I will not lie. I’d never traveled alone before, and there was no one waiting for me in Japan at the end of my trip. As soon as I got there, all my worries melted away because Japan is just so amazing! You don’t have to travel with anyone else if you don’t want to—and if you want company, there are plenty of ways to connect with other travelers while still going solo (like Airbnb). Whether you’re exploring Tokyo or hiking Mount Fuji, here are some tips for making your solo trip to Japan feel like home.
Japan is a safe and respectful place to travel on your own.
Japan is a safe country, and the Japanese people are respectful and helpful. If you get lost or have any other issues, you can easily ask for help from someone nearby. In addition, there are many police officers patrolling the streets who can speak English, so it’s easy to get help if needed.
Japan is also a friendly country where people are polite, kind, and welcoming towards others (even if they don’t speak your language). It’s common courtesy here to bow when greeting someone or thanking them, but don’t worry—you’ll pick it up quickly once you arrive!
You can learn Japanese by listening to pop music.
If you’re trying to pick up the language, it’s helpful to listen to popular music in Japanese. The lyrics are often very simple and easy to understand, which will make them easier for you to memorize. You can find many popular songs on YouTube or other video platforms that allow you to read along with the song as it plays (if there isn’t a lyric video available). Reading along while listening is a great way of learning new vocabulary and practicing pronunciation. It also helps reinforce things like verb conjugations, which are essential elements of speaking Japanese fluently!
Disneyland is not just for kids
As much as I love Disneyland, I’m not sure where this idea came from that it’s only for kids. Sure, there are plenty of attractions that appeal to children—and even more if you count hotels and restaurants—but there are also plenty of rides geared toward adults: Space Mountain is dark; Star Tours simulates an X-wing fighter piloting through an asteroid field; Indiana Jones Adventure lets you battle snakes on horseback (and then face off against King Kong). If you haven’t been since childhood yourself or with small children in tow, give this magical place another chance now that you’re probably taller than your favorite character!
It is possible to find an affordable place to stay in Tokyo.
Why? Because hotels are expensive in Tokyo, and there are many options for budget travelers.
Hostels are one option. You can find them all over the city, but they’re not cheap—the average hostel costs upwards of $30 per night (and you have to share a room with other travelers). Another option is Airbnb, which has more affordable rates than hotels. Couchsurfing is another great way to save money: hosts around the world offer free lodging if you agree to spend time with them while you’re staying there—it’s like staying at someone’s house! And Home-away offers vacation homes from people who actually live in Japan or South Korea; these properties are larger than standard apartments, so you get more space for your dollar!
Tour the City on your Solo Trip to Japan
Get out of the city for a day.
If you want to see a little more of Japan than just Tokyo, then set aside one full day and travel out of the city. You can visit nearby towns and villages, go hiking or take a dip in a hot spring. Preferably, do all of these things!
Take pictures of ancient temples on your Solo Trip to Japan
Temples and shrines are all over Japan! This is your chance to get some great shots for Instagram (and impress everyone back home). After you’re done taking photos at each place, try talking with other tourists too—that can be fun too!
Don’t be afraid to say “no.”
The best way to say “no” in Japanese is はい、ごめんなさい. This can be translated into English as “Yes, sorry.” The second part of this phrase, ごめんなさい (go-men-sai), can be used on its own when you need to apologize for something or someone else has done something wrong and you don’t want them to apologize for it. For example:
A coworker asks if you would like ice cream after lunch and before dinner as a snack. You politely decline their offer with the above phrase because you don’t like ice cream that much—or maybe because it makes your teeth hurt when they’re cold and there’s not much room left in your stomach, anyway!
Your friend accidentally bumps into one of your friends at a party who was already upset about how crowded it was getting there; she apologized profusely but he just shrugged her off saying nothing back so she became even more worried about what he thought of her now that she’d made such an effort just moments earlier! Don’t worry – using this sentence will let him know exactly how sorry but still respectful she feels towards him since nothing really happened other than being bumped into by another person at worst 😉
Planning a solo trip to Japan will teach you new skills.
Planning a solo trip to Japan will teach you new skills. As the adage goes, “If you want to learn something, teach it.” If you do not have any experience making your own decisions in a foreign language. Then this is the perfect opportunity for you. You will also have to learn how to manage your time on your own and well use it. In addition, if this is your first time planning a trip by yourself, then it may be difficult at first. This is because there are so many things that need attention. Such as booking flights, accommodations, trains, tours, etc. However, with practice, you will get more comfortable deciding on your own as well as negotiating with people in a foreign language (although most Japanese people speak English).
It’s pretty easy once you get used to it but if there were any hurdles during my solo travels. They were usually due to not being able to communicate properly or just not having enough money!
Conclusion
We hope this post has inspired you to take the plunge and explore solo travel in Japan. It can be a great way to challenge yourself, make new friends, and see something new. We know from experience that planning for a trip can seem overwhelming at first. Once you get started, it usually goes smoothly! Remember that it’s never too late or too early to plan. Even if you don’t know exactly where yet (or if), take advantage of our advice below now so that next time there won’t be any surprises when your flight leaves tomorrow morning.