Story Check Out These Awesome Solo Travel Spots! By JNTO on 24 January 2020
In Japan, a trend of calling single ladies who like to eat at restaurants or go on trips by themselves “soloists”.
Recently, restaurants and travel agencies have been targeting soloists with a meal and travel plans, giving solo travellers, regardless of gender, to enjoy dining and travelling on their own.
Here, let's look at some useful spots for when you feel like temporarily breaking off from your family or friends and adventuring on your own!
Counter Seat BBQ and French For One
Tokyo is Gourmet Heaven for Solo Travellers!
Recently, restaurants in Japan that aim to create a comfortable environment for ladies to enjoy a meal by themselves have been increasing. The number of restaurants where people can enjoy a meal alone has been steadily increasing, starting with the ramen chain Ichiran and continuing with places that would usually accept large parties, such as hot-pot and French restaurants.
A particularly popular choice among the growing solo dining crowd is Wagyu Shokunin Akasaka, a high-quality wagyu beef restaurant with a 29-minute all-you-can-eat menu. The restaurant only has counter seats to make it easy for solo diners to enjoy their meal without worrying about the judgmental looks from strangers.
The number of similar spots that cater specifically to solo diners, like Non-smoking Cocktail Bar Oshika in Shibuya, are steadily increasing. These venues make it easy to enjoy a drink on your own, day or night.
From Handicrafts to Karaoke！
Check Out these Fun Solo Activities!
Not only has it become easier to go out to eat alone, but an increase in the number of solo activity services is on the rise too!
For example, the Sumida Edo Cut Glass Museum offers an Edo cut glass experience that even solo participants can enjoy. This activity teaches participants to utilize the traditional art of “kiriko” glass cutting to etch designs into a glass of their preferred shape or colour, which also makes for a great souvenir!
We also recommend renting a kimono, so that you can take a stroll along the streets of Asakusa's Nakamise, and enjoy some Japanese sweets during your stroll!
Many shops provide kimono and kinchaku purse rental, traditional Japanese hair accessory rental, kimono fitting and hairdressing service in one rental plan, so visitors can enjoy sightseeing in a kimono without having to buy anything on their own.
One recommended shop is Komomo, a kimono rental shop near Asakusa Station and a short walk from Kaminarimon and Nakamise. With a selection of over 30, 000 kimono designs that customers can reserve beforehand through its online reservation system, “VASARA”, you will never run out of options to customize your kimono rental experience. We also recommend taking a stroll in kimono near a famous regional castle. In spring, visitors can enjoy the beauty of cherry blossoms in full bloom around Osaka Castle Park or the national treasure, Matsumoto Castle.
Recently, there are more karaoke bars that cater to those wanting to sing on their own as well, such as “Wankara” (One-kara, or “karaoke-for-one”). The karaoke chain opened its doors first in Akihabara and Shinjuku and has expanded to Kawasaki and Osaka's Shinsaibashi.
The venues have self-service drink bars and service staff will not open the door to any karaoke room while it is in use, so guests can enjoy singing to their heart's content in their own comfortable, private space. Unlike normal karaoke rooms where music is played aloud through speakers, these rooms use high-quality headphones and professional microphones, making you feel like a singer in a recording studio. Karaoke enthusiasts will certainly feel safe and sound with the venue's auto-locking door systems in every room. Ladies can enjoy pampering themselves in peace in the ladies only area too!
