Forest Bathing in Temple and Enjoy onsen with healing power

Daiyuzan Saijoji Temple gives you something Odawara itself cannot: a quiet mountain walk beneath 500-year-old cedar and cypress trees, followed by temple buildings, local folklore, and a hot-spring soak. The day begins at Odawara Station and trades castle-town energy for cool forest air and old religious paths.

I like the way the tour joins gentle exercise with genuine local places. I also like the small group limit of six, since guide Akihiro can adjust the walk to your interests. The main drawback is that the advertised price is not the final cost. You must add transport, lunch, and about 2,000 yen for the onsen.

Key points to know before you book

• Ancient forest walk: Follow the uphill path toward a temple with trees reported to be more than 500 years old.
• Daiyuzan Saijoji Temple: Visit a 600-year-old temple complex while hearing local folklore from your guide.
• Onsen finish: End the outing with a hot-spring bath described as a traditional healing soak for body and soul.
• Small group format: The maximum is six people, and guide Akihiro has wilderness first aid certification.
• Extra costs matter: Budget for roughly 2,000 yen for lunch, transportation, and around 2,000 yen for the onsen.
• Odawara convenience: Meet at Beck’s Coffee on the third floor of Odawara Station and finish back at the station.

Why this Odawara outing feels different

Many visits to Odawara focus on the castle, the station area, or a quick stop between Tokyo and Hakone. This six-hour experience points you toward Minamiashigara, the guide’s hometown, where the pace is slower and the setting is more rural.

The centerpiece is not a single attraction. It is the order of the day: local train and bus, forest path, temple, tea house, then onsen. Each part prepares you for the next. The walk gives you time outdoors, the temple adds cultural context, and the bath provides an easy finish after the uphill route.

I especially like the combination for visitors who want more than a sightseeing checklist. You are not simply looking at an old building, then returning to the station. You spend time moving through the wooded approach and hearing stories tied to the temple.

This is still a practical excursion, not a remote wilderness trip. The tour starts at 9 a.m., uses public transportation, and ends at Odawara Station. The group size is capped at six, so the day should feel more personal than a large coach tour.

Meeting at Odawara Station at 9 a.m.

Your meeting point is Beck’s Coffee on the third floor of Odawara Station. That is a useful detail, since Odawara is a busy transport hub and a precise meeting place saves time.

Leave extra room to find the café and get organized. The tour begins at 9 a.m., and the day includes a train and bus ride before the temple walk. If you have luggage, Odawara Station has storage facilities, so you do not need to carry a large suitcase through the forest.

The outing uses local transportation, but the transportation charge is not included. The exact amount is not specified, so you should carry enough yen for your group’s train and bus fares. This arrangement keeps the experience tied to ordinary local travel, though it means the headline price does not cover every necessary expense.

The guide meets you at the station, then leads the trip toward Daiyuzan Saijoji Temple. Because the route includes public transport and walking, this is best for people who enjoy a day with several moving parts rather than a private vehicle waiting at every stop.

Walking through the old cedar and cypress forest

The forest walk is the heart of the experience. The path rises toward the temple through cedar and cypress trees described as more than 500 years old. Their age gives the walk a sense of scale that a standard park stroll cannot match.

The tour calls this forest bathing, a simple idea that means slowing down among trees and paying attention to the setting. You are there for exercise and fresh air, but also for a calmer break from stations, roads, and crowded urban sights.

The route is uphill, so comfortable walking shoes are important. Warm clothing is also advised, even though the exact temperature will depend on the season. A shaded mountain path can feel cooler than Odawara, and the tour provider specifically asks you to dress warmly for the forest.

A summer review described the day as hot and humid, followed by a refreshing rinse and onsen soak. That gives you a useful picture of the outing’s seasonal balance: the forest can feel warm in summer, while the final bath offers relief.

The walk may suit most people, since the activity information says most participants can take part. Still, you should be comfortable with a forest path and some uphill walking. This is not a station-to-station sightseeing loop with no physical effort.

Daiyuzan Saijoji Temple and its local stories

Daiyuzan Saijoji Temple has about 600 years of history, and the forest approach is part of what makes the visit special. The temple does not appear as an isolated monument. It arrives after the trees, the slope, and the changing rhythm of the walk.

At the temple, guide Akihiro explains local folklore connected with the site. This is where a guide adds real value. Without context, you might admire the cedar and cypress construction, shrines, and older buildings without understanding the stories that give them meaning.

The temple buildings are described as being made with cedar and cypress wood. Look for the relationship between the wooden structures and the surrounding forest. The setting helps explain why the approach matters as much as the final temple visit.

I would not treat this as a formal religious pilgrimage or a long temple study tour. The information provided points to a relaxed visit, a forest stroll, stories, and lunch. That makes it a good choice if you want cultural background without spending an entire day inside museums or religious sites.

Guide Akihiro can tailor the outing to your interests. That matters in a group of six or fewer, and it matters even more if you are the only person booked. One review describes a solo outing in which the guide adjusted the hike to the visitor’s interests. A private-feeling conversation can make the temple visit more useful than a fixed speech.

Lunch at a Japanese tea house in the woods

Lunch is arranged near the temple, with two possible settings: a Japanese tea house in the temple forest area or the onsen facility. The tea house offers Japanese lunch and is known locally for its Japanese confectionery.

Lunch costs about 2,000 yen per person and is not included in the tour price. That is a fair working estimate, but you should think of it as a separate part of the budget rather than a free stop included in the $104.51 booking price.

