Hi, Question,
I’ve read that Shinrin Yoku was introduced in the 1980’s as a government plan to try and reduce (mental) health issues in the population. But how big is it currently in Japan?
Is it something that is being done and known throughout Japan? Or is it more like a cool story, I a European, want to believe is part of the traditional Japanese culture?
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Thanks for your answers
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Edit:
typo
https://www.reddit.com/r/japan/comments/vtrpoq/how_big_is_shinrin_yoku_in_japan/
9 comments
It’s yet another one of those things that’s been blown way out of proportion by western media. Sure it’s a thing, but I’ve never heard anyone mention it in conversation and maybe I’ve seen something about it on TV like once or twice.
It’s not a major thing.
How big is it?
It’s at least this big:
—>| |<—
What’s that?
>want to believe *Shinrin-Yoku* is part of the traditional Japanese culture
^Nope.
[*Shinrin-Yoku*](https://www.shinrinyoku-united.org/) aka “forest bathing” is generally just an option/activity listed in tourist brochures—-Just advertising.
Lol. No
Shinrin yoku is just a fancy word for walking in the forest. Yes, taking walks is a popular activity. But there’s no actual bathing going on, and the concept is blown way out of proportion by the “wacky Japan” subset of the western media. There’s nothing “traditional” about it because it’s just walking.
Well mostly Shinrin Yoku (森林浴) is like a term, which could mean like forest bathing. But bathing was like a tip used to calm themselves down and mostly cope with their emotional distress. But I’m still a new one and I’m getting exposed more and learning about Japan.
Shinrinyoku basically just means going out in the woods. Not unique to Japan in any way. I’d say it’s just about as popular as it would be in any other country.