Cedar shade and hot spring reset your day. This small-group walk up to Daiyuzan Saijoji Temple turns an ordinary outing into true forest bathing, with guide Akihiro-san sharing what to notice along the way. The day starts at Beck’s Coffee (3F) in Odawara Station at 9:00am, and it stays focused: temple, forest, lunch, then onsen.

I really liked how the route builds you up slowly, from train and bus transfers into a mountain path lined with huge cedar and cypress trees. And I loved that you finish with the practical payoff: a soak at 湯冶温泉, described as healing your body and soul after the climb. That means you’re not just looking at scenery—you’re leaving with the kind of tired that feels good.

One thing to plan for: the published price doesn’t include lunch, transportation, or the onsen fee (each around 2000 yen). Also, this experience needs good weather, so you’ll want to have a little flexibility in your schedule.

Key Points Worth Knowing

• 500+ year cedar and cypress forest path makes the forest bathing feel real, not staged
• Daiyuzan Saijoji Temple with folk tales and centuries-old temple structures
• Very small group (max 6) helps you keep a calm pace on the mountain
• Lunch at a temple chaya plus famous local Japanese confectionery
• 湯冶温泉 (Yuji Onsen) is the payoff after your walk, with healing water
• National certified pro guide + wilderness first aid keeps things safe and organized

Forest Bathing Around Odawara Feels Like a Full Reset

This isn’t a “look and leave” temple stop. You’re walking into a mountain area where the trees do the work for you. The day’s design nudges you from city noise to slow breathing: first the travel into the area, then the forest path to the temple, then lunch, then onsen. It’s one continuous rhythm.

The forest is a big part of why this works. You’ll be surrounded by massive cedar and cypress trees that are reported as over 500 years old along the path. That matters because the visual scale changes your pace. You stop rushing. Your mind has something steady to land on.

The guide makes a difference too. Akihiro-san, mentioned by name in past group experiences, tailors the walk to your interests and keeps pointing out what to notice—things like how the mountain path feels in different spots, and the stories tied to the temple grounds. It’s not just sightseeing. It’s attention training.

Getting There: Odawara Station to the Temple Area

The day starts simply and cleanly: you meet at Beck’s Coffee at Odawara Station (3F) at 9:00am. That’s convenient because you’re already in transit mode before you even start the experience. If you’re arriving by train, you can drop luggage in the Odawara Station luggage storage first, so you’re not hauling bags on the mountain.

The transfer portion uses train and bus to reach the temple area. Practically, that means you should plan on some waiting time and walking between connections. It’s not a marathon, but it is a day that expects shoes on your feet.

Group size is capped at 6 travelers. That small number tends to make transfers smoother—less time lost regrouping, more time for the guide to focus on pacing.

The Cedar and Cypress Path: Where the Forest Bathing Happens

This is the core of the experience. You’ll stroll the forest path leading up to Daiyuzan Saijoji Temple, with tall cedar and cypress trees along the way. Past participants describe it as refreshing, especially because the onsen at the end rinses you off in the most satisfying way.

What you should aim for on this segment is not “fitness bragging.” Think of it as a slow walk with a purpose. Wear comfortable walking shoes, because you’re going uphill and you’ll want stability on the path. The tour also asks you to bring warm clothes for walking in the forest—this is a tip worth listening to, since mountain areas can feel different from the station even when the weather looks mild.

Also, go in knowing that this type of walk can get hot and humid in summer. The plan helps by saving the biggest relief for later: after lunch you head to the onsen, where the day’s effort turns into that clean, relaxed feeling.

Arriving at Daiyuzan Saijoji Temple: Shrines, Wood, and Stories

When you reach Daiyuzan Saijoji Temple (often called Daiyuzan Saijoji), you’re stepping into a place with a long timeline. The temple is described as having around 600 years of history.

What I like about this stop is that it’s not just architecture. You’ll hear folklores and explanations tied to the place. Those stories give the scenery context, especially if you’re the type who usually wonders what you’re looking at. Cedar and cypress wood also show up in the temple buildings and surrounding structures, and that theme matches what you’ve been experiencing on the walk.

Even if you’re not chasing deep religious knowledge, the guide-led storytelling gives you something useful: a reason to slow down at key points. That makes the temple visit feel part of the forest experience, not a separate box to check.

Lunch at a Temple Chaya: Simple, Local, and Timed Right

After the main climb, you’ll stop for lunch at a nearby temple chaya in the forest area. This is one of those details that makes the day feel cohesive. Instead of rushing out to find food, you eat close to where you walked.

The lunch is Japanese, and the tea house also has confectionery that’s described as famous with locals. That’s a nice touch because it gives you more than a meal—you get a local taste that feels tied to the setting.

