How to Enjoy Tokyo as a Solo Traveller
Exploring Tokyo as a solo traveller can be incredibly rewarding. There is so much to see and do, and so the benefit of being a solo visitor to the city is that you can pick and choose your favourite activities and attractions to suit your interests! Tokyo is also a city that is already tailored to suit solo customers with many services specifically designed for single use!
Many Japanese people often spend time by themselves, and it is perfectly standard behaviour to go to a restaurant, cafe or attraction solo! So if you have any reservations about being by yourself, please don’t worry! Embrace the solo travel and we promise you will have the time of your life! We have created this page to help give you some tips and inspiration if you’re planning a solo trip to the capital! On this page you will find the following information :
— How to Enjoy Tokyo as a Solo Traveller
— A First Timer’s Guide to Tokyo
— The Best Day Trips and Overnight Getaways near Tokyo
HOW TO ENJOY TOKYO AS A SOLO TRAVELLER
1 / Embrace the Art of Tea and Nature
We highly recommend enjoying a tea ceremony, or tea experience at a Japanese garden which is designed for quiet reflection as you sip your matcha, eat your Wagashi (traditional Japanese sweets) and look at the beautiful nature and garden in front of you. Everybody is there for peaceful time, and many people go solo for this very reason.
Some of the best garden teahouses in Tokyo include Koishikawa Gardens, Hamarikyu Gardens and Shinjuku Gyoen Garden. We highly recommend joining our 1 Day Walking Tour in Shinjuku and Kagurazaka : Tokyo Hot Spots and Hidden Gems’ tour to visit the beautiful Koishikawa Gardens and tea house, our ’Tokyo Highlights Tour : Sumo, Sushi, Tea, Temples and Tokyo Tower’ tour to visit the picturesque Hamarikyu Gardens and tea house, or join our ’1 Day Walking Tour in Shinjuku and Shibuya : The Best of Both’ tour to experience Shinjuku Gyoen and its tea house.
1 Day Tour
| Tokyo Highlights Tour : Sumo, Sushi, Tea, Temples and Tokyo Tower | |
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| Period | All Year Round |
| Time | 08:15 – 16:30 |
| Meeting Place | Inside of Hamacho Station |
| Adult Rate | ¥19,800 |
| Child Rate | ¥13,000 |
1 Day Tour
| 1 Day Walking Tour in Shinjuku and Kagurazaka : Tokyo Hot Spots and Hidden Gems | |
| Period | All Year Round |
| Time | 09:30 – 17:30 |
| Meeting Place | Inside Yotsuya Sanchome Station |
| Adult Rate | ¥19,800 |
| Child Rate | ¥13,000 |
2 / Visiting Shrines and Temples
Many activities are great for solo customers. For example, visiting Shrines and Temples in Tokyo are a time for peaceful reflection, with many people going by themselves to relax and pray. Iconic spots such as Senso-ji temple in Asakusa and Meiji Shrine in Shibuya are both great examples where you can go and enjoy being a solo traveller, enjoying the mix of history and tranquility in peace. Most of our Tokyo tours visit shrines and temples in Tokyo, so why not join our tours and experience it all with a friendly local guide!
