TODAY'S HOURS: 8 AM – 3 PM

TODAY'S HOURS: 8 AM – 3 PM

Red Maple trees in the Japanese Garden

Unplug and Unwind by Practicing “Shinrin-Yoku,” aka Forest Bathing

Glowing red and orange maple trees in the Japanese Garden in autumn

Contemporary life is full of millions of stimuli fighting for your attention. We are bombarded with alerts, notifications, pop-ups and announcements—it seems every little thing demands an instant response.

Contrast this type of frantic living with the peaceful experience of being within nature. Trees and flowers demand nothing of you. You are free to notice what you want, or simply to be. Your heart rate slows and your breath deepens.

This experience has been given a name in Japan. It is called “shinrin-yoku,” which translates to “forest bathing,” using “bathing” to mean immersing yourself within something. (No one is asking you to remove your clothing—in fact, we ask you keep it on while visiting the Garden!) Another frequent translation is “taking in the forest atmosphere.” The term was introduced in Japan in the 1980s to encourage people to disconnect from technology and spend time outdoors.

“Taking a break in nature has real benefits,” says Director of Community Education Erin Starr White. “One study I saw said that spending as little as five minutes in a natural setting improves your mood, self-esteem and motivation.”

Slow Garden Experience
Nov. 13, 9 – 10 a.m.

Shinrin-Yoku: Forest-inspired Watercolor Landscapes
Dec. 1, 6 – 9 p.m.

Practicing shinrin-yoku can be as easy as walking through a favorite corner of the Garden with your phone tucked away and notifications off. Use your senses. Notice the feel of the ground beneath your feet, the scent of leaves, the colors of flowers.

For a guided exploration, try the Slow Garden Experience. These are hour-long monthly garden walks in which guests are invited to leave distractions behind and contemplate the sights, smells and sensations encountered along the way.

Rock fountain in the Japanese Garden

Art is another good way to engage with nature. “Take along a sketchbook or even just a pad of paper and some pencils. Try to reproduce the shapes you see,” says White. “It doesn’t matter if you think you can’t draw—no one ever needs to see your work. The goal is to observe the world in a new way.”

Experienced artists have an opportunity to explore nature in an upcoming class, “Shinrin-Yoku: Forest-Inspired Watercolor Landscapes.” Artist Brenda Ciardiello will lead students in a virtual class through the process of composing and painting a large watercolor landscape inspired by forests and the plants within them.

However you choose to engage with nature, the Garden is here to help you unplug and unwind. You are always welcome to bathe (while adequately clothed, of course) in our forest.

Related Articles

Orange and gold oak leaves
Garden

Plant Trees Now to Create a Shady Oasis for Years to Come

Gardeners must learn to operate on multiple time scales at once, simultaneously planning weeks, months and years ahead. Want tomatoes in July? Plant them in May. Bluebonnets in April? Start planning in October. A flowering shrub in 2027? Start shopping now. The most long-term thought goes into trees. Magnificent and magical, trees can take a decade or more to reach their potential. That’s a long time to wait, but the benefits could last generations.

Read More »
Lightscape 2023: Tree outlined with neon lights
Learn

Headed to Lightscape? Learn How to Capture the Dazzle with our Holiday Lights Photography Workshop

Last year, you probably loved Lightscape, but did you love the photos that you came home with? It’s hard to take good photos at night! And it’s common to be disappointed the next day when the photos you expected to be full of light and magic to appear dark and dreary. Learn how to tackle this challenge with professional photographer Edgar Miller at one of two upcoming Holiday Lights Night Photography workshops.

Read More »
Engage

Explore New Installations and Magical Experiences as Lightscape Returns

Bring your whole family to visit Lightscape, the immersive holiday experience featuring more than one million lights. Guests will be enchanted by custom-designed installations that come alive with color, imagination and sound. Each light installation is expertly choreographed to holiday-themed music to create a magical atmosphere.

Read More »
Japanese Garden in Autumn
Garden

Embrace the Philosophy of Japanese Gardening to Create Your Own Place of Reflection and Renewal

When guests wander the quiet paths of the Japanese Garden, it’s not unusual for them to stop at the top of the Moon Bridge and say, “I wish I had a place like this at home.” That might seem impossible–the Japanese Garden is the result of 50 years of hard work by dedicated horticulturists. But Nick Esthus, Japanese Garden horticultural manager, says Japanese gardening is within the reach of anyone ready to embrace it.

Read More »