Spending Late Fall in Japan Was the Reset I Needed

There’s no place that heals me more than Japan.

When I learned I had to take three weeks off, I was in Tokyo the next day and feeding sacred deer in Nara (you heard me) a day later. Those 15 hours before takeoff were a total whirlwind of shopping, packing, and booking hotels—the polar opposite of the meticulous planning I usually do!

This time, I traveled lighter and kept my plans flexible. I visited Kyoto, Nara, and Yokohama for the first time, along with my beloved Tokyo. I was worried that the holiday lights and celebrations would bring back bad memories, and that I’d have to cope completely alone. But, for the first time in decades, I actually felt inspired and alive during the holiday season! With ginkgo trees turning even the cities gold, and illuminations wrapping everything in a soft glow, the celebrations felt like a warm hug.

I’m now convinced there’s no better place to experience the seasons than Japan.

I came home healed and inspired, and I owe so much of that to the kindness of the people I met, as well as the deep sense of peace I found in Japan’s nature and shrines. So grateful I got to go again.

Already planning the next trip and can’t wait to share the pics and highlights with you!

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