From 'resting on a trip' to 'getting healthy on a trip.' A Japanese version of wellness travel to try in 2026
I want to try a trip that isn't packed with sightseeing spots. Thinking about wellness travel, a 2026 trend, from a lifestyle perspective
I've gone on trips, yet I'm exhausted by the time I get home.
I pack in sightseeing spots, chase after transportation, and keep looking at my smartphone in the hotel at night.
I also used to think that when it comes to travel, it's better to visit as many places as possible.
Since I paid money for it, I felt it was a waste to create time where I do nothing.
That was the feeling I had.
However, when looking into recent travel trends, a slightly different way of thinking has been spreading.
That is, not just resting at the travel destination, butwellness travel that uses the trip itself for health and recovery.
In 2026, there is a growing focus on travel for the purpose of running, hiking, training, sleep improvement, and physical and mental recovery.
In this article, I will organize overseas travel trends that seem a bit distant by applying them to daily life in Japan.
If you are starting in Japan, there is no need to go to expensive retreat facilities.
Choosing from the following three is enough.
Hot Springs × Sleep
Regional Travel × Walking
Hotel/Ryokan × Digital Detox
I have researched this so that you can enjoy your usual travels from a different angle.
What you will learn in this article
In this article, I will organize the following points.
What is 'Sweat Jetting,' which is gaining attention in 2026?
Why Japan is compatible with wellness travel
How to turn a hot spring trip into a sleep experiment
How to walk without strain during regional travel
How to try a digital detox at a hotel or ryokan
How to bring habits found during travel back into your daily life
Beginners don't need to memorize detailed travel terminology.
It becomes easier to understand if you think of it as 'trying to live a slightly more organized life than usual while traveling.'
In 2026, 'exercising' will become the purpose of travel
A term gaining attention as a 2026 travel trend isSweat Jetting.
Literally translated, it is travel for the purpose of sweating.
Until now, travel has centered on staying at hotels, sightseeing, and enjoying meals.
Even if you exercised, it might have been just using the hotel gym in your spare time.
With Sweat Jetting, the order is reversed.
Participating in a running event.
Walking in mountains or forests.
Experiencing yoga or cycling.
After that, resting your body in a sauna or with a massage.
In other words,exercise, sports, and recovery experiences themselves become the purpose of the trip.
According to Tripadvisor's 2026 Trendcast, experience bookings increased by 18% year-over-year, and it is reported that 21% of global travelers plan to take a fitness-focused vacation within the next 12 months.
Fitness travel has increased by 10% year-over-year, and spa/wellness travel has increased by 8%.( Tripadvisor
)
What was even more interesting is that not only exercise, but recovery is also part of the trip.In the same survey, bookings for recovery experiences such as massages, spas, and saunas are also growing.( Tripadvisor
)
When I first saw this term, honestly, I thought it was travel only for people with exercise habits.
Because it sounded like stories about people participating in overseas marathons or serious mountain climbing.
But from a lifestyle perspective, there is no need to think of it as something so grand.
Walking through a hot spring town.
Returning to the ryokan and soaking in the bath.Going to sleep early at night.This is also a small wellness trip that combines exercise and recovery.
Japan is inherently well-suited for wellness travel
Looking at the term 'wellness travel' alone, it feels like a new style of travel that has emerged from overseas.
However, Japan has long had a similar culture.
Resting the body in hot springs
Staying for a period of time for hot spring therapy (Toji)
Walking through forests and mountains
Visiting temples, shrines, and historic roads
Calming the mind through Zen and meditation
Slowly savoring local ingredients
JNTO introduces hot springs, Zen, meditation, yoga, forest bathing, and healthy meals as Japanese wellness experiences.
They explain that about 67% of Japan's land is forest, and one can experience forest bathing by walking, standing, or sitting without needing any special skills. (Japan Travel)
In January 2026, JNTO also introduced that habits for balancing the body and mind, such as hot springs, forest bathing, Zen, tea ceremony, and food culture, are deeply rooted in Japanese life and culture. (Japan Travel)
In other words, rather than being a country that is just starting to create wellness travel, Japan is a country where you can repurpose existing culture to fit modern life.
What is new is not the hot springs or the walks themselves.
It is re-envisioning them not as 'extras for sightseeing,' but as 'trips to organize your life.'
1. Hot Springs × Sleep
The easiest combination to try first is hot springs and sleep.
When people think of hot spring trips, they tend to focus on sightseeing spots, luxurious meals, and open-air baths.
