A couple of days ago I was reading about Forest Bathing in Kyoto, Japan, and I found myself wondering how it would actually enrich one’s life, or if it made any sense at all. Well, I am not wondering anymore because I just got the deets to convince you and anyone you know to make that journey to the ancient imperial capital for some forest bathing (I love the sound of that).

For over 1,000 years, Kyoto, which is home to Japan’s many cultural traditions and arts and crafts, has struck a chord with the hearts and minds of an increasing number of people especially those from this side of the Sahara, whose visits to the imperial capital have increased by more than 30% in one year.

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If you are one of those visitors or are planning to make a visit to Kyoto, you should definitely make Forest Bathing, also known as Shinrin-yoku in Japanese, your numero uno priority. This new attraction is being touted as the place to be, not only for experiencing the natural beauty of Kyoto’s Arashiyama Bamboo Grove but providing you with a wellness effect that will reportedly reduce stress and enrich your wellbeing.

Kyoto Forest Bathing Mobile Meditation

According to Shuhei Akahoshi, Managing Director of the Kyoto Convention & Visitors Bureau, contemplative walks through the woods that reconnect the individual with nature can lead to decreased stress, natural mood elevation, and even a stronger immune system. This means of mobile meditation has been recognized by the Japanese government since 1982 and has been endorsed by the Forest Agency of Japan as a means of improving quality of life.

Forest Bathing can be enjoyed throughout the year, with each season providing its own unique experience. In addition to strolling along the bamboo grove paths, you can have the option of traversing the groves by rickshaw. And if you prefer a female rickshaw driver, they are also at your disposal.

Effects of Forest Bathing

Dr. Qing Li, President of the Japanese Society of Forest Medicine and senior professor at Nippon Medical School in Tokyo, has studied the effects of Forest Bathing and found that by using a mood profile, participants’ feelings of stress, anxiety, or anger had decreased through these bathing experiences, and their perceptions of energy or vigor had improved.

In two other related studies, Li and fellow researchers sent groups of young men and women on three-day trips that included several forest baths and a stay in a hotel in the middle of the forest. Blood tests taken before and after these trips showed a significant boost in natural killer cells, which play a vital role in the immune system’s ability to fight off illness. Li speculates that forest bathing allows participants to breathe in air that contains essential oils from surrounding trees with active components such as limonene that have antimicrobial and immune-boosting properties.

So, whenever you visit Japan, don’t miss the chance to take part in the unique Kyoto experience aka Forest bathing. But don’t spend all your time there; I hear it can be a little bit addictive. Walk around and enjoy the cultural, shopping, and gourmet offerings that the city is famous for, then return home feeling uplifted, healthy, and inspired by nature.