Forest Bathing in Temple and Enjoy onsen with healing power

Forest walks like this actually change your pace. You’ll climb into the cedar and cypress forest on the way to Daiyuzan Saijoji Temple, where the whole point is slow attention to the surroundings. And you end with Yuji Onsen, so the day finishes with a real reset for tired legs.

I also like how the experience is run in a small group, up to 6 people, with a national certified pro guide who holds a wilderness first aid certificate. Reviews even mention Akihiro-san tailoring the hike to what you care about and telling the temple and forest stories along the path. One thing to consider: the listed price does not cover lunch, transportation for the group, or the onsen fee, so your total day will be a bit higher once you add those.

Key points worth knowing

• Forest bathing route on a cedar and cypress path up to Daiyuzan Saijoji Temple
• Saijoji Temple stop includes time for temple folklore and what you can spot in the grounds
• Yuji Onsen soak right after lunch, with the focus on recovery and relaxation
• National certified pro guide with wilderness first aid, plus the pace can match your interests
• Small group size (max 6) for a quieter, less rushed walk
• Temple admission is free but plan extra for lunch, transport, and onsen fees

Getting to Odawara and starting on time at 9:00

This tour is built around an easy hub: Odawara Station. Your meeting point is Beck’s Coffee on the 3rd floor inside the station, and the start time is 9:00 am. The end of the tour brings you back to Odawara Station, so you do not have to figure out separate transportation at the end when your legs are warm and you are ready to call it a day.

In practical terms, Odawara is convenient for day trips. The tour also mentions luggage storage at Odawara Station, which is helpful if you are arriving with bags and want to hike with just a light carry. Since the walking happens on a mountain path, you will feel better if you can keep your pack minimal.

The tour runs about 6 hours. That is long enough to feel like a proper outing, not just a quick photo stop. It is also short enough that you can still plan something simple after returning to Odawara.

The forest bathing part: cedar and cypress, slow steps, real shade

The heart of the day is the forest path up toward the temple. You will walk among huge trees, with the route described as having centuries old cedar and cypress, including trees over 500 years old. That matters because forest bathing is not about sprinting to the next viewpoint. It works when you slow down, notice the air, and let the setting do the heavy lifting.

What you are likely to feel here is a change in tempo as soon as the trail narrows into the woods. Reviews highlight the big trees and the way the walk combines exercise with a calm mental shift. If you like the idea of getting outside, moving your body, and still treating it like a mindful experience, this section delivers.

The tour notes that you should bring comfortable walking shoes and warm clothes for walking in the forest. That is not random advice. Even when it is warm down in the station area, mountain paths can feel cooler and damp, especially with shade from tall trees.

Daiyuzan Saijoji Temple: what you see and why the stories matter

After the forest walk, you reach Daiyuzan Saijoji Temple, also referred to as Doryoson. The temple is described as having around 600 years of history, and the tour includes a guided visit where you hear local folklore tied to the site.

That storytelling piece is one of the things that makes a temple stop more than a checklist. Instead of just looking at structures, you connect the setting to the reasons it exists and the beliefs that shaped it over time. The cedar and cypress theme continues here too, since the experience is clearly designed around wood, age, and atmosphere.

You can also expect an easy, walk-and-stop style visit rather than a fast, lecture-only approach. The guide is there to help you read what you are looking at. Reviews specifically mention the guide sharing stories about the cedar forest and the temple itself, and the experience can be tailored to your interests.

If you do not love guided interpretation and just want free time to wander, this may feel a bit structured. Still, the payoff is that you leave with context, not just photos.

Lunch at the temple area chaya: a pause that fuels the onsen

After temple and forest time, you take lunch at a nearby temple cafe, described as a chaya in the forest area. Lunch is not included in the price. The tour notes to budget around 2000 yen for lunch for your group.

What I like about this lunch setup is the location logic. Eating near the temple keeps the day flowing. You are not jumping into transit again and again. You also get a break before the hot spring soak, which makes the next part feel more restorative.

The chaya menu is described as Japanese lunch, and the Japanese confectionary is noted as famous among locals. That is a small detail, but it signals something important: this is not a generic tourist meal. Even if you do not have time for dessert, you should still expect a more local-feeling stop than a random roadside restaurant.

A word of practical advice: since the onsen follows, keep the meal straightforward and do not overdo anything that will make you feel heavy. You do not need a special strategy. Just treat lunch as fuel and recharge before your soak.

Yuji Onsen: healing water, recovery time, and calmer minds

The final activity is the onsen near the temple, 湯冶温泉 (Yuji Onsen). The tour describes the facility as famous for healing your body and soul, and it mentions enjoying the water that has healing properties after lunch.

Hot springs are never just about heat. They are also about timing. After a forest walk with a climb, your body wants warmth, circulation, and a chance to loosen up. Ending the day here turns the hiking effort into a payoff, not just a workout you have to recover from later.

Reviews call out that finishing with onsen is refreshing, especially when conditions are hot and humid. Even if you plan to hike when the weather is milder, you will still likely appreciate the contrast between shaded cedar forest air and the hot spring soak.

Keep in mind the onsen fee is not included in the tour price, and the estimate given is around 2000 yen per person for your group. So for budgeting, think of your tour as having a base guided hike plus add-ons for the meal and soak.

