home.
An in-depth understanding of women’s health and hormonal balance is informed by a series of educational sessions drawing on traditional knowledge and new science. Movement practices, wellness screenings, and spa treatments combine Eastern healing approaches with modern technology to support your overall well-being.
Sleep is taken seriously on this program. Sleep-tracking technology, organic Naturalmat mattresses, a personalized pillow menu, and calming fragrances help support deeper rest and restore healthy circadian rhythms. You may find yourself sleeping more deeply than you have in years.
Evenings are for gathering at relaxed communal dinners inspired by sekki, Japan’s twenty-four micro-seasons. Guided by nature’s rhythms, our chefs create nourishing dishes using seasonal ingredients sourced from local farms. The menus are deeply satisfying, highly nutritious, and offer a taste of the Japanese diet and how it supports longevity.
Free time allows you to explore Kyoto’s temples and gardens or simply enjoy the hush of the hotel. While you’ll leave with pointers for managing stress and a deeper understanding of your hormonal health, for retreat leader Hati, the power of the gathering lies in those who attend. “By weaving together Japanese cultural traditions with holistic practices, the retreat creates a space where women at any stage of life can connect with themselves and each other.”
Good to know:
- A four-day retreat in Kyoto: Yin Way Retreat - The Way of a Woman
- December 11 to 14, 2026
- From JPY 666,000 per person in a Deluxe King Room