A 24-Hour Forest Reset at RESOL NO MORI : Chiba’s Ultimate Nature Retreat

RESOL NO MORI has distinct zones: accommodation here, activities there, dining somewhere else, each with its own mood and purpose. It’s a genuinely remote retreat where the landscape keeps changing in small increments: paved paths, pockets of trees, clusters of cabins or glamping tents set apart enough to feel private. The message was clear: plan your day like a route, not a to-do list. 

And we loved every second of it.

My stay was in the Terrace House area of the Grandvaux zone, a small cabin with a BBQ set in front of the entrance, and an outdoor deck that allows the forest to become part of the floor plan. It features warm wood, soft light, and a cozy layout so everything is close at hand, which matters after you’ve spent the afternoon bouncing between activity zones. I loved the deck, a private outdoor corner with forest in front of you and enough space to sit, talk, or simply stare into the trees and recalibrate. This felt like the perfect anchor for my stay.

The Grandvaux zone was quite nice for a leisurely stroll, particularly during a sunny late autumn day. Some conveniently placed hammocks nearby and cozy spaces for anyone to sit and relax around a fireplace help to shape up the area for casual and relaxed socialization outside the cabins. These are spaces meant to be enjoyed just as much as the private accommodations.

However, I knew that we would have time to relax later. After dropping my bag at the cabin, it was time to embrace the moment for some outdoor fun first.

The first activity we went hunting for was the resort’s headline thrill: the Long Zip Slide, set in Sky Valley, an outdoor area the resort describes as roughly 8 hectares. The slide itself runs for 445 meters, long enough to feel like you’ve actually traveled, not simply been yanked across a clearing.

Before anyone leaves the platform, the staff provides clear instructions and careful checks: where your hands go, what you do at the start, and what to expect at the end. A couple of guests were already ahead of us, so we watched their launches, trying to get a feel for their speed and landing technique before it’s our turn. Nothing wild, nothing reckless, just the satisfying sensation of picking up pace while the trees slide past in a blur you can still enjoy. Still, a bit faster than expected.

At the end, there was no need to hurry back. Instead, we were picked up and returned by a golf cart, which admittedly, was a small highlight in itself.

The MTC has the kind of backstory that explains the vibe the moment you walk in. This place began in 1985 as a facility built around sports science and preventive health, and RESOL even frames it as being supervised by Kenneth Cooper, the doctor behind the aerobics movement in the U.S., name-checking NASA in the process. 

Inside, the first impression is choice. Too much choice, perhaps, in the best way. A climbing wall, basketball courts, ping pong tables, indoor soccer, and all of it wrapped by a running track that keeps circling like a polite reminder that someone, somewhere, is doing serious training today. The 2020 renewal pushed the center in a “pro-athlete” direction, and later releases spell out a facility plan built around a track, gymnasium, and a 25-metre pool.

That pool sits right beside the action, warm and inviting. The problem is time. An afternoon disappears quickly when every corner offers a new temptation, and the MTC is built to reward people who stay longer than a single session. It has hosted camps for top-level athletes for decades — RESOL NO MORI’s timeline reads like a roll call across track, rugby, and more — and even if you’re only there to try a few things and laugh at your own coordination, the place still carries that sense of purpose. 

Dinner was at Suisu-Tei, a place where the approach alone is already impressive enough: a traditional structure reached through the garden, removed from the sports facilities and the cabin lanes. The restaurant’s own story adds a sharp detail for anyone who likes places with real provenance: the building is the former Swiss Embassy (1945–1978), a magnificent sample of traditional Japanese architecture, later relocated here and repurposed for dining.

We ate in the Tsutsuji private room in late-fall, a setting that suits sukiyaki particularly well. The dish has its own tempo: heat building, aroma rising, ingredients introduced in a specific order, and the privacy lets you enjoy that rhythm without the usual restaurant soundtrack of neighboring tables. The course’s delicious appetizer, generous slices of beef, and seasonal vegetables, in such a grand setting, felt like a near-perfect way to end the day.

