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 has been scientifically proven to have health-promoting effects. Forest therapy can be enjoyed at "Forest Therapy Bases" and "Therapy Roads," which are Mori 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 nationwide (as of August 2024). Shinjo Village , located 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 approximately 2km long and with an elevation difference of approximately 50m, located at the foot of Mount Mount Kenashigasen 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 Kunitachi Park, and you cannot enter unless accompanied by a Mori guide. Walking leisurely through the trees with a guide, you can experience a moment of surrendering yourself to the Mori.

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

Experience "forest therapy" for yourself

This time, I actually tried forest therapy at the Cradle Path. First, I went to the Shinjo Shinjo Village Hall! Now, I'll give you a summary of my forest therapy experience.

Reception at the base office

Meet at the Forest Therapy Base Office on the date and time you registered in advance. 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 entrance of the Mori

From the Forest Therapy Base Office, travel to Tanami Campsite, the entrance to the Cradle Path. It's about 8km and takes about 15 minutes. Your guide will lead the way by car, so please drive safely. Once you arrive, your forest therapy session will begin.

Our guide for the day was Mr. Kuroda

The Shinjo Village Forest Therapy Council currently has over 10 guides on its staff. Our guide on the day was chairman Kuroda Shinji, a "Mori professional" who normally works in forestry. In addition to his Toyotomi knowledge of Mori , his lively and engaging way of speaking is also appealing.

Now, let's enter the mountain!

Follow your guide along the well-maintained walking trails in the Mori. The trails are covered with soft, humus-like soil, made from dead and fallen leaves that have been decomposed by microorganisms over many years.

Thinned wood chips are also gentle on the legs and back

In some places, wood chips from thinned trees used in forest maintenance are laid out. They feel comfortable underfoot and make walking easier, reducing strain on the lower back.

Tatara Kera

I discovered a black lump beside the road. Shinjo Village is said to have once been the site of tatara iron smelting. Along the Cradle Path, you can see remnants of the old tatara settlement, including the stonework that remains from their dwellings.

It's heavy when you lift it!

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

Various plants you can encounter in the Mori

In the Mori, you can encounter many different 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 wild pear, a close relative of the kiwi fruit, growing wild in Shinjo Village.

"Attractions" in the Mori

We tried climbing up the tangled trunks. Using the places where the flexible trunks intersect as footholds, we kept our balance and climbed higher and higher. You can also enjoy this "attraction" in the Mori created by nature.

Relaxing in a hammock

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

Blind Walk

Experience a blind walk while walking blindfolded. You will understand that being blindfolded sharpens all your senses except for sight, such as the unevenness of the road under your feet, the texture of the soil containing fallen leaves and pebbles, the feeling of the wind on your skin, and the sound of the river babbling from a short distance away.

Mother trees that nurture Mori

The trunk is so thick that two people could stretch their arms out and still not find it wide enough. This tree is apparently a mother tree that produces seeds that will become new tree stocks. It is truly a mother tree that nurtures the Mori.

Listen to the voice of the trees

When I put a stethoscope to the trunk of the tree, I could hear a sound. I was moved by the powerful heartbeat of life as the tree drew water from the earth, making me feel that it was alive!

"Yahoo!" towards the mountain

Shout out "Yahoo!" 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 go ahead and do it!

View of the summit of Mount Kenashigasen

The Cradle Path is located at the foot of Mount Kenashigasen. At the end of the forest therapy, while looking out at the 1,219m summit, there is endless conversation about the Mori, plants, and how to enjoy the mountains in each season.

Forest therapy completed

We returned to Tanami Campground, our starting point. After about two and a half hours of forest therapy, we received postcards of seasonal flowers and scenery taken by our guides on the Cradle Path as a souvenir.

summary

The forest therapy experience was more comfortable than I could have imagined. Spending time in the Mori 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 feeling tired, I felt lighter both physically and mentally. The experience of "relaxing" by walking in the Mori is likely to become addictive.

[Forest Therapy in Shinjo Village, Okayama Prefecture ]

Location: Okayama Prefecture , Maniwa Shinjo , Maniwa District, Okayama Murata

*Meeting place: Forest Therapy Base Office (2008-1 Maniwa Shinjo Village, Maniwa District / Right next to Shinjo Village Office)

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

Implementation period: All year round

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 participant (up to 6 participants per guide)

*Guidance fee, insurance fee, and management fee included. Capacity: 1 to 30 people

Parking: Available

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