East Asia
Solo travel in Japan
2/5English level
Solo travel in Japan
Exceptionally safe, clean and efficient, and easy to do alone: superb trains, convenience stores and solo-friendly dining. Costs add up, English thins out beyond big cities, and famous sights are crowded. The easiest place to start is Tokyo.
Best places in Japan for solo travelers
| Place | Solo | English | Locals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tokyo | 5/5 | Limited | Polite but reserved |
| Kyoto | 5/5 | Limited | Polite but reserved |
| Osaka | 5/5 | Limited | Friendly |
| Fukuoka | 5/5 | Limited | Friendly |
| Kumano Kodo | 5/5 | Limited | Very friendly |
| Hiroshima | 4/5 | Limited | Friendly |
| Nara | 4/5 | Limited | Friendly |
| Sapporo | 4/5 | Limited | Friendly |
| Okinawa | 4/5 | Limited | Very friendly |
| Niseko | 4/5 | Widely spoken | Friendly |
| Yokohama | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas | Polite but reserved |
| Kanazawa | 4/5 | Limited | Friendly |
| Takayama | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas | Very friendly |
| Nagoya | 4/5 | Limited | Polite but reserved |
| Kamakura | 4/5 | Limited | Friendly |
| Kobe | 4/5 | Limited | Friendly |
| Hakuba | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas | Friendly |
| Ishigaki | 4/5 | Limited | Friendly |
| Nagasaki | 4/5 | Limited | Friendly |
| Miyakojima | 4/5 | Limited | Friendly |
| Hakodate | 4/5 | Limited | Friendly |
| Otaru | 4/5 | Limited | Friendly |
| Beppu | 4/5 | Limited | Friendly |
| Matsumoto | 4/5 | Limited | Friendly |
| Koyasan | 4/5 | Limited | Friendly |
| Sendai | 4/5 | Limited | Friendly |
| Yakushima | 4/5 | Limited | Friendly |
| Kagoshima | 4/5 | Limited | Very friendly |
| Naoshima | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas | Friendly |
| Kinosaki Onsen | 4/5 | Limited | Friendly |
| Nozawa Onsen | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas | Friendly |
| Hakone | 3/5 | Limited | Friendly |
| Kawaguchiko | 3/5 | Limited | Friendly |
| Nikko | 3/5 | Limited | Friendly |
| Shirakawa-go | 3/5 | Limited | Friendly |
| Furano | 3/5 | Limited | Friendly |
Solo travel by place
Sources
- US State Department travel advisory
- Immigration Services Agency: Digital Nomad status
- Visit Japan Web (Digital Agency)
- Japan Tourism Agency: tax-free shopping
- Seven Bank: overseas cards at ATMs
- Speedtest Global Index: Japan
- World Bank open data
Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.