One key benefit of travelling solo is the freedom that you have to make your own plans and last-minute decisions that would usually be chaos in a large group of you. You don’t have to consider what others prefer to do, which may encourage you to see and experience more as you travel.

Part of preparing to solo travel involves choosing an appropriate destination. Certain locations are more appealing to specific age groups and demographics, such as couples or travellers with kids. For solo travellers, there’s an extensive variety of places to choose from all across the globe. In this article, we will take a look at Japan specifically to determine, through everything from travel to accommodation, if it’s a good destination for solo travellers.

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Travel & Transportation

First, let’s look at travel to Japan, and transportation across the country once you arrive. You can expect a flight to Japan from London Heathrow to take between 13 and 14 hours, but these flights are direct and affordable if booked in advance or during off-peak seasons. In some of the UK’s other major cities such as Manchester, flights generally require at least one stopover, which is usually in Europe or the Middle East. It’s also important to consider that Japan is 9 hours ahead of the UK, so you may need to factor in a day with few plans when you first arrive. With regards to transportation around the country, Japan is widely known for its super-fast and efficient transport networks across trains, subways and buses. These networks link almost every city and neighbourhood across the country, so you won’t need to worry about choosing to explore mainland regions over suburban areas.

Accomodation

Many solo travellers who are exploring Japan choose to stay in business hotels or traditional inns located throughout the country. While their rooms are typically smaller than Western alternatives, they often feature high-tech amenities that you wouldn’t find anywhere else. These accommodation options are known to be affordable and notably clean too. But for solo travellers specifically, certain regions of Japan offer something even more appropriate. They’re known as capsule hotels, which are minimalist pod-style sleeping facilities, specifically designed for travellers exploring the country alone. Because they’re built individually, they offer a quick and extremely affordable sleeping option, especially if you’re looking for somewhere to sleep last minute.

Safety & Comfort

Arguably the most important consideration to make when choosing a destination to solo travel to is how safe the country is known to be. Japan is recognised as one of the safest countries in the world for both travellers and its residents. More specifically, rates of violent crime are impressively low, and it is considered safe to walk around the country’s capital alone at night. But like any country, dangerous crimes will always be present, even at their lowest levels.

​For solo travellers, the caution shouldn’t lie in crime rates, but instead in the risk of natural disasters hitting the region. The country is known to be seismically active, which means it is prone to earthquakes and natural disasters because there is movement in the Earth’s crust. Although it’s important to be aware of this knowledge, Japan actually possesses some of the highest-regarded building codes and warning systems, designed to protect its civilians from danger. If you’re travelling to Japan and have flexibility with when to travel, it’s wise to choose the early months of the year, anytime from January to June, to avoid the country’s typhoon season.

All these considerations are necessary when choosing a destination to solo travel to. You may also want to explore the country’s attractions, social opportunities and practicalities such as Wi-Fi and mobile data coverage. Similarly, it’s also important to ensure you have a valid visa so that you can legally travel to the country. If you hold a standard British Citizen passport, you can travel to Japan for up to 90 days. Anything beyond this period will require you to apply for a specific visa accepted by the country in advance. Once these areas are managed, the fun can really begin.

Without a doubt, solo travelling has its ups and downs. One day you might feel lonely and homesick, which you should know is completely normal. So that you can persevere through these challenging days, it’s a good idea to stay in touch with friends and family or be sure to carry poster prints of your favourite memories together, so you have something to make you smile when you’re feeling down.

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