A cedar-and-cypress hike is therapy. This half-day style tour pairs forest bathing on the approach to Daiyuzan Saijoji Temple with a soak at 湯冶温泉 (Yuji Onsen). I like that it is structured, not just a random walk, and that you get both temple storytelling and a real hot-spring finish. The one catch: lunch and the onsen fees cost extra, and the whole experience depends on decent weather.

I also appreciate the small group size, max 6 travelers, and the fact that you are guided by a national certified pro guide with wilderness first aid. If you are lucky and get Akihiro-san as your guide, you can expect a hike tailored to your interests and a knack for connecting cedar forest details to temple stories. Just be ready for a 6-hour day with walking time in warm or humid conditions.

Key Highlights You’ll Feel (Not Just See)

• 500+ year cedar and cypress trees along the temple approach, ideal for slow, sensory walking
• Forest bathing pacing built into the route up to Daiyuzan Saijoji Temple
• Temple visit with folklore, told as you move through the area
• Tea house lunch in the forest zone, with local Japanese sweets
• 湯冶温泉 (Yuji Onsen) soak after the hike, when your body wants to cool down and reset

Forest Bathing on the Saijoji Approach, Where the Air Changes

Odawara is not only about getting to Hakone or Tokyo. One strong reason I think this tour is worth your time is that it turns the walk itself into the main event. You do forest bathing along the path up the mountain toward Daiyuzan Saijoji Temple, with centuries-old cedar and cypress lining the way.

Here’s what that means in real life: you will slow down. You stop to notice smells, shade, textures, and sounds, instead of marching to a photo spot. The route is known for huge trees, including specimens that are said to be over 500 years old. That kind of scale makes it easier to feel like you’re leaving normal city time behind.

You also get the best pairing for this type of experience. After lunch, the day ends with hot spring water at a famous local facility, 湯冶温泉 (Yuji Onsen), described as healing your body and soul. In warm weather, that matters even more, since you may feel sweaty and heavy during the climb, then feel noticeably lighter after soaking.

Odawara Station at 9:00 AM, and How to Keep the Day Easy

The tour starts at Odawara Station, with pickup at 9:00 AM. Your meeting point is Beck’s Coffee on the 3rd floor of Odawara Station. You end back at Odawara Station too, so you are not stuck planning an extra train change at the finish.

For a 6-hour experience, that “start and end at the same station” detail is bigger than it sounds. It saves energy and reduces stress, especially if you are arriving from somewhere else earlier in the day. The tour also runs with a maximum of 6 travelers, so you are not shuffled through like part of a crowd.

Bring smart planning to the front end. You can use luggage storage at Odawara Station, which helps if you are traveling with bags. And because the walk is in a forest setting, bring warm layers even if the city is mild. The guidance is clear on this point: comfortable walking shoes and warm clothes for the forest route.

Daiyuzan Saijoji Temple and the Forest Walk That Sets the Tone

The day’s anchor is Daiyuzan Saijoji Temple (also referred to as Doryoson). You are walking toward a site with a very long timeline, described as having about 600 years of history. On the route, you’ll experience the centuries-old cedar and cypress trees that create the atmosphere for the forest bath portion.

This is one of the most praised parts of the experience, mainly because the route is not generic nature time. It is a guided approach along a real temple path, where huge trees frame the walking. The trees are said to be over 500 years old, and the buildings and shrines are made of cedar and cypress wood too. That combo matters because you do not just see nature, you see how it connects to the temple setting.

A practical tip for getting the most out of forest bathing: treat this like a slow hike, not a workout session. Wear shoes that feel secure on uneven ground. If the weather is hot and humid, plan to take the guided stops without rushing, because your body will thank you later at the onsen.

What the Temple Visit Adds After the Trees

After the forest walk, you get to visit the temple itself. This is where the tour balances the quiet, nature-focused pace with something cultural and story-driven. You’ll hear folklore connected to the temple as part of the visit.

I like this structure. If you only did the walk, you might leave with great photos but less context. If you only did the temple, you might miss the calming effect of the approach through older trees. The guide also has a role here, because the better they read your interests, the more the stories land. In past departures, Akihiro-san has been described as tailoring the hike to interest level and using his knowledge of the mountain and cedar forest to make temple folklore feel grounded.

One consideration: temple storytelling and forest walking both take time. So if you are the type who wants constant viewpoints and rapid checklists, this day may feel more reflective than thrilling. It is still scenic, but the goal is healing and calm, not adrenaline.

Lunch at a Forest Tea House, Including Local Sweets

Once you’ve done the morning walking segment, you’ll eat lunch near the temple area at a chaya, a tea house setting. This lunch stop is inside the forest zone, and it is designed for a Japanese meal.

What you should plan for: lunch is not included in the base price. It’s listed as around 2,000 yen per person. You might also have an option to eat either at a Japanese tea house within the temple area or in the onsen facility, depending on what is available for the day.

