Japan solo

2smiggy

Thinking of just heading out for 10 days or 2 weeks at the end of the year. Always wanted to go. Is it a good place to go by yourself ? I'm male and in my thirties

boombang

Very, very safe.

Not as expensive as many people say.

Wouldn't see any problems going solo.

087brain21

i done a good bit of asia on my own and im a male and japan is very safe most places have english speakers too

i miss their crazy vending machines and its nuts how far in tech they are over us

Hugo_Whoriskey

Absolutely go for it, done plenty of solo travel in Japan. Incredible place and going places on your own will open up experiences that you don't get when you're with someone else. I had far more interactions with locals on my own than when I was with others

Hrududu

Japan is the ideal place to solo travel. Super safe and millions of things to do and see.

2smiggy

thanks for the replies , have more and more friends having children/getting married. Very hard to organise any thing longer than a few days anymore !!

0lddog

Another thread on visiting Japan

Another excuse to post a link to my favourite Youtube channel

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTFma3rY_gI

Evade

I went to Tokyo earlier this year on my own an it was good. I think I might head back later in the year too. There's a lot to do, except on Mondays when a lot of museums and such are closed.


If you're going to Tokyo get a Suica card and avoid the embarrassment of buying the wrong train company ticket and holding everyone one up at the gate.

Man Vs ManUre

Great countrybto visit and travel. But you will need warm clothes for end of year, especially if you travel north of Tokyo. Still worth going there even in winter.

Tombo2001

Spent a week in Tokyo recently.

Couple of thoughts:
(i) Jet lag was tough. It didnt ruin the trip by any stretch but I found it difficult to adjust to their sleeping times.
(ii) Tokyo at first sight for me wasnt that impressive, but i really got into it.
Its a lot more subtle than the US or Europe where you have a lot of showy buildings. In Japan there is a lot more emphasis on design, and frequently it was the interior of buildings that left the most lasting impact, rather than the outside.
(iii) I didnt think it was that expensive.
(iv) Cycling is a fantastic way to get around Tokyo.

Credit Checker Moose

I am heading over in January for a week flying in and out of Osaka. Any ideas for the week would be helpful.

Steve

My experience was outside of major cities there is very little English spoken so you'll need to learn some Japanese to survive.

Apart from that it's a beautiful country with the nicest and most helpful people on the planet.

davepatr07

Steve wrote: »

My experience was outside of major cities there is very little English spoken so you'll need to learn some Japanese to survive.

Apart from that it's a beautiful country with the nicest and most helpful people on the planet.

True about the people, one of nicest you will come across even though many don’t speak English.

I stopped off in Tokyo for a few days on my own going to NZ a few years ago. Remember trying to get some sleeping tablets for the plane as I was still getting over jetlag.

The last day in Tokyo at the train station chemist, everything in Japanese so couldn’t find the pills. Decided to try doodling on a piece of paper, drew a stickman in bed, an airplane and a cross. Chemist smiled and gave me what I was looking for. As the saying goes a picture paints a thousand words.

Tombo2001

One other thing -

The conventional stereotype of the Japanese would be along the lines of workaholic, automaton, serious people.

These people really know how to let their hair down, and the streetlife in the evening in the Izakayas is great fun. Dublin could learn from it.

2smiggy

Well all booked, 15 days, probably 12 with travelling, if ye could give a bit of itenery

shar01

https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=102726815

For next year we're looking a few days in Tokyo, then north for couple of days in Sendai and a visit to cat island. Then week / 10 days in Hokkaido before finishing back up in Tokyo.

In 2018 we spent a week in Kanazawa. From there you can do day trips to Shirakawago, Wakura Onsen and the Kurobe Gorge railway.

It's hard to explain Japan - the mix of traditional and modern.

I found the older generation more likely to stop and "talk".

Fair play OP

Popeleo

Look out for some travel tips in the rugby forum - thousands of Irish will be there over the next couple of months for the RWC.

A Japan Rail pass must be purchased before getting to Japan. It saves a LOT of money if you are taking a few journeys. There are a few quirks - do a little research on sim cards/mifi and atms as things work differently over there. And don't slam the taxi doors!

But an incredibly beautiful and safe country - I have travelled there solo several times. You'll have a great time.

2smiggy

I'm curious about the taxi door now!!

Popeleo

2smiggy wrote: »

I'm curious about the taxi door now!!

The taxi doors are motorised, so slamming them shut could damage the mechanism. It does feel a bit unnatural to not close the door, so it can be hard to remember sometimes after a few drinks.

Two more taxi factoids - the drivers all wear white gloves, which may make you feel special. What will make you feel less special is the price of a taxi from Narita airport to central Tokyo - around €150-€250 depending where in the city - so give yourself lots of time to use public transport.

2smiggy

I'll be avoiding taxis so 😳

Evade

If you can use your phone data over there google maps is pretty good for public transport, in Tokyo at least.

0lddog

Looking for something else I stumbled across some Japanenglish type TV channels.

http://www.freeintertv.com/main/Japan-1-0-desc-1

shar01

0lddog wrote: »

Looking for something else I stumbled across some Japanenglish type TV channels.

http://www.freeintertv.com/main/Japan-1-0-desc-1

Yeah - we'd get back to hotel room and watch the crazy game shows.

2smiggy

Evade wrote: »

If you can use your phone data over there google maps is pretty good for public transport, in Tokyo at least.

can download the maps offline , and just use the GPS. Handy even in Ireland for trips to west cork and west kerry !!

Evade

2smiggy wrote: »

can download the maps offline , and just use the GPS. Handy even in Ireland for trips to west cork and west kerry !!

I don't think you can download all of Tokyo.

2smiggy

Evade wrote: »

I don't think you can download all of Tokyo.

just had a look on my phone , you are right !! Can't seem to download any of Japan offline

Evade

If you can't or it's too expensive to use your phone over there they sell WiFi hotspots and SIM cards in the airport.

0lddog

2smiggy wrote: »

just had a look on my phone , you are right !! Can't seem to download any of Japan offline

Seems to be the same situation with the 'Here' app

davepatr07

Use MAPS.ME app which is great for downloading local maps and using them offline to navigate. It also has a GPS so it pin points where you are.

https://maps.me/en/download/

Evade

davepatr07 wrote: »

Use MAPS.ME app which is great for downloading local maps and using them offline to navigate. It also has a GPS so it pin points where you are.

https://maps.me/en/download/

Does it do public transport navigation?

davepatr07

Havn't tried that part of the app just use it for GPS and getting my bearings in a town/city but this link might answer your question..

https://support.maps.me/hc/en-us/articles/115004415773-Rapid-transit-routes

acquiescefc

Not sure if its changed but i thought you couldnt download Japan areas on Google maps, was restricted for me last year.
Japan is one of the best places ive been, hard to explain its a different world.
Get a Mi-fi, there is not much in the way of free internet outside of hotels.
You can order it and get it shipped to your first hotel and when you are done with your trip put it in the freepost envelope and post it back.

Get a rail pass.
Go to Nara for the deer.
Get out of Tokyo, personally didnt find much to do there.
Very safe, didnt have a single worry in two trips ive made.

acquiescefc

Regarding maps now i remember. Navmii worked for me. Its free and you can download it before you go and add places you have booked like hotels/attractions etc before you go. when you are there you can use it to navigate to these saved places via GPS without using internet.