Forest Bathing in Temple and Enjoy onsen with healing power

Daiyuzan Saijoji Temple gives this outing its special character: you reach a 600-year-old temple by passing through a mountain forest lined with enormous cedar and cypress trees. The walk is not just a way to get somewhere. It is the main event, with quiet woodland, old religious buildings, local folklore, and a hot spring waiting at the end.

I like the personal scale of this tour, with no more than six people, and I like the way the day joins three very Japanese pleasures: forest bathing, temple culture, and onsen time. Guide Akihiro-san can tailor the outing to your interests, a real benefit if you want more detail about the mountain, the trees, or the temple stories.

The catch is cost clarity. The listed price is $104.51, but lunch, public transportation, and the onsen are extra. Plan on about 2,000 yen for lunch and about 2,000 yen for the hot spring, plus transportation, so the final bill will be higher than the headline price.

Key points to know before booking

• A cedar and cypress walk leads to Daiyuzan Saijoji Temple, where some trees are more than 500 years old.
• The group is limited to six people, making it easier to ask questions and adjust the pace or focus.
• Akihiro-san is a national certified guide with a wilderness first aid certificate.
• Lunch comes at a temple-area tea house or the onsen facility, with Japanese food and locally popular sweets available at the tea house.
• The onsen is a major part of the day, not an optional afterthought, but its fee is separate.
• You meet at Beck’s Coffee on the third floor of Odawara Station at 9 a.m. and finish back at Odawara Station after about six hours.

Why the forest walk is the heart of the day

Forest bathing is a slow walk through nature intended to refresh the mind and body. Here, the setting gives the idea real weight. The approach to Daiyuzan Saijoji Temple passes through a forest of old cedar and cypress, including trees more than five centuries old.

You should think of this as a gentle mountain outing rather than a sightseeing transfer. The trees, shade, and quiet are part of the experience, so comfortable walking shoes matter. Warm clothes are also recommended for the forest, even though conditions can feel hot and humid in summer.

The walk gives you time to notice the setting before arriving at the temple. That gradual approach is valuable. You are not stepping off a bus in front of a famous building, taking a quick photograph, and moving on. The forest prepares you for a place with centuries of religious tradition.

The physical side should still be taken seriously. The tour description calls for comfortable shoes and warm clothing, and the route is described as a walk up toward the temple. Exact distances and steepness are not provided, so ask the guide if you need a clearer idea before booking. Most people can participate, but this is not the best choice if you want a completely flat or vehicle-based day.

Reaching Daiyuzan Saijoji from Odawara

The meeting point is Beck’s Coffee on the third floor of Odawara Station. You meet at 9 a.m., then travel by train and bus toward the temple area. Transportation is not included, and the fee for your group is paid separately.

That arrangement has two practical effects. First, you need to arrive at the station with enough time to find the meeting place. Second, you should carry some Japanese yen for transportation, food, and the onsen. The supplied information does not give a fixed transportation total, so you will want to confirm the expected amount when you book or meet your guide.

Starting at Odawara Station is useful if you are exploring the wider area. It also keeps the finish simple: after the hot spring, you return to the same station. Odawara Station has luggage storage, so you can leave larger bags there instead of carrying them into the forest. Storage fees are not listed, so check the station’s current arrangements.

This tour is a better fit for someone already using Odawara as a base or passing through with a manageable bag. It is less convenient if you have a tight onward connection, since the activity lasts about six hours and ends at roughly the same meeting point after the onsen.

Daiyuzan Saijoji Temple and its old trees

Daiyuzan Saijoji Temple, also called Doryoson, is the cultural center of the outing. The temple has about 600 years of history, and the woodland approach helps you sense its age before you reach the buildings.

The tour includes time to visit the temple while the guide explains local folklore. This is where a guide adds value. Akihiro-san can tell the stories connected with the temple and point out features that might otherwise look like attractive but unfamiliar religious architecture.

