5 Reasons to Solo Travel in Japan (this is your sign)

[@calebwatchfield]

Let me know your questions in the comments! I'd also appreciate your feedback to improve my future videos :)

[@helent9349]

I am 75 years old and female. I travel the world alone! Best way to travel. Going to Japan and South Korea in a couple of days. Just Do It!

[@calebwatchfield]

That’s amazing! Enjoy your trip :)

[@AmeyBrunel]

How long are you going for? You're buying a Korean + a Japanese sim card?

[@helent9349]

@AmeyBrunel I have an international pocket wifi. I use hotel wifi most of the time . I have no need for sim cards. I use Google Voice and / or what's app for voice calls.

[@laraxrosy7530]

I am solo travelling Japan right now (since 2 weeks) my friends will join tomorrow. It was the best decision to first solo travel here! It was such a wonderful time, 10/10 recommend

[@calebwatchfield]

Happy to hear that you enjoyed solo traveling in Japan :)

[@GrR-c4s]

How about photos. Is not the same having a tripod than a person

[@kisms8590]

Where else did u solo travel or plan to

[@nateshf9303]

My solo trip to Japan in the '80s, right after high school, was a month-long adventure I'll never forget.

[@calebwatchfield]

That’s wonderful! Wish I could experience Japan at its peak in the 80s

[@nateshf9303]

@@calebwatchfield The Harajuku/Yoyogi youth pop culture and the nightlife in Shinjuku were fascinating.

[@cyclicmusings2661]

I planned a 16-day solo trip for Japan later this year... but then my parents wanted to come along, for the first 10 days as realistically they're never going to visit the country without me or one of my siblings "guiding" them. I get the last 6 days to myself at least. This is the first time in Japan for the three of us and we're visiting most of the major attractions in Japan. A truly solo trip for me to more remote and less touristed parts of Japan might happen at the end of the decade... maybe.

[@calebwatchfield]

It’s great that you can experience Japan as a family and alone as well :)

[@curls68]

I've done Japan so many times on my own and enjoyed it each time!

[@calebwatchfield]

That’s awesome! Solo traveling in Japan is the best 😭

[@darlenemae2827]

So happy I found your video. I am about to solo travel Japan next year and this boost my confidence and motivates me more. Thanks for sharing your experience

[@calebwatchfield]

So happy this video helped you :D

[@Molecular_Cloud]

I think Japan will be next year's destination. I just got back from a solo trip to Greece, which don't get me wrong it was one of the best vacations of my life, but there you get the vibe that people are feeling sorry for you, wondering why you're by yourself. They are very friendly, but again it's just that awkward vibe of being alone that makes you feel like you're standing out. Japan seems to be the opposite.

[@calebwatchfield]

It’s great that you still enjoyed your trip! Japan is introvert heaven and perfect for solo traveling, many people in japan go out alone :)

[@victorjackson150]

I loved staying at the Internet cafe. It was way cheaper and more comfortable than the hotel. The convenient stores were great. You gave all great tips.

[@calebwatchfield]

Thank you for the positive feedback :D I can’t wait to make videos about internet cafes and konbinis :)

[@j1y0ni]

I have solo traveled to Japan on 8 occasions. This December will be my 9th. You can’t beat it.

[@calebwatchfield]

Enjoy your solo trip to Japan :)

[@FerdinandSalud]

Thank you for this video! I’m planning my solo travel trip to Japan next year and this video took my fear away.❤

[@calebwatchfield]

So glad this video helped ease your fears :) I'm sure you'll have an amazing time in Japan!

[@gamingbeaner]

Thank you for this! I'm traveling for my first time ever, and I chose to go to Japan solo! I leave for my trip in 7 days!

[@calebwatchfield]

So happy to help :) Enjoy your solo trip to Japan!

[@felitastic]

I love that solo culture about Japan. In Germany, you cant really eat alone outside, you will always feel judged. But I prefer eating by myself usually - eating with others can be fun but it's a whole different experience!

