Forest Adventure is a chain of outdoor parks in Japan that offer various treetop courses, zip lines, and other adventurous activities. It had been on my list as a summer activity, so I decided to check out one close to Tokyo earlier this month.
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Forest Adventure Tsukuba
Located at the foot of Mt. Tsukuba in Ibaraki Prefecture, the Tsukuba branch offers breathtaking views of the Kanto Plain from the treetops. There are three obstacle courses on offer here at varying difficulties. Zip lines which allow visitors to glide from one platform to another are incorporated into all them. Many also afford beautiful views of the surrounding area.
Adventure Course
The Adventure Course at the Tsukuba branch is broken up into four sites, each comprising of nine activities. The first site is the easiest, the second and third very challenging, and the fourth not too bad. All of the sites end with a zip line to a woodchip-filled pit at ground level.
Excite Course
The Excite Course is a maximum difficulty extension that can be completed with the Adventure Course if you especially like the challenge.
Canopy Course
This easier, lower level course is recommended for kids and those under 140cm, who are not able to do the Adventure Course. It consists of 26 activities over four sites.
Safety
Before embarking on the courses, staff will strap you firmly into a harness with a carabiner attached. You wear the harness the entire time you navigate through the courses, and hook the carabiner onto the safety lines for extra stability.
Staff will also make you watch a safety video (English available) and complete a small practice course before you are allowed to set off on your own. There is no time limit.
My Experience
I chose to do the Adventure Course. There was not many other people the day I went, so I could pretty much complete the activities at my own pace. Which was a good thing because some of them are HARD. While I managed not to lose my balance once, it was all thanks to the rope on the harness, which I often gripped while crossing precarious bridges and swinging logs.
The two activities below were the most difficult in my opinion, as you are literally swaying in mid-air as you move to each log or ring.
I managed to completed all four sites (36 activities) in around 1 to 1.5 hours, and was completely drenched in sweat by the end of it. I was also pretty sore for days after.
While I enjoyed the experience, it is not something I would do on regular basis. Forest Adventure really tested my sense of balance and trust in the harness, and made me glad I go to the gym. The zip lining parts were fun and effortless, even though I kept spinning to land backwards and ended up with woodchips in my shoes.
The website advertises that anyone of average fitness can do the courses, but I would say you need to be relatively fit and not afraid of heights to enjoy the experience. Make sure you wear sports shoes with grip, and I also recommend bringing plenty of water and a change of clothes.
Cost
Prices for courses vary depending on the park, but the Adventure Course at Tsukuba costs 4,000 yen per person, and the Canopy Course 3,000 yen pp. The Excite Course extension is 1,200 yen.
You can make bookings on the official website. Payment is not required until on the day, and you can cancel at no penalty if you give at least 1 day notice.
Getting to Forest Adventure Tsukuba
Given the nature of the parks, many are not conveniently accessible by public transport, and the Tsukuba branch is no exception. Driving is your best option, but note that there are some mountain roads on the way up. Parking at the closest Tsukuba Municipal Parking Lot cost 500 yen for the day.
If you do want to go by public transport, then take Tsukuba Express from Akihabara or Asakusa Station to Tsukuba Station. From there, transfer to the Mt. Tsukuba shuttle bus and get off at “Tsukuba-san Jinja Iriguchi.” The park is around a 5-minute walk from there.
Address: 茨城県つくば市沼田1688
Numata 1688, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki Prefecture
The park is open from 9am to 6pm, but the cutoff time to start a course is as early as 2:30 pm.
There are Forest Adventure branches across Japan, check the official website to find the one closest to you.
If you are looking for more outdoor activities that maybe aren’t so intense, check out the archives for things to do among nature.