20 Travel Tips for Solo Travelers in Japan

Before moving to South Korea, I already had high hopes of visiting Japan on the reg. While the countries are indeed within a short proximity of one another, I’ve only managed to make one trip thus far this year. But what a delight it was. 

I decided to share a few tips that might help my fellow solo travelers during their first visit to Japan. Aside from these tips, make sure to eat all the sushi, embrace the crazy, and pack an appropriate wardrobe for the season. Don’t do as I did and pack for the season you wished it was {cough, cough Autumn}.

1. Renting portable wifi is super easy {and convenient}

I personally chose to rent a portable wifi device through Ninja Wifi. I submitted all of my information online, and chose to have Ninja send the device to my hostel in Tokyo. This way, when I arrived, it was there waiting for me. If, like me, you don’t need to activate it until a certain date {my hostel provided phones with data for the duration of my stay – score}, you can specify that on your reservation details. I then chose to return my device at the airport in Osaka on my date of departure.

The entire process was seamless. For 1GB per day for 3 days, I paid a total of $22.00 USD {including shipping} . I was so thankful to have wifi, and quite honestly I find it necessary when traveling alone.

Related: 5 Apps to Help You Navigate Life in South Korea 

2. The “correct” side of the road changes depending on where you are in the country

Yes, this is a fact. The majority of the country walks, drives, and stands on the left. However, in certain areas of the country, including Osaka, the opposite is true. You can imagine how confused I was upon arrival to Osaka, only to find myself in the way of everyone. I understand {read: don’t understand why} there is no universal rule worldwide, about the correct ‘side’ of road, escalator etc. However, you could assume one rule would be accepted within a single country. Naaaaht Japan.

3. Japan has the biggest train stations I’ve ever seen

During my last evening in Tokyo, and before heading to Kyoto, I had a couple hours to eat dinner and eventually catch my bus. Or so I thought… I know by now that arriving early to anything is always better than arriving late, or never. Therefore, even with two hours to kill, I made my way to the bus terminal. Just in case. And thank god for ‘just in case’.

The train, bus, and metro stations are larger than life in Japan. For the life of me I couldn’t figure out what direction I needed to head in order to find the bus terminal. And that was within the train station already. It took me close to an hour to make my way through the station, out the other end, and to the bus terminal. Then I had to decipher, mostly in Japanese, which docking area my bus would be. From there I attempted to find a restaurant, but with only 45 minutes until my departure time, I opted for some 7/11 snacks instead. The same could be said for Kyoto and Osaka in terms of the size of their stations.

4. You can use your American electronics in Japan

One of the best discoveries before I arrived in Japan was finding out they used the same outlets as Americans! By then I had already purchased my essential Korean electronics, but I managed to pull out my old phone chargers, etc. from my suitcase to use abroad. If you aren’t from the states, you can always purchase a universal adapter. I suggest doing so regardless of where you travel because it’s.. universal. And will come in handy all over the world. You can find affordable ones on Amazon – mine has lasted for at least five years.

5. Travel via overnight bus is manageable…

That being said, don’t expect the lights to turn off until midnight. I took my first {I think} overnight bus ever, from Tokyo to Kyoto. It left around 9:30 PM and arrived in Kyoto at 5:30 AM {ish}. I was already exhausted after spending three days in Tokyo, so I was looking forward to passing out relatively easily on the bus. I attached my neck pillow, inserted my headphones, and waited. And then I continued to wait.

The bus makes a few stops on it’s way from Tokyo to Kyoto. As to keep the abrupt interruptions to a minimum, they leave the lights on in the bus until all the stops have been made. While this isn’t an issue if you are prepared with a sleeping mask, it’s unfortunate for those of us that forget it at home. I ended up wrapping a scarf around my head, but found it still extremely bright and distracting. Eventually, around midnight, the lights finally went off. By then I was already grumpy, but I did manage to sleep off and on, for the remaining five hours. So yes, overnight buses are manageable, just don’t forget your mask!

6. Sushi really is better in Japan

I mean, I didn’t expect anything less. The fish is so fresh, and it’s the case everywhere. I didn’t come across a bad sushi restaurant in Japan. I tended to eat rather cheap, so I can only imagine how mouthwatering the sushi is in higher-end restaurants.

7. But they also know how to brunch

While you would expect Japan to have the best sushi, it may surprise some people that their brunch game is also on point. Some of my favorites included Bill’s in Tokyo, Eggs N’ Things in Tokyo, and West Wood Bakers in Osaka. Japan serves an Asian style pancake, similar to the American version. That being said, they are smaller, thicker, and fluffier. I went against my no-gluten ways for a bite of pancake while in Osaka and it was a delight. I still daydream about them to this day.

