Supplements

Frequent forest walking is associated with higher daily happiness, ikigai, and enjoyment of daily life in a Japanese general population

In a cross-sectional study of 3472 Japanese adults, those who went forest walking at least once per month had significantly higher odds of frequent happiness (aOR=1.72), higher degree of happiness (aOR=1.54), having ikigai (aOR=1.65), and enjoying daily life (aOR=2.38) compared to those who rarely forest walked. The findings suggest that occasional forest bathing may be linked to improved well-being and quality of life.

Last updated: Aug 28, 2026•0 RCTs•📖 Read as article →

Evidence Score

Evidence Score34/100
Human RCT☆☆☆☆☆
Meta-analysis☆☆☆☆☆
Mechanism★★★★★
Safety★★★★☆
Confidencelow

Study Evidence

Study 1. Associations of Happiness, Ikigai, and Enjoyment of Daily Life with Frequency of Forest Walking in a Japanese General Population: The Japan Multi-Institutional Collaborative Cohort Daiko Study.

observational

Morita E, Kawai S, Sasakabe T, Okada R, Kubo Y, Mitsuda Y, Kato Y, Matsunaga T, Nagayoshi M, Tamura T, Wakai K · International journal of environmental research and public health (2026)

Participants: N/A
Duration: N/A (cross-sectional)
Intervention: Forest walking frequency (at least once per month vs. rarely)
Outcome: Daily happiness (frequency and degree), ikigai, enjoyment of daily life
Effect Size: aORs: 1.72 (95% CI: 1.29-2.28) for frequency of feeling happy; 1.54 (95% CI: 1.14-2.09) for degree of happiness; 1.65 (95% CI: 1.25-2.20) for ikigai; 2.38 (95% CI: 1.60-3.35) for daily life enjoyment
Population: Japanese general population (2518 women, 954 men) from the J-MICC Daiko study

Result:

PubMed: 42652335DOI: 10.3390/ijerph23081020

Mechanism Graph

Forest walking provides exposure to nature and phytoncides
↓
Nature exposure reduces stress and improves mood
↓
Regular physical activity enhances psychological well-being
↓
Improved mood and purpose in life (ikigai) result

Limitations

  • ⚠Cross-sectional design prevents causal inference
  • ⚠Self-reported measures of forest walking and well-being may introduce bias
  • ⚠Potential residual confounding from socioeconomic or lifestyle factors
  • ⚠Sample predominantly female, limiting generalizability

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main finding of this study?▼

The study found that people who go forest walking at least once a month have higher odds of feeling happy, having ikigai, and enjoying daily life compared to those who rarely do so.

How many participants were included?▼

The study included 3472 participants (2518 women) from the Japan Multi-Institutional Collaborative Cohort Daiko study.

Is this study showing that forest walking causes happiness?▼

No, this is a cross-sectional study, so it only shows an association, not causation. It is possible that happier people are more likely to walk in forests, or other factors could explain the link.

What is ikigai?▼

Ikigai is a Japanese concept meaning 'a reason for being' or 'purpose in life'. It is associated with well-being and longevity.

Products

Affiliate links coming soon. We only recommend products that match the doses and forms used in the cited research.

References

  1. 1.Morita E, Kawai S, Sasakabe T, Okada R, Kubo Y, Mitsuda Y, Kato Y, Matsunaga T, Nagayoshi M, Tamura T, Wakai K. "Associations of Happiness, Ikigai, and Enjoyment of Daily Life with Frequency of Forest Walking in a Japanese General Population: The Japan Multi-Institutional Collaborative Cohort Daiko Study.." International journal of environmental research and public health, 2026. PMID: 42652335 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph23081020
Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Evidence scores reflect the quality and quantity of available research, not clinical recommendations. Always consult a healthcare professional before starting any supplement or intervention.