Going to Japan alone

[nyappyrebecca]

I am a female in my early 20's and I am going to Japan alone. I have taken the language for a year (but I need to brush up on it). It's hard to find someone with the money and the interest to go to Japan with me. I've decided to go alone. I must admit I am nervous. I am nervous about getting lost. My friend and I stayed in California recently. We walked 4 blocks away from the hotel and got lost. It was our first time going without our parents or family member. For me it's my first time going without...anyone.

I didn't plan my last trip very well. I am going to Yokohama, Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto for sure. I have a couple of weeks to kill there. I don't have anything specifically planned for when I go. A friend of mine is going to show me around Osaka and Kyoto for a couple of days, but that's it. I'd to plan this trip better than my last. Any advice?

For the record, I do plan to be wise when I am alone such as not leaving my drink, or telling people where I am staying, or going out when it's too late.

[Psy]

My first trip to Japan was also the first real "distance travel" I ever did away from my family, so I can relate to your feeling a little nervous. However, it's a great experience that you won't soon forget, and before long it will be more excitement than nerves.

Detailed trip planning has never been my thing-- I'm the spontaneous sort and prefer to plan a few major things and leave the finer details to spontaneity. However, since you're planning a good amount of domestic travel, I'd strongly advise purchasing a Japan Rail Pass for the duration of your stay, which will allow you to use almost all JR lines freely, including HIKARI and KODAMA shinkansen, for a given duration. This assumes you are entering on a tourist landing permit.

As you are a woman I'd advise being careful, though granted that it still isn't as dangerous as being a lone 20-something in a place like LA. Just stay away from the seedier areas and be sure to know where you are after dark.

A lot of people seem to urk and cringe at the prospect, but getting lost in a foreign country can be fun. Granted it can a bit scary if you have some place you have to be, but when you can move about freely, when you can indulge that itching curiosity about what lies ahead past the next corner... the fact that you'll have to use Japanese to find your way back... that is the kind of priceless experience that you'll have stories to tell about years and years down the line. Beats almost any tour, as far as I'm concerned.

Hope you have a good time. My experience in Japan is still somewhat limited, so I'm sure some of the long-term folks here will post more details before long.

[nyappyrebecca]

Thank-you. How can I get that pass? Is it something that I have to pay for once or get more than once or... ?

[Psy]

It's a special JR offers for foreign tourists. You can only buy them outside of Japan: http://www.japanrail.com/JR_japanrailpass.html

[stuu]

First up, I agree with everything Psy mentioned.
Although I'm no expert on the city and plenty of others here know the place better than me, I have been to Tokyo a couple of times by myself and had an absolute blast but be warned, you will get lost, it's inevitable. But so what, every one gets lost there, it can be frustrating but also loads of fun, it's a great way to discover new things and see new places. But if you want to get back on track, so to speak, just keep walking until you find a train station or catch a taxi to the nearest one and go from there. Also, in my experience, Japanese people are incredibly helpful if you approach them for help.
Anyway, my personal tips for Tokyo off the top of my head that aren't mentioned in the list below, though I may well be stating the obvious at times....avoid the trains during peak hour [though the subway system isn't as complicated as some people make out,] announcements are also in English (usually), don't try and be polite and give way in fast moving crowds in the stations or on busy streets, you'll just cause problems, my advice is to look straight ahead and go for it, if there's a festival on, go to it, hang out in swanky department stores and be amazed and then eat some great, cheap food from the basement food courts [who knew the Japanese made the world's best potato salad?], and buy some chocolate whilst you're there, then go the bathroom and try all the buttons on the toilet but only while you're sitting down! if you see a 100 yen shop go in and buy stuff you didn't know you needed, ditto the Don Quixote stores, they are nuts, go to Yoyogi Park on a Sunday, visit Odaiba, Ginza, Ikebukuro, Ebisu, Koenji for tons of interesting little shops, Shinjuku, Shibuya, Meguro, Shiodome, Omotesando+Aoyama for luxury window shopping, Ueno and the Ameyoko market by the station but avoid the zoo in the park, ew-w-w-w, wander around Yanaka and check out the cemetery, hell, go anywhere it's all fun, buy watermelon on a stick, buy chicken on a stick, buy unagi on a stick, be prepared to get stared at but think nothing of it, you'll get used to it, be prepared to have someone fall asleep on you on the train, wonder at the cycling skills of young mothers with kids on the front and back, if someone offers you free tissues on the street take them, you'll need them, if there's a tray on the counter of the shop you're in put your money on that, check out j-pod's 'survival phrases' series before you go, ditto whatever lesson is it on how to reply when people tell you how good your Japanese is [don't say thank you, like I did, oh the shame], taxi doors open and close automatically [so don't upset the driver by trying to open them yourself, like I did], eat cheap ramen, eat cheap pasta at Pronto, excellent books at Kinokuniya behind Takashimiya in Shinjuku or 2nd hand at Good Day books in Ebisu, or if you're really into books go to Kanda Book town, be prepared to take countless photographs.....etc etc. But Tokyo is a truly fascinating place and it's possible to have an awful lot of fun very cheaply, it's certainly cheaper than Sydney where I live. Oh yeah, and try natto.