Related: A Brunch Guide to Central Kuala Lumpur 

8. You can find anything in a vending machine

…and I mean anything. From soda, to Halloween costumes for cats, to condoms, to beer, to ramen. You name it, you can find it. There are entire restaurants that run via a vending machine. For example, in Osaka, I had the best ramen of my life at one of these places. I simply inserted my money, pushed the button corresponding to the meal I wanted, and entered the restaurant where I was seated as normal. {Oh yes, I should mention the vending machines are placed outside of the restaurant}. Within a few minutes my ramen arrived without ever having to communicate the staff. Talk about efficient.

9. The metro system in Tokyo is the third most complex metro system in the world

…after Paris {no. 2} and New York City {no. 1}, which I can absolutely attest to. Tokyo did feel a bit easier to grasp, but I still struggled with multiple companies running different lines. Where as Google Maps is nearly useless in New York City, and completely useless in South Korea, it rarely led me astray in Japan. I still downloaded a subway map to reference, but barely utilized it. Basically, if you can manage the New York Subway system, you’ll be golden in Tokyo.

Related: The Secret to Mastering the New York Subway System

10. Locals are very polite to foreigners in Japan

While it may not be the case everywhere in Asia, it is absolutely true in Japan. The locals are welcoming to foreigners. I never once felt like a burden for attempting broken Japanese at restaurants. I didn’t get followed around, and side-eyed, in a retail store to make sure I wasn’t stealing anything. Overall, it felt warm and cozy to be a foreigner in Japan. Keep in mind, I was only in tourist cities {Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto}, so I can’t speak for the entirety of the country.

11. For the best pictures of famous temples, arrive before 8:00 AM

To be fair, I think this can be said for most famous landmarks around the world. Even so, it’s extremely possible to get photos without anyone in them, and without arriving at the butt crack of dawn. Most of the photos I took of myself {sans tourists} were taken before 8:00 AM, but never before 6:00 AM. A lot of the temples in Japan are open 24/7, which allows ample time in general to plan out your day.

12. You don’t have to worry about petty theft

Seriously, in both Japan and Korea you’ll never have to worry about having your belongings stolen. For example, I borrowed an umbrella from my hostel one afternoon. I left that things all over Asakusa {a neighborhood in Tokyo}. First I left it on a random ledge I had quickly stopped to tie my shoe one. Then I left it at the observation deck of the Asakusa Culture Tourist Center. In both instances, it took me nearly 45 minutes to discover it was missing in the first place. Each time the umbrella was exactly where I left it. While it may only be an umbrella, rest assured it wouldn’t make a difference if it was a laptop, or a new iPhone. The Japanese simply won’t touch it.

13. Capsule hotels aren’t anything special

…if you area already used to sleeping in hostels. I was shocked at the response I received on Instagram when I mentioned I slept at a capsule hotel in Japan. Everyone was extremely curious and asked a million {read: like seven} questions. I didn’t realize they were such a big deal, but apparently it’s a huge phenomenon in Japan and other places in Asia. That being said, I had previously stayed in a capsule hotel in Singapore, but didn’t think twice about it.

If anything, I find them a bit more inconvenient than a hostel. I have been staying in hostels since I studied abroad back in 2012. Some of my experiences have been spectacular, while others have been a living nightmare. Regardless, most of the time dorm rooms are somewhat standard in hostels. You are usually sleeping in bunk beds, surrounded by anywhere from 3 – 20 other travelers. Most hostels are essentially already capsule hotels. The only difference is capsule hotels offer smaller beds and less storage.

I will say, when you sleep in a capsule, you are less inclined to be woken up by fellow travelers. As opposed to open air bunk beds that creak and provide zero sound proofing. The amenities remain the same for the most part, however, as they would in a hostel. My specific capsule hotel {Oakhostel Cabin} did provide every guest with their own smart phone {with data} for the duration of their stay, but that’s not common.

 

Related: Tarantulas, Iguanas, and Monkeys, OH MY: My Stay at the Lower Dover Jungle Lodge

14. Whatever you do, don’t leave a tip

In Japanese culture it’s actually frowned upon if you do! So keep your tips to yourself when it comes to restaurants, taxis, etc.

