Guide Training Immersion 4-Days
Japan, Yakushima Island – Shikino Yado – March, 2025
- March 18, 2025
- to
- March 22, 2025
- Event Full - Registration Closed
An opportunity to connect with other guides from other cohorts and learn from the shared experiences.
If you have completed at least module 4 and submitted the corresponding assignments, of the six-month remote Forest Therapy Guide Training you’re eligible to apply. Completion of this immersion and the six-month training fulfills the requirements for full Certification. When space is available, ANFT-trained guides who have completed training in any past cohort can also participate. Please note that priority goes to students who need to take the immersion to get fully certified. Therefore, when you apply, you’ll be put on a waitlist until three weeks before the start of the immersion.
A 4 day in-person gathering, with 1 or 2 trainers, and people from different cohorts where you will have the opportunity to apply what you learned, experience in-person forest therapy walks and simply connect and share experiences and stories with other guides.
In this immersion, you will:
- Get a hands on experience of what you learned
- Get to know trainers personally
- Get to know other guides and connect
- Learn from shared experiences with other guides
- Deepen into the practice
- Get the opportunity to ask specific questions that might come up
Once you complete this four-day immersion, your certification will be moved from provisional to permanent. You have two years after you complete the six month core training course to complete an immersion. It will help to give you a sense of the community of guides that has grown and is active throughout the world.
About the Venue
Shikino Yado
Yakushima is a subtropical island, a part of Kagoshima Prefecture in Japan. It is covered by an extensive cedar forest that contains some of Japan’s oldest living trees, famously called yakusugi, which are more than 1000 years old and some of which may be over 7000 years old.
With over 70 species of endemic plants, other flora and shores teeming with sea life, villagers on Yakushima Island enjoy a plentiful bounty of seafood and edible plants. But the water cycle also plays another important role in their everyday life. Most of Yakushima’s electricity is hydroelectric, making it an ideal island for eco-friendly stays.
Yakushima Island’s wet climate gives life to dramatic ravines, flowing rivers, and stunning green coats of moss, simply ideal for a forest therapy program! Also, wild, mysterious, and untouched ancient cedar forests are well protected by both the gods of folklore and a UNESCO World Heritage designation. This woodland kingdom served as the inspiration for the magical backgrounds of Studio Ghibli’s “Princess Mononoke”.
While the otherworldly cedar forests are Yakushima’s famous scene with various well-marked hiking trails, ranging from 1 to 5 hours in length, the bountiful rainfall creates impressive waterfalls, one of which can be approached by kayak. Go snorkeling off the unspoiled beaches or watch sea turtles nest in the summer. Furthermore, the island is home to several simple and wild onsen (hot spring spots) such as the sea baths offering natural rock pools right on the edge of the ocean
Lodging
$500 USD: 4 nights at Lodge (shared rooms), 3 meals/day, transportation during immersion and entry fees to national park.
Offsite lodging options not available, all participants must stay onsite
Meals
All meals included, starting with dinner on 18 March 2025 and ending with lunch on 22 March 2025. No vegetarian or vegan options.
Transportation
Southern part of Yakushima Island near Onoaida,
30 min drive from the Airport,
50 min from Miyanoura-port,
20 min from Anbo-port,
3 min walk Nakano bus stop.
By car.
The venue is located near the town of ONOAIDA. Drive to Onoaida (South of Yakushima) and just on the way to the mountainside of R77. We are located just on the mountainside of the traffic sign of the Town-office, at the T intersection east of Onoaida, 1.5 km east from Shell gas station. The venue could help you book a rental car in Yakushima, it is about 12600 yen for 3 nights and 4 days. Please be reminded to obtain your international driving license if you intend to drive.
By Bus.
Take a bus bound for ONOAIDA and get off at the NAKANO (No.92/Each bus stop has a number) bus stop. The venue is located 3 min on foot from the bus stop. Public buses cover about 70% of the main roads in Yakushima. An unlimited bus ticket is a convenient method (2000 yen for 1 day, and 3000 yen for 3 days and 4000 yen for 4 days) which can be bought from the information center or ticket desk at any port.
Ride-sharing and accommodation-sharing options
For anyone interested in ride-sharing, you will have the option to provide your travel details and contact information to connect with others who are registered for the immersion.
Schedule Details
Arrival
Arrival and registration: 18 March 2025, between 2-4pm
Welcome circle: 18 March 2025, 4-6pm
Departure
Closing and check out: 22 March 2025, by 12noon
General Notes
Venue Policies
No smoking.
No pets allowed.
No fire allowed.
