Just got back and wow… I loved it. But I wish I had relaxed way sooner.
Japan is not a checklist country. I tried to optimize every hour at first. The best moments weren’t the big “must see” spots. They were wandering down random side streets and stumbling into tiny restaurants with no plan. It felt like I was in my own movie.
I also wish I’d built more empty space into my days. When you’re solo you feel like you have to maximize everything. You don’t. Rushing just blurs it all together.
Overnights in smaller cities? Should’ve done that earlier. The quieter places felt more personal.
Supermarkets > convenience stores for value. Those late night discounts are elite for a solo dinner back at the hotel.
Train stations are massive. Add buffer time. Always.
And the language anxiety? Overblown. A few phrases and basic politeness go a long way. People are kind.
Also… skip the super viral restaurants. The random walk in spots were better.
Japan feels intimidating before you go. Once you stop overplanning, it’s actually one of the easiest solo trips out there.
I love Japan.
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