1 Day Tour
| 1 Day Walking Tour in Asakusa : Traditional Tokyo, Culinary Delights and Nature | |
| Period | All Year Round |
| Time | 09:30- 17:00 |
| Meeting Place | Outside the Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Centre |
| Adult Rate | ¥17,800 |
| Child Rate | ¥11,000 |
1 Day Tour
| 1 Day Walking Tour in Shinjuku and Shibuya : The Best of Both | |
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| |
| Period | All Year Round |
| Time | 09:30 – 17:30 |
| Meeting Place | Inside Yotsuya-Sanchome Station |
| Adult Rate | ¥19,800 |
| Child Rate | ¥13,000 |
3 / Enjoy the Food Scene
As we mentioned, Japan and Tokyo has an already fantastic culture in place to cater to solo customers and travellers. Many cafes and restaurants have solo seating so you can relax and enjoy your break in peace. Tokyo has countless solo-friendly bars and restaurants to enjoy, including ramen shops, sushi counters and Izakaya. It is completely normal for locals to dine alone, and in fact Tokyo is one of the most friendly destinations for solo dining! We highly recommend the popular chain Ichiran where private solo seating is offered, or exploring Tsukiji Outer Market for fresh seafood and sushi! Izakaya are also a great way to enjoy traditional and local dining solo! We highly recommend the bustling area of ’Hoppy Dori’ in Asakusa! Check out our ’Tokyo Highlights’ tour where we go to Tsukiji, and ’1 Day Walking Tour in Asakusa’ where we have lunch at ’Hoppy Dori’!
1 Day Tour
| Tokyo Highlights Tour : Sumo, Sushi, Tea, Temples and Tokyo Tower | |
|
| |
| Period | All Year Round |
| Time | 08:15 – 16:30 |
| Meeting Place | Inside of Hamacho Station |
| Adult Rate | ¥19,800 |
| Child Rate | ¥13,000 |
1 Day Tour
| 1 Day Walking Tour in Asakusa : Traditional Tokyo, Culinary Delights and Nature | |
| Period | All Year Round |
| Time | 09:30- 17:00 |
| Meeting Place | Outside the Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Centre |
| Adult Rate | ¥17,800 |
| Child Rate | ¥11,000 |
4 / Museums and Galleries
Tokyo is home to some of the best museums across Japan! As we all know, these spaces are often quiet and peaceful, perfect for solo visitors! Why not spend time a few of the many great museums and galleries on your trip to really embrace traditional art, history and culture. Check out our ’40 Best Museums and Galleries’ page to get inspired on where to go!
From traditional Japanese artefacts to contemporary artworks, there is something for everyone. Ueno Park is home to some of the biggest museums in Tokyo, so definitely head there if you want to see them! This includes the ’National Museum of Nature and Science’, a beautiful museum with great exhibits and a roof garden. If you want smaller but nonetheless impressive art museums and galleries, Yanaka has some great options such as Scai the Bathhouse, Asakura Museum of Sculpture and the Calligraphy Museum. For the person looking for something less conventional, the Samurai and Ninja museum, and The Fukagawa Edo Museum are fun and interactive ways to learn all about history and culture! To see Tokyo and other places in miniature form, why not head to the ‘Smalls Worlds’ museum in Tokyo Bay! For an extra fee, you can even make yourself in miniature using their 3D printers! Join our ‘Ueno and Yanaka’ tour to experience two of these amazing museums, or our ’Ultimate Tokyo Tour’.
1 Day Tour
| 1 Day Walking Tour in Ueno and Yanaka : Culture, Art and Old Tokyo | |
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| Period | All Year Round |
| Time | 09:30 – 17:00 |
| Meeting Place | Outside Ueno Station Park Gate Exit |
| Adult Rate | ¥17,800 |
| Child Rate | ¥11,000 |
1 Day Tour
| Ultimate Tokyo Tour : Imperial Palace, Sake, Robots, Japanese Gardens and Edo Museum | |
| Period | All Year Round |
| Time | 09:30 – 16:45 |
| Meeting Place | Inside Tokyo Station’s Domed Lobby Area by Green and White Information Board |
| Adult Rate | ¥19,800 |
| Child Rate | ¥13,000 |
5 / Join a Snow Monkey Resorts Tour!
Finally, we would love for you to join one of our tours at Snow Monkey resorts! We offer full day tours that visit many of the attractions mentioned above. Our guides are local, experienced and very friendly! You can choose from a private tour, or how about booking onto a group tour! We have many solo travellers joining our tours, so it’s a great way to meet like minded people and fellow solo travellers! Check out our ’Best Tours in Tokyo’ page for more information on the wide selection of tours that we offer. We hope to see you on our tours in future!