[@calebwatchfield]

Eating out alone should be normalised :)

[@ghouldash9761]

I'm planning on going to language school in Japan next year. This will be super helpful.

[@calebwatchfield]

All the best! :)

[@WizardOfOss]

#4 is absolutely true! And not just for introverts (I do consider myself one), but I often had a nice chat with locals while sitting at those counter seats, waiting for our food. Especially in less touristy parts of Japan, but even just in Tokyo. As for accomodation, I'll rather stick to (business) hotels. Cheap, usually convenient locations, and comfortable. Good sleep is important to keep you going the entire trip....

[@calebwatchfield]

Thanks for sharing! Yeah, business hotels are still cheaper than other hotels :)

[@michaelg6641]

Oh what are business hotels and why cheaper? Do you have any US prices on your vids and what's a simple conversation method..it used to be just drop the two 0s l think years ago

[@WizardOfOss]

@@michaelg6641 ​ business hotels are just the most common type of hotels in Japan, no frills hotels, often near train stations. Nothing fancy, but all about practical stuff. Generally somewhat small rooms (and tiny bathrooms), but with everything you need: Bed bath, toilet (and TV, Wifi, a fridge). Usually also have coin laundry machines, most offer breakfast (often even included) and have a few vending machines, and many even have an onsen/public bath. Prices can vary a bit depending on city, location and chain, but for my upcoming trip they range from 6700 yen (about $43) in Osaka to 10k yen ($65) in Tokyo.

[@Death_star01]

Had a solo trip to Japan for 15 days from 28 Sep to 12 Oct, and it was totally worth it. First international trip, first solo trip, and I'm glad I chose Japan for it.

[@calebwatchfield]

Great choice :) Japan is such a wonderful destination for solo traveling

[@kirbyesque]

I've been to Japan with a good friend, and another time as a solo traveler. Alone, I traveled outside of Tokyo, up into Tohoku, in the winter and it was magical. I probably felt more comfortable with the solo trip because I was familiar with getting through Narita, transportation in general and I stayed in the same spot in Tokyo to start, so it felt like a homecoming. I asked several friends if they could travel with me, but no one was available, so I went alone and it was wonderful. Since then, I've been to Mexico City alone - also a great urban vacation with so many day trips to choose from. I'm looking at late January or late February of 2025 for my second solo Japan trip. I agree with the other commenters - just go! Life is really too short, and there's wide and extraordinary world out there. Even if you don't speak Japanese, you'll be surprised by the effort others will make to communicate and express kindness. In less traveled areas especially, locals are super proud of their towns. And not to put to fine a point on it, if you're there, you're spending money on food, gifts, museums fees and lodging. Spreading the wealth!

[@calebwatchfield]

Thanks for sharing :) solo traveling is definitely a life changing experience

[@Kurozu1991]

Nice man. I bought a ticket a few weeks ago and I'll be headed to Tokyo next week. You're right. Sometimes you gotta just go for it when it comes to travel.

[@88esplosione]

There are many different chains of Internet cafes, and their services vary. In many cases, the same chain is a franchise, and services vary from cafe to cafe. An important point to note is that some Internet cafes do not have showers.

[@calebwatchfield]

Thanks for the info! Need to choose an internet cafe chain with showers for my next trip :)

[@Ninjafox-lz6jb]

I visited in Japan in 2023 as part of a guided tour but loved how when I was on my own I was able to walk into somewhere for food and it would be fine. Certainly in the West places aren’t geared up for solo diners but in Japan you go for a meal and don’t feel like you stand out. Thank you for making the video and pointing out the other reasons when I go to Japan again I will be travelling solo so the tips here were great.

[@calebwatchfield]

So happy to help :) Solo traveling in Japan is so much fun!

