Although there are many, the most famous pilgrimages (long treks to many temples and shrines) consist of two of the most ancient and spiritual routes in Japan. These two routes have both been shaped by over a millennium. The historical and iconic routes are the Kumano Kodo and the Shikoku Pilgrimage. 

As professionals in today’s world, people are constantly bombarded with notifications, expectations, and the pressure that comes with endless tasks and messages. The common bodily response is burnout, eventually growing tired of always being “on”. This article explores how mindful travel in Japan can help cure a burnt out mind.

What if you had a completely alternative wind-down experience based on your exposure to Japanese Zen Culture? You, sitting in a quiet Japanese garden, listening to a gentle waterfall, are resetting your brain from its constant state of being over-worked. You get a moment of peace, with no notifications, alerts, or urgency. Instead, these anxiety-makers are replaced with the slow, deliberate rhythm of the world around you in which you are finally still and silent enough to observe.

An itinerary for those who wish to travel into nature, away from Japan’s most crowded areas, while also experiencing art.

Romantic getaway to the mountains of Shizouka for a newlywed couple, couple on their honeymoon, anniversary, or vowel renewal.

The secret to a life-changing family trip isn’t actually a secret, it is the key to experiencing the same quality of joy without over-exhausting yourself and your family. It is the Japanese philosophy of ‘Ma’, that transforms travel into a mindful practice to bring forth deeper emotions of contentment, gratefulness, and enjoyment. 

Shinrin-yoku, or “forest bathing,” began in Japan as a mindful way to reconnect with nature. Over time, it has gained global recognition for its therapeutic effects, even earning acknowledgment from the World Health Organization as a form of nature therapy. While the practice feels deeply traditional, modern neuroscience is beginning to explain why immersing ourselves in forests can be so restorative.