Is this retreat the right fit for me?

We can't answer that question until we have a chance to talk in your Spark Session. That one conversation may be enough to make a shift in whatever you are working on, or we may decide that the retreat is a great fit for what you are wanting to create in your leadership journey over the next 6-12 months.

Why do you do a retreat before starting coaching?

For many leaders, getting clear on what outcomes they want over the next 6-12 months is very challenging, especially with busy schedules and many responsibilities. A retreat like this creates the conditions to do it at a high and inspirational level, and then much more value can be created if we end up stepping into a coaching partnership.

What makes Minakami the perfect retreat location?

Minakami has a very unique combination of qualities that make it ideal for running retreats. First, easy access from Tokyo, and therefore even from overseas. Next, It has truly wild places without crowds of tourists. Finally, as a local here, I have many partners who contribute to making your time here unforgettable.

Is this only for leaders located in Japan?

Definitely not. It is very practical to combine a visit to your Japan office or clients here with this time for yourself to get clear on the next steps in your leadership journey. All you have to do is get on the bullet train in Tokyo, and everything else will be taken care of once you arrive in Jomokogen station.

It's time to

reignite your
adventurous leadership

Where senior leaders unlock strategic clarity, renew focus, and lead transformational change.
Set in Japan’s wild nature, this executive development experience offers
a bold alternative to traditional leadership programs in Asia.

You are a leader in a time of unprecedented uncertainty.
Will you keep navigating the unknown with the same tools or are you ready to evolve?

Step into a partnership that starts with an individual retreat designed to reignite your inner fire - fueling intuition, courage, and a clear vision for the leader you’re ready to become.

Reconnect with what really matters in your work

Ignite meaningful change in how you lead

Navigate uncertainty with calm and clarity

Unlock the next level of your leadership potential

Book Your Spark Session

Explore Retreats

It's time to

reignite your
adventurous leadership

Where senior leaders unlock strategic clarity, renew focus, and lead transformational change.
Set in Japan’s wild nature, this executive development experience offers
a bold alternative to traditional leadership programs in Asia.

You are a leader in a time of unprecedented uncertainty.
Will you keep navigating the unknown with the same tools or are you ready to evolve?

Step into a partnership that starts with an individual retreat designed to reignite your inner fire - fueling intuition, courage, and a clear vision for the leader you’re ready to become.

Reconnect with what really matters in your work

Ignite meaningful change in how you lead

Navigate uncertainty with calm and clarity

Unlock the next level of your leadership potential

Book Your Spark Session

Explore Retreats

This is not just a retreat.

It’s the spark to reset your leadership.

This is an invitation to step away from conventional leadership and into a journey that will ignite bold change.

Do you feel like you’re constantly managing, not truly leading?

Back-to-back meetings, endless KPIs, and little time to reflect or strategize keep you in management mode rather than true leadership.

Do you hesitate to take bold moves, even though you know you’re capable of more?

Sticking to safe, predictable strategies prevents you from making truly transformative decisions.

You’re successful, but do you feel uninspired?

You’ve checked all the boxes—title, salary, influence—yet something still feels missing.

Too many executives feel stuck in routines, overwhelmed by demands, and struggling with team alignment. You don't have to stay in that cycle.

Will you take the bold next step to differentiate yourself from other leaders and create your own path?

it's time to

step into the fire

Silhouette of trees symbolizing nature, reflection, and growth

Map of Japan indicating leadership retreat location

Hero section background image with soft landscape colors representing leadership and transformation

Tokyo

MINAKAMI

Individual Retreat

Why Here?

A place that reignited my leadership.

Just 62 minutes from Tokyo, but a world away from distraction. Minakami is where my leadership journey reignited. This mountain town offers deep quiet, wild beauty, and space to think. It’s the perfect environment for clarity and transformation.

Why Minakami?

Two Guaranteed Outcomes

Clarity on your vision for the next year and the exact steps to achieve it.

A definitive decision on whether a year-long coaching partnership meets your leadership needs.

Our Value Guarantee

If you don't feel the retreat fully supports you to create the value you want, the coaching fees will be refunded and you only pay for accommodation, food, and services.

Experience

Nature based coaching, bespoke outdoor challenges, private local chef, expert mountain guides.

A group of participants wearing helmets and wetsuits standing in a mountain stream during a leadership retreat in Minakami, Japan.

Building Your Leadership Fire

A Journey of

Transformation

Four-Day
Experience
Breakdown

Cory’s unique coaching method draws inspiration from the process of building a fire—a powerful metaphor for leadership transformation. Just as a fire starts with tinders, grows into flames, and sustains itself with steady fuel, leaders, too, must ignite their inner potential, nurture their growth, and step into a clear and lasting vision. Through this four-day retreat, each stage of the fire-building process reflects your journey toward a stronger, more intuitive leadership.