[@AmeyBrunel]

Well the locals dont judge you, but the foreigners/tourists do, don't they? 😅

[@EGIwords]

I did it 2 years ago. It was only my second ever solo trip and it was amazing.

[@calebwatchfield]

That’s awesome :) Solo traveling to Japan is such a unique experience

[@phillydisco-h1r]

I've done it twice already. My type of itinerary involves doing a lot of travelling from place to place, to get a small taste of every region. I don't like staying in one spot for more than 3 nights (the latter I did just before flying out from Narita). As for hotels, after staying in NYC for 4 nights and paying almost $700 for that, everything else seems cheaper. I look for cost and proximity to JR train stations. No hostel, capsule or cafe for me. For dining, I was too intimidated by the lack of knowing Japanese, and seeing lineups in places I did want to try, so I stuck with eating konbini and supermarket food. It wasn't too bad, just the food wasn't heated most of the time. I also had breakfast options with some hotels I booked, so I wasn't completely without fresh cook food.

[@calebwatchfield]

Thanks for sharing! Yes, close proximity to the station is ideal for a good stay. Most of my stays have a microwave, which is great for supermarket foods. There are plenty of restaurants that welcome foreigners. I like to check Google Reviews before dining in. It's also a great way to see what others have ordered and recommended, making the ordering and dining process easier even w/o Japanese :)

[@person880]

Good points. I didn't know there were hostel-style accommodations that have private rooms. If they're much cheaper than regular hotel rooms, they might just be worth it, especially when staying for longer periods of time as the savings will add up.

[@calebwatchfield]

Hostels are great value for solo travellers. When traveling with others, I’d definitely stay at a business hotel and share the cost :)

[@valcrist7428]

I love the background music. Reminded me when I was cooking.

[@calebwatchfield]

So glad you love it :)

[@Amelia-ly9md]

Currently on a solo trip in Japan and am really enjoying it! Out in Takayama at the moment for the fall festival.

[@calebwatchfield]

Happy to hear you’re enjoying the autumn festival :) I’ve heard great things about Takayama ramen, especially with Hida beef🤤

[@mottwoman6775]

This was amazing, thank you.

[@calebwatchfield]

Glad you enjoyed it :)

[@Adam-v-Movies]

Boarding a plane at 7 AM on Monday (10/14) so I guess this is my sign lol

[@calebwatchfield]

LOL🤣 Enjoy your Japan trip👍

[@avarussurava9488]

Cant wait to visit next year

[@calebwatchfield]

That's amazing :) I'm sure you'll have an incredible time in Japan. Making more videos to help with travel planning 👍

[@hollyc3838]

As a female solo traveler, Japan is my favorite place. I feel safe walking by myself, even at night. The prices of business hotels is cheaper for solo traveler. I love it so much that I plan to travel to Japan every year by myself.

[@calebwatchfield]

That’s awesome! The safety and affordable accommodations are what make Japan a great destination for solo traveling :)

[@drakewalker1674]

How much is cheap?

[@YanBrassard]

I've been solo travelling to Tokyo since October 1st and I still have 10 days left. Although I'm solo travelling everywhere and my last trip (Taipei) was not bad at all, I agree that Japan is particularly convenient for solo activities. The only thing that I'm afraid of when I'm travelling is to eat at restaurants because here in Canada, it is usually considered as a social activity and it looks awkward to eat solo in a restaurant. But not in Japan because workers are finishing late, there are many lonely people and they usually don't cook at home because their apartment is tiny. So restaurants have a lot of solo diners.

[@calebwatchfield]

Thanks for sharing! Yeah, the trend of solo dining in japan has made it convenient for busy working people, introverts, and solo travellers :)

[@albertusanghartono4346]

I planned to go to Japan next month and it's my first time doing solo trip too! I've been anxious while learning many things before going to Japan, but one of my biggest anxious is I can't speak Japanese 😅But hopefully I can learn little by little there, and your video makes me more relieved

[@calebwatchfield]

Yay! You can do it :) One of my upcoming videos is survival Japanese for travelers. I’m sure it’ll help, stay tuned…

[@albertusanghartono4346]

@@calebwatchfield Thank you very much! Will wait for your upcoming videos about that!

