Virtual Japan – Day 3 – Part 2 - The birthplace of Shinrin-Yoku
Agematsu Town arrival
I am getting so close to visiting the birth place of the practice of Shinrin Yoku, the dream is becoming a reality but little did I know I was going to be blown away by the reality that was awaiting. I had arranged this visit months ago. I contacted the Agematsu Town Tourism Association and Ms. Kazue Matsubara arranged everything for me. She was also the interpreter during the private Shinrin Yoku session because the Forest Therapist, Takashi Miura, did not speak English. I truly received the royal treatment, and this was my first time spending a few hours of quality time with native Japanese folks. This was my introduction to their famous hospitable spirit with a hint of childlike innocence. This is the way they are; they don’t put on an act for money or fame, this is what sits in their hearts and naturally drives their behaviour towards others. Did I mention I fell in love with Japanese people? Not today? ok, there you go...
They picked me up in a private car at the train station. Finding me was easy, like Kazue had mentioned in her last email, "It is easy to find us because Agematu station is small. I hardly see foreigners in the early morning. So, I can find you" and so it was, I was the only non-Asian person in the train, at the station and for the rest of the day...They drove me to the forest base which is about a 20-minute drive. As we went higher and higher in elevation, we started to notice an increasingly colourful panorama all over the surrounding forest. It was October 20th, and we were getting closer to the Autumn Colours Peak around this area. From the beginning I felt like a VIP the way I was addressed and regarded by Kazue and Takashi. The price they charged for this private service with interpreter was very reasonable, so it was definitely not the money. I don’t think this factor even mattered to them, I felt very grateful. 
Akasawa Forest at last
After quite a beautiful ride through this part of the Kiso region, we arrived at the “Akasawa Natural Recreational Forest”, home to Kiso cypress of 300 years or more, but is not an old-growth forest. It was planted in the early Edo period, and protected by the wardens of the Owari domain. The forest spreads over 728 ha, and varies in elevation from 1,080 m to 1,558 m.There is an exceptionally large parking area plus an extension, giving you the impression of the number of people that come to this forest on peak season. The installations consisted of a few low-profile buildings. One of them has a medical clinic, a souvenir shop and seminar room where they hold nature & health awareness sessions with young adults. There is also a restaurant onsite. The clinic has a full-time doctor who performs a check-up before and after the walks. We went to the medical clinic first and they introduced me to the resident physician, who turned out to be quite a character. Everybody is in such good mood; it must be the trees!!!It is standard practice that before and after a forest therapy session, they measure your blood pressure and do a saliva test which indicates your current level of stress. I was tested of course and found out later that only two hours of forest bathing makes a remarkable difference in these numbers.
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