A Pause in the Trip

Often times on vacation, we go, go, go, and the vacation turns into what feels more like a trip and then you come home and need a vacation from the trip!

I know this is how I feel from experience and after years of being fortunate to travel to Tokyo for work and for fun. I know that this big busy city with lots of tall buildings and concrete, people, train rides, noise, and nothing but eating and shopping actually makes me feel very weary after a while. So although it’s an absolutely exciting city with lots to see and do, I knew that when my sister’s family wanted to go for the first time, we had to go and enjoy all of those big attractions with them and do all the things AND my family and I would also need some time away in a more quieter country setting.

So in the middle of the trip, we planned for 2 nights in beautiful Hakone, about a 1.5 hour train ride outside of Tokyo and another 30 minute Uber ride to our air B&B cabin. This pause in the trip is what we really needed to be grounded in nature, refresh, and slow down to allow our souls to catch up with our body.

There wasn’t a lot to do in Hakone so it was perfect to do one activity per day and then allow ourselves to wander and explore which is how we got to enjoy an Open-Air Museum and how we discovered what ended up being our top pic restaurant and meal for the entire 2 week trip (more about it here).

This was the pause that we knew we needed to feel well based on past experience.

Sometimes it’s what we all need. A moment to slow down in the middle and reflect on all of the good happening. To be completely aware of where you are and appreciate it all. It is a pause even in a trip, so the trip doesn’t feel like just a fun trip, but also a vacation.

Finding peace by piece:

Everyone is different, but this is what works for me and maybe you too. Only you know what you and your body or your family needs to feel well. If it’s a pause in the trip to bring peace, take it and the other pieces of the trip will feel so much better.