Table of Contents
Introduction
I arrived in Japan solo in 2013 and didn’t quite know what to expect. My flight landed in the morning at Tokyo International Airport from Singapore, just as I finished my last exams in Singapore. I had never been to Japan. I had never been to Japan, and when I stepped outside, it felt like I’d already time-travelled to 2055. Tokyo was such an amazing city, and I was excited to taste some sushi, katsu curry and see the different sites of Tokyo.
The only catch? I was arriving in Japan alone. My friends were joining me later, but that didn’t convince border control. Being a young Black woman, with an expired Singapore student visa and a return ticket to Singapore (not the UK, where one of my passports is from), meant lots of questions.
This wasn’t my first solo arrival. I’d done it before when I first landed in Singapore to start university, and again in Australia. Still, Japan felt different, new, unfamiliar, and slightly intimidating. But it turned out to be one of the most amazing trips of my undergraduate years.
About Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. The country is known for its blend of deep tradition and cutting-edge modernity. From ancient temples and tranquil gardens to neon-lit skyscrapers and bullet trains, it offers travellers a unique contrast to other Asian countries. Japanese culture is famous worldwide, from sushi and tea ceremonies to anime, fashion, and technology.
I visited in 2013 during my student exchange in Singapore. At the time, Japan already felt futuristic, but it has only grown much more popular and even more connected since then.
Entry Requirements for Japan
For short-term visits (usually up to 90 days), British, Canadian, and American citizens do not need a visa to travel to Japan for tourism, business, or visiting friends. You just need a valid passport and proof of onward or return travel. For British travellers, I always recommend checking the UK FCDO travel advice page before you go.
Nigerian citizens, however, do require a visa before arrival. The application typically involves providing a valid passport, proof of funds, flight details, accommodation bookings, and sometimes an invitation letter if you’re visiting friends or relatives. For any other countries, you should always check if you need a visa. You can check via iVisa here.
Why I Didn’t Wait for Anyone
I always had plans to go to Japan. My friends, who lived in the States, had a stopover flight going to Japan and decided not to take the last leg and join me in Tokyo. As I was travelling on a budget, I got the cheapest flight to Japan, which worked out to be £222 RT from Singapore.
Of course, with most things, I was the first to arrive and while I was excited and a little nervous. I was so ready to make every moment of it before my friends arrived.
And after the trip ended with my friends, I still managed to spend an extra day in Japan and booked a hotel close to the airport as my flight was early in the morning. I really loved the machinery toilets.
What Landing Alone in Japan Was Like
My first task was figuring out the transport. Navigating Tokyo’s train system with almost no English signage and a language barrier was… a lot. But I figured it out and made it to our hotel, Four Points by Sheraton Yokohama West.
Next up: food. I walked to a nearby convenience store (snacks are my weakness) before heading to a local restaurant. Ordering katsu curry turned into a full adventure. There was no face-to-face, no human contact, no staff to take my order. Instead, a vending machine with buttons for each dish. I pressed what I thought was right, got my ticket, and eventually heard my number called. I somehow figured out that it was my dish and enjoyed my dish.
When I sat down with my meal, I had this little moment of awe. “Wow. I’m really doing this. Me, Adebola, in Japan, eating katsu curry.” It was surreal, and something I never would have imagined years earlier.
Afterwards, I strolled around the local area before heading back to the hotel to wait for my friends to arrive.
A Map of Where We Stayed in Tokyo
What I Did in Tokyo
There’s actually quite a lot to do in just Tokyo and much wider Japan, like… the speed train, etc.
- Try authentic sushi. We actually queued up for nearly 4 hours for and I would say it was pretty worth it.
- Visited Tokyo Disneyland, this was my first time visiting a Disneyland before, and it was so impressive. Everything was in Japanese, of course.
- Explored Sensō-ji Temple, one of Tokyo’s most iconic sites.
- Tried to walk through Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, but it was closed by the time we got there.
- Went up Tokyo Tower.
Tips for First-Time (or Semi-Solo) Japan Travellers
If you’re thinking about travelling solo to Japan (or even arriving before friends like I did), here are my tips for travelling to Tokyo, Japan:
- Buy a Suica card at the airport for easy transport.
- Use Google Translate’s camera feature for menus and signs.
- Convenience stores are LIFE, head over for snacks, meals, drinks, and everything you’ll need.
- Stay central (Shinjuku, Shibuya, Asakusa) if you’re arriving solo, as it makes navigation easier.
- Download the Navitime Japan Travel app; it saved me so much time.
Conclusion
Looking back, I didn’t know it then, but that trip in Japan, solo (semi-solo), was the real beginning of my solo travel journey. It was my first time proving to myself that I could figure things out in a completely foreign country all on my own. From trains to menus to hotel check-ins.
If I could tell my 20-something self anything, it would be: “Don’t overthink it. You’re more capable than you believe, and these small solo moments will shape you.”
So, have I convinced you to consider a solo trip or, even better, adding Japan to your bucket list?
Let me know in the comments, and I will speak to you soon.
MBV x
