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 102 experiences from female travelers

Things to do

4.8/5

Safety

4.8/5

Food

4.6/5

Budget-friendly

3.4/5
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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Japan, Couple travel

Japan is a nice place to visit. We enjoy the city when we stay there. The food is delicious and the people are friendly. It’s safe to travel there. We stay there for one week. We went the the playground and the team lab.

Posted: September 6, 2024
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Meghan

Meghan

United States

Osaka Prefecture, Solo travel

Osaka was really fun! Great city with great food! I was able to meet friends in the app called meet up and do sports. There is lots to do such as shopping, eating, universal studios. The people are also really nice. I felt very safe as a female.

Posted: September 1, 2024
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Jenny

Jenny

Taiwan

Tokyo, Solo travel

Tokyo is a place very safe, good food and all experience is very nice and elegant. The whole Japan is good. Very good for people to travel alone. It’s a little expensive, but you still can find nice and cheap food.

Posted: September 1, 2024
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Is Japan safe for women?

Safety index

4.9 /5

Based on 41 local experiences

Crime index

1.2 /5

Based on 41 local experiences

Tokyo

Tokyo is one of the safer cities to go to for sure, there are some sketchy areas which you should avoid alone after dark but in general it's quite safe and you can head back home alone late at night without being concerned

Posted: January 12, 2025
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Sapporo

In no other city I’ve lived in have I felt so safe I took long night walks alone without a single worry. I have never been harassed or felt in greater danger. The only thing is, in the evening hours when the public transport is packed with people, that there could be potential for sexual harassment, but it never happened to me and during the very busy hours there special trains only for only women and elderly, so you can feel safe

Posted: January 9, 2025
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Safety in Japan