THINGS TO DO IN TOKYO
This page would not be complete without also suggesting our wider recommendations on things to do in Tokyo which includes both the golden tourist attractions and some lesser known activities you can enjoy, many are perfect for a solo traveller. Why not check out Things to Do in Tokyo page which will also give you plenty of inspiration for your time spent in Tokyo. Here you will find some of the best activities and recommendations on how to spend your time in the Capital, as well as some tours that you can join to make the most out of your trip!
From watching Sumo wrestlers train to eating the freshest sushi at local markets, playing Taiko drums to exploring hidden shrines and temples, Tokyo truly has it all. Our Tokyo tours enable you to pick and choose from a wide range of areas and activities to explore during your trip. Want to explore lesser known neighbourhoods in Tokyo, or do you want to get into the hustle and bustle of the world’s most populated city, then click the link above and start exploring what you can do in Tokyo to make your trip unforgettable.
BEST TOURS IN TOKYO
Tokyo is steeped in history. The city has faced many hardships from earthquakes, fires and the air raids of WW2, and unfortunately many of its oldest buildings and structures have disappeared over time. However, Tokyo does a fantastic job at celebrating and retaining much of its character and culture, with stunning renovations of temples and shrines, museums housing some of Japan’s finest artefacts, and hidden pockets of neighbourhoods that have managed to preserve its original architecture despite the many challenges its faced. Pop culture lovers will rejoice at Japan’s modern aesthetic, with its bright lights and neon signs that make the city glow at night.
There is so much to see and do in Tokyo, especially fantastic experiences suitable for solo travellers to make your trip fun and engaging. Check out our ’Best Tours in Tokyo’ page which will give you more information on the tours mentioned in the previous section, as well as the best tours in Tokyo and the best day trips from Tokyo throughout the Kanto region.
A FIRST TIMER’S GUIDE TO TOKYO
As a solo traveller this may be your first time coming to Japan and Tokyo! It can be a daunting experience travelling somewhere new for the first time by yourself. However, Tokyo and Japan are fantastic travel destinations for solo travellers as the culture is naturally catered to solo customers and experiences. Tokyo is of course very famous, but even for those travellers wanting something off the beaten path and hidden gems, Tokyo still has plenty to offer. So check our our ’A Guide for First Timer’s in Tokyo’ page which will provide you with an informative guide with all the know how, what to expect and our top recommendations on how to make your first Tokyo trip smooth and unforgettable!
THE BEST DAY TRIPS AND GETAWAYS FROM TOKYO
If you want to enjoy more amazing experiences across Japan that are great for solo travel, why not check out our 30 Things To Do Near Tokyo: The Best Day-Trips & Getaways From The Capital page! This page will give you more information and inspiration on what excursion day trips, overnight stays and multi day trips you could do outside of Tokyo. You could be enjoying a stay at a traditional Ryokan with public and private onsen, having a tea experience in a bamboo forest, feeding Koi Carp at a temple, praying at a world famous temples or have a go at throwing clay pottery on top of a mountain to bring good fortune!
HOW TO ACCESS TOKYO
As Japan’s sprawling capital, Tokyo is the start and end point of numerous train lines and express bus services making it easy to reach from all over the country. Our ‘How to Get to Tokyo’ page includes detailed information about just how to get there from popular starting points including Tokyo Narita Airport and Tokyo Haneda Airport. Why not also check out our ’Comparing Tokyo Haneda Airport and Tokyo Narita Airport’page for more useful information for planning your trip.
WHERE TO STAY IN TOKYO?
Not just the largest city in Japan but also the largest city in the world, Tokyo is a sprawling giant that must be experienced at least once. Knowing where to stay when visiting Tokyo can make a huge difference when it comes to getting around the city and ultimately, getting the most out of your time there. Our ‘Where To Stay In Tokyo?’ page breakdowns the best areas to stay including accommodation listings.
