How is Japan for solo female travel?
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Japan was one of my favorite destinations as a solo female traveler that I regularly recommend as a great option for those newer to solo travel. Japan is extremely safe, easy to navigate, with a variety of incredible places to visit. It really satisfies a range of interests when traveling. Hopefully learning more about solo female travel in Japan will inspire you to book that solo trip because it’s impossible to not fall in love with Japan.
First of all, the people are amazing. They are so kind and willing to help you if you need it, even when there is a language barrier. Japan had some of the best hospitality I have ever experienced. I remember one day when I was hiking and decided to take a break to catch my breath and take some pictures. One older Japanese man who did not speak English did his best to gesture to keep hiking further up for better views. Between smiles and miming, we both were able to somewhat understand each other. I love interactions like these where people are still able to connect even when they don’t speak the same language.
Language Barrier
Now there tends to be a language barrier throughout Japan that you will run into, but I never found it to be that challenging. Most restaurants will offer a menu with pictures so it is very easy to select your meal by pointing to the picture. You will need to know how to flag down a server for the check. “Sumimasen” (excuse me) will be a phrase you use often and “okaikei” is the word for check/bill. Google maps worked perfectly and I was happy to see that all the trains had signs and audio in both Japanese and English.
Day tours with other solo female travelers
I met a lot of other solo female travelers on day tours and city tours. From Tokyo, I took a scenic Mount Fuji full day tour where I met two other solo female travelers. It was a long 10 hour tour, but I loved being able to see majestic views of Fuji from different locations. It made for a lot of great photo opps and we ended the day with stopping in Saiko Iyashi-no-Sato Nenba, an ancient traditional village that now serves as an open air museum. In Kyoto, I took a Nishiki Market Brunch Walking Tour where I met one other solo female traveler and a mother daughter duo traveling together. During this tour, we learned about some cultural traditions, sampled some food at the market, and stopped for a sit down lunch. If you take this tour, make sure to try the strawberry wrapped in mochi at the market! Hostels are not for me, so I find that joining tours is a great way to socialize with others.
Accommodations
I chose to stay in private hotels which were very affordable when I went in the spring of 2023. They also offer capsule hotels where you have a private room with a bed, but use a shared bathroom. I find this option to be great for solo female travelers who want more privacy than a hostel can provide. When I went, a regular hotel room was the same price as the capsule hotels, but that may have changed. My favorite stay in Japan was at Shibu Onsen Kokuya, where I had my own private onsen on the patio.
Dining
Japan really caters to solo diners. Many restaurants offer counter space or have private little booths. Ichiran Ramen is a great solo dining experience where you can place your order on a machine, sit in a private booth, and provide a server with your ticket for your meal. Uobei Shibuya Dogenzaka has conveyor belt sushi for a really affordable price. You order from the tablet at your seat and then it comes out directly to you on the conveyor belt.
Safety and Scams
Overall, I felt extremely safe in Japan. No one bothered or harassed me and the train etiquette blew me away. Chicago has a lot to learn about train etiquette from Japan. I will say Japan may have been the first place I was ever scammed. I am not sure if it was an honest mistake, but it felt really sketchy. I was at a small train station heading to Yamanouchi and stopped for takoyaki before my next train. I had my money out and pointed directly at the picture menu of what I wanted. I handed the money to the cashier and then she tried asking me questions in Japanese. I couldn’t understand her and that’s when another employee came out to “double check” my order. I just kept pointing at the same picture and then the new employee asked for money again, even though I had already paid the original cashier who had now walked away. This was the one instance where the language barrier was a problem, but it also felt more like a scam that could have happened even in English. It was all very quick and I was jet lagged, so I just paid the $7 again and called it a loss. After this, I googled some typical scams in Japan and there were some regarding restaurants, mostly having to do with short changing you.
Overall Thoughts on Solo Female Travel in Japan
Even though I had one small negative experience, my trip to Japan is still one of my favorites. The stunning landscapes, vibrant cities, and incredible food (seriously the best food I’ve ever had) make it a destination that you will be eager to return to.
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