The Three Pillars
Our retreats are built on three foundational principles that honor the unique experiences of Black women leaders.
Rest as Revolutionary
In a culture built on the exploitation of Black bodies through labor, choosing rest is radical resistance. Our retreats create protected space for Black women to reclaim rest as a birthright.
Culturally-Specific Care
Healing happens in context. Our retreats are designed by and for Black women, honoring the unique intersections of race, gender, and lived experience.
Japan as Medicine
Japan's ancient wellness traditions—onsen hot springs, forest bathing, kaiseki cuisine, tea ceremony—become tools for deep restoration.
2026 Seasonal Calendar
Four seasonal offerings designed to honor the rhythms of nature and the body's need for rest.
What to Expect
Inclusive Luxury
- Wheelchair-accessible accommodations
- Premium ryokans with modern amenities
- Private onsen experiences
- Gourmet kaiseki dining with dietary accommodations
Culturally-Centered Programming
- Facilitators who understand Black women's experiences
- Space for authentic rest without code-switching
- Community building with other Black women leaders
- Trauma-informed, culturally-responsive practices
Past Retreats
Explore our transformational retreats from 2025 and see the impact of Rest as Resistance.
Meet Your Host
Dr. Dédé Tetsubayashi, PhD
As a queer, disabled Black woman with a PhD from Cornell University, Dr. Dédé brings lived experience to creating truly inclusive wellness spaces. Her 15+ years living in Japan and fluency in seven languages allow her to navigate cultural complexities while centering the needs of marginalized communities.
Former leadership roles at Meta, Salesforce, and WeWork inform her deep understanding of executive burnout and the transformative power of intentional rest. She has facilitated wellness experiences for 25+ Black women leaders, creating spaces where rest is honored as resistance.
Dr. Dédé's approach to wellness is grounded in disability justice, anti-racism, and the belief that luxury must be accessible. Every retreat is designed with multiple access points—physical, cultural, linguistic—ensuring that all participants can fully engage and experience deep restoration.
- PhD from Cornell University
- 15+ years Japan cultural expertise
- Fluent in 7 languages including Japanese
- Former Meta, Salesforce, WeWork leadership
- 25+ Black women leaders served
Voices from Past Retreats
"For the first time in years, I felt permission to just be. No performance, no code-switching, no Strong Black Woman armor. Just rest, healing, and sisterhood."
— 2025 Retreat Participant
"Dr. Dédé created a space where I could finally exhale. The combination of Japan's healing traditions and culturally-specific care was transformative. I returned home with tools I still use daily."
— Executive Leader, 2025 Retreat