JAPAN

august 2024:

a solo traveler story

i’ve never been afraid to travel alone. if anything, i’ve always preferred it. my mind. my thoughts. my own experience. no itinerary to follow. no one’s schedule to consider. just moving at my own pace, doing what feels right in the moment.

growing up an only child, being alone wasn’t something to fear. it was just how life was. making the most of what i had, who i spent time with, and learning early on that i could stand on my own. independence wasn’t a choice. it was second nature.

i’ve always done things on my own, gone places even when no one else wanted to come. because at the end of the day, it’s my story. my life. why waste time wondering what could’ve been when i could just go and see for myself?

a wanderer at heart, that’s what i call myself. Japan felt like the right place to start. the safest and best country for a first-time solo trip. some people hesitate, especially as a woman traveling alone, but fear wasn’t about to keep me from an experience i knew would change me.

early twenties. the perfect time to start the era of exploration. solo travel wasn’t just about seeing the world—it was about connecting with myself, learning who i really am, and figuring out where i’m meant to go.

LAX → HND

as cheesy as it sounds, it felt like stepping into a Japanese cinematic masterpiece.

landing in Haneda Airport came with an instant rush of gratification. nothing extravagant happened. no grand welcome. no familiar faces waiting for me. but somehow, i felt like i belonged.

all the endless pre-planning, the late-night itinerary tweaking, the deep dives into travel blogs—none of it could have fully prepared me for this.

there was a plan, but it wasn’t set in stone. certain places were non-negotiable, but the real goal wasn’t to check boxes. it was to let Japan unfold around me, to get lost in the moment, to wander without expectation, and to make this experience entirely my own.

SHINJUKU

the train ride to shinjuku from HND felt like an achievement before the trip had even begun. google maps transit lines became my late-night study sessions. every route was memorized every transfer mapped out. however — you can’t escape getting lost in Japan at least once (shoutout to Shawn Mendes).

a 34-pound suitcase and a 10-pound carry-on seemed manageable at first. the first set of stairs felt easy. the second was fine. the third? regret set in. Tokyo’s endless staircases turned confidence into exhaustion. still i made it to my airbnb without a single misstep. flawless execution. zero mistakes.

hostel life: expectations vs reality

the word hostel used to scare me. people always had something to say about them. some swore by the experience; others warned against it. but low and behold i was staying in one. i just had to tell myself— it’s just like living with housemates except i know none of these people and there was no background check.

the worries of a female solo traveler came rushing in again.

luckily enough i met everyone staying there. what people say about meeting other travelers was right. they are nice. they are welcoming.

within minutes i had a quick breakdown of who was staying at the hostel and the surprises just kept coming. a business development rep for a cryptocurrency startup and a master dojo teacher of over 20 years.

completely different worlds sharing the same space. you never really know who you’re bound to meet.

first night shenanigans

after traveling for 12 hours all you want to do is drop your bags and either eat or sleep. but in japan there is no time to sleep. too much to see too much to do.

i went straight to gyu-katsu motomura a popular grilled beef chain that my old manager wouldn’t stop raving about. she swore it would change my life.

did it change my life? no.

was it one of the best meals i’ve had for such a low price? yes.

all in all, it was a great kickstart to my Japan foodventure!

• wanna check the restaurant out on tripadvisor?

here’s the same exact location: 📍 Gyukatsu Motomura

shinjuku was the perfect place for a first night in Tokyo. train stations nearby, lively nightlife, walkability was perfection.

i went around to explore Golden Gai, Kabuki-cho, and the in betweens of the 1-chome. at first, i was overstimulated with the flashing screens and multi-colored store/restaurant lights flashing in my eyes. but eventually (actually, after an hour), i was already accustomed to the environment.

i can’t even tell you the feeling of what i experienced. it felt as if i was in a movie setting with never ending streets of production.

streets are small, a little bit hilly on some parts, but all around vibes. and two don-quijotes in the same area.

i had to go to at least one that night to see my tiktok dreams turn into reality.

if you know anything about the beloved don-quijote (🎶donki, donki, donki, don-qui-jote🎶) - you know that it is a never ending loop that makes you feel trapped inside. but the good kind of trapped. nowhere to see exit signs. just aisles and aisles of items you want to pick up and buy.

TO BE CONTINUED…