Forest Bathing in Temple and Enjoy onsen with healing power

Trade city noise for cedar shade. This six-hour outing from Odawara takes you to Daiyuzan Saijoji Temple, a 600-year-old mountain temple reached by train and bus, then pairs a peaceful forest walk with a Japanese lunch and hot spring soak. I like the old cedar and cypress forest most, along with the chance to hear local folklore instead of simply taking photos and leaving.

I also like the small group size, limited to six people, and the fact that guide Akihiro-san can shape the walk around your interests. The main consideration is cost: the $104.51 tour price does not include transport, lunch, or the onsen, so you should budget roughly another 4,000 yen per person, plus transportation.

What Makes This Half-Day Outing Special

• Ancient trees beside Daiyuzan Saijoji Temple: The forest path includes cedar and cypress trees said to be more than 500 years old.
• A temple reached by local transport: You travel from Odawara by train and bus, giving the day a more local feel than a private coach excursion.
• Forest bathing with a purpose: The walk is designed for quiet time among the trees, gentle exercise, and a slower pace.
• Folklore at a working temple: Your guide explains the stories connected with the temple and Doryoson, the temple’s well-known spiritual figure.
• Japanese sweets and lunch at a temple tea house: The nearby Chaya serves Japanese food and local-favorite confectionery.
• A hot spring finish: You end with a soak at an onsen associated with toji, the traditional practice of using hot springs to rest and restore the body.

Starting at Odawara Station at 9am

The meeting point is Beck’s Coffee on the third floor of Odawara Station. That is a useful detail because Odawara is a working transportation hub, and a clear indoor meeting spot makes the early start less stressful. You finish back at the same station after the onsen.

The tour begins at 9am and lasts about six hours. Since the route uses public transportation, you should arrive with enough time to find the meeting point and use the station facilities. If you are carrying luggage, Odawara Station has storage lockers, so you do not need to haul a suitcase up a mountain temple route.

The included guide is a nationally certified professional with wilderness first aid certification. That matters here more than it would on a simple city walk. You are not taking a difficult wilderness trek, but the route involves a forest path, uneven ground, and movement between transport, temple, café, and hot spring.

The group limit is six people. That gives the guide room to explain temple details, answer questions, and adjust the pace. Solo visitors may find the format especially appealing. One person who joined alone found that Akihiro-san tailored the walk to personal interests, rather than delivering a fixed speech to a large crowd.

Riding the Train and Bus to Daiyuzan

The journey to Daiyuzan Saijoji Temple is part of the appeal. You leave Odawara by train and bus, then head into the mountain area where the temple sits among tall trees. The trip takes you away from the castle-town transport center and into a quieter setting without requiring you to plan several separate connections yourself.

Public transportation also keeps the outing grounded in everyday Japan. You are not being driven directly from one attraction to another behind tinted windows. Instead, you get a small look at how people move between Odawara and the surrounding mountain communities.

The tradeoff is control. Transport time depends on the local schedule, and this is not a private car tour. If you want to stop wherever you like or change the route at the last minute, this outing may feel structured. For most people, though, having the guide handle the route is worth it.

Transportation is not included in the tour price. The exact total depends on the fares for your group, so ask for the expected amount when booking or before departure. This is one reason the $104.51 headline price should not be treated as the complete cost.

Walking Through the 500-Year-Old Cedar Forest

The forest walk is the heart of the experience. The route rises toward the temple through large cedar and cypress trees, some more than five centuries old. These trees change the mood quickly. The walk is not just a way to reach the temple, but a quiet period before the sightseeing begins.

Forest bathing, or shinrin-yoku, is less about covering distance than paying attention to the setting. You will have time to walk beneath the trees, breathe cooler forest air, and take in the scale of the trunks and branches. The tour description presents this as a way to refresh both mind and body, and the format supports that idea through a calm pace and a guide who can explain what you are seeing.

You should wear comfortable walking shoes. Warm clothes are also recommended, even though the weather in the wider Odawara area may feel mild. Mountain forest conditions can be cooler, and the route is shaded. In summer, the walk can still be hot and humid, as one participant discovered, so dress in layers and prepare for changing conditions.

The tour requires reasonable mobility, but the information says most people can participate. It is not presented as a strenuous hike or a technical trail. Still, you should be comfortable walking through a forest path and handling a day that includes stairs, transport changes, and a temple visit.

Daiyuzan Saijoji Temple and the Stories of Doryoson

Daiyuzan Saijoji Temple has about 600 years of history, and the setting gives the visit much of its power. The buildings are surrounded by old trees, with cedar and cypress used in the temple architecture. You get both the quiet of the forest and the detail of traditional wooden religious buildings in one stop.

The guide adds context that you would likely miss on a quick independent visit. Akihiro-san shares local folklore and stories connected with the temple. This makes the stop more than a photo break. You can ask why certain places matter, how the temple relates to the surrounding forest, and what role Doryoson has in local belief.

The temple is not treated as a separate attraction cut off from the natural setting. The forest path, old buildings, and stories work together. That combination is why this outing feels different from a standard temple tour in central Kyoto or Tokyo. You are visiting a place where the setting is part of the spiritual experience.

Admission to the temple is included at no extra charge. The major limitation is time. Six hours must cover transport in both directions, the forest walk, the temple, lunch, and the onsen. You should expect a well-paced visit rather than several hours of free exploration.

Lunch at a Forest Tea House

After the temple visit, lunch is served at a nearby Chaya, or Japanese tea house, in the forest area. You may also eat at the onsen facility, depending on the plan for the day. The temple tea house serves Japanese lunch and is known locally for its Japanese confectionery.

This is one of the tour’s nicest details. A meal at a small tea house gives the day a sense of place. Rather than stopping at a generic restaurant near the station, you eat close to the temple and forest you have just explored. The sweets are worth keeping in mind if you enjoy wagashi or want a small edible souvenir.

