[Kamikawa Town] Adults and children can have fun in the great outdoors [Forest Naughty Adventure School @ Fengzan Sanso]

• Table of Contents
• What is "Mori Adventure School"?
• The inside of the lodge is a stylish space.
• Let's get started!
• Feeling like Heidi? Swing with a great view
• High difficulty! Trying rope climbing
• Is balance important? Two-seater swing
• Zip line is very popular with children!
• Some kids even start climbing trees…
• Let's all make a secret base
• The importance of playing in nature
• basic information

What is "Mori Adventure School"?

The non-profit organization "Mori Adventure School" was established in July 2016 with the aim of helping young people and children develop healthy and rich minds through experiences in the natural environment, including sports, play, agriculture, and forestry. It operates mainly in Hoshiyama Takaharu, Chikusa Plateau, Takaharu, Sayo Town in Hyogo Prefecture , and Oku in Okayama Prefecture.

Here at Takaharu, kindergarten and nursery school children come on field trips, and in winter they enjoy playing in the snow, sledding, and building snow huts next to the mountain lodge.

Originally a company retreat, it has been renovated into a stylish, open-air lodge. It is currently being renovated to accommodate overnight stays. The chairman of the board is Junjiro Fukunaga, a former teacher at a prefectural high school in Hyogo Prefecture. He operates a mini excavator himself and will also be working on the exterior of the lodge.

The inside of the lodge is a stylish space.

Upon entering the room, you will be greeted by a magnificent view from an altitude of 950m, and a wood stove in the Chuo of the room will give you a warm welcome.

The children seemed to be fascinated by the large wood stove, which is not seen in the city. When the adults warned them, "It's hot, so don't touch it," they stood a little distance away and watched intently. This kind of experience is also a learning experience for the children.

In the summer, you can see a starry sky, and you can even observe the stars from the lodge.

After greetings from Fukunaga and the staff, today's participants introduced themselves one by one.

Let's get started!

We took a commemorative photo at what is commonly known as "Totoro Mori," located about a 10-minute walk from the lodge. The air is clean and the refreshing breeze is pleasant, making it seem like Totoro really is Mori.

Feeling like Heidi? Swing with a great view

All the playground equipment, including the giant swing on the slope, was handmade by Fukunaga. He considers the shape of the trees and the topography, and then thinks of the playground equipment that matches the terrain. The children used the Saka slope to get on the swing that makes a large arc. At first, they were shy about swinging on the swing, but once they got used to it, they started swinging wildly.

"It's completely different from the swings at the park and it's fun!" said the excited children, their eyes shining with excitement!

And then...

It's fun for adults too!

High difficulty! Trying rope climbing

This rope is more difficult than the swing. The trick is to place your feet on the knots in several places, then use your hands to pull the top part of the rope up. One boy who tried it for the first time was able to climb high with the help of Fukunaga and the staff.

The adults weren't going to give up either, and when they reached the top, they couldn't help but cheer.

Is balance important? Two-seater swing

This is a wide swing. It can be surprisingly difficult for two people to ride on it if there is a difference in weight.

Zip line is very popular with children!

Zip lines allow you to move from one end to the other swiftly by holding onto a rope hanging from a pulley. "I want to try it! I want to try it!" Children gather around, but first there's an explanation. The children listen intently to the staff member's easy-to-understand explanation of where to hold and how to stop. And then...

What a great start! Even though he lands dynamically on his bottom, it doesn't hurt because he's on soft leaves.

Some kids even start climbing trees…

Although it's not a playground equipment, some children started climbing the trees. Seeing this, other children followed suit. It looks like a lot of fun climbing while showing each other where to put your feet under the watchful eyes of adults.

Let's all make a secret base

Finally, we all stacked large branches and sticks to create a secret base.

"Should we put it on top of this?" "What if we stack this more to make a roof?" and other such conversations flew around, and adults and children worked together to use their imaginations and create.

The children were all very serious. Some were carrying the branches with all their might, some were noticing the small details, and some were looking at the overall shape and giving advice to everyone. It was interesting to see each child's individuality come out.

We took a commemorative photo after completing the project. It became a good memory of the day.

The importance of playing in nature

"These days, many children don't immediately put their hands back when they fall, and end up hitting their face," says Fukunaga. "Reflexes are greatly influenced by how children play and spend their time in childhood. I believe that the things necessary for life, such as motor skills, explosive power, basic muscle strength, and flexibility, are developed and acquired by playing freely outside as a child."

He himself feels that the games he played as a child not only strengthened his body and mind, but also led to the development of "life skills" such as communication skills.

He also recalls that during his time as a high school teacher, he met many children who were not attending school or who were withdrawn, and he recalls that he saw improvements in their conditions through various experiences with them as they played and exercised in nature. This was what prompted him to establish the Mori Adventure School.

"Playing to your heart's content in nature helps children develop rich minds and healthy bodies. It's an irreplaceable time for both parents and children," says Fukunaga.

At "Mori Adventure School," we plan fun seasonal events such as playing in the river in summer, rice planting in autumn, and playing in the snow in winter. We look forward to your participation.

(Writer: ako)

*This article is current as of May 2023. Prices include tax. Product contents and prices may be subject to change.

"Mori Wanpaku School" participation application page

basic information

Mori Adventure Academy Hozan Mountain Lodge

Address: Hyogo Prefecture , Kamikawa-cho, Kanzaki-gun, Kozaki Kamikawa Town, 679-3125

Phone number: 079-265-5017 (representative home office)

Access: [By train] Get off at Teramae Station on the Bantan Line. If only children are participating, staff will come to pick them up at Teramae Station. [By car] Get off at Kozaki Minami IC on the Bantan Expressway, and turn left about 500m before Mineyama Takaharu Resort White Peak.

Parking: Available

HP: Mori

Social Media: Instagram