The trees deserve as much attention as the buildings. Huge cedar and cypress trees, some more than 500 years old, create a strong feeling of continuity. You are not simply looking at old wood in a museum. You are walking through a living forest that has grown around a place of worship for generations.

I especially like this pairing of nature and folklore. The forest offers quiet and physical refreshment, while the guide gives the temple a human voice. If your interests run toward Japanese religion, local legends, or old mountain sanctuaries, tell Akihiro-san at the start. The small group makes that kind of personal focus possible.

The temple stop is not presented as a formal religious ceremony, and the supplied details do not promise special access or a particular ritual. Expect a guided visit, stories, and time in the grounds rather than a performance staged for tourists.

Lunch in a temple tea house

Lunch comes after the temple visit, at a Japanese tea house in the forest area or at the onsen facility. The tea house serves a Japanese lunch, and its Japanese confectionery is known locally. The meal costs around 2,000 yen per person and is not included in the tour price.

This is a useful part of the day because it keeps the outing tied to the temple setting. A meal at a nearby tea house feels more connected to the place than stopping at a generic restaurant near the station. It also gives you a proper break before the hot spring.

You should budget for lunch in advance and mention any food concerns when arranging the tour. The available information does not specify a menu, dietary substitutions, or payment methods. If you want the tea house meal, ask whether the group will eat there on your date, since lunch may instead take place at the onsen facility.

The sweets are worth noting if you enjoy Japanese tea-house traditions. The information does not identify a particular confection, so do not book the tour expecting one named specialty. The useful point is that local Japanese sweets form part of the tea house’s appeal.

The healing onsen after the walk

The final major stop is an onsen near the temple. The facility is known for water described as having healing power for body and soul, and the tour presents the bath as a way to finish the forest walk and refresh yourself before returning to Odawara.

The timing makes sense. After walking through the trees and visiting the temple, you get a chance to rinse off and soak. One summer outing was described as hot and humid, which makes the bath especially appealing as a reset at the end of the day. The onsen fee is around 2,000 yen per person and is paid separately.

Onsen etiquette matters. You should expect to wash before entering the shared bath and follow the facility’s posted rules. The supplied information does not state whether towels, bathing items, private baths, or clothing storage are included, so ask the guide or facility before you go. Do not assume the onsen fee covers every extra service.

The word healing here describes the facility’s reputation and the quality attributed to its water. It should not be treated as medical care or a guaranteed treatment. Still, the combination of warm water, a mountain setting, and a quiet end to the day is a sensible reason to choose this outing over a temple-only visit.

If you are uncomfortable with communal bathing, this may be the deciding issue. The tour is built around the onsen, not merely a quick look at one. Ask about the bathing arrangements before booking if you have concerns.

What the small group changes

The maximum group size is six people. That is small enough for direct conversation with the guide and less cumbersome during train, bus, forest, and temple portions of the day.

The strongest benefit is flexibility. Akihiro-san has tailored the outing to a solo participant’s interests, focusing on the mountain, cedar forest, and temple stories. Your own group may not receive exactly the same focus, but the format allows you to ask for more explanation rather than simply following a large crowd.

A small group also helps with the practical parts of the trip. Getting on public transportation, walking at a comfortable rhythm, and deciding how much time to spend listening to folklore are easier with fewer people. Group discounts are available, though the supplied details do not state the discount amount.

The tradeoff is that this is a guided personal outing, not a low-cost independent visit. If you are happy to navigate the train and bus, find the temple, arrange lunch, and locate the onsen yourself, you may spend less. You would also lose the guide’s local stories, route planning, and wilderness first aid training.

Price, extra fees, and overall value

The advertised tour price is $104.51 per person. That pays for the guided experience, but not the full day. Lunch is around 2,000 yen, the onsen is around 2,000 yen, and transportation for your group is also extra. Personal purchases, including souvenirs or alcohol, are not included.