Of course, enjoying those things is also part of travel.
However, if you pack your schedule too full, meal times get pushed back, you stay up late, and you might end up leaving the next morning feeling exhausted.
So, this time, we will change just one goal of the hot spring trip.
Instead of a trip for sightseeing, make it a trip for sleeping well.
The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare has published the 'Sleep Guide for Health Promotion 2023,' which shows the importance of not only securing sleep time according to age and life circumstances but also organizing the sleep environment and lifestyle habits. (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare)
Just taking a hot spring bath will not solve insomnia or poor physical condition.
One must be a little careful here.
However, hot spring trips offer conditions that make it easier to review your usual sleep habits.
Being able to physically distance yourself from work
Easier to bathe earlier than at home
Being able to choose a place with less lighting and noise
Being able to reduce evening plans
Easier to be exposed to natural light in the morning
Easier to create a reason to put down your smartphone
The important thing is not to have excessive expectations for the medicinal benefits of the hot springs.
It is to reorganize your actions leading up to sleep with the hot spring at the center.
Here is how I would try it.
For a 1-night, 2-day hot spring trip, I would plan it as follows.
Afternoon
Check in between 3:00 PM and 4:00 PM.
After dropping off your luggage, walk around the hot spring town or the area around your inn for about 30 minutes.
There is no need to go far.
The goal is to get outside during the day and move your body a little.
Evening
After dinner, do not pack your schedule for the next day.
Bathe within a reasonable range, and avoid opening work emails or social media after bathing.
Charge your smartphone in a place away from your bed.
After that, spend your time reading or doing light stretching.
Morning
When you wake up, first open the curtains.
Walk outside for 10 to 20 minutes before or after breakfast.
Then, record not just your sleep duration, but also the following three things:
Does your body feel heavy when you wake up?
Did you wake up multiple times during the night?
Do you feel calmer than on a typical morning?
Sleep cannot be judged by duration alone.
Because it is a record taken during a trip, it becomes material for finding the conditions under which you can rest easily.
2. Regional Travel × Walking
Next is regional travel and walking.
When people say 'travel for exercise,' it can feel a bit daunting.
This is because it feels like you have to buy running shoes and prepare for serious mountain climbing.
However, with regional travel in Japan, you can turn sightseeing itself into time spent walking.
For example,
Hot spring towns
Castle towns
Old post towns
Port towns
Shrines and temples
Coastal promenades
Areas around lakes and rivers
Shopping streets
and so on.
Because there is a destination, it is easier to continue than walking just for the sake of exercise.
The WHO does not limit physical activity to just sports or training. Walking for transportation, leisure strolls, and moving your body during work or housework are also included in physical activity. Regular physical activity is considered beneficial for physical and mental health and quality of life. (World Health Organization)
The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare's 'Physical Activity and Exercise Guide for Health Promotion 2023' also bases its recommendations on adjusting the amount and intensity according to individual differences, with the goal of moving your body even a little more than you do now. As a guideline for adults, it suggests 60 minutes of physical activity equivalent to walking, or about 8,000 steps per day, but this is premised on adjusting according to your current physical strength and health condition. (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare)
Here, it is not necessary for everyone to make 8,000 steps a mandatory goal.
If someone who usually walks about 3,000 steps suddenly walks 15,000 steps because they are on a trip, they may end up hurting their feet.
It is enough to just see if you were able to walk a little more than usual without overdoing it.
To ensure a walking trip doesn't become an exhausting trip
When traveling on foot in rural areas, check the following points:
Are there many slopes or stairs?
Is the distance to the accommodation reasonable?
Are there places to rest along the way?
Can I leave my luggage somewhere?
Can I handle the heat or cold?
Did I prepare comfortable walking shoes?
Do I have enough energy left for the return trip?
If you have an underlying illness or pain, do not force yourself to increase the distance.
The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare also states that it is necessary to check your physical condition before and during exercise, and to engage in it safely according to your underlying diseases, daily activity level, and exercise content. (Health Japan 21 Action Support System)
Rather than competing on step counts,
I was able to walk while looking at the scenery
The time spent sitting has decreased
I felt naturally sleepy at night
My mood felt a little lighter
observing changes like these is more useful as a travel record.
3. Hotel/Ryokan × Digital Detox
The third point is digital detox at hotels and ryokans.
When people hear 'digital detox,' they often imagine going deep into the mountains and sealing away their smartphones for days.
That feels a bit difficult for me.
