3 Issues I Would Have Executed In a different way on My Solo Journey to Japan

• After dropping out on a job, Erica Hobbs booked a 24-day journey to Japan.
• The November trip was deliberate final minute, so she ended up touring solo.
• Wanting again, she would have pre-booked transportation and opted to remain in additional hostels to make pals.

In November, after three months of interviews, I misplaced out on a job and determined it was time for a journey break. I set out on a three-and-a-half-week journey to Japan.

The timing labored out — the favorable dollar-to-yen alternate price, gentle climate, and vibrant autumn foliage made it a good time to go to.

With little time to discover a journey companion, I embraced the liberty of solo journey and the flexibility to make plans on a whim. And since I would traveled alone earlier than, I assumed I may wing it. This journey to Japan proved to be tougher than anticipated.

My journey included exploring the “golden triangle” of Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka, with day journeys to close by locations like Nikko, Mount Fuji, Nara, and Himeji. It additionally included visits to Hiroshima and Miyajima Island, and every week in central Japan.

The journey value about $3,400, not together with the airfare, which I paid for with bank card factors. As a cost-conscious backpacker, I stayed in pod motels or hostels and principally ate avenue meals, comfort retailer fare, or noodles at ramen outlets.

My greatest expense was lodging, which totaled greater than $915 for twenty-four nights. On-the-ground transportation added up as effectively. Whereas native trains had been pretty cheap, tickets for the Shinkansen bullet practice had been expensive. My journey from Tokyo to Toyama was the costliest at about $100, Hiroshima to Osaka was about $70, and Osaka to Tokyo was about $90.

A couple of indulgences included attending a kimono tea ceremony, a Kobe steak dinner, and visits to a handful of themed cafés.

Whereas I cherished the journey, listed below are three issues I’d have completed in a different way.

1. Extra planning earlier than the journey

My pre-trip analysis centered primarily on websites and actions, not the logistics. I did not e-book something prematurely, except for my first few days in Tokyo. This led to a chaotic and inefficient journey filled with missed trains, misplaced alternatives, and pointless stress.

I had learn that Japan was fashionable in autumn, however it was busier than I anticipated, and tough to seek out last-minute funds lodging. Lots of the fashionable points of interest, together with Tokyo’s Ghibli Museum and Ninja Tokyo restaurant, had been booked prematurely. Different locations all through the nation, together with Osaka’s Nintendo Museum, and ryokans — conventional Japanese homestays — all over the place, additionally booked up rapidly.

I did get fortunate with the tea ceremony — a plus of solo touring — however I want I would pre-booked those I missed out on.

I additionally would have booked lodging forward of time on websites with a free cancellation coverage. This might have allowed me to safe lodging whereas additionally providing the flexibleness to vary plans.

For transportation, I’d have secured my IC card once I arrived on the airport. These playing cards — which embrace Suica, PASMO, and Icoca — are pay as you go and permit straightforward journey amongst public transportation methods in massive cities. After a 13-hour flight, I rushed to get to my lodge. However getting considered one of these playing cards later was tougher than I anticipated — they had been solely obtainable within the bigger practice stations and never constantly.

2. Opted for hostels as an alternative of capsule motels

Many individuals assume solo journey is about doing issues alone, however considered one of my favourite elements is the brand new individuals you meet alongside the best way. Hostels are often good for being social, and I assumed I would have the identical luck in capsule motels. As a substitute, I discovered the pod motels — although delightfully calm and spa-like — to be a lot much less social. There have been additionally a whole lot of native vacationers staying at these who did not communicate English.

Nevertheless, I made pals instantly on the hostels I stayed in. In Hiroshima, seven of us spent the day exploring Miyajima Island collectively, and I climbed a mountain I by no means would have visted alone. Had I began my journey in hostels, I’d have made pals to journey with earlier on.

3. Spent extra time in Nikko and Osaka

About 90 miles north of Tokyo, Nikko is a well-liked day journey, however I want I had devoted two full days to exploring the city correctly. It is identified for each its elaborate shrines and temples and delightful mountain surroundings. After I visited in November, the websites closed at 4 p.m., and issues began to get darkish not lengthy after, which meant there was a restricted window to discover every thing Nikko needed to provide.

The 126-acre Tokugawa shrine and temple advanced — which grew to become a UNESCO World Heritage website in 1999 — is lower than 10 miles from Lake Chuzenji, the place the Mount Nantai climb begins, however touring from one to the opposite can take an hour. I may have fortunately wandered the advanced — particularly its well-known Toshogu Shrine — for a complete day.

I additionally want I would had a full day to discover the gorgeous lake, waterfalls, and mountaineering alternatives across the mountain. My single day there felt rushed and was restricted to only the highlights.

I additionally want I had spent extra time in Osaka. Since it’s primarily identified for its meals, I assumed two days can be sufficient, however it was the non-foodie elements that had been my favorites and what I want I had extra time for.

Its Dontonbori space was filled with lights and other people with a palpable vitality I preferred being part of. I loved spending a half-day at Osaka Fort, however with extra time I’d have visited the Osaka Museum of Housing & Residing and the Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan, which vacationers I met alongside the best way raved about. I additionally would have flown residence instantly from Osaka, which might have saved me a half day and a $90 bullet practice fare.