Is Japan Safe for Solo Female Travelers?

Japan is generally very safe for solo female travelers. The crime rate is relatively low and the locals are respectful and helpful. Safety measures are readily available in public transportation and accommodations. However, always remain vigilant especially in crowded areas. The culture respects personal space which further enhances your feeling of safety.

Safety rating

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How safe is Japan?

Safety at night:

Safety at night:Very safe

Japan, as a whole, is considered to be extremely safe at night. It is not uncommon to see people, including women, walking alone late at night. Street crime rate is relatively low and most areas are well-lit and populated even in the evening hours. Public transport is reliable and operates late into the night. However, being vigilant and aware of your surroundings is always a good idea. Exercise the same caution as you would in any other urban areas worldwide.
Public transportation:

Public transportation:Very safe

Public transportation in Japan is considered very safe. It is largely reliable, punctual, and security is well maintained. Nighttime services are also safe. Travelers need to respect etiquette and manners on public transportation, and while instances of harassment might occur, they are not common. Instances of theft or crime are very rare. Security cameras and staff are also present. The culture in Japan places a high emphasis on public safety and rule-following, making the public transportation system a safe option for travel.
Street harassment:

Street harassment:Very low

Japan, overall, is known for its safety and hospitality. Reports of street harassment, especially for foreign women traveling alone, are relatively low. Japanese culture emphasizes respect for personal space and public decorum, and this often translates into a comfortable and non-threatening environment for solo travellers. Of course, like in any country, exceptions do occur. Nonetheless, Japan stands out as one of the international destinations where street harassment seldom becomes a pressing issue for solo female travelers.
Petty crimes:

Petty crimes:Very low

Japan is renowned for its order and safety. Instances of minor crimes, such as theft or pickpocketing, are incredibly rare, especially in heavily populated areas and tourist hotspots. The local population is very respectful of personal property, and lost items are frequently returned. However, it's always important to stay aware and take general common-sense precautions. The main concern can be scams, where individuals may try to trick or overcharge tourists, especially in nightlife areas.

Is Japan worth visiting?

Overall rating

4.8 /5

based on 105 experiences from female travelers

Things to do

4.8/5

Safety

4.8/5

Food

4.6/5

Budget-friendly

3.4/5

Japan, Solo travel

I walked to every hour in this country and felt everytime safe there. But i need to say, i never was at party places. In Japan you can travel very cheap but very expensive too. The Transportation is very easy to understand. Most of the time everything is written in english, japanese and chinese. Use Apps like google maps and google lense. for me thr most expensive thing in this country is the transportation. My favorite thing in this country is to collecting stamps. Trains, Attractions and Goshuinchos. Also collecting Manhole cards.

Posted: January 20, 2025Experienced: March, 2024
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Elise

Elise

France

Tokyo, Solo travel

Tokyo is a very big city and the experience was amazing. There are many activities to do like miniature museums, parks, restaurants, I was in a host family during all the stay and that was super great I can upgrade my Japanese level.

Posted: January 19, 2025Experienced: June, 2024
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Japan, Solo travel

A must see location for anyone who loves to travel! The food options were excellent- also easily found vegan, vegetarian, and any western food. Activities, events, and experiences are unlimited! Even just wandering around Tokyo or Kyoto with no plans ends up making amazing memories. Fair warning, it is easy to get around only knowing English, but not many people (even younger generations, in highly populated cities) speak much English.. Doesn’t cause any issues if you just keep a language app handy & learn a few basic terms/phrases. 😊

Posted: January 19, 2025
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Gesche

Gesche

Germany

Japan, Family travel

While I really enjoyed the two weeks I spend in Japan with my brother, the difference I felt between us exploring the country together versus me alone was huge. We visited Osaka, Kyoto, Hiroshima, Nagoya, Tokyo and Fukushima. When I was alone, not only was I being treated very differently by (male) workers, I also had a couple of instances of being harassed, photographed and followed. I never feared for my safety as in getting robbed or our apartment being broken in. But when ever I was alone, I was always worried about the safety of me as a women.

Posted: December 25, 2024
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Tokyo, Solo travel

Japan was very nice nothing happened I feel comfortable here I went to a restaurant and they are very nice The landscape is wonderful I like being there everyone is very nice there is also free wifi

Posted: December 2, 2024Experienced: August, 2024
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Tokyo, Solo travel

felt completely safe everywhere and never at risk of even pickpocketing. one of the best places to be a solo female traveler in. if you have internet you wont need any help to get by but even if you do the locals are wonderful and will try to help you despite the language barrier

Posted: November 30, 2024Experienced: October, 2024
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Japan, Solo travel

Felt very safe as a solo traveller even at night Decent vegetarian food options Cheap and good hostel stays Very easy to use and accessible public transport at most places Spent around 2000$ including flights, stay, travel, food, attractions, shopping etc for 8 days

Posted: November 10, 2024
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Mavis

Mavis

United States

Tokyo, Solo travel

1.Safety: I stayed in Tokyo metropolitan area for most of the time so I feel completely safe 2. Travel: I bought a Suica and saved it on my apple wallet for the subway which works fine, but dir a US resident, pls be aware that they only take Amex card, chase cards was not accepted, not sure why… as for the maps and stops, as a Chinese, I struggled reading the map in either Chinese/Japanese character or English bc I felt like either way only helped me a little lol. Maybe bc my short term memory is bad. 3. Food: I hate to go to those internet famous restaurants so I found a few local ones with good reviews. But I know they are not really local local bc I’m in Tokyo. But the idea is, don’t waste your time waiting in lines for those famous ones. 4. Interesting places: I went to a lot of shrines bc I want to collect the stamps, if you like to take pics, those are good places with less ppl. Overall, Tokyo is a great place to solo female to travel, but pls avoid Aug bc it’s waaayyyy to hot

Posted: October 25, 2024
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Okayama, Solo travel

Okayama is a beautiful prefecture in Japan that has many hidden gems including a Katana making museum. It’s super easy to take a ferry from Himase to Shodoshima island. Okayama is famous for its fresh oysters and many more local cuisines. It’s a must visit for a traditional Japanese experience.

Posted: October 14, 2024
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Osaka, Solo travel

I felt pretty safe, even though I wouldn't recommend walking in the streets at night. There's a lot of people, so you never know who'll be there, right? But Osaka stole my heart. It was such a nice experience, I love this city.

Posted: October 12, 2024Experienced: August, 2024
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Is Japan safe for women?

Safety index

4.9 /5

Based on 43 local experiences

Crime index

1.2 /5

Based on 43 local experiences

Tokyo

i have lived year for 7 years and my brain is OFF is this city. of course, the city is really large ymmv in certain areas, but in the past i have gone for walks at 3am with my headphones in, if that says anything about safety in the city. If you leave your wallet somewhere, it’ll find its way back to you. The safest city i have ever been in.

Posted: January 16, 2025
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Lera

Lera

Kyoto

I would say its pretty safe and often come home late and never had any unsafe situations. In general I would say that about Japan. I had a little situation in a train during rush hour but I still think it’s safer than most places

Posted: January 16, 2025
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Safety in Japan