The purpose of this study was to examine the origin of outdoor education in Japan.
Generally speaking, what we think of as organized camping first took shape and was implemented in the 1920's. However, outdoor education in Japan had its roots in back to Shugendo dur ng the Heian era. The following conclusions were obtained.
1. Mountaineering was a main activity of Japanese outdoor education in the early days.
2. Shugendo was not only the origin of mountaineering in Japan but also part of the basic culture of our country.
3. The custom of Seijin Tozan (“initiation into adulthood”) directly influenced the origin of Gakkou Tozan (“school mountaineering”) in the early years of the Meiji era.
4. The purposes of Gakkou Tozan (“school mountaineering”) in those days were to strengthen the mind and body of students, and help them learn about natural history.
5. The concepts and practice of Shugendo were similar to those of adventure education and environmental education that researchers today consider elements of outdoor education.