Cancellation Policies
45 days or more prior to event: you may request a full refund of any tuition paid minus a $100 administrative fee, or transfer your full tuition paid to another immersion program within a year of your original event date, by paying $100 administrative fee.
44 days or less prior to event: Your tuition is not refundable and non-transferable.
COVID
Anyone who experiences any flu or covid like symptoms within 72 hours of the program start date are advised to stay home; anyone who starts to experience such symptoms during the program should notify the training team immediately.
Tuition
The tuition for the four-day immersion is 495 (USD). Wait to pay until you are ready to register for a specific immersion. You will have two years from the completion of your core guide training to do the immersion.
Immersion tuition does not include transportation, lodging or camping fees and food. These expenses are separate from the program costs for the four-day immersion and are the responsibility of the trainee.
IMPORTANT: Please wait until you receive enrollment confirmation before booking travel and lodging.
Tuition figures are subject to change.
Training Team
- Makiko Sugishita
- Makiko is a Forest Therapy Guide and Therapist, based in Yakushima/Japan, where the first nature and forest medical research activities were conducted in the world. She is the first Japanese trained guide by ANFT and also certified by Forest Therapy Society in Japan. Since she moved to Yakushima in October 2020, she has been guiding over 500 people in her Kaleidoscope “deep shinrin-yoku” program. Prior to becoming the guide, for 20 years she has been involved in various international projects with JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) and other UN organizations, focusing on improving the health status of the vulnerable people especially in Africa and Southeast Asia regions. In addition to being a guide, she is currently delegated to be ESD (Education for Sustainable Development) global advisor for the School Board in Yakushima, giving lectures for teachers and pupils. She is also the Board member of Yakushima Onoaida clinic run by her husband who is engaged in forest medical research activities. She holds B.A. in international law from Kansai University in Japan, M.A. in Public Health (international health) from Johns Hopkins University, and M.A. in Economic and Social Development from University of Pittsburgh in USA.
- Amanda Yik
- Amanda’s deep connection with nature has supported her through life’s many challenges, including multiple career transitions and critical illness. She felt called to be of service to the earth in 2006, but it took her many years and a winding path before encountering Forest Therapy, a practice that deeply resonated with her calling. Having trained as part of Cohort 18, Amanda has been an ANFT Certified Nature and Forest Therapy Guide since 2017, when she founded Shinrin-Yoku Hong Kong, through which she has offered more than 200 forest therapy and nature connection experiences, on- and off-line, to support busy urbanites on bodyful and soulful journeys of homecoming through reconnecting with nature. Amanda is particularly called to support people in transition and those facing chronic stress, and she collaborates extensively with the corporate sector, environmental and conservation organizations, the social service sector and educational institutions. Amanda is honoured to be a mentor for guides-in-training, and the first Asia-based ANFT trainer. She is also an International Coach Federation Certified Professional Coach for Transformation and long-time yoga, mindfulness and tai chi practitioner.
- Youmin Yap
- Youmin is one of Southeast Asia's pioneer certified Forest Therapy Guides. She trained with Cohort 18 in 2017 and has since been offering the practice on a full-time basis. Currently based in Singapore, Youmin founded Xiu Nature Connections to offer forest therapy experiences with the intention to ignite the importance of deep restorative rest and deep connections for the wellbeing of stressed-out and disconnected city dwellers. In her practice, Youmin has partnered and worked with several organizations including designing and hosting of community nature programs for the National Parks Board of Singapore, wellness workshops for spas and resorts such as Museflower Retreat and Spa in Thailand, staff wellbeing events for companies such as GIC Singapore, wellbeing support programs for community groups such as Singapore Cancer Society, introductory workshops for related industries such as the Department of Tourism of Philippines etc. Her work has also been shared at various international conferences. On the invite from the National Parks Board Singapore, Youmin published an article on "Urban Forest Therapy". Youmin holds a degree of Master in Science in life sciences from the National University of Singapore, and a postgraduate diploma in education from the National Institute of Education Singapore.
Certification Pathway
STEP 1
6-Month Remote Training
You will start with a 6-month remote training, covering the content on live calls with the support of your trainers, fellow students, a very user friendly learning platform, many self exploration and nature connection activities that are done outside. After completing this training you get a provisional certification as a Certified Forest Therapy Guide. To view the available trainings scroll down
STEP 2
4-Day In-Person Immersion
After completing module 4 you can apply to attend a 4-day in-person immersion, for hands on forest therapy guiding experience with trainers and fellow students. You have two years time to complete this step.
STEP 3
Get Your Certification
After completing the 6-month remote training and the 4-day in- person immersion, you will receive your permanent certification as an ANFT Certified Forest Therapy Guide and be part of the largest Forest Therapy Guide Community Worldwide.