I think Japan is one of the best solo travel destinations

Traveling alone is one of the most fulfilling things I’ve ever done in my life. However, having a good experience is contingent on choosing the right destination for a solo trip. There are so many things to consider when you’re picking a place to visit by yourself. 

Will it be easy to meet other people? Are you going to be able to afford everything as a single person? How difficult is it going to be to get around the country? Most importantly, is it safe?

These questions and more will likely plague your mind before setting off on your own. However, one place that has everything I’ve ever craved in a solo travel destination is Japan.

For me, all those worries about taking on an international trip independently slipped away in this beautiful country. It just feels tailor-made for traveling by yourself. Here’s why I think Japan is one of the best destinations in the world for a solo trip. 

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Japan is extremely safe, and I felt a sense of comfort and security as a solo female traveler. 

Let’s get one of the biggest questions out of the way: safety. 

Japan is one of the safest places you can visit. It’s actually one of the top 10 safest countries in the entire world! It is always important to be cautious and mindful as a solo traveler, but it’s especially important if you’re traveling alone as a woman. [Source] 

With that being said, it lifted a huge weight off my shoulders to know that I didn’t have to be on high alert for danger around every corner. When I was in Japan, I felt comfortable in even the busiest party areas that might normally make me uneasy. 

For instance, Dotonbori is one of the most popular neighborhoods in Osaka that’s typically packed with travelers and nightlife. Yet, I still felt fine to wander around by myself on a Saturday evening and take out my camera for photos without fear of becoming a target. 

The streets were lined with friendly businesses that made me feel comfortable. Even though there were drunk people around, they were generally way more polite than in other places I’ve been. I also noticed there was lots of law enforcement around all of Japan’s major cities in case anything did go wrong.

I never got that gut feeling as if someone was waiting to rip me off or rob me. No matter where I went in Japan, this comfortability and essence of security followed me. 

Public transportation is easy to understand, super punctual, and convenient.

One of my primary concerns when it comes to traveling alone is figuring out how to get around in a new country. Between a foreign language and unfamiliar territory, getting from point A to point B can be tough on an international trip. 

Luckily, Japan practically eliminated this worry altogether. The nerves of finding my way around melted away the very first time I rode the metro on day one in Tokyo. I quickly realized it was way better than the NYC subway I was used to. 

Public transportation in Japan is so easy to navigate with Google Maps because it explains the entire journey down to which door to enter through. I just downloaded a mobile Suica card to pay using my phone and I never had to deal with ticket machines either. 

Inside the stations there are tons of digital signs in Japanese and English to ensure you end up at the correct platform, even in huge stations like Shinjuku. 

The metro was absolutely always on time and I could get anywhere in the whole country fast on the bullet train. I felt like a lifetime rider after just a few trips with all these conveniences built into the transit system.

If I ever did get a bit lost, everyone was extremely helpful around the stations and I found my way in no time. When I was taking a day trip to Otsu, a local woman helped me figure out the correct train platform. Then, she actually saved me from still getting on the wrong train!

There are countless clean and cheap hostels to choose from, including capsule hostels!

Another big concern about solo travel is the fact that every single purchase comes out of your own wallet. The cost of hotels can particularly eat away at your budget, which is why many solo travelers choose to stay in hostels. 

Japan has an abundance of gorgeous, clean, comfortable, and very safe hostel options. 

One of the most fun (and private) types of hostels in Japan is called capsule hostels, which are exactly what they sound like. Futuristic pods where you can have your own secluded, enclosed bed space for about one-tenth the cost of a whole hotel room. 

Piece Hostel Sanjo is a perfect example of this. I even recommended it as the best hostel in my Where to stay in Kyoto guide because they provide spotless, cozy bedroom nooks for as little as $50 per night. 

Plus, these accommodations typically have a much more social atmosphere for solo travelers. 

Japan is more sociable than I expected, and it was easy to connect with locals and other travelers.

Traveling alone doesn’t have to be lonely. On the contrary, I’ve found traveling alone to be one of the easiest ways to make friends as an adult. Japan gets around 25 million visitors per year. So, there are plenty of other travelers exploring the country at any given time. [Source] 

I was surprised at the very social culture around Japan because I’d always thought it was going to be a more reserved environment. 

However, I found that locals were very open to striking up conversations at the bars and did it in a very friendly, warm way. Even when I was just getting food, I often had pleasant little conversations with waiters or shop owners. 