My favourite youtube Tokyo clip.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Izq7Xqi48nA

First thing to do, buy one of these, it will make catching trains around Tokyo so much less hassle than buying tickets.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suica

Handy web site, loads of information.
http://www.frommers.com/destinations/to ... 10001.html

More info.
http://www.tourism.metro.tokyo.jp/english/index.html

Pick up a free copy of this when you arrive.
http://metropolis.co.jp/default.asp

Loads of info about art galleries, exhibitions etc.
http://www.tokyoartbeat.com/event/

The guide book I would recommend.
http://www.timeout.com/travel/tokyo

The Tokyo street directory I would recommend.
http://www.kodansha-intl.com/books/html ... 25036.html

If you've got lots of money, here's a map for shopping.
http://www.superfuture.com/city/city/city.cfm?city=1

Watch the sunset and the city lights come on from here. Amazing.
http://www.roppongihills.com/tcv/en/

Or here (free).
http://www.metro.tokyo.jp/ENGLISH/TMG/outline.htm

A must see museum. Particularly the Honkan gallery.
http://www.tnm.go.jp/en/servlet/Con?pag ... ocessId=00

If you miss your cat.
http://www.mediatinker.com/blog/archives/008028.html

If you miss your dog.
http://www.tokyomango.com/tokyo_mango/2 ... now-d.html

Guide to parks/gardens. Ueno, Hama Rikyu and Skinjuku Gyoen being my favourites.
http://www.tokyoessentials.com/parks.html

[nyappyrebecca]

Wow! Thus far you guys have been the most helpful. Whenever I'd ask someone they'd be kind of vague. They'd give helpful advice, but not exactly what I am looking for.

Oh and I plan on getting lost there. ^^;

Thank-you! If anyone feels they have anything to add feel free. I am here to listen.

@ stuu - I read ALL of what you wrote. ^_^

Oh and can someone give me a lesson on yen or is there one on the site (I have premium membership)?

[stuu]

You're welcome, what do you need to know about yen? Maybe I can help. Here's a currency converter if that's any use.
http://www.xe.com/ucc/

[untmdsprt]

Hello, I live in Yokohama, and can show you around it if you'd like. When will you be here? I have about 6 weeks off from teaching so I plan to go around myself to the rest of Tokyo then head over to Osaka, Kobe, and Kyoto. PM me here, and I'll give you my email. Don't worry, I'm female.

A bit of advice, start off in Japanese, and let them switch over to English. Just continue in Japanese as best as you can. Doesn't help your listening skills, but does help you to understand their directions, and gives you more confidence in speaking. You'll get plenty of chances to listen to everyone while on the train, in shops, etc. I've also found that asking them to write the kanji of where you want to go will be a great benefit because 9 times out of ten there won't be any romaji listed unless you're at the major stations. Think of it as a great way to start learning kanji!

As far as getting on the wrong train and passing your destination: local trains stop at every one, rapid trains stop at fewer ones, and the express stops at the major stations along the route. If you miss your station, just get off at the next one, and then get on the next local train going back to it. At the smaller stations, just walk across the platform, and larger ones you'll have to go up stairs then back down to get to the next platform. Don't worry, you won't have to go back through the ticket gates to do this.

