forest bathing
/ˈfɒrɪst ˈbeɪðɪŋ/
CommonThe Japanese practice of spending slow, intentional time in a forest for its calming and health benefits, also called shinrin-yoku.
Not a hike. Not exercise. The distinction is intentional slowness and presence. Some people use it correctly, others use it loosely for any time in nature.
Real-world examples4 examples
| # | Example | What it means | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | two hours of forest bathing and I feel more human than I have all week | Slow time in the woods provided a genuine mental reset. | instagram, 2024 |
| 02 | no destination, no podcast, no fitness tracker. just forest bathing. try it | The point is the absence of goals or distractions, not physical activity. | x, 2023 |
| 03 | insurance won't cover therapy but it also won't stop me from forest bathing for free | Playfully using forest bathing as accessible, free mental health care. | x, 2024 |
| 04 | brought my parents forest bathing and my dad who hates everything said it was the most peaceful hour of his life | Even a skeptic responded positively to slow, intentional time in nature. | tiktok, 2024 |
Use it when
- Describing slow, intentional time spent in a forest or wooded area.
- Talking about using nature as a mental reset without a goal or destination.
- Referencing the Japanese wellness practice shinrin-yoku.
Do not use it when
- You mean a hike with a destination or fitness goal.Use “hiking” instead.
- You mean general time outdoors.Use “going outside” instead.
Origin and context
The Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries coined the term shinrin-yoku in 1982 as a public health initiative. Gained mainstream English-language attention through wellness research published in the 2000s and 2010s.
- First seen
- 1982
- Confidence
- high
Cite this page
Use this stable URL to reference the entry.
https://slang.fyi/forest-bathing-jpUpdated: 2026-08-28License: CC BY 4.0