Forest Therapy Base Buzen

Located in the Keichiku area on the eastern side of Fukuoka Prefecture, Buzen has a booming fishing industry thanks to the Suonada Sea (Seto Inland Sea) on its north side. To the south lies Mount Kubote of the Shugendo religion, which has become a forest therapy course.
This area has six courses, including one that travels around the stone-terraced rice fields (designated as a rural landscape) and farm roads and another that allows you to savor hand-made soba noodles. There are also experience programs for cherry blossoms in April, new greenery in May, hydrangeas in June, and fall leaves in November.
Make full use of all five of your senses, so often neglected in everyday life, as you walk through the forest. Enjoy healthy meals, wreath-making and open-air fire experiences, and copying sutras. Head to a hot spring at the end of your experiences to get in some undeniable relaxation.

Course Information

Kubote Mountain Circuit Course

Experience the historic sites of the Shugendo religion on Mount Kubote, which is itself a nationally designated historic site where priests would run. This is a mysterious course that takes you around a variety of spots, including the Oni-no-Ishidan (stone steps of demons), Jogu of Kunitama Shrine, and Gokutsu (five caves).

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Jirobo Tengu Bridge Course

The course path is covered with woodchips made from local cedar and cypress, so you can enjoy the scent of the trees and the soft feel underfoot. You can even see the far-off mountains from spots with good views. You’ll find lots of ruins from the Shugendo religion along the way, making this a course where you can also experience history.

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Toriihata Satoyama walking course

The rural landscape of Kubote has been selected as an important cultural landscape by the government. The views from the stone-terraced rice fields and the high ground offer somehow nostalgic views unique to satoyama landscapes. Another of this course’s charms are the flowering trees across the seasons, including mitsumata (oriental paperbush) and cherry trees.

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Edakawachi Hydrangea Course

This course boasts around 16,000 hydrangeas, which local people have grown and raised for over 20 years. Stroll along the path and see the hydrangea flowers in the early summer, or an expanse of buckwheat flowers in the early fall. For lunch, why not try a soba meal made with local buckwheat flour?

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Saio no Ipponzakura Viewing Hill Course

Walk along the ridge path in the spring and head toward the “lone cherry tree,” which blooms on the grounds of an old ranch. You can see panoramic views of Buzen City and even the Suonada Sea from the turning point at the top of the hill.

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Inugatake Seseradake Seseraginomori Course

Mount Inugatake is home to the source of the Iwatake River. Turn your attention to a world of moss and the chirping of small birds as you enjoy the murmuring of the clear, transparent river water. Surrender yourself to nature and soothe your heart and body as the time slowly flows away.

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Highlights

Iwaya Revitalization Center

This is a base for sharing information about events taking place in the Kubote area. It also acts as a meeting place for forest therapy.

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Bokusen no Sato

The Kubote Hot Spring comes from the foothills of Mount Kubote, a sacred mountain where an untouched natural world remains. This simple alkaline hot spring is gentle to the touch and good for the skin. You can also take a daytrip to Bokusen no Sato. Delight in the satoyama scenery as you soak in the soothing waters.

Kubote Chaya

This tourism information center is the hub for the satoyama area. Guides with exhaustive knowledge of Mount Kubote are stationed here, so you can easily ask about walking through the forest and routes. You can only buy drinks on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, but why not drop in for a break? (Meals are available on Fridays, weekends, and public holidays).