The final piece of advice: walk those feet of yours to death before you get here. You'll be glad you did!! For the first month I had to keep spending money on foot bandages from all the blisters. It also helped having tight shoes when doing all the walking. It'll keep your feet from swelling too bad.

I've found using my credit card in the post office ATM will give you a good exchange rate instead of bringing traveler's checks. Also make sure you get to the ATM during the day and get out the cash you need. Most places won't take credit cards. Once you get here, don't try to convert the prices all the time. You'll drive yourself nuts. Just think in yen all the time.

Youth hostels are a great way to save money when needing a place to sleep. I will book a dorm room and depending on how they have it set up, you'll sleep with 3 to 7 other women in bunk beds. Just don't forget your ear plugs and sleep mask!!

Good luck!

[Belton]

If your friend is in the Kansai area (Kyoto, Osaka) You might consider flying to Kansai rather than Narita. and get the train to Tokyo.

Himeji is a nice day trip from Osaka.
Hiroshima and Miyajima are worth staying in for a few days.
Kagoshima is about as far south as you can get by train, it only takes a few hours. and is next to an active volcanic island.

Kyoto is the best base in Kansai, I think. You can easily spend at least a week there.
And take sidetrips to Osaka, Nara, Kobe.
I recommend Fushimi Inari Taisha and Ohara as places to visit. It's worth getting a guidebook to Kyoto.

Kouyasan is a mountain top Buddhist community that's worth spending a night in. A hour or two away from Osaka.

Kanazawa on the west coast can be reached by express train. A lot of it's older parts are still intact. You can travel by bus through the mountains to Shirakawa-go (traditional thatched farming village) to Takayama a beautiful mountain town that has famous spring and autumn festivals, from there a train goes to Nagoya or it may be possible to head east towards Nagano.

Japan has a very safe reputation. Women are still sensible about dark unknown areas etc. but by and large I never came across no-go dangerous areas where I've been. But maybe as a man I think less about these things.

If you do plan ahead
http://www.seat61.com/Japan.htm
http://www.hyperdia.com/
http://www.hostelworld.com/countries/japanhostels.html
http://travel.rakuten.co.jp/en/
are useful sites to check train timetables and hotels/hostels

There's lots to do and see in Japan, I don't think you'll have to kill time.
(don't end up like the idiot character in Lost in Translation)


I recommend trying Japanese things. visit an onsen (spaworld in Osaka is worth a visit), visit an old neighbourhood sentou, stay at ryokan, minshiku, shukubou,
Eat at places without English menus and take pot luck.
enjoy the freedom in travelling alone.

[hatch_jp]

Japan Travel Guide on japan-guide.com.

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e623.html

[nyappyrebecca]

Wow. Thanks you guys!

As far as Japan being safe I think it's different for everyone. A friend of mine lived in Japan for a month or so for school. She said guys started following her. After that she didn't go anywhere alone. Nothing happened, but that's still creepy.

[hatch_jp]

There is not a single day passes by without hearing about a muder or a serious crime these days in Japan.
A female coming form the UK and teaching English in Japan was killed by one of her students, and he is not arrested yet...

[nyappyrebecca]

I have some common sense such as not leaving your drink alone, not telling people where your hotel is, not going around at dark alone, and being around crowds. Is there any other advice I might be missing as far as being 'safe' when going to Japan?

[Psy]

I have some common sense such as not leaving your drink alone, not telling people where your hotel is, not going around at dark alone, and being around crowds. Is there any other advice I might be missing as far as being 'safe' when going to Japan?

Have some connections. Make sure your friend knows where you'll be so she'll notice if something is amiss. Of course, that's good advice anywhere, not just for Japan. However, compared to the US social connections are a lot tighter-- it doesn't take very long for messages to get around. If something is wrong and it's known about by someone in your circle, you can count on "amae" taking over and helping you.

[nyappyrebecca]

The problem with that is my friend lives in Osaka. I won't be there for my first stop. The gals I am meeting in Yokohama have school after the weekend we're meeting. I'm not sure I'll be able to have those connections.