Forest Bathing in Japan
The Birthplace of Forest Bathing.
Hidden deep in the mountains of Nagano’s Kiso Valley, Akasawa Natural Recreation Forest is where modern shinrin-yoku first began. This ancient forest of towering Kiso Hinoki – many over 300 years old – has long been cherished in Japan for its purity, fragrance, and spiritual calm.
In 1982, Akasawa hosted the world’s first official forest bathing event, and the forest has been a symbolic heart of the practice ever since.
Walking its gentle trails, you’re surrounded by the soft scent of cypress, clear streams, and light filtering through velvety green. The forest sits at over 1,000 metres, so the air feels crisp and alive, offering a natural sanctuary for slowing down and reconnecting with yourself.
Akasawa is also home to a charming forest railway once used to transport precious cypress timber – now it carries visitors quietly through the trees, adding to the magic of the experience.
For anyone curious about the origins of forest bathing, Akasawa is the perfect place to step into the roots of shinrin-yoku, where the practice was first shared with the world.