For a solo participant, the cost can feel high once those additions are counted. You are paying for a six-hour outing with a certified guide, small-group attention, a temple visit, a forest walk, and help connecting several places that would take more planning on your own.

For a group of friends or family members, the value may improve if group discounts apply. The transport arrangement is for your group, so the final cost may depend on how the expenses are divided. Since no transportation estimate or discount figure is supplied, confirm those details before committing.

I would judge the price by what you want from the day. If you mainly want to see Daiyuzan Saijoji Temple and can manage public transportation, an independent visit could be more economical. If you want the forest walk explained, the folklore brought to life, and the onsen added without arranging every step yourself, the price is easier to justify.

There is also an experience value that is hard to measure. The tour connects the old trees, temple grounds, tea-house meal, and hot spring into one calm day. You are buying a change of pace from city sightseeing, not a long list of attractions.

Who will enjoy this six-hour outing

I would recommend this for people who like nature, local stories, Japanese temples, and hot springs in equal measure. It suits you best if you are comfortable walking in a forest, using public transportation, and setting aside most of a day.

It is also a good choice for solo visitors who want company without joining a large bus group. The group limit of six and the guide’s ability to shape the conversation can make the day feel more personal.

Families and friends may also find the format practical, especially if the group discount applies. Service animals are allowed, and the activity is near public transportation. The information says most people can participate, but exact trail conditions and accessibility details are not provided.

I would hesitate to recommend it if you dislike communal baths, need a fully fixed all-inclusive price, or have a strict schedule after lunch. Weather is another factor. The activity requires good weather, and poor conditions can lead to a cancellation, a different date, or a full refund.

Practical preparation for the temple and onsen

Wear comfortable walking shoes. The route rises toward the temple, and even a pleasant forest stroll is more enjoyable when your feet are supported.

Bring warm clothing for the forest, along with enough yen for the separate lunch, transport, onsen, and personal spending. Conditions can be hot and humid in summer, but the tour specifically advises warm clothes for walking in the forest, so check the forecast and dress in layers.

Leave large luggage at Odawara Station if needed. This makes the train, bus, forest path, and bath far easier than carrying a suitcase all day.

The start is at 9 a.m. at Beck’s Coffee, third floor of Odawara Station. The tour ends back at Odawara Station after the onsen, with an approximate duration of six hours. Build in extra time if you have a train reservation afterward.

Booking confirmation is provided at the time of booking. The activity is non-refundable and cannot be changed for personal reasons, so be certain about your date. The weather exception is important: if poor weather causes the operator to cancel, you are offered another date or a full refund.

Should you book this forest bathing and onsen tour?

Book it if you want a slower, more grounded day near Odawara, especially if the thought of walking beneath 500-year-old trees and ending in a hot spring sounds better than another packed sightseeing schedule. The guide, small group, temple folklore, and tea-house lunch give the outing more substance than a simple nature walk.

Think twice if you want the lowest possible price or dislike paying extras along the way. The listed $104.51 does not include lunch, transportation, or the roughly 2,000-yen onsen fee. Ask for the expected transportation total and confirm lunch arrangements before booking.

My call: this is a strong choice for a small group or solo visitor who values local context and a calm pace. It is not a bargain day trip, but it offers a clear mix of old forest, temple culture, Japanese food, and onsen time that is difficult to reproduce without careful planning.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

You meet at Beck’s Coffee on the third floor of Odawara Station at 9 a.m. The listed 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.

How long does the experience last?

The approximate duration is six hours.

Is lunch included?

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

Is the onsen fee included?

No. The onsen fee is around 2,000 yen per person and must be paid separately.

Is transportation included?

No. Transportation for your group is not included. The route uses a train and bus to reach the temple area.

How large is the group?

The activity has a maximum of six people. Group discounts are available, although the discount amount is not specified.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

The activity requires good weather. If the operator cancels because of poor weather, you are offered a different date or a full refund.