FAQ

1. About the Program and Experience

Q1. What is deep Shinrin-yoku ®?
A. "deep Shinrin-yoku®" is an experience that gently opens your senses and mind in the forests of Yakushima, connecting you deeply with nature. Unlike typical hiking or mountain climbing, you walk slowly, and together with your guide, value with intention this time to engage your external and internal senses.
For details, please see “Notices from the Career Support Office” onclick here.

Q2. What kind of people are participating?
A. A wide range of people participate, regardless of age or occupation. This includes those who want to spend some relaxing time in the forest and feel healed, those who want to reflect on and refine themselves in nature, those who want to develop their leadership and creativity, people visiting Yakushima from overseas, and those who are interested in or want to experience what forest bathing and forest therapy are like.

Q3. Can I participate even if it's my first time?
A. Of course. This program is perfect for people who are not confident in their physical strength or who are experiencing nature for the first time, and we will proceed at a comfortable pace so that you can participate with peace of mind.

Q4. Will the event be held on rainy days?
A. Yakushima is an island where it is said to rain 1 days a month. We will carry out programs that make the most of the charm of the rainforest, within the scope of ensuring safety. In the event of bad weather, the program may be partially changed or adjusted.

2. Application, reservation and fees

Q5. How do I apply?
A. Click on the "bookingtab on the main menu. You can apply from there.
Your application is not complete just by submitting the application form. We will confirm your desired date, number of people, transportation details, etc. and contact you to see if we can arrange a guide for you.
We will contact you to let you know that the guide arrangements have been made → you will respond → you will receive final confirmation for your booking.
We recommend that you make your reservation early, as we are often unable to arrange guides during busy periods such as holiday periods.

Q6. How many days in advance do I need to make a reservation?
A. For individual deep Shinrin-yoku® reservations, reservations should be made at least three days in advance. For Yakushima Retreats and group events, reservations should be made at least approximately one month in advance.

Q7. Is there a cancellation fee?
A. The following cancellation policy applies from 7 days prior to the event. Please refer to the "Participation Terms and Conditions/Cancellation Policy" for details.
【Cancellation Policy】
Cancellation fees will be charged from 7 days prior to the tour date.
* Cancellation between 3 and 7 days in advance: 30% of the tour price
* Until 17 pm the day before → 50% of the tour price
* If you cancel after 17 pm the day before or on the day of the tour, we will charge a cancellation fee of 100% of the tour price.
However, there is no cancellation fee if the flight to the island is cancelled or the tour is canceled due to inclement weather.

Q8: Regarding the rental fee
A: If you wish, you can make your reservation exclusiveley one on one for an additional fee of 9900 yen for a half-day course or 1 yen for a full-day course.
Please note that the above fees will apply in any case that there is only one participant.
Even if you apply as a single individual, there will be no additional charge if there are other applicants and the tour is conducted with two or more people.

Q9: Discounts
A: Junior high and high school students: 20% off the regular price. Elementary school students: half the regular price. Preschoolers: free.

Q10: Language support
A: We can provide services in two languages: Japanese and English. Please let us know when you apply. Please note that the English service fee will differ from the Japanese service fee.

Q11: Capacity
A: Our typical capacity is 5 people per session. We can, however, accommodate larger groups depending upon the circumstancese, so please contact us with your inquiry.

Q12: Pick-up and drop-off
A: Generally, we only provide transportation to guests staying in the southern area of Yakushima. Please contact us for inquiries regarding transportation to/from other areas of the island.

3. What to bring and what to do on the day

Q13. What kind of clothes and belongings do I need to bring?
A. Please bring clothes that are easy to move in, shoes that are easy to walk in, and rainwear that you don't mind getting dirty. As you may be walking along unpaved roads and into thickets, we recommend socks that cover your ankles, long pants, and clothing that doesn't expose much skin. We will also provide mats for sitting or lying down in the forest, as well as tea.

Q14. What is the schedule?
A. The process is as follows: Rendezvous → Move to the forest → deep Shinrin-yoku® Experience → Sharing Time → Closing. For more details, click here.プProgram flow (1 day)Please refer to the information provided here. Half-day programs do not include time for lunch or hammocks, which are included in full-day programs.

4. Retreats and Corporate Training

Q15. Are there any programs for teams or organizations?
A. Yes. We can propose programs tailored to your goals, including leadership development, well-being, team building, "regenerative leadership," and "nature-based training programs."

