10 Best Destinations for a Shinrin-Yoku Retreat
Spending quiet time in a forest has been shown to lower stress hormones, calm heart rates, and even boost immune cells. This Japanese practice, known as shinrin-yoku or “forest bathing,” is more than just a form of exercise. It’s about slowing down and paying close attention to nature with your senses.
These places make it easier to disconnect from screens and daily pressure. The locations below support this practice with meaningful ecosystems and informed design.
Akasawa Natural Recreation Forest, Japan
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This was the starting point for Japan’s early forest bathing trials, and we can still see why. The trails are short and quiet, and loop through stands of hinoki cypress. This gives off a distinct woody scent. As for those tree oils, researchers say they help lower stress. It’s a purpose-built space that hasn’t lost its original focus.
Costa Rica Rainforests
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Costa Rica’s rainforests offer an easy setting for slow, sensory-focused walks. In places like Monteverde and the Sarapiquí region, the trails move through dense greenery where orchids, birds, and shifting mist create a constantly changing atmosphere. Forest therapy guide Manuela Siegfried helps visitors pay closer attention to the forest’s quieter details, from the movement of wildlife to the subtle layers of sound and scent.
Waipoua Forest, New Zealand
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Waipoua protects some of the oldest kauri trees still standing. They are massive and deeply respected in Māori culture. Local guides from Footprints Waipoua lead walks that combine forest immersion with oral history.
Seogwipo Healing Forest, South Korea
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Seogwipo Healing Forest sits on the higher slopes of Jeju Island, where cooler air and quiet trails create an easy place to unwind. Cedar and cypress trees line the pathways, giving the forest a light, calming scent. Visitors can walk at their own pace or simply settle into a shaded spot and take in the stillness.
Yakushima Island, Japan
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If you like your forests misty and moss-covered, Yakushima delivers. Its ancient cedar trees are the kind that live for a thousand years, and they’re not easy to reach. The steep trails and constant drizzle keep crowds away, but that only heightens the sense of walking through something unusually alive.
Adirondack Mountains, New York, USA
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This corner of upstate New York is massive, with six million acres of mixed forest and lakes. In places like Saranac Lake, guides lead slow walks all year long. The balsam fir and spruce here release natural oils called phytoncides, which scientists link to better immune function and lower anxiety.
Juniko Lakes, Japan
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A blue pond in the middle of a beech forest might sound exaggerated, but Aoike really is that color. The pond appears ink-blue due to its clarity, depth, and how light scatters within the water. The trails between the 33 lakes are flat and usually very quiet.
Black Forest, Germany
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Despite its name, the forest is full of light, especially where trails lead into wide meadows, such as the Baumwipfelpfad Schwarzwald. This mix of pine, fir, and spruce shifts as you go. The changes in elevation and canopy height keep eyes and minds busy.
Muir Woods National Monument, California, USA
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Just north of San Francisco, this federally protected grove contains old-growth coastal redwoods. Some trees rise 250 feet, and some have been around since before the printing press. You don’t have to go deep into the park. Being surrounded by such high heights changes how people breathe.
Udawattakele Sanctuary, Sri Lanka
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Once a royal forest, this sanctuary above the city of Kandy still feels like a place meant for quiet. Monks used the caves here for meditation, and the footpaths are shaded by massive trees. The forest also climbs over rock faces and gullies, so walking stays slow without ever feeling repetitive.