Most people who have asked me about my trip to Japan, I have given them just one answer- If you can save money and go to just one country in this lifetime, then please go to Japan. That’s the kind of profound impact this place had on me. As a solo female traveller in Japan I had an experience that I am going to remember for a long time.

Japan is an experience – an elevated experience, filling up all your heart and soul so much that life after coming back from the trip seems very dull and below standard. It took me a while to recover from the Japan hangover, and maybe I am still not over it because I keep looking at Japan videos and saving the places that I want to visit on my next trip. (Yes, I will definitely go back.)

A Haven of Safety – for solo female travellers in Japan

When I first started doing research on Japan and talking to all the people who had gone there in the recent times, they had only good things to say about Japan; it was almost to the level that it felt unreal. Being a solo female traveller and reading blogs of fellow solo female travellers, everyone without fail mentioned that it was one of the safest countries in the world. So, finally when I reached there and experienced it, I understood what exactly they meant.

I saw young kids around six going to school on their own, with their backpacks, they walked alone on the roads; they took trains and buses without any adult accompanying them. When I asked a local person about it, she told me that the kids are trained from a very young age to travel on their own. First they are accompanied by their older siblings who show them the ropes, and then there are adults around who always help if the kid needs it. Helping each other is deeply ingrained in their culture.

And as a society, the crime rate is low, so parents also feel safe in letting their kids travel by themselves. I have always believed that an ideal society is one where the kids are safe and parents are not paranoid about their safety, and finally I witnessed one. This definitely is the safest place for solo female travellers.

Tokyo-Navigating Trains & Experiencing Japanese Kindness

My first day in Tokyo was just about figuring out the city, figuring out how the train system works, getting a rail pass and checking out the best vegan restaurants in town. Most of the main train stations are busy during peak hours but coming from Bombay, it didn’t intimidate me, on the contrary, I felt at home, but I made it a point to travel during off-peak hours.

The first thing that strikes you about Japan is that people are always willing to help you patiently, even if they don’t speak English. There were times when I couldn’t figure out which line to take, or which exit is the best option, or why my ticket is not being accepted by the machine – all I used to do was reach out to the nearest person and they would willingly guide me with a smile.

Japanese people are the kindest, most considerate, and most gracious people that I have ever met in my life. Being kind and considerate is so deeply rooted that it is second nature to them and that made me feel comfortable as a solo female traveller in Japan.

Japan: Tech at Every Turn

The second thing that stands out is the use of technology, it is everywhere – right when you check in at a hotel to washrooms to trains to art – it is fascinating. On the first day I struggled a bit because I had to use Google Translate but in a few days, I eased into it, and I loved that technology was used so effectively and that it simply elevated the standard of experience and living there.

Japanese Etiquette: A culture of respect and responsibility

Etiquette and cleanliness is at another level, a level I discovered only when I went to Japan. Let me tell you why. People don’t talk inside the local trains, you will never hear a phone ringtone, people don’t even talk on the phone in the train, they respect the shared public space and don’t want to cause any nuisance to others.

Nobody stares at you; nobody talks to you unless you approach them with a question, then they will go the extra mile to help you out.

One other rule people follow is that they don’t eat or drink on the road while they are walking. If you buy something from a store, then there is a designated area where you can sit and eat. And the most surprising thing I found was that for a country that is so clean, you won’t find dustbins anywhere.

When I asked a local person where they throw trash, she casually showed me a garbage bag that they carry in their handbag and said that they always carry trash home and only dispose it at home. That’s their level of commitment to cleanliness.

She also said that they believe that if there is dirt around in their surroundings that means there is dirt inside them too, hence you never see trash cans anywhere in Japan and when you see a few of them in designated areas, they are always covered.

A Glimpse of Japanese Serenity

Japanese people have an amazing sense of calmness, let me share a story to elaborate this. I was at one of the main train stations in Tokyo. I heard a sound and realized that something had happened. But when I looked around, no one reacted. Soon I heard the emergency siren, there were announcements made and an emergency drill was on.

I enquired about it to the girl standing next to me in the line for boarding the train, she told me that there was an accident on that platform and there would be a delay in the train’s arrival. I looked at the emergency staff execute their work diligently, and there was no panic, there was no screaming, crowding, people just stood there patiently with a profound sense of trust in the system.

While I chatted with the girl standing next to me who explained to me what was happening through Google Translate, I was just left thinking what would happen back home if such a thing had happened. I was impressed. Suddenly all those Japanese concepts that I had read about like Zen, Ikigai, wabi sabi…they all started making sense.

Japanese Artistry: Beauty in every detail

By now, I am sure you want to pack your bags and move to Japan. But wait, I will give you more reasons to move there.

Art and beauty are a part of everything they do. Be it the beautiful bento boxes, the Japanese tea, the Zen gardens, the museums, the traditional art forms, the food, the temple offerings, the way they gift wrap a book or even a simple stamp given at a train station is artistically created. Art is a way of being for them and that is one main takeaway that I want to imbibe in my life too.