Between sips of a well-paired red wine with the sukiyaki’s sweet-salty richness, service was always attentive without feeling disruptive, keeping a good balance that allows guests to make the best of a private dining experience in good company.

As satisfying as dinner was, there was one more thing I had to do before calling it a day. Momiji no Yu, the Grandvaux area’s hot spring bathhouse awaited me for the day’s grand finale. It’s open until 23:00 (last entry 22:00), which makes it easy to make time for the onsen at the end of the night without rushing.

This is an all-natural hot spring, with indoor and open-air baths, and the spring quality is noted as weakly alkaline, associated with sodium chloride and bicarbonate. Under the lights, it looks almost black, and if you’re lucky enough to approach the space when there’s no one around, it’s like a mysterious mirror where we can enter and feel like we’re “disappearing” into its dark waters, before re-emerging as good as new. As a travel journalist and onsen enthusiast, I’ve visited many onsen facilities across the country, and I can confidently say that few places have felt immediately as luxuriously soothing on the skin as Momiji no Yu.

I stayed long enough for the noise of the day to fall away. Muscles loosen, breathing slows, and time becomes pleasantly vague. When I finally stepped out, my skin felt noticeably refreshed, in that clean, post-bath way not even skincare can achieve. 

Morning arrived quietly, with breakfast delivered as a neatly packaged set: soup, sandwiches, salad, and dessert. One splendid opportunity to enjoy the open deck facing the forest, while eating in solitude with no other sound around me than the soft murmur of the morning breeze between the trees and the birds chirping in the background.

Before check-out, I wandered for the last time through the Terrace House area and its paths. The cabins sit with enough space between them to feel private, while the shared lanes and small outdoor pockets give the place a “tiny neighborhood” feel. It’s the moment when you notice how the resort is planned: clusters of stays, then open gaps of trees and air, then another cluster, all designed to keep you close to nature without losing basic comfort.

By the time I returned to pack, the stay had come full circle. The afternoon had been about doing; the night was recovery; the morning was clarity—proof that one night can feel properly complete when the pacing is right.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is RESOL NO MORI a good day trip from Tokyo, or should I stay overnight?
A: While you can visit for activities like the Long Zip Slide, the resort is designed as a “24-hour reset.” To fully experience the zones, from the MTC sports facilities to the evening ‘black water’ onsen and forest breakfast, an overnight stay in the Terrace Houses or glamping tents is highly recommended.

Q: What is the most unique dining experience at the resort?
A: The standout is undoubtedly Suisu-Tei. It offers the rare chance to eat premium seasonal fare (like Japanese sukiyaki in winter) inside a historic building that served as the Swiss Embassy in Tokyo from 1945–1978. The building was meticulously relocated to the forest of Nagara to preserve its traditional Japanese architecture.

Q: What should I pack for a stay at RESOL NO MORI?
A: Because the resort is “built to be traversed,” comfortable walking shoes are essential. If you plan to use the MTC (Medical Training Centre), bring athletic gear and swimwear for the indoor pool. For the Momiji no Yu onsen, the resort provides traditional wear, but keep in mind that the forest air can be significantly cooler than Tokyo in the evenings.

Q: Can I reach the resort easily using public transport?
A: Yes. Take the JR Sotobo Line to JR Honda Station (approx. 75 minutes from Tokyo Station). From there, RESOL NO MORI provides a free shuttle bus that takes about 20 minutes to reach the Grandvaux check-in area.

Q: Is the Long Zip Slide suitable for children?
A: The 445-metre Long Zip Slide is a headline thrill in Sky Valley. While it is very popular with families, there are height and weight requirements for safety. It’s best to check the current equipment limits at the Long Zip Slide desk upon arrival, as staff perform rigorous safety checks for every guest.