Q16. Is customization or collaboration possible?
A. We have held a variety of collaborative projects to date. For example, we have a wide range of topics, including leadership, yoga, music, human resource development, coaching, medical welfare, children and parents, business, universities and educational institutions, and more. We also collaborate with accommodation facilities upon request. Please feel free to contact us for a consultation.

5. Other

Q17. Is it possible to participate in the event in English?
A. Yes, of course. Both individual and group programs can be conducted in English.

Q18. Can I participate with my children or family?
A. Families are welcome to participate, but the purpose of the program is to prioritize quiet time. If you are bringing children, we can adjust the program structure and content to suit their ages, so please contact us in advance.

Q19. Do you have any recommendations for access or accommodation?
A. We can also assist you with access from airports and marine ports, as well as accommodation. We can also introduce you to partner facilities.

Q20: Can people in the same industry or similar fields participate in the program?
A: If you are involved in forest bathing or forest therapy guides and would like to participate in this session/program, please contact us again.

6. About deep forest bathing®, forest bathing, and forest therapy®

Q21: What is the difference between forest bathing and forest therapy®?
A: There are many different definitions of forest bathing, but you can say that you are experiencing forest bathing when you enter a forest and are in that space. In that sense, anyone can experience forest bathing by simply entering into the forest. Yes, if you go into the ocean, you are sea-bathing; if you are basking in the sun, you are sunbathing; if you go into the forest, you are experiencing forest bathing.
Forest Therapy® is a form of forest bathing that is backed by scientific evidence. It aims to maintain and improve mental and physical health and prevent illness while enjoying the forest. Forests have been proven to have the power to heal us and lead us to good health. Forest therapy is not hiking or mountain climbing. It is a new way of enjoying forests, where you enter the forest for the sake of your health.
Forest Therapy® as defined by(NPO) Forest Therapy Societyrefers to forest bathing conducted by certified guides at bases that meet certain conditions. The purpose is to relax in nature and achieve a balance between mind and body. Certified forest therapy guides are able to safely guide people through nature, and forest therapists, who hold a higher level of qualification, are qualified to create programs tailored to each client. (From the Forest Therapy Society website)

Q22: Has the effectiveness of the deep Shinrin-yoku® program been verified? How is it measured?
A: At KaleidoForest, we conduct assessments on all participants before and after the program to qualitatively verify the changes in participants and the effectiveness of the program.At KaleidoForest, we sometimes administer psychological tests (POMS) conducted by research institutions before and after participating in the program to observe changes in participants.Our medical advisor, Dr. Tomohiko Sugishita (director of Yakushima Onoaida Clinic), provides medical support as well as supervising retreats and other activities.

Q23: Walking in the forest is also forest bathing, right? What is different about KaleidoForest's deep Shinrin-yoku® ? Please tell us about its features and approach.
For details, please see “Notices from the Career Support Office” onclick here for more information.
Features of deep forest bathing®
KaleidoForest's forest therapy guides always thoroughly inspect the site before starting the program, ensuring a psychologically and physically safe environment before designing an experience tailored to each participant. This allows participants to spend time in the forest that allows for profound rest in not only their hearts and body, but also their brains, which are usually working at full capacity. Try it once and you'll definitely feel the difference.
Forest Bathing x Forest Therapy®
At KaleidoForest, in addition to the common "forest bathing," we also incorporate the scientifically based "Forest Therapy®" method. Anyone can try "forest bathing," but it is not a systematic method. In contrast, "Forest Therapy®" is a modern version of forest bathing based on medical and psychological research. Our guide is a US ANFT (Association of Nature and Forest Therapy) -certified guide, with additional certification by the Forest Therapy Society of Japan. She provides guidance that combines scientific knowledge with intuition. Through "questions that open the five senses" and an "approach that connects deeply with nature," she maximises your resilience and creativity in nature. This is the core approach of deep Shinrin-yoku®.
The special field of Yakushima
In Japan, Forest Therapy® can only be officially conducted at a "Forest Therapy Base" designated by the Forestry Agency. However, Yakushima has many virgin forests that remain largely untouched by human intervention. As a result, the island itself can be considered on par with a "Therapeutic Forest" without the need for artificially developed courses and landscaping. Furthermore, Yakushima was one of the only places in the world where forest medicine research was first conducted in the early 1990s. Even today, this place attracts attention from around the world as the birthplace of forest medicine.