Is Tokyo Safe for Solo Female Travelers?

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.

Solo travel

Despite Japan being known as a safe country, I travelled alone at a very young age and I was not sure if it was still as safe as a woman. Because I missed the last train/bus to Tokyo, I slept at the airport for one night but it was very safe as others were sleeping there too. Although the chair felt a bit uncomfortable. To avoid that, I recommend figuring out how to get to the central city beforehand and exchange some money and figure out if you want to get a sim card. Make a list of these thinggs as soon as you land to avoid complications and smooth travel. Also check if your card works in the international ATMs or call your bank

Solo travel

Nice city, safe and clean, many toilets and great experience in capsule hotel. The subways are easy to use and not so expensive with the 3 days pass (only for foreigners). The Shybuya crossing street wath nice to see.

Family travel

Went with my family to Tokyo while I was a teenager. The people were eager to help despite the language barrier. Felt pretty safe but cannot speak for solo women. The city was lovely and I would love to visit again.

Family travel

I had a wonderful trip to Tokyo with my family. The city is incredibly safe and fun. Our day started with a delicious curry in Hiroo, followed by a visit to the new museum in Azabudai. We then enjoyed a delightful dinner in Harajuku before heading home.

Solo travel

Traveling to the other side of the country doesn't seem to be a common or daily activity most people do frequently, so feeling overwhelmed about the cultural shock, secure information, activities, safety and other aspects related to trips is understandable. Add up the fact of solo traveling to a country where your native language is not spoken at all. How scary! Isn't it? No worries...I gotcha. A few years ago I did my first solo trip from South America to Japan. I didn't know what to expect and how things were going there; open to surprises but lucky at the same time. For solo trips be sure to have an internet connection, it's gonna become your BBF during those times. In Tokyo, I got a little device which provides WiFi connection to your mobile, but there may be other options for internet connection. Tokyo is an expensive city but you can save some money by getting food from convenience stores like 7/11 and so. I got food for my breakfast and dinner, so I could afford to pay lunch when exploring the city. In comparison with other hostels, japanese hostels are amazing 10/10. Safety is the hit! You will never feel unsafe and your things will be secure. Culture impacts so well that when coming back to Latin America, I got my "mind chip" changed to be ok on going around with being careful for my safe as in Tokyo you will feel extremely secure. Biking is a to-do thing for your activities there. Renting is easy as you just show your passport in the rent offices, and pay the fee for day or more time if available. Very affordable. Exploring the city on bike during the day and at night is unbelievable. Finally, explore as many things you can from the culture. Touristic places are available everywhere and you may need to prioritize where to go.

Solo travel

If there’s one thing women who travel to tokyo should know is the culture of men approaching women near stations and busy streets. They will come up to you and ask you to sleep with them, and I know this can be very flustering when this happens, I really recommend to just grumble something in a different language and to keep walking. Other than that I felt pretty safe overall, I stayed in toshima. It was uncomfortable to see in real time how many underage girls were promoting their maid cafe’s and seeing middle aged men stop to talk to them.

Solo travel

Tokyo was a city where I felt entirely safe as a female traveller. Everywhere you go there is a wide variety of activities to partake in and foods to eat- it is very hard to find a bad restaurant!

Couple travel

I felt very safe, there was plenty to do, cheap food everywhere (also options to splurge). Lots of fun shopping opportunities (Definitely check out Mega Don Quijote in either Shibuya or Shinjuku). Huge, tranquil parks in the middle of the city.

Couple travel

Felt very safe the food was amazing! People were very polite and it was easy to get around the city with the public transportation. Would recommend learning some basic japanese phrases before going! 10/10

In general, Japan is quite safe for single female travelers. It’s fine to walk alone at night, it’s safe to go places alone, and most of the time you won’t be bothered by anyone. However, as everyone knows, Tokyo is notorious for sexual harassment and groping on the commuter trains - chikan, as they are called. If you ride the trains between 7am-9am, or 5pm to 7pm, keep your wits about you and try to stand near other women. Shouting at them is effective, as they do not want to be caught and they are intimidated by assertive women, so have your resting bitch face on. Also watch out in public restrooms in parks, particularly at night, as there are peepers. I have also experienced peeping at the beach (taking photos) and groping/sexual comments in crowded areas where there are a lot of people out drinking: Shibuya, Shinjuku, Roppongi. I would not recommend staying anywhere around Kabukicho in Shinjuku - for some reason they are touting it as a good place to stay, as it is very central and the area has been rebuild with some nice hotels and restaurants. However, it is still a crime center (pick pockets, drugs, yakuza bars, sex clubs) and I know women who have been attacked there or followed. Personally I avoid it at night unless I’m with a group of people. It’s better to stay in Asakusa, Ginza, or other central business area. Anywhere in the outskirts will also be fine, and generally it’s fine to walk from the station to your hotel at night. But as in any place you would go, stay alert.

Probably one of the safest places in the world to be a girl and alone. I never fear walking alone at night. I think sexual harassment can happen at clubs or bars but that’s normal probably in most places.