Forest Bathing in Temple and Enjoy onsen with healing power

Cedar air and hot spring water. This 6-hour Odawara experience strings together forest bathing on the way up and a soak at the healing hot spring 湯冶温泉. I like how the route is paced like a walk you can actually feel in your body, and I also like that the day ends with a proper warm reset instead of rushing back out dry.

For me, the best parts are the slow moments in the centuries-old trees and the payoff of hot onsen water after the climb. One thing to consider is that lunch, onsen fees, and the group transportation costs are not included, so you will want to budget extra cash on the day.

Key highlights at a glance

• Forest bathing route through cedar and cypress trees that have been standing for centuries
• Daiyuzan Saijoji Temple with temple stories shared as you walk
• Lunch in a temple chaya with Japanese food and a local confectionery connection
• 湯冶温泉 (Yujionsen), a hot spring site presented specifically for healing your body and soul
• Small group size (up to 6 people), so the pacing can stay comfortable
• A certified guide with wilderness first aid adds real peace of mind on a mountain hike

A half-day temple hike built for forest bathing and recovery

This tour is the kind of plan I like on Japan trips: you get a meaningful walk, then you get a recovery moment that is actually part of the itinerary. Starting from Odawara, you head toward a temple mountain, spend time with forest-bathing style walking, and finish with a hot spring soak close to the temple.

The temple day has two emotional gears. First, it’s about settling your mind with the cedar and cypress air as you move slowly upward. Second, it’s about body comfort later, with the onsen water timed right after lunch and temple time. That sequencing matters. If you do the onsen first, you miss the contrast. If you leave it too late, you are too tired to enjoy it.

Price and what you’re really paying for

The listed price is $104.51 per person for about 6 hours. What you are paying for is the guided experience itself, including a National Certified Pro Guide with wilderness first aid certification, plus the tour structure that connects the temple, the forest walk, lunch option, and the onsen stop.

Temple admission is handled as free as part of the activity, which helps keep the base cost from inflating. Still, you should plan for extra on the day, because lunch and the onsen fee are not included. Lunch is about 2000 yen, and the onsen fee is also around 2000 yen per person, plus there is a transportation fee for the group that is not included.

So the honest value picture is this: the tour price buys you the guide, the flow, and the access to a well-timed mountain day. Your extra spending covers your meal and your bath, which is part of the point of this experience, not an optional add-on.

Starting in Odawara: easy meeting, easy finishing

You start at Odawara Station at 9:00 am, meeting at Beck’s Coffee on the 3rd floor. The end point is back at Odawara Station, so you are not stuck figuring out local transit at the end of a warm-on-side-of-a-mountain day.

I also like that you can use luggage storage in Odawara Station. That means you can travel light on the hike and not carry bags you do not need. This matters because comfortable walking is the whole idea here. When your hands are free and your feet have the right shoes, you can actually enjoy the forest pace.

The tour group is capped at 6 people. In practice, that usually means fewer bottlenecks on narrow paths and more flexibility if someone needs a slower moment.

Getting to the mountain: train and bus, then the walk begins

Once you meet, the day moves from Odawara toward the temple by train and bus. That setup is practical because it saves you from piecing together public transit while also trying to time the day around the walk and lunch.

Even if you know the area, having someone handle the transport connection is a big comfort. This tour is built around a schedule: forest bathing time up the temple approach, temple time with stories, then lunch and onsen, then back down.

The timing also tells you what kind of energy level to expect. You are not doing an all-day trek. The point is a focused mountain half-day that leaves room for the onsen recovery at the end.

Daiyuzan Saijoji Temple: the 600-year focus without the rush

Your first temple stop is Daiyuzan Saijoji Temple. This is where the day gains its grounding, because you are not just walking in trees. You are moving through a place with a long timeline, with the temple approach framed as a path that has been lived with for generations.

A big part of the value is that the guide shares folklores and temple stories while you are walking. That turns a standard visit into a connected walk, where you understand what you are seeing instead of just passing it.

Also, the temple setting uses cedar and cypress wood in the structures you see around you. You feel the “wood architecture” more than you would in a purely urban shrine visit, and it pairs naturally with the forest-bathing theme.

Potential drawback: you will still need to walk at a steady enough pace to reach lunch and onsen on time. If you want a super leisurely, sit-every-5-minutes outing, this may feel more like a guided hike than a long meditative retreat. It’s still gentle enough for most people, but it is not a stroller tour.

Forest bathing on cedar and cypress: what to do with your senses

The core activity is forest bathing on the path up to the temple. The route includes huge cedar and cypress trees, with many trees described as older than 500 years. That age matters because the trees are not just scenery. They create a cooler, calmer tunnel effect, and the guide keeps the pace aligned with noticing your surroundings.

What I like about this style is that it gives you permission to slow down. Instead of “tourist speed,” you can shift to walking as a way to reset. You are getting light exercise, yes, but you are also paying attention to how the air feels and how the path changes as you climb.

A practical note: bring warm clothes. That might sound odd in Japan if you assume mountains are automatically cool. But the advice is specifically to wear warm layers for the forest walk. Also wear comfortable walking shoes because you are walking up a temple approach path.

