Japan Singles Holidays & Solo Tours

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT SOLO GUIDED HOLIDAYS IN JAPAN

WHAT ARE THE BEST TOURS FOR SINGLES TO JAPAN

Japan is the land of modern and ancient. With so much to see you’ll need to go on our Japan Revealed tour, where you’ll come back with a wide list of unforgettable memories.

The adventure starts in the capital, Tokyo and ends in Kobe, along the way you’ll take in stunning views from the Observation Deck of the Tokyo Tower, experience an authentic rickshaw ride, discover the beauty of Mount Fuji, cruise on Lake Ashi before travelling by Bullet Train to Kyoto, where you'll stay for three nights and visit the Gion area, a famous Geisha district, to take part in a traditional Japanese tea ceremony. You will also visit the historic city of Nara and Osaka, with it’s beautiful Osaka Castle, take in Miyajima Island and see poignant sights dedicated to the nuclear bombing of the Second World War, before spending the last night of your holiday in the pretty port city of Kobe.

WHAT ARE THE HIGHLIGHTS ON A SOLOS TOURING HOLIDAY IN JAPAN?

Japan is full of amazing highlights to see, to the point that it feels like there is one around every corner but the ones’ you definitely do not want to miss are:

• Miyajima Island - Japan has some beautiful islands but Miyajima tops the list. It’s an ancient pilgrimage site that is now a national park inhabited with wild yet friendly deer
• The Shinkansen - The Iconic bullet train – carrying 10 billion passengers a year at speeds of 200mph.
• Osaka building and Floating Garden - This 173-meter tall building consists of 2 towers that are linked to each other by a Floating Garden Observatory. The observatory offers a great viewpoint to see all of the city. You will also find a special restaurant in the basement that that imitates a town in the early Showa Period.

Other things to try if you find time are a rickshaw ride, Japanese Uji tea ceremony, sushi-making and a cruise on Lake Ashii

WHAT IS THE BEST TIME OF YEAR TO TAKE A SOLOS HOLIDAY TO JAPAN?

There are several good months in which to visit Japan, for example January has nice weather and sightseeing spots are not over crowded. New Year is popular but it’s worth noting that many shops, restaurants and tourist attractions are closed for a few days between December 29th and January 4th.

Like January. February is a good as the weather is usually sunny and dry and sightseeing spots are not very crowded. The downside is the short days, with sunset at around 5:30pm in Tokyo. March brings with it the early signs of flowering plants and trees, yet the weather gets noticeably milder.

April is often considered a pretty time to visit Japan because the cherry blossom season takes place in most regions and the weather is agreeably mild. One of Japan's busiest travel seasons, takes place at the end of April and beginning of May making all areas more bustling. However, the remainder of May calms down and is a lovely time to visit as the flowers and vegetation are lavish, and the temperature is comfortable. That being said, the rainy season typically runs from early May to mid-June so pack your waterproofs.

June is the main month of the rainy season. While it doesn’t rain all day, every day, the weather tends to be more gloomy. July marks the end of the rainy season with it typically drying out by mid-July. However this does make for the most hot and humid month and you will break a sweat by just standing outside.

August is equally hot and humid with higher altitudes being the more comfortable places to spend your days. Many local festivals with fireworks are held in August. September marks typhoon season. Typhoons cause intense bursts of rain and wind that usually last for about 2 days, mainly striking the coasts of Okinawa, Kyushu and Shikoku. Oddly, once the typhoon passes you usually find the weather sunny with crystal clear skies.

October is without a doubt, one of the most pleasant months for traveling to Japan as the weather remains warm, but it’s not humid anymore. November is a also great time to visit Japan, as the weather is comparatively mild and the humidity is dry. The autumn colours are at their peak and are spectacular. Equally, December is a good month for traveling thanks to the generally dry weather conditions.

WHAT IS THE FOOD LIKE IN JAPAN?

Japanese food is delicious and due to its popularity it has been making its way all over the world. As a bonus, because of its high plant, vegetable, fruit and seafood ingredients it benefits from being healthier than most Western food.

However, many of Japan’s culinary dishes originally came from other countries such as China, Korea and Portugal. Rice, being the main candidate! The rice introduced to Japan from China was short-grain, which when boiled for a prolonged period becomes sticky and sweet making it easy to pick up and eat with chopsticks. The Japanese hold rice in high regard, so much so that it is not to be flavoured or seasoned with spices or sauces. It is boiled in pure water so that the rice’ own aroma and natural flavour can radiate as nature intended. Other foods, such as meat or vegetables may then be added on top of the rice.

Another candidate is Tempura, which is a simple process of coating food in a batter and frying and originates from Portugal. The Portuguese were one of the first to fry their fish in batter.
Japan is surrounded by water; therefore the ease of local fishing means the majority of Japan’s cuisine is based around fish and seafood, with those more religious for example Buddhist monks opting for a vegetarian diet. Sushi started out as a way to preserve fish but soon became a delicacy enjoyed by many.

Popular dishes to try when in Japan are:

• Sushi - A popular dish in Japan. Sushi generally consists of raw seafood placed on/or in vinegared rice, or wrapped as rolls in dried sheets of seaweed, rice paper, or soybean skin. There are some cooked sushi dishes, however, most sushi is served raw
• Tempura - Tempura is deep-fried prawns, seafood or vegetables coated in a batter consisting of egg, water, and wheat flour. The fried coating is delicate, golden and delicious.
• Sashimi - Sashimi is similar to Sushi in that it is based around raw seafood or meat thinly sliced and served with a dipping sauce like soy sauce. Sashimi is always raw and is served alone, no rice or vegetables.
• Miso Soup - A traditional soup of a soy-based paste placed in stock. Chefs then add a selection of local ingredients for personal taste.
• Noodles - Japanese noodles are delicious and are available in many varieties. Udon noodles are made from wheat flour, Soba noodles are made from buckwheat flour, and Rice noodles are made from, you guessed it…Rice! All can be served in a broth or coated with meat, fish or vegetables or even dipped in sauce. For those with gluten allergies Soba noodles are gluten-free, as are rice noodles, giving you two options for dinner.

Etiquette – It’s worth noting that the Japanese consider it rude to leave food on your plate, whether at home or at a restaurant. It’s related to one of the fundamental concepts in Japanese culture, mottainai, which is a feeling of regret at having wasted something, so make sure to clear your plate at mealtimes.