I want to check maps, and I need to stay in touch with my family.
I also want to take photos.
Therefore, rather than not using them at all, deciding for yourself when to look at them is a more realistic approach.
The JNTO's forest bathing guide suggests leaving your smartphone at the hotel as an opportunity for a digital detox. It explains that forest bathing doesn't require running or climbing mountains; you can simply walk slowly through the forest or sit and feel the sounds and scenery. (Japan Travel) In an article published by the JNTO in March 2026, forest bathing—where travelers step away from technology and use their senses to engage with nature—is introduced as a suitable experience for modern wellness travel. (
Japan Travel) Smartphones are not the enemy.The problem is continuing to receive information at the same speed as usual, even while on vacation to rest.
A half-day digital detox for beginners
For me, I would set the following rules.
It is okay to use it for emergency contact and maps
It is okay to take photos
Do not post the photos you take to social media on the spot
Keep it in your bag during meals
Turn off notifications after bathing
Do not charge it next to the bed
Do not check the news until the next morning
This way, you can try it without completely letting go of your smartphone.
The goal of a digital detox is not a test of endurance.
It is about returning your attention from the screen to your meals, the scenery, conversations, and your physical condition.
Forest bathing connects three types of travel
While researching this, I personally felt that forest bathing was the easiest to incorporate.
Forest bathing is different from serious mountain climbing.
There is no need to walk fast.
There is no need to rack up step counts.
Listen to the birds in the forest.
Feel the wind and the scent of the trees.
Sit down if you get tired.
That alone is enough.
The JNTO introduces forest bathing as an experience originating in Japan that allows you to step away from busy urban life and rest your mind and body. While positive effects on sleep quality, mood, concentration, and stress have been reported, the focus when actually doing it is on using your five senses to feel nature rather than on exercise results. (Japan Travel) When you include forest bathing in a hot spring trip, three themes naturally connect.
Walk through forests or trails during the day.
Step away from your smartphone for a while.
Return to your inn and soak in the hot spring.
Rest early at night.
Go back outside in the morning.
It is not a flashy trip.
But it allows you to try a flow that is often hard to maintain in daily life:
walking
resting
bathing
stepping away from screens
sleeping
all in one go.
Three models of Japanese-style wellness travel
We will now translate the content covered so far into an actual travel plan.
A. A 2-day, 1-night trip to improve sleep at a hot spring resort
This is suitable for the following people:
Those who look at their smartphones right up until they go to sleep
Those who cannot get work off their minds
Those who tend to feel tired after a trip
Those who stay up late even on their days off
The main activities are:
Checking in early
Taking a short walk in the evening
Turning off notifications at night
Bathing without overexertion
Getting into bed early
Soaking up the morning light
Recording how rested you feel upon waking
The goal is not to find the best hot spring inn. It is to discover how to create a night where you can easily rest.
The goal is not to find the best hot spring inn.
It is to discover how to create a night where you can easily rest.
B. A trip to walk slowly through a local town
This is suitable for:
Those who cannot stick to a gym or running routine
Those who find it painful to make exercise the goal
You like looking at townscapes and buildings
You usually spend a lot of time sitting
person.
The main points are:
Don't pack too much travel distance
Walk slowly through one town
Take breaks along the way
Don't compare your step count with others
Record your mood and fatigue
It is enough if you can walk a little longer than usual.
It is enough if you can walk a little longer than usual.
C. Half-day digital detox at a hotel or ryokan
People who are suited for this are:
Those who check notifications even on their days off
Those who stay up late watching videos
Those who don't feel rested even though they are looking at information
Those who touch their smartphone even while eating
person.
The main points are:
Finish necessary communications beforehand
Decide on a time to turn off notifications
Do not look at screens while eating
Do not open social media after bathing
Spend time reading or taking a walk
Record your mood the next morning
is what you should do.
You don't have to aim for 24 hours from the start.
Starting from after dinner until the next morning is enough.
Things not to misunderstand about wellness travel
A little caution is needed here.
Wellness travel is not medical treatment to cure illnesses or ailments.
Taking a hot spring bath will cure insomnia.
Walking in the forest will cure mental illness.
Walking 8,000 steps will definitely make you healthy.
Putting down your smartphone will make fatigue disappear.
Such definitive statements cannot be made.
If you have strong anxiety about your physical condition or if sleep problems persist for a long time, it is important to consult a medical institution rather than trying to solve it only through travel.
Also, hot springs and exercise must be adapted to your physical condition.