Important budget note: lunch is not included in the base tour price. It’s listed as around 2000 yen. If you plan ahead and carry a card/yen you’re comfortable using, you won’t feel stress during the day.

Timing-wise, lunch sets you up for the onsen. You eat, settle down, and then move on while your legs aren’t fully stiff. That makes the onsen time more comfortable.

湯冶温泉 After the Walk: The Real Payoff

The final highlight is the hot spring near the temple: 湯冶温泉 (Yuji Onsen). The facility is described as famous for healing your body and soul, and you’ll enjoy the healing water after lunch.

This is exactly why the day works as a package. You’re not just walking for the sake of walking. You’re walking so your body can enjoy the soak.

You’ll still need to pay the onsen fee on-site (around 2000 yen). So yes, it’s an extra cost—but it also means you’re planning for the moment that transforms the day from tiring to relaxing.

Practical advice: wear clothing that’s easy to remove and put back on. Your day includes walking, then an onsen. If you’ve ever tried to wrangle wet gear with complicated shoes or layered outfits, you already know why simple wins here.

Price and Logistics: Does It Feel Like Good Value?

The base price is $104.51 per person for about 6 hours. That’s the part you pay to join the group day and receive the guide service (admission ticket is listed as free for the group). On top of that, you’ll budget for:

• Lunch (around 2000 yen)
• Transportation fee for your group
• Onsen fee (around 2000 yen)

So the real question is whether that extra spending is worth it. For me, the answer is yes, because the tour pays for the parts that are hardest to DIY: local guidance on what to notice, the connection between forest path and temple stop, and the guided flow into the onsen experience.

Also, the tour is booked fairly far in advance on average (47 days). That’s a small clue that people find the pacing and the setting appealing.

Group discounts are mentioned, and the mobile ticket format helps with getting organized without extra paper hassles. With a max of 6 travelers, you’re not squeezed into a crowd either.

Bottom line: if you price this like a “guided mountain + forest bathing + temple stories + onsen soak” day, it feels aligned. If you’d rather do everything independently, you could probably replicate parts of it—but you’d lose the guided context and the smooth day structure.

What to Pack and How to Pace Yourself

The tour is straightforward, but the mountain walk is real enough that your basics matter.

Bring:

• Comfortable walking shoes (non-negotiable)
• Warm clothes for the forest walk
• Anything you need for personal expenses (souvenirs and alcohol are listed as not included)

If you get warm easily, remember summer can be hot and humid. Plan to take your time on the uphill sections. With a small group, the guide can match pace fairly well, and Akihiro-san has a reputation for tailoring the walk to the group’s interests.

One more practical tip: since you’re based in Odawara Station at the start and end, you can stash luggage and travel light. That makes a big difference when you’re combining transit, forest walking, and then returning for the night.

Who This Tour Is Best For (and Who Might Skip It)

This experience is a great fit if you want:

• A calmer, sensory walk with the focus on forest bathing
• Temple culture explained in plain, story-based ways
• A relaxing ending that actually uses the location (onsen after lunch)

It’s also a smart pick for people who like small groups. Maximum 6 travelers means less waiting and more attention from the guide.

You might skip it if:

• You hate walking uphill, even at a moderate pace
• You don’t want to pay extra for lunch and the onsen fee
• Your schedule is inflexible and you can’t shift if weather cancels the plan

Final Verdict: Should You Book This Forest Bathing and Onsen Day?

If you’re the type who likes your travel days to feel balanced—some movement, some meaning, and then real comfort—this is an easy yes. The best reason to book is the full sequence: forest bathing on a centuries-old cedar and cypress path, a temple visit with folk tales, a proper Japanese lunch stop, and then a healing onsen soak at 湯冶温泉.

Just go in with one mindset: budget for lunch and the onsen, and dress for the forest walk. If you do that, you’ll end the day tired in a good way, with the kind of calm that hot springs are famous for.

FAQ

What time does the tour start and where do I meet?

You meet at Beck’s Coffee inside Odawara Station (3F) at 9:00am, and the tour ends back at Odawara Station.

How long is the experience?

It runs for about 6 hours.

Is lunch included in the price?

No. Lunch is not included and is listed as around 2000 yen. You can eat at a tea house in the forest area or at the onsen facility.

Do I need to pay for the onsen separately?

Yes. The onsen fee is not included and is listed as around 2000 yen.

What is the group size?

The tour has a maximum of 6 travelers.

Is the tour refundable if weather is bad?

If the experience is canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund. If you cancel for any other reason, it’s non-refundable and cannot be changed.