Lunch is not included. The stated estimate is around 2,000 yen per person. Personal expenses, including souvenirs and alcohol, are also separate. Bring enough cash or confirm accepted payment methods before the day begins, since no payment details are provided.

The meal is best viewed as part of the experience, not simply fuel between activities. If you prefer a fast lunch or have strict dietary needs, ask the provider what choices are available before you book. The supplied information confirms Japanese lunch at the Chaya, but it does not list menus or allergy arrangements.

Soaking at the Mountain Onsen

The final major stop is the onsen near the temple. The facility is associated with toji, the Japanese practice of spending time in hot springs to help rest and restore the body. After the forest walk and temple visit, the timing makes sense: you finish the active part of the day with warm water and a slower pace.

This is not a quick bath squeezed into a busy sightseeing schedule. The onsen is a central part of the outing, and the day is built around reaching it after lunch. One summer participant described the hot, humid walk and found the chance to rinse off and soak afterward especially refreshing.

The onsen fee is around 2,000 yen per person and is not included. You should also remember that Japanese hot springs usually require bathing before entering the shared baths. The provided information does not spell out the facility’s exact rules, so ask the guide if you are unsure about towels, bathing procedures, or any personal concern.

If you have never used an onsen, this tour may be a comfortable way to try one because you have a guide nearby and the visit follows a clear walk and meal. If you dislike shared bathing or cannot use hot spring water for medical reasons, the onsen portion may be less appealing. The listing does not promise an alternative activity, so check before booking.

What the $104.51 Price Really Covers

At $104.51 per person, this is not a cheap transportation package. But the value is easier to judge when you look at what the guide contributes. You receive a nationally certified professional guide with wilderness first aid training, a small group capped at six, an organized route through a mountain area, temple interpretation, and support with the public transportation connections.

The price does not include three important costs:

• Lunch, about 2,000 yen per person
• Onsen admission, about 2,000 yen per person
• Transportation for your group

That means the practical cost is higher than the advertised tour price. You should also allow for personal spending on sweets, souvenirs, or drinks.

The outing offers better value if you want explanation and company. If you are comfortable researching the train and bus route, visiting the temple alone, and arranging your own bath, you could potentially spend less independently. You would give up the guide’s local stories, route planning, and ability to tailor the walk.

Group discounts are available, which may improve the price for families or small parties. Because the group is limited to six, the experience should remain personal even when you do not book privately.

Who Will Enjoy This Experience Most

I would recommend this outing to you if you want a quieter side trip from Odawara and like combining several gentle activities rather than chasing a long list of sights. It suits people who enjoy forests, traditional temples, local transport, Japanese food, and hot springs.

It is also a good match for solo visitors. The small group and guide-led format remove the awkward parts of navigating an unfamiliar mountain route alone. Akihiro-san’s ability to adapt the walk to individual interests is a real advantage for anyone who wants questions answered rather than a one-size-fits-all tour.

Families and couples may enjoy the balance of movement and rest, though younger children must be comfortable walking and following a six-hour schedule. The information says service animals are allowed, and the activity is near public transportation.

You may want to choose another outing if your priority is shopping, major urban sights, or a packed sightseeing schedule. You should also think twice if you dislike public transportation, forest walking, shared baths, or extra costs paid locally.

Practical Tips for a Smoother Day

Wear shoes that can handle a forest path. Avoid flimsy sandals unless you already know they are suitable for uneven walking.

Bring warm layers for the shaded forest. In summer, the route can also be humid, so a light change of clothing may be useful before the onsen.

Leave large luggage in Odawara Station storage. The tour begins and ends there, making this a simple solution for people arriving by train or continuing elsewhere afterward.

Carry money for lunch, the onsen, transportation, and personal purchases. The tour price covers the guide service, but these day-to-day costs remain separate.

Tell the provider about your interests before the tour. Akihiro-san has shown that he can tailor the experience, and the temple’s folklore, trees, architecture, and bathing traditions offer several angles to explore.

The activity depends on good weather. If poor weather forces cancellation, you are offered another date or a full refund. Otherwise, the booking is non-refundable and cannot be changed, so check your plans carefully before paying.

Should You Book This Odawara Forest Bathing Tour?

Book it if you want a thoughtful mountain day rather than a quick temple stop. The strongest reasons are the old cedar forest, the small group, the local folklore, and the satisfying progression from walking to lunch to onsen. A perfect 5 rating from 17 published ratings and a 100 percent recommendation record fit the experience’s clear strengths: it is personal, peaceful, and well balanced.

Do not book it expecting the $104.51 price to cover everything. Add lunch, hot spring admission, and transport, and remember that the day involves public transit and forest walking. If those details suit you, Daiyuzan Saijoji Temple offers a rewarding change from Odawara’s better-known urban attractions.

FAQ

Where does the tour begin?

The tour begins at Beck’s Coffee on the third floor of Odawara Station at 9am. The stated station address is 1-chōme-1-1 Shiroyama, Odawara, Kanagawa 250-0045, Japan.

Where does the tour end?

The tour ends back at Odawara Station after the onsen visit.

How long does the experience last?

The experience lasts about six hours.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch costs around 2,000 yen per person and may be served at a Japanese tea house in the temple forest area or at the onsen facility.

Is the onsen fee included?

No. The onsen fee is around 2,000 yen per person.

Is transportation included?

No. The transportation costs for your group are separate. The route uses a train and bus between Odawara and the temple area.

How many people can join?

The activity has a maximum of six people. Group discounts are available.

What should I wear?

Wear comfortable walking shoes and warm clothes for the forest walk. The activity requires walking along a forest path, and the shaded mountain setting may feel cool.