[@kayschut9327]

I travel to Japan yearly as a solo traveller and really enjoy it. I do have to say that capsule hotels are not that much cheaper than run of the mill hotels, I think the price has gone up recently.

[@calebwatchfield]

Thanks for sharing! I found plenty of hostels (w private room) that were cheaper than capsule hotels. I think location affects the price as well, capsule hotels in popular areas can be expensive…

[@PhantomBroken]

thank you for this guide, for me I overthink and feel overwhelm with the idea of going to Japan for the first time after years of wanting to go since I was a kid. Though sooner or later, I'm going to have to take that step and say fck it

[@calebwatchfield]

You can do it! :) my first solo trip to Japan was life changing

[@shulkinxl]

After this video, now I think I should do a solo trip instead of still waiting on my friends who are not able to go yet. The only thing still keeping me from doing a Japan solo trip is my lack of language, since I could find myself in uncomfortable situations without anyone to fall back on. I have some understanding of a few words, but I think I should wait until I have a better grasp of the language, which I am thinking of starting to study soon. What do you think?

[@calebwatchfield]

I encourage you to go for that solo trip :) To help with the language barrier, I have a video about survival Japanese phrases to know coming very soon!

[@zaqです]

I booked 4 hostels/capsule hotels for my upcoming trip, I may be wrong and find out once I arrive, but all places I booked offer 24/7 service for anyone maybe showing up late. I hope it is the case, if not I will come back to edit! Thanks for the video sign for my choice to travel solo his Autumn!

[@calebwatchfield]

Enjoy your Japan trip :) It's great that the accommodations you booked provide 24/7 service, cause not all of them do so...

[@jongelinogames5162]

Im visiting next may with friends and im thinking of comming in the fall alone then aswell

[@calebwatchfield]

Fall is an amazing time to visit Japan :)

[@altarium4220]

I had a 3 week solo Japan trip planned to start on October 21st, but my body completely froze when I got to the airport and I decided to call it off. While I am not in the right mind space to do it at the moment, watching this video has inspired to try again in the future. Thank you Caleb!

[@calebwatchfield]

So happy my video encouraged you :) I’ll be making more videos showing different experiences in japan, hope it inspires your future trip :D

[@DIRTY_ELECTRIC]

thanks for the video im going solo end of Nov !

[@calebwatchfield]

This video reached you well :) Enjoy your Japan trip!

[@ronaldjames9404]

I would love to do a solo trip to japan

[@calebwatchfield]

It's an unforgettable experience :)

[@VictorRodriguez-qn1kz]

New sub gang! Can't wait to visit spring of 2025!

[@calebwatchfield]

Thank you :D More helpful and exciting content to come!

[@AmeyBrunel]

Do you recommend hostels? You can sow more about the prices of things also. If you haven't already 😄

[@calebwatchfield]

Recommend hostels with a private room option, but not dormitories. I’ll show more prices in my next videos :)

[@cbraypvanguard]

I’m doing a solo trip to Japan next year for my birthday month and it’ll be my first time so I’m just doing research and stumble upon this video. How much do you recommend to bring to Japan? When I travel, I rarely spend a lot and I prefer to do more walking than take the transit. I was thinking if 50,000 yen would be enough alongside my visa debit card for a 7 day trip which I know it’ll be use for mostly food. And recommendations too, I just booked a hotel in the Shinjuku area.

[@calebwatchfield]

For my 14 day solo trip, I withdrew ¥40,000 and was left with around ¥10,000. Shinjuku is a great area to stay at :D Will be posting videos of that area including the train station, restaurants and other attractions at the end of this month

[@tonygraham9974]

Hi Caleb, I know that Japan is very safe, but have you ever come across a situation where you didn't feel safe? have you ever been approached by touts etc? I'm doing a solo trip next March.

