By Bonnie Newman Davis

Everyone needs time for the three Rs: Regroup, Refresh, and Renew. And that, my friends, is exactly what 27 Black women from Richmond, Hampton Roads, Northern Virginia, Atlanta, and Maryland recently did during eight wonderful days in Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka, Japan.

Our group included medical and mental health professionals, educators, semi-retirees—and me, the journalist. As we explored Japan’s breathtaking beauty, every one of us assumed an additional title: photographer. Whether we were snapping group photos with our beloved tour guide, Hoshi, or capturing parks, shrines, markets, meals, mountains, and sulfur vents, we did our best to chronicle every aspect of this fascinating country.

You may notice that my three Rs don’t include relax. Relaxing is hard when you’re exploring city streets, browsing shops and markets, visiting shrines, hiking, boarding bullet trains, and taking in the views from the Umeda Sky Building/Kuchu Teien Observatory that connects the Tower East and Tower West of the sky building on the 39th, 40th and rooftop floors. Then there’s riding aerial gondolas high above the landscape in Hakone with views of Lake Ashi and, on clear days, Mt. Fuji. Getting to these scenic attractions meant lots of walking. Some of us averaged at least 10,000 steps a day—which is why we left no crumbs while enjoying Japan’s delicious cuisine. We figured we’d walk off the extra calories the next day.

Some of Japan’s culinary offerings weren’t quite to my taste, but there were plenty of other options. The Wagyu steak dinner in Osaka? Delicious! I can’t decide whether I liked Tokyo or Osaka best, so maybe I’ll settle on Kyoto. It felt less polished and offered a lovely segue into Japan’s simpler times, with quaint streets, shops, and more affordable housing.

A few highlights:

• ⛩️ Finding serenity at Meiji Shrine in Tokyo
• 🍣 Exploring the foodie haven of Tsukiji Outer Market, then discovering everything from Starbucks to vintage and high-end styles in Ginza
• 🗻 Seeing Mt. Fuji, riding the ropeways, and taking a ferry across Lake Ashi in Hakone
• 🚄 Riding the bullet train to Kyoto and exploring Nijo Castle, temples, and gardens
• 🦌 Watching deer mingle freely with people at Nara Park. I didn’t get too close! 😎
• 🍜 Sampling the food stalls at Kuromon Market and shopping in Shinsaibashi in Osaka
• 🌆 Taking in Osaka’s many skyscrapers from the Umeda Sky Building or by stepping into a fairytale at Osaka Castle

Looking back, some of the most important moments from our journey were the bonds we formed and the care we shared. Our youngest member often led her elders—and we happily followed. Few of us showed outward signs of homesickness, although those of us seated at the back of the bus kept our eyes on our phones, elated as election results came in from the U.S.

All in all, it was a wonderfully exhilarating—and exhausting—week in Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka! This experience, organized and made possible by the amazing Grace Harrison of Richmond, was everything! I’m still pinching myself: I finally realized my dream of traveling to this fascinating island nation, where ancient traditions blend with global pop-culture influences and so much more.

Learn more about Japan here.