If it is hot and humid, the walk can feel like work. That is exactly when the onsen payoff becomes extra valuable, because your body needs the contrast.

Lunch at the temple chaya: fuel with Japanese comfort food

After your forest walk, you get lunch at a nearby temple cafe, often described as a chaya in the forest area. The lunch is Japanese, and the spot is also known locally for Japanese confectionery.

This is not just a place to eat. It is a chance to sit down and let your legs cool off for a bit before you go into the hot spring. If you skip lunch timing on a mountain day, you end up too tired or too hungry when the onsen is supposed to feel relaxing.

One more real-world detail: the lunch is not included in the tour price, so you will pay around 2000 yen. I recommend carrying a little extra cash or being ready for the payment method used at the cafe.

The “where” in your day matters here too. A lunch near the temple area keeps the schedule smooth, so you do not lose your onsen window.

湯冶温泉: the healing soak after the walk

After lunch and temple time, you head to the hot spring near the temple: 湯冶温泉 (Yujionsen). This is a famous facility in the sense that it is presented as a place to help heal your body and soul.

I like that the tour builds the onsen into the day right after the hiking portion, not at the very end of a long day in the city. When you soak soon after walking, the warmth feels like a direct reward for the effort you just put in. It also helps you feel more comfortable for the ride back to Odawara.

As with lunch, the onsen fee is not included, and it is around 2000 yen per person. Plan for that so it does not feel like a surprise cost in the middle of your day.

Also, this is a “healing power” style stop, so expect a slower vibe than a quick photo-and-leave location. You are there to soak.

Guide quality matters: what Akihiro-san style support looks like

One name that comes up in the most glowing feedback is Akihiro-san. People praised the way he knew the mountain, the cedar forest, and how to connect temple stories to what you were walking past.

That kind of guidance matters more in a forest bathing tour than in a standard museum tour. Trees and paths can look similar unless someone helps you notice details. A good guide keeps your attention from wandering away from the experience.

Another small but important point: the tour is capped at 6 people, and in at least one case it was run with only one participant. That tells you the guide may tailor the day to your interests and walking pace when the group is small.

Included with the guide is wilderness first aid certification. That might sound like a “just in case” detail, but on mountain paths it is genuinely reassuring.

Practical tips so your day feels good, not rushed

Here’s how I would set myself up for a smooth experience, based on the tour’s own guidance and the kind of walk it is:

• Wear comfortable walking shoes. This is a temple approach path, not flat pavement.
• Bring warm clothes for the forest walk. Even when it feels warm at the start, conditions can shift as you climb.
• Keep your hands free if possible, because you are walking and looking around. Use the luggage storage at Odawara Station if you have bags.
• Expect a schedule that moves forward: forest bathing, temple time with stories, lunch, then onsen.
• Budget extra for lunch (around 2000 yen) and the onsen fee (around 2000 yen), plus the group transportation fee.

If you are the type who likes a plan with breathing room, this tour hits that. You get stops, but they are all connected to the same theme. If you are the type who hates any waiting at all, you should know that temple time and onsen time are built-in, not rushed.

Who should book this tour, and who should skip it

This tour is a good match if you want a guided forest bathing style walk paired with an onsen reset. It is also ideal if you like temple visits that include stories and context while you move, not just stand and listen.

You will likely enjoy it if you:

• want a half-day nature experience near Odawara
• like the idea of cedar and cypress forest walking as part of the point
• want onsen time included in your schedule, not left to chance

You might want to choose another option if:

• you want everything included in one set price, because lunch, onsen fee, and group transport costs are not included
• you dislike walking on mountain paths, even if it is meant to be accessible for most people
• you are very weather-sensitive, because the experience requires good weather

Should you book Forest Bathing in Temple and Enjoy onsen with healing power?

If your Japan trip needs a break from cities, this is a smart booking. The value is in the combination: forest bathing that is actually structured, temple time with storytelling, then a real soak at 湯冶温泉 right after.

The only reason I would hesitate is budget math. The base tour price is solid, but you should expect to add lunch, onsen fees, and the group transportation portion on top. If you are comfortable with that, the day is very well matched to what you are buying, a guided mountain calm with a warm recovery ending.

In short, if you want a guided walk that feels meaningful and a hot spring payoff that feels deserved, this is an easy yes.

FAQ

What time does the tour start and where do I meet?

The tour starts at 9:00 am at Beck’s Coffee, 3rd floor, Odawara Station.

Where does the tour end?

The tour ends back at Odawara Station.

How long is the tour?

It lasts about 6 hours.

Is lunch included in the tour price?

No. Lunch is not included, and it is around 2000 yen.

Is the onsen fee included?

No. The onsen fee is not included, and it is around 2000 yen.

Are transportation costs included?

Transportation fee for the group is not included.

What is included in the tour besides the guide?

Admission ticket to the temple is free as part of the tour. The tour also includes a National Certified Pro Guide with wilderness first aid certificate.

How big is the group?

The tour has a maximum of 6 travelers.

Is the experience weather-dependent?

Yes. The experience requires good weather. If it is canceled due to poor weather, you will be offered a different date or a full refund.

Are service animals allowed?

Yes, service animals are allowed.