[@calebwatchfield]

For me, Japan felt safe throughout. But I did encounter some touts in Tokyo. Will be sharing things to be careful about in my upcoming Japan travel tips video, stay tuned! :)

[@ShakilDSunshine]

Yeah,, that's very informative...

[@calebwatchfield]

Glad it was helpful! 👍

[@ShakilDSunshine]

@@calebwatchfield Yeah, that's really good... waiting for your next videos

[@ShadymanX]

I honestly don't think I'd like traveling to japan solo. It seems good on paper, but I'd feel very lonely since I'm a tourist/foreigner who doesn't know japanese. I know friends who live in japan solo and they keep telling me, while they love japan. They feel very depressed and lonely there since it's really hard to make friends and socialize there even if you know japanese.

[@calebwatchfield]

Thanks for sharing! Yea, solo traveling can feel depressing and lonely after a while. But to me, this feeling is a great opportunity to create something out of nothing. To challenge the negative feelings, and do stuff that I’m afraid of. With this mindset, i believe solo traveling or living alone in a foreign country can be a fulfilling experience :)

[@peter4real355]

I got a foot injury and can't walk properly, can I still solo trip Japan

[@calebwatchfield]

Best to travel with someone to help you :)

[@tatianaabramovskaya8765]

Nice video, helpful, informative. Would it be a hassle for you to make a video about expenses for a solo traveler in Japan? From capsule (not for me, but maybe someone would be interested in the cheapest option) to a decent hotel to ryokan? Accommodation as far as I know is the highest expense. I'm worried about how much I need to have for a month (like couple of weeks in Tokyo and couple of weeks traveling around). Thank you in advance.

[@calebwatchfield]

Not at all :) I’ll incorporate this information into one of my future videos. Thank you for your suggestion!

[@richardlau2447]

Where did you visit from?

[@sowlofy]

thank u so much!!!! who is the divaaa

[@calebwatchfield]

So happy to help :) diva? Where 😂

[@sowlofy]

⁠​⁠@@calebwatchfielda serve behind u 🤍 thx for sharing information

[@ravishankark4453]

thanks a lot :) nice video

[@calebwatchfield]

Happy to help :)

[@paddypen]

Where did you get that map of conbinis? It looks useful

[@calebwatchfield]

I used the Japanese website called locationsmart.org :) You can look up konbini and other types of places

[@songadal8119]

2 days ago my 14 days solo trip in japan has ended. was my first solo trip. totally would do again and can recommend. nice country. ah duck. ive tried out so many different things in japan but i totally forgot about internet cafes :(.

[@calebwatchfield]

So glad you enjoyed your solo trip to Japan :) Will be making a video about the internet cafe experience

[@AmeyBrunel]

I wondering If I should go or not still this year 🤷‍♂️

[@calebwatchfield]

Both Christmas and cherry blossom seasons are beautiful in Japan :)

[@AmeyBrunel]

@calebwatchfield 🍒 blossom was in March to April isn't? Is late November and a bit in early December a good time? Weather (good) and crowd wise (few).

[@calebwatchfield]

Early December will have better weather and fewer visitors. For cherry blossom, it’ll be next march/april

[@AmeyBrunel]

@@calebwatchfield Thanks 😊

[@leoangeleti]

Im going to Japan and have my first solo travel ever on march 2025, I'm looking for hotels, but the harder part is deciding how many days I should stay in each city. Do u have any recomendations of cities to visit, and how many days I should stay in kyoto and osaka (cz Ive already booked tokyo hotel for 8 days). I will arrive 17/03 and leave 9/4 by morning

[@calebwatchfield]

I like to spend at least 4 days in each city :) Onomichi is a nice place, they have a scenic cycling route called Shimanami Kaido which I enjoyed

[@justinwhaley1288]

I will live in Japan one day

[@calebwatchfield]

I have the same wish :)

[@elleestoulapoulette112]

i didn't find the video on ur channel with the insecurities of japan ? wich one is it ?

