5 Reasons Japan Should Be Your Next Solo Travel Spot

We all know traveling alone can be pricey when there's nobody to help you split bills. While Japan is definitely not the cheapest country, the exchange rates in recent months have been some of the most favorable to the US dollar in the last five years. Coming from LA, prices struck me as relatively affordable, especially when it came to food. It was easy to find a delicious sushi bento box for about $10, grab a bowl of ramen for about $5 or $6, and to wash it down with a bottle of sake for around $7.

Since the majority of your expenses as a solo traveler are likely to be spent on accomodations, I opted to stay at hostels and guest houses instead of traditional hotels — and I’m glad I did. Hostels in Japan have almost nothing in common with the noisy, crowded youth hostels you're used to finding in America and Europe. Japanese hostels are known for their cleanliness and great service, so no matter where you decide to stay, it is going to be immaculate. One of my favorite places was this traditional Japanese Ryokan in Kyoto, where rooms feature sliding paper walls, straw mats, and Japanese versions of futons. One night in a shared room cost me under $30, but there were private rooms available for $75. Not only was the rate extremely wallet-friendly, but staying at hostels allowed me to meet other solo travelers and share stories and exchange experiences.

And you can always give a capsule hotel (about $45 for nine hours) a try if you're feeling adventurous!

Japan is among the safest countries in the world, and while it doesn't mean you should throw caution to the wind, you definitely don't have much to fear. (A relief when you're a woman by yourself in a foreign country.)

In fact, you are probably much safer there than in any major city in the US, since Japan has the second-lowest homicide rate in the world. It's common to see small children taking the metro to school and running errands alone. I actually felt much safer there than I do at home in LA!

With 85,000 temples and 95,000 shrines, Japan is home to many magical and meditative places. These peaceful religious sites encourage introspection and solitude, making them great places to go as a solo traveler.

The smaller temples were my favorite — not the famous ones full of tourists from all over the world — but the little ones somewhere hidden, where locals stop to say a prayer on the way home from work. Visiting them gave me a rare chance to be alone with my thoughts and reflect on my solo journey. There wasn't a day I didn't want to pinch myself. I couldn't believe how much fun one person could have all by themselves.

On the way to Osaka, I accidentally got off the train many stations too early. It was the first time on the trip I found myself completely confused, but I found strength and calm in that moment I've been able to carry with me since. When I finally got to my hotel — after taking more trains, subways, and finally a taxi — I was so glad I decided to take this journey alone. I discovered a resilience within myself I didn't know still existed.

Japanese people are not only extremely proud of their culture, but I found them to be happy to greet visitors. There were many times they went out of their way to help me experience Japan in the truest form possible.

I must admit, going to the The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum was a very intense experience that left me feeling traumatized, and I lost any desire to explore the city that afternoon. Instead, I decided to take a stroll by the river and enjoy the sakura (cherry blossoms). It turned out the entire area was full of people celebrating hanami (flower viewing). It was such a beautiful sight that I couldn't help but take sneaky pictures of people. When a friendly group of retirees caught me in the act, I smiled, said "kanpai" (cheers), and was immediately invited to join them. They stuffed me with mochi and many other Japanese sweets. It all reminded me of a quote I'd read just an hour before at the museum: "That autumn in Hiroshima, where it was said: 'For 75 years nothing will grow,' new buds sprouted in the green that came back to life. Among the charred ruins, people recovered their living hopes and courage."

Japan is a small but densely populated country — so there is a lot to see. But its size also means that once you're there, you can easily move from city to city by bullet train or locally by a subway or a bus.

I would lie if I said getting around Japan was always a breeze, but since it's safe, it was never anything I was worried about. Only a couple of times did I find myself approaching a stranger with the Japanese word "sumimasen" (excuse me) while frantically pointing at my map, and I was always successful at finding somebody to help me with directions or even happily escort me to the right location. I found it was almost impossible to get truly lost in a country as hospitable and small as Japan.