Tokyo 東京
Land, then train at three of the city's best rooms — no-gi at Imanari, judo at the Kodokan, gi rounds at Arta. Shrines and the tower in between.
3 dojos · 3 mat sessionsItinerary soon
冒険 means adventure
Bouken is five days where Jiu-Jitsu meets the country that shaped it — train on the mats that made the art, then go live everything beyond them. Tokyo and Kobe, in the first week of April, with the cherry blossom out. World-class rounds, shrines under the sakura, a bullet train south, a mountain ropeway, and hot springs at the end of it. Not a tour. An escape.
The Route
Two cities, one journey
Tokyo 東京 ·Kobe 神戸· Shinkansen ~3 hrs each way
Tokyo東京
Kobe神戸
Day by Day
Itinerary
April 1–6, 2027
5 nights · 6 mat sessions · 4 dojos
Tokyo
3 dojos · 3 mat sessions
Land, then train at three of the city's best rooms — no-gi at Imanari, judo at the Kodokan, gi rounds at Arta. Shrines and the tower in between.
Kobe
2 mat sessions · onsen
Bullet train south to the port. Rounds at Baddies with the owner of Scramble Japan, then Mount Rokko, the ropeway over the ridge, and Arima's hot springs.
Back in Tokyo
Optional send-off mat
The train runs north on the evening of Day 5, so nobody chases a dawn departure. Wake up in Tokyo with the whole day to make your flight.
The day-by-day is coming soon
The cities, the four academies and the shape of the trip are set. We’re locking the hour-by-hour schedule with the dojos now and will publish it here — and email everyone who has reserved — as soon as it’s confirmed.
On the Mats
Mat Time
Train in the country that made the art. Gi, no-gi, and judo at the Kodokan — rounds on every full day of the trip.
GiNo-GiJudo
6Sessions
4Dojos
Tokyo
Imanari Jiu-Jitsu
No-gi at the leg-lock legend's home gym.
Tokyo
The Kodokan
Judo at the birthplace of the art.
Tokyo
Arta Jiu-Jitsu
Evening gi rounds, plus the optional send-off mat.
Kobe
Baddies Jiu-Jitsu
Evening rounds and a morning open mat with the owner of Scramble Japan.
The Founder
Meet Drew
Drew Weatherhead
Founder · Black Belt · Coach
Drew is a Jiu-Jitsu black belt, coach, and lifelong traveler who built Bouken to share the two things that changed his life: the art, and the road. He's spent years on the mats and chasing adventure around the world — Bouken is where the two finally meet.
Follow the Journey
Everything on the Table
What’s Included
One price covers the trip itself — where you sleep, where you train, how you get around Japan. Flights and food are the two things you handle yourself.
- Lodging · 5 nights
- Daily training
- Cultural experiences
- Bullet-train travel
- Arima onsen entry
Not included: International flights · Meals and drinks
Spots Are Limited
10 spots · first come, first served
International flights and meals are yours. All training, cultural experiences, train travel, and accommodations are covered!
Reserve your spot for just $1,000 down! Pay the rest by the week before the trip!
Hanami
The first one under the blossom
Japan spends the first week of April looking at cherry trees. Hanami is the whole country stopping to sit under them — parks full past midnight, petals in the gutters, food carts along the canals. This is the first Bouken timed to land inside it. Ten spots, one small crew, and the best week of the year to be standing in Japan.
April 1–6, 2027 · Tokyo · Kobe
Limited spots — claim yours
Five days. Two cities. World-class mats and a crew that turns into family. Spots are intentionally small — don’t sleep on it.
Reserve Your Spot