Also, if you are sensitive to warm water settings, go in with a relaxed mindset. You do not have to turn it into a challenge. The point is to slow down and let the day settle.

Price and value: $104.51 plus the add-ons you should expect

The base price is listed at $104.51 per person, and the tour duration is about 6 hours. Temple admission for the main stop is free, which is a meaningful value point if you usually pay for attraction tickets.

However, the tour price does not include:

• lunch (around 2000 yen)
• transportation fee for the group
• onsen fee (around 2000 yen)

You should treat those as planned extras, not surprises. When I look at value here, the math makes sense because the day includes a guided forest bathing walk, a temple visit with folklore, and a guided finish at a well-known onsen. Also, the guide is a national certified pro guide with wilderness first aid. That credential matters when you are walking outdoors and spending time in a forested mountain setting.

One more value detail: this is priced for a small group, max 6 travelers. Smaller groups usually mean less waiting and less crowding at key moments, like the temple briefing and the transition to onsen.

If you are traveling solo, the group setup can still be comfortable since you are not dealing with a large tour herd. If you are splitting costs with others in your party, you may find the structure even more appealing.

Timing and flow: how the 6-hour day is structured

The day has a clean rhythm:

1) pick-up or meeting at Odawara Station, 9:00 am

2) travel by train and bus to the temple area

3) forest bathing on the path with cedar and cypress

4) temple visit with folklore explanations

5) lunch at a chaya in the forest area

6) soak at Yuji Onsen

7) return to Odawara Station

That order matters because it protects the experience from feeling disjointed. The forest walk is not squeezed in after a long, rushed lunch. The onsen is not tacked on hours later. You go forest, then culture, then food, then recovery.

The tour also mentions that it is weather-dependent. Forest paths and temple ground time are outdoors, and the experience says it requires good weather. If it is canceled due to poor weather, you are offered a different date or a full refund. That is the kind of policy you want for an outdoor day.

In terms of comfort, plan for some walking and uneven natural ground. Even with warm weather, wear shoes that you trust.

Small group comfort and the guide factor, including Akihiro-san

This tour has a maximum of 6 travelers. That changes the feel. You are less likely to be stuck behind people at the back of the group, and it is easier for the guide to adjust the pace.

The guide is described as a national certified pro guide with wilderness first aid. You might not need that certificate on a given day, but it signals that the operator takes outdoor safety seriously.

One review specifically calls out Akihiro-san, saying he is experienced, tailors the hike to the group’s interests, and shares stories about the mountain, the cedar forest, and the temple. Even if your guide is not Akihiro-san, the feedback gives you a clear expectation: you should get more than generic points. You get an explanation that makes the walk feel intentional.

If you are the type of person who enjoys hearing local folklore tied to what you are seeing, this is a big plus. If you prefer total silence while hiking, you can still take quiet moments, but the guided storytelling is part of the design.

Who should book this Odawara forest bathing and onsen tour

I think this tour is a strong fit if you want a day that mixes:

• gentle-to-moderate exercise
• forest atmosphere
• temple context
• and a hot spring finish

It is especially attractive for people who are curious about forest bathing but not sure where to start, or who want a guided route that already connects the woods with the temple visit and the onsen.

It also works well if you like small groups. Up to 6 travelers means you are not battling shoulder-to-shoulder crowds on a narrow trail.

You might skip it if you only want to spend time indoors, if you hate hiking on mountain paths, or if you are trying to keep the day strictly budget-friendly. The add-on costs for lunch and the onsen are real, and transportation fees for your group are not included.

Should you book this tour

Yes, if you want a structured but not hectic day in Odawara that ends with a soak, and if the idea of forest bathing appeals to you more than just ticking off a temple. This tour is built around a coherent flow: climb through cedar and cypress, hear folklore at Saijoji, eat at a temple-area chaya, then recover at Yuji Onsen.

Book it especially if you value a small group pace and you like guides who connect the setting to stories. Just go in with the right budget mindset, add the onsen fee and lunch, and wear shoes that handle forest terrain.

If that sounds like your kind of day, this is a very sensible way to experience the mountain side near Odawara without turning it into complicated logistics.

FAQ

Where is the meeting point for this tour?

You meet at Beck’s Coffee on the 3rd floor of Odawara Station.

What time does the tour start and how long is it?

It starts at 9:00 am and runs for about 6 hours.

What is the tour route in simple terms?

You pick up at Odawara Station, travel to the temple area, do forest bathing on the path, visit Daiyuzan Saijoji Temple, have lunch at a nearby chaya, soak at Yuji Onsen, then return to Odawara Station.

What is included in the price?

The tour includes a national certified pro guide with a wilderness first aid certificate, and the admission ticket for the temple stop is free.

What costs are not included?

Lunch is not included (around 2000 yen), and you also need to budget for your group’s transportation fee and the onsen fee (around 2000 yen).

What onsen do you visit?

You visit 湯冶温泉 (Yuji Onsen) near the temple.

How big is the group?

The maximum group size is 6 travelers.

What should I wear or bring?

Bring comfortable walking shoes and warm clothes for walking in the forest.

What happens if the weather is bad?

This experience requires good weather. If it is canceled due to poor weather, you are offered a different date or a full refund.

If I cancel, can I get my money back?

This experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason. If you cancel or ask for an amendment, the amount you paid will not be refunded.