As I was hopping on and off the bus in Kawaguchiko, I saw a museum of a kimono artist mentioned on the map, intrigued by it, I decided to get off the bus and check it out. The museum was dedicated to the lifelong work of textile artist Itchiku Kubota.

He is known for reviving and reinventing the tsugahana style of silk dyeing. It is an intricate process of creating artwork on a silk kimono, it took him one year to create one piece of kimono and he dedicated his whole life to it. When I saw the artwork, I was spellbound, it was elaborate, exquisite, and evoked so many emotions. I stood there for a while and just stared at the pieces of his work and soaked in all that I could.

The artist himself had designed the structure of the museum too, and his idiosyncrasies were visible in the structure. Wanting to stay a bit longer with the emotions the paintings had evoked in me, I went to the teahouse on the premises.

Like all things filled with beauty in Japan, this was a classic one with a low table and a glass wall overlooking a Zen Garden. I sat there for a long-time losing track of time as I sipped on the popular matcha tea. I was happy that I had made this pit-stop. One of the things that I would definitely recommend to all solo female travellers in Japan.

Mt. Fuji: A Divine Presence

Being a mountain lover and having a long list of mountains that I want to see around the world, Mt Fuji had been on the top few. The only word that comes to my mind to express what Mt Fuji is – divine.

You see it and you know you are seeing something different, the energy around it is different, and I was constantly attracted to it and just couldn’t have enough of it. The first time I got a glimpse of it was through the window of the Shinkansen (bullet train). Then right outside the train station, in the car and as you walk around in that area. Every time you look at it, you know you are looking at something marvelous. I kept clicking pictures of it at every single view, my phone is a testimony to it.

Meeting an Artist at Honcho Street

Mt Fuji is generally covered by clouds hanging low, it feels like they are trying to kiss the top of the mountain. So, they say that only if you are lucky do you get to see the clear view of Mt Fuji as a whole, and I was lucky as I got the clear view on most days except the last day when I went to visit this postcard street called Honcho street which has Mt Fuji in the background, and it is part of a lot of photographs and popular art.

But I was not disappointed as I got to witness the local flea market where a lot of artists and food lovers were selling their wares. And that is where I met a talented blackboard chalk artist Tetsuya Igarashi. I was mesmerized by the detailing, intricacies, and beauty of his work done with chalk on a blackboard. Since he spoke English, I got to have a long conversation with him about art and life and then I urged him to teach me a few strokes, and he happily obliged.

This definitely turned out to be a big highlight of the trip for me, apart from Mt Fuji of course. This is the fun of being a solo traveller in Japan, one can explore as one wants.

Exploring Kyoto: Old World Charm

My next stop was Kyoto, where you get to witness the old-world charm of Japan and the last remains of the Geisha culture. Here I signed up for an night walking tour so that I could explore all the alleys and by lanes while getting to know the stories and culture of the place and it was a good decision. I met like-minded travellers, a guide who spoke English and explained all the big and small things that make Japanese culture so unique.

And yes, we spotted Geishas too with their busy struts and going about their daily life. The best end to that night was a big bowl of vegan ramen, it filled my heart with joy and satisfaction. And then I walked around for a while in the night knowing that it was fully safe for a solo female traveller in Japan like me to do.

Japan’s Quirky Charm

Japan’s Quirky Charm

Japan has a lot to offer depending on your taste. If you love all things quirky, then Japan will not disappoint you.

I walked across many streets in Tokyo and there was something quirky in every corner that either made me look at it with awe or inspiration. The neon-lit streets, the cozy eateries, the marketplaces, the busiest street crossing in the world, fireworks by the river, musicians on street corners, artistic bookshops….the list is long.

Your feet might get tired by the end of the day, but your heart is never satiated, and as a solo female traveller in Japan, the more you see, the more you want to see.

Bakeneko Festival: Tokyo’s Whimsical Cat Carnival

While I was doing my research, I had read about the Bakeneko (cat) festival in one part of Tokyo, and it had intrigued me so much that I had planned my itinerary around it. Oh boy, what a fun festival it was!

When I caught the right train and reached the place, there was a carnival feel to it, with arrows guiding people to the main procession area. I followed the signs and reached the main area where every person including adults and kids, was dressed in a cat costume and they walked and posed like cats.

I was fascinated and a big smile was plastered on my face as I clicked hundreds of pictures and participated along with them. I wished I had a cat costume too, maybe next time. There was music, there was dance, there were photographers, there was food, it was all in all a fun carnival. I would highly recommend it to everyone.

There’s so much more that I can keep writing on about being a solo female traveller in Japan, but I am going to leave something for you to explore and discover, hoping that I have intrigued you enough.

Leaving Japan: Heart full, Memories forever

Last day as I sat at the airport waiting to board my flight, I was sad, sad the way you feel when you are leaving someone close to you and you don’t know when you will see them next. Japan left an indelible mark on my heart.

All the smiles, kindness, graciousness, and friends that I made will stay in my heart and will motivate me to go again. Like I said in the beginning, if you can save money and go to just one country in this lifetime, then let it be Japan. I promise you it will be the best experience of your life as a solo female traveller.