There are lots of opportunities to meet other travelers in Japan, too, like organized tours or conveyor belt restaurants where you’re seated beside strangers. You never know who you’ll meet. 

When I took a day trip to Mount Fuji, I became fast friends with another female solo traveler who was a Swedish Mom with two teenage sons. 

She’d visited five countries so far and had three more to go on her adventure. At the end of the day, we exchanged numbers in case we ever ended up in each other’s countries and needed insider recommendations. 

I found many free and budget-friendly activities all around Japan, including temples and markets.

Money is a big concern when you’re the only person covering all the costs of a trip. That’s why a destination with plenty of cheap to free activities is ideal for solo travelers on a budget. And Japan fits that bill. 

Japan has two of my favorite free travel activities in droves: temples and markets. 

From Namba Yasaka Jinja in Osaka and Senso-Ji Temple in the Asakusa neighborhood of Tokyo, there are so many interesting, free-to-visit religious sites across the country. 

The markets are also a fun, budget-friendly attraction that doubles as a place to get a delicious, cheap meal. Wagyu gyoza from Kyoto’s Nishiki Market was one of my favorite things I’ve ever tasted and it cost less than $10. 

You can enjoy lots of iconic Japanese dishes for a fairly low cost. Even things like sushi that would usually be very expensive in the U.S., I found at a cheaper price and higher quality in Japan.  

On my birthday I ate dinner at the Michelin-star Kaiten Sushi Ginza Onodera in Kyoto and ordered to my heart’s delight. Yet, it was still under $50 for everything with drinks. That dinner would’ve easily been hundreds of dollars in New York City, minimum. 

Japan’s striking cultural differences made my experience exciting, while simple conveniences made me feel welcomed and at ease.

When I’m traveling, I prefer being immersed in a culture that is completely different from my home state of New York. 

This urge made Japan a very attractive destination since it is such a contrast to the United States. The language, food, cultural norms, and attractions in Japan were completely unlike anything I’d ever been exposed to at home.

Even something as basic as accommodation was a new experience for me, with traditional Japanese hotels like ryokans being widely available throughout the country. From tea ceremonies and Buddhist temples to animal cafes and izakaya bars, there is a whole new world to explore in Japan. 

At the same time, there were so many welcoming touches that made traveling in Japan feel easier than any of the other 15+ countries I’ve visited. 

For example, I could ship my luggage between hotels, pay for everything with my phone, and even get a hearty meal from a vending machine. Japan solves many of the struggles visitors typically face before they even arrive in the country. 

It is the perfect balance of convenience and newness for a solo traveler. 

📚 Related Reading: Suitcase or Backpack? The Clear Winner for Japan

I was surprised to find English translations available almost everywhere.

Japanese doesn’t use the same letter system as English, which can be intimidating for foreign visitors. 

Being in a new environment, looking around at everything written in unknown characters – it’s a lot. I felt that pang of worry when I got off the plane and saw all the airport signs in Japanese. Luckily, that anxiety was doused by relief when I saw that there were also English ones nearby. 

English translations are very common in Japan. 

Especially in public transportation stations, on restaurant menus, and things like that. However, downloading a reliable photo translation app was a very handy travel hack for Japan for me when I couldn’t find any English around. 

There are tons of places to eat solo and feel comfortable, like Ichiran, a famous ramen chain. 

When I went on my first solo trip, one of the most difficult things to overcome was the discomfort of eating alone at every meal. It was painful to dine solo in the beginning, but I actually grew to love it after a while. Now, it’s one of my favorite parts. 

If you’re new to eating out alone, Japan is a great place to test the waters because so many of their restaurants are basically designed for solo guests. 

I adored Ichiran for this reason. It’s one of the most famous ramen chains in the country. They give each patron a tiny, private booth to eat in and you can order at a machine without ever making eye contact with another person. 

There are lots of other places like this in Japan that make eating alone as a solo traveler feel completely normal. 

🎙️ Listen to the Podcast: Nate & Betty share their thoughts on this article and Japan as a solo travel destination in Episode 3 of the Travel Lemming Podcast on YouTube (starts at 16:28). You can also listen to it on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

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By now you’ve probably come to understand my love for Japan as a solo travel destination. There are just so many reasons why it’s an ideal landscape for travelers on their own. 

You’ll want to mind your P’s and Q’s as a solo traveler in the country and respect any local traditions, though. Be sure to read my article about cultural taboos in Japan next.