Avoid bathing after drinking alcohol
Do not force yourself to continue long baths
Stop walking if you feel pain or strong fatigue
Take water and breaks during hot seasons
Check in advance if you have any underlying medical conditions
Do not drive a car while sleep-deprived
The more you think about it being 'for your health,' the more you might push yourself too hard.
An experiment to rebuild your life is not something you should do at the expense of your health.
5 things to record during your trip
If you just experience wellness travel and end it there, it is the same as a regular trip.
Therefore, record only the following five things during your trip.
What time you put down your smartphone
How much you walked
How you spent your time after bathing
What time you started feeling sleepy
How you felt when you woke up
There is no need to give yourself a detailed score.
A simple three-level scale of 'Good,' 'Average,' or 'Tired' is enough.
If you can find just one condition that you can replicate in your own life, that trip has meaning.
Bringing the habits you found on your trip back home
Even if you go to bed early only while on vacation, if you return to your original lifestyle the moment you get home, the change won't last.
However, it is also difficult to completely replicate the same life you had on your trip.
You have work and chores at home.
There might not be any hot springs or forests nearby.
Therefore, bring back only one thing.
For example,
Do not look at social media for 30 minutes after bathing
Walk outside for just 5 minutes in the morning
Keep your smartphone face down while eating
Walk in a local park on weekend mornings
Do not charge your phone next to your bed
Create a half-day once a month where you do nothing
This is something you can try even after your trip.
Getting healthy on vacation does not mean living a perfect life while you are away.
It means finding the conditions that make it easier for you to feel balanced and bringing one of them back into your daily life..
Kurose's Memo
More than the hot spring itself, it was the fact that I could sleep early.
More than the number of tourist spots, it was the fact that I could walk slowly.
More than a luxury hotel, it was the night I didn't look at my smartphone.
Looking back, the reason my body felt lighter on the trip might not have been the flashy experiences.
What I saw on the trip.
That is also important.
But what kind of life I lived during the trip.
I wanted to pay a little more attention to that as well.
What I want to try first
For me, I will start by trying this on a 2-day, 1-night hot spring trip.
I won't set any big goals.
Walk for 30 minutes in the evening
Do not look at social media after bathing
Go to bed one hour earlier than usual
Walk for 10 minutes in the morning
Make a note of how I feel when I wake up
These five things are all you need.
You might not sleep well.
You might end up looking at your smartphone.
You might not be able to walk as much as you thought.
That is perfectly fine.
This is not a test to determine the success or failure of your trip, but an experiment to find the lifestyle that makes it easier for you to rest.
Even your failures can be used for your next trip or your daily life.
Summary
In 2026, wellness travel focused on exercise, sleep, recovery, and nature experiences is likely to become even more accessible.
Overseas, 'Sweat Jetting,' which centers the trip around exercise itself, is also gaining attention.
However, if you are starting in Japan, you don't need to go on a full-scale training trip.
Adjust how you spend your evenings at hot springs
Take a slow walk through a local town
Turn off notifications at hotels and inns
Step away from screens in forests and parks
Record the conditions that make it easy for you to rest
Even just doing this will change the meaning of your trip a little.
Travel is not just a time to escape from your daily routine.
You can use it as a time to borrow a different environment and re-test your own lifestyle.
On your next trip, instead of just counting tourist spots,
try planning to feel a little lighter in your body when you return.
You don't have to change everything.
Try one thing on your trip and bring one thing back to your daily life.
In that way, you can gradually rebuild your life.
Proposed links to related articles and magazines
If this article caught your interest, please try organizing the following themes next.
Things to stop doing before bed to improve your sleep environment
How to layer 5-minute health habits into your life
How to start a digital detox without stress
'Kurose's Life Experiment Notebook': Organizing AI, money, and QOL from a lifestyle perspective
*Please insert links to existing sleep articles, 5-minute habit articles, and health-related magazines upon publication.
References/Sources
Tripadvisor 'Trendcast 2026', 'Sweat Jetting'
Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) 'Wellness Travel in Japan'
Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) 'Forest Bathing in Japan'
Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) 2026 Wellness Travel Related Information
Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare 'Sleep Guide for Health Promotion 2023'
Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare 'Physical Activity and Exercise Guide for Health Promotion 2023'
World Health Organization (WHO) 'Physical activity'
*Wellness travel is not intended for the treatment of illnesses or ailments. If you have any concerns about your physical condition, please consult a medical institution or similar professional.
