A New Choice for Japan Travel! Washinmura in Chiba Sparks a Trend in Forest Healing and Slow Travel

Hidden in Futtsu City, Chiba Prefecture, just about an hour's drive from Tokyo, lies Washinmura—a forest resort deeply loved by Japanese travelers yet rarely exposed to the media. As modern travel preferences shift toward emphasizing the depth of experience and a sense of daily life, Washinmura highlights the world's first Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) treehouse, blending the concepts of coexistence with nature, animal companionship, and sustainable architecture to create a new trend in forest healing accommodations. Brought to life by TK (Yihsiang Lin), a village head from Taiwan realizing his vision of free living in Japan, Washinmura has now opened for reservations and simultaneously launched a limited-entry giveaway campaign. The winner can bring three friends into the secret cedar forest of Japan for a three-day, two-night nature healing journey, opening up a new style of slow travel in the Tokyo suburbs for Taiwanese tourists—one that focuses on stepping into the forest, slowing down the pace, and centering on a sense of living.

## Experience Three Types of Accommodations at Once: The World's First CLT Treehouse, a 200-Year-Old Traditional House, and Nordic Tents
The most highly anticipated accommodation highlight in Washinmura is the treehouse built using Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT), the first of its kind in the world. Washinmura's village head, TK, shares that the treehouse is constructed entirely of cypress plywood, offering excellent insulation, heat resistance, and soundproofing, ensuring comfort even during winter stays. The treehouse features large floor-to-ceiling windows.

In addition, the resort has transformed a Japanese traditional house with over 200 years of history into a 'kominka' lodging, preserving the living atmosphere and space of traditional architecture to present the slow-paced daily life of the Japanese countryside. Another highly popular option in the park is the Nordisk Asgard Nordic tents, hailed as the pioneer of luxury glamping, with two currently set up. The tents feature a high-ceiling, airy spatial design, creating the strongest camping atmosphere and becoming the most photogenic accommodation choice in the park.

Washinmura is also a forest settlement where animals coexist. Rescued cats, dogs, and goats roam freely in the 'satoyama' (woodlands) and forests, weaving between the tents and the traditional houses. During the early morning or at dusk, travelers can often stroll through the forest with the cats, experiencing a natural, quiet, and healing forest time through interactions at a comfortable distance.

## A Suburban Hidden Gem with a 50% Return Rate: Living with Cats in the Forest Sparks a New Healing Travel Trend
According to Washinmura's village head TK, the main clientele currently consists of families who love nature experiences, as well as travelers seeking healing and relaxation or simply those who love cats and small animals. Most guests tend to spend their time interacting with the village animals and experiencing natural life. About 90% of Washinmura's guests are local Japanese travelers, long relying on word-of-mouth sharing and returning visitors, making it a true 'known only to locals' hidden gem in the Tokyo suburbs. It is gradually forming a travel trend in Japan distinct from mainstream tourism. Recently, as travelers recorded videos of themselves coexisting freely with the forest ecology and animals at Washinmura and shared them on social media, this previously low-profile forest lodging has begun to attract the attention of international travelers. It has become a new type of healing accommodation in Japan that is not yet heavily commercialized but is already noticed by overseas markets.

Compared to rigid, standardized itineraries, what moves travelers most about Washinmura is the naturally occurring daily healing. Upon entering the park, the pace of life unconsciously slows down. Travelers can move freely between the forest and the accommodation spaces, spending their mornings, afternoons, and nights undisturbed. For many travelers, being able to coexist with animals and share the rhythm of life in a natural environment is the most difficult-to-replicate and nostalgic accommodation experience Washinmura offers.

## 'World's First CLT Treehouse' Official Website Opens for Easier Booking by Taiwanese Travelers
As international attention gradually rises, Washinmura's 'World's First CLT Treehouse' has officially opened for reservations through its official website for the first time. Through a familiar booking interface, Taiwanese travelers can more intuitively complete their accommodation and itinerary arrangements, officially opening this forest secret—previously circulating only among Japanese travelers—to the Taiwanese market and expanding new horizons for Tokyo suburban travel.

Washinmura's 'World's First CLT Treehouse' three-day, two-night all-inclusive experience leads travelers into a forest secret 'known only to locals,' connecting multiple hidden local spots. The itinerary is open for groups of 2 to 6, starting at about NT$36,000 per person. The package covers a two-night treehouse stay, a private open-air bath, three days of exclusive chartered car transfers, and full service by a Chinese-speaking butler, along with breakfast and dinner and customized itinerary planning. Under the arrangement of the exclusive butler, there is no need to queue or deal with crowds; travelers can experience a deep journey distinct from ordinary sightseeing tours at a comfortable and relaxed pace.

## Limited Free Stay Giveaway Starts Today
To celebrate the official launch of the website, Washinmura has simultaneously rolled out a free stay giveaway campaign for the 'World's First CLT Treehouse.' Participants simply need to enter their email to join, with each email address earning one raffle ticket. An early-bird bonus mechanism is open from today, encouraging consumers to participate early and increase their chances of winning. In addition, the event features a sharing bonus mechanism, where participants can invite friends to sign up together; for every successfully invited friend, an extra raffle ticket is accumulated.

The giveaway campaign is open for registration from today until May 31, and a public draw will be held on June 4 on Washinmura's Facebook fan page. One lucky winner will be drawn to invite three friends to join them for a three-day, two-night treehouse nature healing journey. From the moment they arrive in Tokyo, the winning travelers will enjoy private car transfers and full accompaniment by a Chinese-speaking butler, easily embarking on their healing journey, with the total itinerary valued at up to NT$168,000.

## Starting from Taiwan, Washinmura Expands into the International Market to Broaden the Treehouse Travel Map
For Taiwanese travelers, Washinmura offers the dual advantages of 'close distance' and 'deep experience.' After flying from Taiwan to Tokyo, it can be easily reached without long-distance travel, allowing them to step into the forest and escape the rhythm of the city. Coupled with the high familiarity between Taiwanese and Japanese cultures, travelers can focus on experiencing nature, animals, and life itself in a safe and relaxed state, making it a brand-new choice for families, couples, and slow travelers exploring the Japanese suburbs. At the same time, Washinmura continues to expand into the international market, cooperating with travel agency partners in various countries to promote the global development of the treehouse travel experience.