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

A number of studies have examined the acute effects of shinrin-yoku (forest bathing), or forest walking; however, only a limited number of epidemiological studies have examined the association between habitual forest walking and daily health. The aim of this study was to examine the association of daily happiness, the Japanese concept of ikigai, and enjoyment of daily life with the frequency of forest walking. We used data from the secondary survey of the Japan Multi-Institutional Collaborative Cohort (J-MICC) Daiko study for this cross-sectional study. A total of 3472 participants (2518 women) were included in the analysis. Logistic regression analysis showed that the aORs for frequency of feeling happy, degree of happiness, ikigai, and daily life enjoyment were 1.72 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.29–2.28), 1.54 (95% CI: 1.14–2.09), 1.65 (95% CI: 1.25–2.20), and 2.38 (95% CI: 1.60–3.35), respectively, for those who reported going for forest walks at least once per month when those who reported rarely engaging in this practice served as the reference. This study found that the frequency of forest walking was associated with daily happiness, ikigai, and enjoyment of daily life, suggesting that occasional forest bathing may lead to improved well-being and quality of life.