The tea house option fits the mood of the day. After walking through the forest and visiting the temple, a simple Japanese meal and confectionery give you time to sit down before the hot spring. It also keeps your spending with local businesses instead of turning the outing into a packaged meal stop.

The precise menu is not provided, so do not book this expecting a particular dish. If you have strong dietary needs, you should ask before booking. The available information confirms a Japanese lunch and sweets, but it does not give details about vegetarian choices, allergies, or substitutions.

You can also eat at the onsen facility. That may be useful if you prefer to keep the temple visit and bath closer together. Your guide can explain which lunch setting works best for the day’s timing.

A healing onsen after the uphill walk

The final major stop is an onsen near the temple. The facility is associated with 湯冶温泉, a traditional style of hot-spring stay focused on rest and recovery. The tour presents the water as a way to soothe both body and mind after the forest walk.

The onsen fee is around 2,000 yen per person and is not included. Add that cost alongside transport and lunch when comparing this experience with other Odawara excursions. The total can be noticeably higher than the advertised tour price once these items are counted.

This bath is more than a quick photo stop. It is the reason the itinerary works so well as a half-day mountain outing. You walk uphill, spend time in the temple area, eat, and then give your legs a chance to relax in hot water.

Bring whatever you normally need for an onsen visit, though the supplied details do not specify towel rental, bathing rules, or other facility charges. If you are new to Japanese hot springs, ask the guide for practical instructions on arrival.

The day ends after the onsen, with a return to Odawara Station. That makes the outing easy to fit around an evening train or another Odawara plan, though you should allow some flexibility because local transportation and the weather can affect the schedule.

What the $104.51 price really covers

The listed price is $104.51 per person. It includes the services of a nationally certified guide with wilderness first aid certification. It does not include lunch, group transportation, or onsen admission.

That distinction matters. For one person, you should roughly add 2,000 yen for lunch and around 2,000 yen for the onsen, plus train and bus fares. If you are comparing prices with a tour that includes meals, tickets, and private transport, the comparison is not one-to-one.

I still see value here for the right person. You are paying for local guidance, a small group, cultural interpretation, and a carefully linked forest and onsen experience. The guide’s familiarity with Minamiashigara and the temple area is useful, particularly if you want folklore and local detail rather than just directions.

Group discounts are available, but the amount is not specified. Since the maximum group size is six, ask about the final group rate before booking if you are traveling with several people.

The experience has a five out of five rating based on 17 reviews, with 100 percent recommending it. Those figures suggest a strong record, but they should not hide the practical limits: you pay extra for the main meal and bath, and the day depends on suitable weather.

Group size, fitness, and the best type of visitor

The small group size is one of the strongest features. With no more than six people, the guide can answer questions, adjust the pace, and respond to individual interests. If you are alone, the experience may feel close to a private outing, though that depends on the day’s bookings.

The tour is a good match for you if you like:

• Quiet forest walks with some uphill effort
• Japanese temples explained through stories and folklore
• Local train and bus rides
• A modest Japanese lunch or tea-house stop
• Hot springs after outdoor activity
• Small groups rather than large sightseeing buses

It may be less suitable if you want a fully included package, a flat walk, or a fixed schedule with no weather concerns. You should also avoid bringing bulky luggage. Odawara Station storage is available, which solves the problem if you use it before meeting the guide.

Service animals are allowed, and the activity is near public transportation. The information says most people can participate, but it does not provide a detailed accessibility assessment for the forest path, transport connections, or onsen. If you need specific mobility support, confirm those points before booking.

Weather, clothing, and other practical points

The tour requires good weather. If poor weather forces cancellation, you are offered another date or a full refund. The standard cancellation terms are strict: the experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed for personal reasons after booking.

Wear comfortable walking shoes. This is the most important packing advice because the temple approach includes a forest path and uphill walking. Warm layers are also recommended for the forest, even if the day begins pleasantly at Odawara Station.

Carry money for the additional expenses. You will need to cover:

• Train and bus transportation for your group
• Lunch, around 2,000 yen each
• Onsen entry, around 2,000 yen each
• Personal purchases such as souvenirs or alcohol

Mobile tickets are available, and booking confirmation is received at the time of booking. The tour starts and ends at Odawara Station, so the transport plan is simple once you reach the meeting point.

Should you book this temple and onsen tour?

I would book this experience if you want to see a quieter side of the Odawara area and like the idea of pairing an old temple with a forest walk and hot spring. The best parts are the ancient trees, the chance to hear folklore from guide Akihiro, and the satisfying order of the day.

I would pause if you are counting on the $104.51 price to cover everything. Add lunch, transport, and the onsen before deciding. Also be honest about the uphill walk and the possibility of humid weather in summer.

For an active, culture-focused half day with a small group, this is a strong choice. It gives you a local outing rather than another quick stop on a standard Japan route. The forest, temple, tea house, and onsen each have a clear role, and the final bath is a welcome reward for your effort.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

The tour starts 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 activity ends back at Odawara Station after the onsen visit.

How long does the experience last?

The tour lasts approximately six hours.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch costs around 2,000 yen per person and is paid separately. It may be served at a Japanese tea house in the temple forest area or at the onsen facility.

Is transportation included?

No. The train and bus transportation for your group is not included in the tour price.

Is the onsen fee included?

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

What should I wear?

Wear comfortable walking shoes and warm clothing for the forest walk.

How many people can join the tour?

The tour has a maximum of six travelers.