• Following her unsuccessful attempt at securing employment, Erica Hobbs scheduled a 24-day journey to Japan.
• The vacation in November was arranged at short notice, leading her to travel alone.
• Reflecting on her past experience, she wishes she had arranged transport ahead of time and chosen to lodge in more hostels instead.

In November, following three months of interviews, I didn’t get the job and thought it was high time for a traveling hiatus. So, I embarked on a journey.

½-

week
trip to Japan
.

The timing worked out — the favorable
dollar-to-yen exchange rate
, pleasant climate, and colorful fall leaves made it an excellent season for a visit.

Given the limited time to search for a travel partner, I decided to revel in the independence of traveling alone and the flexibility to spontaneously create plans. As I had previously journeyed solo, I believed I was capable of handling whatever came my way.
trip to Japan
turned out to be more challenging than anticipated.

My journey involved discovering the “golden triangle.”
Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka
, including excursions to nearby locations like Nikko, Mount Fuji, Nara, and Himeji. The itinerary also encompassed visits to Hiroshima and Miyajima Island along with a week spent in central Japan.

The total trip expenses were around $3,400, excluding the flight fare. I covered the travel costs using my credit card rewards. As a
cost-conscious backpacker
I opted for staying in pod hotels or hostels and usually dined on street food, items from convenience stores, or noodles at ramen shops.

The largest portion of my expenses went towards lodging, amounting to over $915 for staying 24 nights. Transportation costs also accumulated significantly. Although local trains were quite cheap, the cost of tickets for the
Shinkansen bullet train
The fares were quite high. The journey from Tokyo to Toyama cost me around $100, the trip from Hiroshima to Osaka was approximately $70, and the route from Osaka back to Tokyo set me back about $90.

Several luxuries involved participating in a traditional kimono tea ceremony, an
Kobe steak
evening meals, along with stops at several themed cafes.

Although I enjoyed the trip, there are three aspects I would have changed.

1. Greater preparation prior to the journey

I concentrated my preliminary investigation on attractions and things to do rather than logistical arrangements. Apart from booking the initial couple of accommodations, I didn’t make reservations ahead of time.
days in Tokyo
This resulted in a disorganized and ineffective journey filled with omitted trains, forfeited chances, and avoidable tension.

I had heard that Japan is particularly appealing during autumn, but it turned out to be even more crowded than I anticipated, making it challenging to secure affordable lodging at short notice. Numerous well-liked sites, such as
Tokyo’s Ghibli Museum
And the Ninja Tokyo restaurant, which was reserved beforehand, along with other locations across the nation such as Osaka’sNintendo Museum, were included.
ryokans
— traditional Japanese homestays — were also fully booked soon after.

I was fortunate enough during the tea ceremony — an added bonus.
solo traveling
—but I wish I had booked them in advance before they were fully reserved.

I too should have made reservations beforehand using platforms that offer free cancellations. That way, I could guarantee my stay and still maintain the option to alter my arrangements later.

For travel arrangements, I would have sorted out my transport.
IC card
When I reached the airport, I discovered that these cards—including Suica, Pasmo, and Icoca—are pre-paid options facilitating seamless transit across various public transport networks within major urban centers. Following a lengthy 13-hour journey, I hurriedly made my way towards my accommodation. However, obtaining one of those cards turned out to be more challenging afterwards; they could typically be found exclusively at bigger railway hubs but weren’t always accessible.

2. Chose hostels over capsule hotels

A lot of folks believe that traveling solo means doing everything independently, but what I enjoy most is encountering new individuals en route. Hostels typically provide a conducive environment for socializing, so I expected similar experiences elsewhere.
capsule hotels
Instead, I discovered that the pod hotels—although wonderfully serene and spa-like—were far less sociable. Additionally, many of the guests there did not speak English; they appeared to be mostly local travelers.

However, I quickly made friends at the hostels where I stayed.
Hiroshima
Seven of us spent the day exploring Miyajima Island together, and I even ascended a mountain that I likely wouldn’t have ventured up solo. If I had begun my journey staying at hostels, I might have found companions to share this experience with from an earlier stage.

3. Dedicated additional time to explore Nikko and Osaka

Approximately 90 miles above Tokyo,
Nikko
Is a favored excursion spot; however, I wished I allocated two whole days to thoroughly discover this charming locale. Renowned for its intricate shrines and temples as well as stunning mountain landscapes. During my visit in November, all attractions shut down at 4 o’clock PM, causing darkness to descend swiftly thereafter, thereby restricting the time frame within which one could fully experience what Nikko has to showcase.

The 126-acre Tokugawa shrine and temple compound, designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1999, lies within close proximity of Lake Chuzenji, approximately ten miles away from the starting point of the Mount Nantai hike. However, despite their nearness, the journey between them takes about an hour. I would have been content to spend a whole day exploring this extensive area, particularly its renowned Toshogu Shrine.

I also wish I’d had a full day to explore the beautiful lake, waterfalls, and hiking opportunities around the mountain. My single day there felt rushed and was limited to just the highlights.

I likewise hope I had allocated my time differently.
more time in Osaka
. Given that it’s mainly famous for its cuisine, I assumed two days would suffice, yet it was actually the non-gastronomic aspects that became my highlights and those where I wished I could have spent more time.

The Dotonbori district was brimming with lights and crowds, exuding an energetic vibe that I really appreciated being part of. I had a great time exploring for half a day.
Osaka Castle
, however, with additional time, I would have explored the Osaka Museum of Housing and Living as well as the Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan, places that fellow travelers I encountered spoke highly of. Additionally, flying back home directly from Osaka would have shaved off a half-day and saved me the $90 cost of a bullet train ticket.

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