Japan Spring 2026: Cherry Blossoms, Community, and a Final Farewell
They say that travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer. But in 2026, as we look at a world caught in economic shifts and a turbulent political climate, travel feels much more profound: it is a privilege.
Coming off our recent GrooveTrippers journey to Japan, that reality isn’t lost on me. While two of my best friends in Bahrain and Abu Dhabi face restricted movement due to the current climate, thirteen of us were able to touch down in Tokyo. We were a beautiful mosaic of "OG" travelers like Doreen and Enid (who have been with me since Morocco 2010), Debra and Shalonda (who traveled to Cuba and the UAE with GT just recently), family, and vibrant newcomers like Staci and Jasmine.
This trip was a collaborative masterpiece. With "big-little" sister Yusenka and Jasmine managing spreadsheets of hidden gems and curated eats, we didn’t just visit Japan; we experienced it.
Tokyo: Highballs, High Steps
Arrival day was a whirlwind. Folks converged from denver, DC, Miami, and beyond, Battling 90 minute traffic jams just to reach shinjuku. we kicked things off in the shadow of the ‘‘Godzilla’’ building at Sumibi Kushiyaki Ando.
Sitting on traditional floor seating, the jetlag and the sake hit us at the same time. There was so much laughter and "sharing" that some of us literally had to be rolled out across the bamboo floors!- Our first day of touring with our guide, Kono-san, turned us into Tokyo Subway Gurus. We averaged 22,000 steps a day, weaving through:
Meiji Jingu Shrine: A slice of heaven that feels like NYC’s Central Park, where we witnessed a wedding procession and practiced the silent reverence of the Japanese bow.
Harajuku: A neon-soaked "outdoor nightclub" of a street that was honestly a bit much, but a must-see for the fashion.
Ueno Park: Teeming with Sakura seekers (where I even got interviewed by a charming group of Spanish language students!).
By night, we explored Ebisu—a posh, "quiet luxury" neighborhood where we fell in love with Ginger Whiskey Highballs and fried delicacies at local Izakayas.
The Magic of the Mountain and the Temple
We traded the "Russian doll" suitcases (bulging with Don Quijote and Uniqlo hauls) for the silence of Temple at Kakurinbo. At the temple, we slept on tatami mats, donned vintage kimonos, and shared a 7-course Michelin-level vegetarian feast.
Then came the "Big Lady" herself: Mt. Fuji.
It rained. It fogged. I was terrified I’d dragged everyone to Lake Kawaguchiko for a view of... nothing. But then, she appeared. We hiked the 400 steps to the Chureito Pagoda, and the clouds parted. At 5:00 AM the next morning, we stood like little kids in the cold, watching the sun rise behind that magnificent peak. It was a spiritual reset we all needed.
A Bittersweet Beauty
We finished with the "Midtown Manhattan" energy of Osaka and the timeless soul of Kyoto (where we hit our record of 26,000 steps in the rain!).
But as I write this, my heart is heavy. Among our thirteen was a family of three: Julio, Sonia, and their son Josh. We didn’t know it then, but this would be Julio’s final trip. He passed away just weeks after we returned. Looking back at the photos of us laughing over yakitori, navigating the subways, and standing in awe of the blossoms, I am reminded why we do this.
We don't travel just to see new places; we travel to build a community that sustains us when the world gets dark. We travel because we can, and because we owe it to those who can't to see as much beauty as possible.
This post is dedicated to the memory of Julio Robles. A fellow GrooveTripper who lived, laughed, and saw the world with us until the very end.
To the next horizon,Jannelle