[@calebwatchfield]

Heyyo, I’m still editing the video for Japan travel tips. Stay tuned :)

[@leon_games5332]

I’m going to Japan in December for 2 weeks is $2,500-$3,00 enough for food and stuff I can buy.because the hotels I’m paying with credit card

[@calebwatchfield]

That’s more than enough for me :) I tend to be on the budget side 😂

[@leon_games5332]

same 😂 I just want to double make sure thank you

[@tuhnutuhnu4257]

I did solo travel to japan. Now i have japanese wife and can´t solo travel never :(

[@calebwatchfield]

Travel together! :)

[@artvandelay1555]

I hear they have a problem with loneliness now. I love Japan & plan to return. Kochi.

[@calebwatchfield]

That sounds like something I can talk about :) Can’t wait to return as well!

[@AnnieLovesJapan]

❤🗻⛩I was thinking about doing this for a long time. i'd love to go for 6 months. What is your fav Anime / Manga? Love your video and i just subscribed 🥰

[@calebwatchfield]

Thank you :) Ghibli movies are my favourite :D

[@concord5859]

You portray things much more humbly (and with far greater harmony) without a cultural lens than the majority of other KZbinrs that I consider #neocolonists. Thank you.

[@calebwatchfield]

Thank you for your encouraging feedback :) I'll do my best!

[@FatFinn-3110]

Are there any animal products available? Like high quality free range organic eggs, raw milk, grass fed meat, fat, organs, blood and such? How much these type of food goes for there?

[@calebwatchfield]

There are many high end grocery stores selling organic food in Tokyo. I don’t usually shop there so I’m not sure😅

[@thebigmarvinski]

I'm travelling solo next Sept to japan, and I'm shitting myself

[@calebwatchfield]

😂 Solo traveling to Japan is super exciting! :D

[@joyaclub]

But the million dollar question...do you speak fluent Japanese? Because I suspect the experience is different for those that don't speak or read the language.

[@calebwatchfield]

Thanks for pointing that out! My Japanese isn’t great, but can communicate with simple phrases. I’ll cover this in a future video :)

[@VivaLaPatsy]

What’s your thought of solo traveling as a woman at night? What if we miss the train and want to hang out in Tokyo? I don’t mind Shibuya either 🙂‍↕️

[@calebwatchfield]

My next video on japan travel tips will cover safety tips that can help you during your stay :) If you miss the last train, you can stay at an internet cafe until the first train starts in the morning. That is one of my upcoming videos as well :D

[@cristianhcm1914]

Thanks for the video. C'mon Captain. You have to mention the cute women bro! That's why I'm going solo next year. Hello from Phoenix Arizona 👋

[@calebwatchfield]

Hope you have an amazing solo trip to Japan :)

[@cristianhcm1914]

@@calebwatchfield Thank you

[@drakewalker1674]

But I'm married 😢 guess I'll have to fix that

[@calebwatchfield]

Travel to Japan as a family!😃

[@Otni3lMndZz]

Japan is not the land of Solo Leveling though 😔

[@muiz-2370]

Lvl 1. Crook vs lvl 50. Yakuza boss

[@maegalroammis6020]

pffft.

[@RG-vh6kg]

Caleb, I am heading there in December. Do you have any reccos for hostels / hotels with private rooms? As much as I love the idea of sharing dorms, I am a bit aged and need my beauty sleep :D

[@calebwatchfield]

Heyyo! Look out for business hotels like Toyoko Inn, they include an en suite bathroom and cost less than regular hotels. Private room hostels are much cheaper, but best to read the reviews and stay near the train station. I use expedia to compare prices and location convenience to determine which option is better :)