I also like that the lunch spot comes with local flavor beyond the meal. The Japanese confectionary at the tea house is described as famous among local people. That matters because it makes lunch feel like part of the region, not just a fuel stop. If you like trying small sweets, this is a good chance to do it without extra detours.

If you’re budgeting, think in yen. The lunch fee plus the onsen fee (about 2,000 yen each) means you’ll want extra cash or card readiness beyond the tour price.

湯冶温泉 (Yuji Onsen) After Walking: The Payoff

The finish is at the onsen near the temple, 湯冶温泉. The tour describes the facility as famous for healing your body and soul. After a forest walk, that promise is less mystical and more practical.

In warm seasons, the body accumulates heat. In one set of experiences, hot and humid summer weather made the cooling and rinsing effect of the onsen feel like a true reset. Even if your day is perfect weather-wise, you’ll likely appreciate the soak after walking on the temple approach path.

The onsen fee is not included, and it is listed as around 2,000 yen per person. So yes, you pay for the soak, but it is part of the design of the day: walk slowly through ancient trees, eat in the mountain tea house, then soak where the water is the final ingredient.

A small planning thought: treat the onsen as your decompression window. Keep your next day’s plans simple after you return to Odawara.

Price and Value: What $104.51 Actually Buys

The tour price is listed as $104.51 per person for about 6 hours. Admission tickets for the main stop are stated as free, which is a big value point because it keeps the base cost focused on guidance and the experience itself.

However, the total you spend will be higher than the headline price because two major items are not included:

• Lunch is around 2,000 yen
• Onsen fee is around 2,000 yen

Transportation fees for your group are also not included, even though the route to the temple uses train and bus.

So how do I judge value? I look at what you are getting for the base rate: a national certified pro guide with wilderness first aid, a small group capped at 6, and a planned route that includes forest bathing, temple folklore, and a guaranteed onsen finish. When you combine structure with safety credentials and less crowded conditions, it starts to feel more like a guided day in the mountains than a casual self-guided walk.

Also, it’s booked on average 47 days in advance. That usually signals steady demand, and you benefit if you book early because smaller groups can fill up.

If you are trying to keep costs down, do the math before you go. If you only account for the tour price, you might feel surprised at the end. If you budget for lunch and onsen upfront, it reads as a fair deal for a guided nature-and-culture day.

Who Should Book This, and Who Might Want Another Option

This tour is a strong fit if you want calm outdoor time plus a meaningful cultural stop. You’ll like it if you appreciate:

• Slow walking and mindful forest experiences
• A temple visit with stories and folklore
• A hot-spring soak as a clean finish
• Small group touring with a safety-minded guide

It might be less ideal if you want a fast, active itinerary packed with long train rides, nonstop city sights, or purely photo-chasing routes. The pace is built around forest bathing and the rhythm of the mountain. You should also expect weather to matter. The experience is described as requiring good weather.

One more practical consideration: you need comfortable shoes and warm clothes. If you show up in fashion-first footwear or forget layers, the forest walk and temple approach will feel harder.

Quick Booking Checklist for a Smooth Day

If you want the best day possible, I’d prep like this:

• Wear comfortable walking shoes you trust on uneven terrain
• Pack warm clothes, because the forest walk can feel cooler than the station area
• Bring a plan for extra spending, lunch around 2,000 yen and onsen around 2,000 yen
• Use luggage storage at Odawara Station if you are traveling with bags

Also, confirm how you will access your ticket since it’s a mobile ticket. And because the tour is near public transportation and starts at a clear Odawara meeting point, you do not need to hunt for remote pickup spots.

Should You Book Forest Bathing and Yuji Onsen?

I’d book it if you want a guided, small-group day that actually takes forest bathing seriously, then ties it together with a temple visit and a hot-spring reset. The best parts are the centuries-old cedar and cypress setting, the way the temple stories are woven into the route, and the onsen payoff at 湯冶温泉.

I’d skip it if you hate paying separate onsen and lunch fees, if you dislike slower reflective pacing, or if you cannot deal with weather changing plans.

If you’re already planning to spend time around Odawara, this is a very practical add-on. It gives you something different from trains and scenic drives, a mountain breathing moment you can feel in your body, and a soak that helps you actually recover.

FAQ

How long is the tour?

It runs for about 6 hours.

Where do I meet the guide at Odawara Station?

You meet at Beck’s Coffee, 3rd floor of Odawara station.

What time does the tour start?

The start time is 9:00 AM.

What’s included in the price?

Included are a national certified pro guide with wilderness first aid certification, and the admission ticket for the main stop is free.

What is not included?

Lunch is not included (around 2,000 yen), transportation fee for the group is not included, and the onsen fee is not included (around 2,000 yen).

What should I bring or wear?

Bring comfortable walking shoes and warm clothes for walking in the forest.

How many people are in a group?

This tour has a maximum of 6 travelers.

What happens if the weather is poor?

The experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.

Is it refundable if I cancel?

No. The experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason.