travelling alone in Japan?

Question

Hi,
I'm off to Japan (few cities) and it just dawned on me to ask this - since I will be travelling alone, how (un)comfortable could it be to, for example, visit restaurants or other places alone? I've travelled alone before and experiences differed from strange looks to ignorance. What to expect in Japan?
(some friends mentioned that being white female may be a bit of the safety issue, esp on trains)... Most importantly, any places i SHOULDN'T go alone? thank you soo much.
M.

Answer 1

You'll be fine traveling alone. Most signs are in English and Japanese. You can get a map in English in major cities and I recommend you get one. I have never had problems when I travel alone.

Answer 2

Hi there,

First off, have a good time in Japan. :)

Below is a great site for women visiting or traveling to Japan that may offer helpful information before you leave.
Naturally, you should remain cautious and informed because dangerous situations can occur anywhere but it might be comforting to know that many women actually feel very safe in Japan for many reasons.
In the following link, you'll find additional information about safety aspects, including police, theft, trains, and domestic violence to help you know what to expect in such a case and feel better prepared. http://www.being-a-broad.com/en/living_information/survival/safety

One thing I learned from this site that I didn't previously know that I think is important: The date rape drug is not illegal in Japan, so just be careful with any drinks.

P.S. If you are on the mailing list for the website, you can receive e-mails about different interesting events or specials going on at different places that could be fun while you are there and is a way of supporting and gathering the women living abroad (some I received recently, for example: announcement of a wine and dine Christmas party, a search for foreign faces for a Japan magazine cover, discount on haircuts at a specific salon, job listings, etc.).

Try to be informed, but not worried, and have a great time!

Answer 3

I am traveling around Japan myself alone right now, and am 14 days into my free form 28 day vacation, If you are around Tokyo, it is very easy to get by with speaking little to no japanese, the trains are very easy, every restaurant I have been in is easy enough to read the english translation, point at the picture, or the wax model in the window for what you want, and if you want a soda, say 'ko ka ko ra' and you will promptly be served a nice tiny glass of coke.

If you ask for something and what they say ends in 'nai or n' that means that they probably do not have what you want available.

Japan is one of the safest countries in the people are very polite, its pretty safe to walk down any dark and narrow street at any time of the night in Tokyo for example, there are many police stations all over the place (look for 2 red lightbulbs with a gold seal between them) or ask 'koban wa doko desu ka' The police are excellent even if they don't speak english well for helping you find someplace in the maze of Tokyo neighborhoods (where buidlings are pretty much numbered in the order built, rather than sequential order.) If you are really lost, keep a map out, and look at it confusedly, someone is bound to stop and try to help you for 2 reasons, 1, they are really good people for the most part, and 2, there are many japanese who will use any possible opportunity to practice thier english.

If you get down to Osaka, hit Spa World, I just spent the whole day there and it was a blast.

Answer 4

I think in Japan if a woman stays at hotels in the town or youth hostels alone, it is not much problem. But itraditionally, if a Japanese woman travel alone to coutryside (including the places which have hot springs) of Japan, and tried to stay traditional hotels or guest houses (which are called Ryokan in Japanese), the hotels might be refusing her to stay, or be worried about her because she is considered a suspicious person who might be commit suicide while she is visitng a coutryside alone). On the other hand, it is more common that Japanese women travel abroad alone. So may be depending on the Ryokan or traditional hotel, they welcome the woman who visit alone.( I am not sure.)

Answer 5

As a Japanese female living in Tokyo, I think Japan is one of the friendliest countries for female solo travelers. You will see lots of women eating alone at restaurants, especially in big cities. Many restaurants have "ladies sets", menus specifically designed for women at discount prices.

I do not think being white female would specifically create a safety issue. Yes it is said sometimes groupers are reported on trains, but I have not had such experience myself and neither my friends. Such incidents normally occur at commuting trains that you would probably not be riding.

I cannot think of any place that you shouldn't go alone in Tokyo. If you walk down the streets in Roppongi for instance at night alone, probably some guys will come talk to you trying to get you into their clubs and bars, but they normally leave you alone as long as you act not interested. Good luck!

Answer 6

If you wander around with a camera around your neck and map in hand, then sure you will look like a tourist, but thats what you will be, right?
Sure they will look at you and think that you cant speak Japanese, but then that assumption is true, right?
And eating out alone at a resturant in any country would look weird, right? well at a fancy one anyway.
If language is the only issue you have then it should be no problem, just be careful not to get lost.
In some parts of Japan they have a train carriage just for the females, でも問題ないと思うよ。
楽しんでね ^_^

Answer 7

I always listen that Japan is between the most most secure international locations with quite low crime price. yet dont basically flow through that. prepare highway smarts, i say in case you flow out at nighttime proceed to exist lit streets stay away from backalleys and folk who ask too many questions. you should guage staying in a student hostel, you'd be paying low-cost for stay and ought to fulfill different foreigners of whom you are able to carry out with. There are also hostels that take the travelers out for crew excursions and outings.

Answer 8

well depends, for a society such as japan males will have no probs, as their society is so male dominated, sad but true. that you won't get hassled and in fact accommodation gets easier and eating is better as there are less queues when waiting at noodle stores etc so you should be pretty sweet

Answer 9

lol
i guess i can give you some advices.
you should go to big city especially specific place where many people coming from world wide.
going to country side, everybody might look at you if you dont look like japanese.

Answer 10

i am not brave enough to go there cause i hate their food i don't speak japanese and so on.......