A report on the forest therapy road "Yurikago no Komichi" in Shinjo Village, Okayama Prefecture: a relaxing hike to enjoy nature

What is "Forest Therapy"?

Forest therapy is a form of forest bathing that is backed by scientific evidence that it has the power to lead to health. Forest therapy can be enjoyed at "forest therapy bases" and "therapy roads," which are forests whose healing effects have been verified and certified through physiological and psychological experiments conducted by the NPO Forest Therapy Society. There are currently 61 such bases across the country (as of August 2024). Shinjo Village, in the northwestern tip of Okayama Prefecture, is the only forest therapy base in the prefecture.

NPO Forest Therapy Society Official Website

Shinjo Village Forest Therapy "Cradle Path"

The Cradle Path is a forest therapy course that is approximately 2km long and has an elevation difference of approximately 50m, located at the foot of Mount Kenashi in Shinjo Village, home to one of the largest beech forests in Okayama Prefecture. Part of the course is designated as a special protected area of Daisen-Oki National Park, and you cannot enter unless accompanied by a forest guide. Walking slowly through the trees with a guide, you can experience a moment of surrendering yourself to the forest.

*The total time required (gathering, experience, and disbanding) is approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes.

Experience "forest therapy" for yourself

This time, I actually tried forest therapy at "Yurikago no Komichi". First, I went to the Shinjo Village Forest Therapy Base Office, located right next to the Shinjo Village Office! Here is a summary of the forest therapy experience.

Reception at the base office

Meet at the Forest Therapy Base Office on the date and time you applied for. Fill out your name and contact information to register and pay the fee. After that, you will receive an explanation of forest therapy while looking at a pamphlet.

Drive to the forest entrance

From the Forest Therapy Base Office, we will travel to Tanami Campsite, the entrance to the Cradle Path. It is about 8 km and 15 minutes away. The guide will lead the way by car, so please follow him safely. Once you arrive, the forest therapy will begin immediately.

Our guide for the day was Mr. Kuroda

The Shinjo Village Forest Therapy Council currently has over 10 guides on its roster. Our guide on the day was chairman Shinji Kuroda. He is a "forest professional" who usually works in forestry. In addition to his extensive knowledge of forests, his light-hearted storytelling is also appealing.

Now, let's enter the mountain!

We will walk with a guide along the well-maintained walking trails in the forest. The trails are made of soft leaf humus, which has been decomposed by microorganisms over many years from dead and fallen leaves.

Thinning wood chips are also gentle on the legs and back

In some places, wood chips from thinned trees have been laid out for forest maintenance. The surface feels pleasant underfoot and makes walking easier, reducing strain on the lower back.

Tatara Kera

I found a black lump by the side of the road. It is said that tatara iron smelting was once carried out in Shinjo Village. Along the Cradle Path, you can see remnants of the old tatara village, including the stonework that remains from the settlements.

When I lifted it, it was heavy!

There were many "kera" (lumps of iron) lying around the area, which are formed at the bottom of steelmaking furnaces. When I picked one up, I was shocked at how heavy it was!

Various plants you can encounter in the forest

In the forest, you can encounter many plants, including beech, cedar, cypress, maple, and other trees, as well as Japanese spicebush, wild strawberries, acorns, and more. We were also able to see the rare fruit, the wild pear, which is said to be a close relative of the kiwi fruit and grows wild in Shinjo Village.

"Attractions" in the forest

We tried climbing up the tangled trunks. Using the intersections of the bending trunks as footholds, we kept our balance and climbed higher and higher. You can also enjoy this "attraction" created by nature in the forest.

Relaxing in a hammock

There are also hammocks set up along the course where you can relax. When you lie down and lean back, the overlapping leaves in front of you and the sunlight filtering through the trees are so comfortable that you'll feel like you want to stay here forever.

Blind Walk

Experience a blind walk while walking blindfolded. You will notice that being blindfolded sharpens your senses other than sight, such as the unevenness of the road under your feet, the feel of the soil containing fallen leaves and pebbles, the wind on your skin, and the murmuring of a river from a short distance away.

Mother Trees that Nurture Forests

The trunk is so thick that even two people can stretch their arms out and still not be able to reach it. This tree is a mother tree that produces seeds that will become new tree stocks. It is truly a mother tree that nurtures the forest.

Listen to the voice of the trees

When I put a stethoscope to the trunk of the tree, I could actually hear a sound. I was moved by the powerful heartbeat of life as the tree sucked up water from the earth!

"Yahoo!" towards the mountain

Shout out "Yay!" towards the mountains. It's fun to hear your voice echo back from the surrounding mountains. It's hard to shout out loud in the city, but here you can do so with confidence!

View of the summit of Mount Kenashi

The Cradle Path is located at the foot of Mount Kenashi. At the end of the forest therapy, while looking out at the 1,219m summit, we talk endlessly about the forest, plants, and even how to enjoy the mountain in each season.

Forest therapy completed

We returned to the starting point, Tanami Campsite. The forest therapy session was over after about two and a half hours. As a commemoration, we received postcards of seasonal flowers and scenery that the guides had taken on the Cradle Path.

summary

The forest therapy experience was more comfortable than I had imagined. Time spent in the forest away from the city was relaxing and refreshing. I don't usually walk on mountain trails for more than two hours straight, but far from being tired, I felt lighter in both body and mind. The experience of "relaxing" by walking in the forest is likely to become an addictive experience.

[Forest Therapy in Shinjo Village, Okayama Prefecture]

Location: Tanami, Shinjo Village, Maniwa District, Okayama Prefecture

*The meeting place is the Forest Therapy Base Office (2008-1 Shinjo Village, Maniwa District / Right next to Shinjo Village Hall)

TEL/FAX: 0867-44-1330 (Shinjo Village Forest Therapy Council)

Implementation period: All year round

Reservation: Reservations must be made by phone, fax or email at least one week prior to the desired date.

Fee: 6,000 yen per guide + 500 yen per number of participants (up to 6 participants per guide)

*Guide fees, insurance fees, and management fees included. Capacity: 1 to 30 people

Parking: Available

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