15. Toilets are confusing

You see Japanese toilets on sitcoms and movies and assume they are being exaggerated. THEY. ARE. NOT. Multiple times I walked into a restaurant bathroom only to find the most confusing buttons in Japanese on my toilet. Only once did I press the wrong button, but the worst thing to happen was the sound of flushing released {sans any an actual flush}. If you have to pull out your Google Translate app on your phone while on the toilet, so be it.

16. Don’t walk and eat

Again, this is frowned upon in Japanese culture. Unfortunately, it can be easy to forget once you arrive. Street food usually lends itself to walking and eating, and you won’t be disappointed by your options. That being said, in Japan they expect you to stand to the side of wherever it is you are, and remain stationary until you finish your meal. I broke the rule a couple of times, and then remembered after the fact. While it’s not the end of the world, and you can always play the foreigner card, it’s best to respect the culture and do as the locals do.

17. Here’s the deal with Kyoto Station lockers…

I find the locker situation in Asia to be a real gift. This year, I haven’t traveled anywhere with more than my carry on suitcase and a backpack. Therefore, I’m able to utilize the lockers in train stations, departments stores, etc. around Asia. But here are a few things to note. I’ll use my Kyoto Station locker for example.

At Kyoto Station, the lockers only accept specific coins {pretty standard}. There are different sizes available, and my small suitcase fit just fine. Once you insert your coins and open the locker, you can put your belongings inside. If that door shuts, however, it’s locked. If you re-open the locker using the key because, ‘Oh shit I forgot I needed something out of my backpack’, you will be SOL. Initially, this is what happened to me.

I figured, they provide you a key so, surely, you may go in and out of the locker for the duration of the afternoon? After all, you paid for a day of storage. But nope, once it’s locked, that’s it. You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow this opportunity comes once… in a lifetime. Basically, just be well prepared to the point that you can shove your stuff in the locker once, close it, and forget about it until the end of the day. That way you won’t end up spending $10.00 on locker storage for an afternoon. Face palm.

18. You will see plastic food everywhere, but it’s not tacky

At home in the states, whenever I saw plastic food displayed in front of a restaurant, I always assumed the food quality would be bad. Don’t ask me why, it just felt… tacky. When I return home, however, I will approach the first Japanese restaurant I see with plastic food. In Japan, displaying plastic models of food is extremely common. And it helps tourists because we can literally point to what we want, avoiding any complications due to language barriers. The food tends to be exquisite as well!

19. Expect to pay in cash 

Whenever I travel to a new country, I approach an ATM in the airport to take out a good chunk of local currency. I know everyone has an opinion on the most efficient way to deal with money abroad, but this has just been the way I’ve done it for years. For anything that doesn’t require cash, however, I usually charge my international credit card {because zero international fees}. In Japan, I did my usual ‘take-out-cash-at-the-airport’ bit, and was on my way.

I happened to take out enough cash to last me most of my trip because I had read so many blog posts urging me to do so. Although, when I did need to take more cash out, or pay with my credit card, it was relatively easy to do so. Bank ATM’s are common in Tokyo, and you are guaranteed to find them in 7/11 stores throughout the country. So, while I didn’t personally feel the burden of ‘cash is king’ too much in Japan, I don’t want to discount the multiple blog posts warning future visitors. So there you go, you have been warned. Just arrive expecting to pay in cash so you won’t feel surprised if your credit card doesn’t work.

20. To charge your electronics, you can always count on Starbucks

Every time I travel, you can be certain that I’m carrying a camera, tripod, GoPro, phone, and portable charger. I’m constantly taking photos, and as of recently, I’ve started to dabble in video as well. While I have a portable charger, I still only have a single battery per electronic device {I know… I’m working on it}. Therefore I find myself on the hunt for outlets towards mid-afternoon.

While some cafes may have outlets, I can promise you Starbucks has you covered in this department. All over the world, Starbucks is used as a place people congregate to work, socialize, or relax. Most of the Starbucks I visited in Japan were filled with outlets, hence why I continued to return to them throughout my trip. Just search the closest Starbucks via Google Maps and you should be good to go. The only exception to this, that I found, was the Shibuya Crossing branch. I think this is because it’s more of a viewing platform at this point, more than anything else.

So, there you have it. Twenty tips for my fellow solo travelers out there. These tips will also come in handy for any first time visitors to Japan. I had a lovely few days exploring the country, and you can expect more blog posts coming your way.

This weekend it’s back to Seoul for me. Another South Korea vlog will be uploaded on my YouTube channel this weekend, so watch out for that. Otherwise, you’ll find me listening to Christmas music, sipping peppermint tea, and pretending yellow dust isn’t a thing in this country.