Book Your Spark Session

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wooden fire pit in Japanese mountains used for leadership retreat clearing ritual, nature-based executive coaching Minakami

“Before a fire can ignite, the ground must be cleared.”

Leaders arrive at the retreat carrying the weight of responsibilities, unfinished business, and mental clutter. The first day is about clearing that space—letting go of what drains energy and setting a strong foundation for transformation.

“Before a fire can ignite, the ground must be cleared.”

Leaders arrive at the retreat carrying the weight of responsibilities, unfinished business, and mental clutter. The first day is about clearing that space—letting go of what drains energy and setting a strong foundation for transformation.

wooden kindling fire setup in Japanese mountains, leadership retreat metaphor, nature-based executive coaching Minakami

A strong fire needs time to build in intensity — the right fuel, the right rhythm.

Leaders often rush into action, but true leadership requires preparation.
In the retreat, kindling represents the early spark — the careful, intentional beginning of something powerful.

“A strong fire needs time to build in intensity - the right combination of fuel, air, and space.”

Before leaders take on bold challenges, they need time to recharge and reconnect with themselves. Day two is about slowing down, disconnecting from external noise, and rediscovering inner clarity.

“As a fire is ready to consume larger logs, its heat has great power.”

Day three pushes leaders beyond their comfort zones. Engaging in outdoor challenges, they confront self-imposed limitations and unlock new possibilities in leadership.

deep red flames enduring heat leadership metaphor Japan retreat fire wisdom

When the fire burns steady, leaders begin to see what truly matters.

This final stage represents sustained clarity — the quiet, enduring heat that fuels real leadership. It’s no longer about the spark or the breakthrough. It’s about the steady energy that allows leaders to act with vision, integrity, and presence over the long term.

“At full intensity, fire is a powerful tool, just like great leadership.”

The final day shifts focus from breaking barriers to creating a vision for the future. Leaders leave with clarity, conviction, and a structured plan for lasting impact.

YourGuide_BackgroundBlurMask-gigapixel-hq-scale-2_00x-min_edited.png

Cory McGowan

Japan's Coach for Adventurous Leaders

・25 years of professional experience in Japan
・Over 15 years of management and leadership experience in multicultural organizations
・PCC/Professional Coaching Certification from the International Coaching Federation
・Certified Team Coach
・Thousands of hours coaching hundreds of leaders globally
・A lifelong journey of adventure in international environments since childhood

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The Team Behind the Fire

Tomo and Babo

Role: Expert Wilderness Guides and Trusted Leadership Retreat Partners 

Tomo and Babo are the founders and lead guides of One Drop Outdoor Guide Services, one of Japan’s most respected and highly qualified wilderness guiding companies. With decades of professional experience leading groups through challenging natural environments across all seasons, they bring unparalleled expertise to every retreat.
Their commitment to safety, professionalism, and personalized adventure ensures that your leadership retreat is not only secure but also deeply impactful. Beyond their credentials, Tomo and Babo are engaging, insightful, and genuinely enjoyable to spend time with—adding a unique human touch that makes your time in nature both meaningful and transformative.
Whether you’re navigating a mountain trail or exploring your leadership edge, Tomo and Babo will help shape an unforgettable experience tailored to your growth as a leader.

⚫︎HP : https://onedrop-outdoor.com/
⚫︎Insta : @onedrop_ogs

Kazushi Ando

Role: Culinary Artist, Glamping Host, and Mountain Adventurer

Kazushi Ando is the owner and operator of Ando Cafe and Glamping, a unique retreat destination nestled at the base of the iconic Tanigawadake mountain in Minakami, Japan. A Minakami native, Kazushi spent years honing his culinary expertise in top-tier restaurants and luxury hotels before returning to his hometown to combine his love for food, nature, and hospitality.
At your leadership retreat, Kazushi brings more than just world-class meals—he brings presence, creativity, and local connection. His dishes range from handcrafted pastries to bold East-meets-West fusion cuisine, all made with seasonal, locally sourced ingredients and thoughtfully tailored to each guest’s preferences.
Kazushi is not only a chef, but also a fellow adventurer. His passion for the mountains is contagious, and you might just find yourself joining him on a spontaneous morning hike or a fireside conversation about leadership, purpose, and place.

⚫︎HP : https://sites.google.com/view/tas-minakami

⚫︎Insta : tas.ltd_official

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YOUR GUIDE

Will You Heed the Call to Adventure?

Welcome. You're here because you have important unanswered questions—and the courage to find your own answers. Coaching is about transformation, and I am here to guide you through it.  I offer one way to work with individual leaders: a four-day Wilderness Visioning Retreat in Minakami, Japan. Stay at a private accommodation, with a personal chef and mountain guide. Over these days, you’ll gain two things: a clear vision for the year ahead and clarity on whether to continue with a year of executive coaching.  If we’re not the right fit, you only cover your lodging and meals. No risk—only growth. Decisions define leaders. Will you take this step? Join me by the fire.