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Come get your heart back.

This is not just another men’s retreat. That’s the last thing anybody needs. The reason most messages for men ultimately fail is simple: they ignore what is deep and true to a man’s soul and try to shape him up through pressure and performance.

Not this. This retreat is an honest, no-BS trek into the deep passions and desires of a man’s heart, the healing of the wounds he’s taken in this battle, the realm of fatherhood and sex and God and calling—life as it was meant to be lived.

Translation Note: Sessions will be presented live in English by John Eldredge and the Wild at Heart Team.

Event Details

Date and Time: 2026 September 7-10

Location: YMCA Yamanakako Center
419 Hirano, Yamanakako Village, Minamitsuru-gun, Yamanashi Prefecture

Check In: 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM, Monday, September 7

Conclusion: 12:00 PM, Thursday, September 10

Cost: Registration - ¥60,000 (The set fee is $375 USD. The cost of ¥60,000 may shift slightly due to the current conversion rate)
Tuition for this event covers all costs for accommodations, meals, teaching and event supplies. Linens are provided and include a pillow, sheet set, and blanket. Tuition does not include transportation to and from the event. Lodging includes rooms with bunk beds in the main accommodation building and cabins (8 to 12 men per room).

If finances prevent you from being able to register, please contact us. We really want to help make it possible for men who feel called to come.

What to expect

For over two decades, Wild At Heart retreats featuring John and his team have taken place in remote locations around the world. These immersive experiences invite men to step away from the demands of daily life and rediscover who they are, what they are made for, and the deep love of God pursuing them.

Through live teaching, films, times of reflection, honest conversations, and shared adventures, you will encounter profound truths about the heart of God—and the heart he gave you as a man.

Those who come say it’s one of the greatest weekends of their entire lives.

Now it’s your turn. Join us in Japan this September.

Who is this for?

This retreat is for men who hunger for more—more of God, more of His love, more transformation in their lives.

How registration works

📅 Registration is now open and will remain open until the event reaches capacity.

How to prepare

If you’re wondering how to get the most out of your retreat experience, start here:

• Pray the Daily Prayer in English or Japanese.

• Watch the Wild at Heart Experience videos with Japanese subtitles.

• Take time to ask God what He might want to speak to you during this retreat. Come with an open heart.

Additional resources available in English:

• Read Wild at Heart by John Eldredge — This book forms the foundation of the retreat. Whether you’re reading it for the first time or revisiting it, it will help prepare your heart for what’s to come. Our allies are working hard to translate the book into Japanese, which we plan to have available at the event in September.

• Listen to the Wild At Heart Podcast — Hosted by John and the Wild at Heart team, this weekly podcast offers insight, encouragement, and a deeper dive into the themes we’ll explore together.

FAQs

What’s included in the retreat cost?

One all-inclusive ticket (see pricing above) covers your lodging at YMCA Yamanakako Center all meals, retreat materials, and access to every session with John Eldredge and the Wild at Heart team. Travel to and from the venue is not included.

Can I attend only part of the retreat

No, partial attendance is not possible.

May I use a computer or smartphone during the retreat?

In order to spend focused time with the Lord and receive the full benefit of the retreat, we ask participants not to use devices from after the Monday evening session until Thursday lunchtime. A phone number will be provided, and in an emergency you can be contacted through the YMCA by phone. Apart from that, participants are expected to be unavailable for contact.

Will the event be in Japanese or English?

John and the Wild at Heart team will teach live in English.

Is there a wait list?

Yes. If the event reaches capacity, you’ll be added to the wait list and contacted if space opens.

Can I attend with a friend or small group?

Each person desiring to attend must register. If you would like to be housed with other attendees, you may create a unique group name and enter it when you register. The men you desire to be housed with must enter that same group name when they register.

What should I pack?

Additional packing information will be provided before the event, but plan to bring comfortable clothing, a watch, a towel, a journal, Bible, and anything you need to disconnect and be present.  Bed linens are provided.

Testimonies of Japanese Attendees

Bob, 50s — Japanese, attended Colorado Retreat in 2025
“I realised that what I called strength was often just a mask. God began calling out the real man underneath. I also saw that men from every culture carry the same deep questions: Who am I? Am I strong? Am I loved?”

Koji, 20s — Japanese, attended Colorado Retreat in 2025
“I discovered that many of the battles in my life were connected to lies I had unknowingly agreed with. God did not just teach me truth — He gave me a chance to live it.”

Aki, 30s — Japanese, attended European Retreat in 2026
“For years I served God, but I had not truly known Him as a good Father — or myself as His beloved son. This retreat helped my heart breathe again. I believe it can become a time of healing, restoration, and awakening for many men in Japan.”

Minori, 40s — Japanese, attended Colorado Retreat in 2025
“The retreat gave me space to face the hidden parts of my story and let God bring healing there. I began to see how my need for affirmation had shaped my relationships, choices, and the way I saw myself.”

Aki - Full Testimony, 2026 February

From Servant to Beloved Son
It all began, when my respected friend and mentor asked me a question: “What is the Father saying to you?” I couldn’t answer and was hit with a profound realization: I hadn't truly understood God as my “Good Father in Heaven”. More precisely, I hadn’t properly recognized myself as a “child of God”. (One cause was I didn’t have an ideal relationship with my earthly father, who already passed away.)

For over 20 years, I have lived my faith-life as a “servant” of God without any doubt or issue. I am currently even serving as a missionary in Europe. However, through the recent ministry slump, I was shocked to find myself identifying with the older brother of the parable of the prodigal son in Luke 15. It struck me that somewhere along the way, I had gone off course. (When I first came to faith, I related much more to the younger brother though.) Ultimately, both brothers failed to understand their father for who he truly was, neither grasped what it meant to be “the father's child.”

The current ministry slump, my two previous experiences with burnout, and the fact that I couldn't feel the reality of Jesus' words in Matthew 11: “My yoke is easy and my burden is light” all stemmed from this same root: my lack of understanding of God as a good Father and my identity as His child.

In the midst of all this, I received a spontaneous and surprising opportunity to attend the Wild At Heart retreat in the Netherlands – it turned out to be a life-changing experience.

Over 300 men gathered for 4 days. On the surface, they appeared strong, competent and confident, but deep down, if we are honest, our hearts have been worn out and wounded by life struggles and traumas.

Through John Eldredge and his team, the Lord began His healing work, as we learnt that “the soul is healed through union with God”. Jesus says in Matthew 18: “unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” Little children love to spend time with their parents, but I unexpectedly discovered in myself a suffocating “little/child-me” – hurt, beaten up and confused by a number of life experiences. As my heart/soul found space to breathe again through the sessions and time with God, the veil started unfolding over my heart, and I came to recognize God as my Father. A sense of being a child of God began to take root. I can clearly see a difference in myself between before and after the retreat.

Whether a believer or non-believer, no matter how strong your faith is or how long you have had faith in Christ, this retreat will be a time of healing, restoration and renewal.