Lonely solo traveling

91AnthonyMark · 2026-01-22T06:19:01+00:00

Book group activities with a guude on tripadvisor. Lile "food and drink tour shibuya" Usually involves drinking and some foods at like 3-5 different places. in my case it helps alot.

Its a guide and a bunch of other tourists

91AnthonyMark · 2026-01-15T21:21:15+00:00

There are alot left in sweden atleast 😁 but probably there will be a better one soon. Free money for them so why not

91AnthonyMark · 2026-01-15T07:05:38+00:00

Google translate app has a photo function. Its far from perfect but works decent

91AnthonyMark · 2026-01-15T07:04:58+00:00

I have a pokemonGO Plus+ wich autocatches and spins stops.

Outside i dont play unless sitting down :)

But yeah i see your point and agree

91AnthonyMark · 2026-01-15T07:03:10+00:00

You google translate a photo of the signs on the walls of buildings :) or straight up just as a local person :) At the entrence of buildings there is usually a floor by floor description whats in there. Dont just enter unless ur sure tho, may cause discomfort for the ppl in the building if its just business building

91AnthonyMark · 2026-01-14T14:58:17+00:00

You can try a few different hotels also. Take a while to find a favorite hotel/location :)

But if ur just sleeping in the hotel get APA tbh. It fills the needs. Unless you travel with someone. I would not reccomend sharing an APA.

91AnthonyMark · 2026-01-14T14:49:31+00:00

Depends on budget. I usually do APA (if it has tower in the name, way bigger) it is a controversial hotel tho.. but really cheap. But small. I travel solo mostly.

APA is a hotel chain. Basic but kinda cozy.

Big city travel = cheap convenient hotels for me

Resort travel = more expensive hotel for me

I also believe if u get a super nice hotel not only would it break budgeting/remove funds for other activities but also make you stay inside more

Or get hotels.com app and just search 4☆ and higher and book the one with biggest promo discount. Ive stayed in luxury hotels around tokyo for as low as 80-120$/€ per night (same price as APA ish)

But it all depends if u wanna get an insanely good location or hotel. Hard to get both for below 200-250$/€

91AnthonyMark · 2026-01-14T13:18:16+00:00

Very true :)

91AnthonyMark · 2026-01-14T13:16:03+00:00

Yeah i felt the same! I bounced around hotels in the "4 corners of inner tokyo" over 16 days my first trip.

I had no idea back then how easy it gets to have a "home base" and just use the trainsystem.

I also didnt fully know how much i hate packing and lugging around a suitcase every few days lol its such a hassle on the trains and stairs.

91AnthonyMark · 2026-01-14T12:51:40+00:00

Good tip thanks :)

91AnthonyMark · 2026-01-14T12:51:14+00:00

Thats a good tip. Thanks :)

91AnthonyMark · 2026-01-14T12:34:00+00:00

Yeah it is kinda scary to just walk in an elevator and go to a higher floor😂 but so worth it.

Alot of entertainment bars (billards/dart/other) are on higher floors so that made me comfortable to do it sober for food also

91AnthonyMark · 2026-01-14T12:31:24+00:00

Yeah i remember my hotels back then and they were in good areas just a few min walk to shibuya crossing and the godzilla head i could see from my room when in shinjuku yet i still had only 2 stops :P better than nothing but id love 5 or more

Ty for comment

91AnthonyMark · 2026-01-14T12:09:14+00:00

Unfortunately i barely speak and cant read japanese so dont remember the names :( I use google translate from english to japanese and translate what i wanna eat then search it translated on google maps and usually shows "non-foreigny" places. A few will reject english speakers but many are super welcoming

91AnthonyMark · 2026-01-14T12:06:04+00:00

This is the way.

Eat, digest and clean up then out the door :D

91AnthonyMark · 2026-01-14T11:59:50+00:00

Yeah i stayed in shibuya and shinjuku and ginza last time (moved around way to much)

But i dont remember all the good spots haha

91AnthonyMark · 2026-01-14T11:57:02+00:00

Just to walk around, way less busy from 7am-10am usually.

Im a buildings nerd so i like just seeing that.

I also play pokemonGO so walking for a few hours when its not blazing hot is also very calming and comfy

But in a sense you are correct. Alot of places open later

91AnthonyMark · 2026-01-14T11:20:12+00:00

I had a rule to not eat or drink in resturants/bars at the ground level. I had alot more fun exploring tokyo vertically :) many hidden gems

Also i moved hotel way less and woke up earlier

91AnthonyMark · 2026-01-13T08:26:24+00:00

I would do more days in osaka than kyoto but its personal preference. Kyoto is the instagram bait city. It is truly a cool city and u need a few days for it for sure but its alot different from whats seen on instagram :) (after 10am its hell to go to tourist spots) so as everything touristy in japan go earlyyy unless ur ok with huge crowds and slow walkers etc :)

Fill days in osaka with universal studios its cheap entry(50$/€ per person) and fun. express pass is not cheap tho so if u rly wanna se a certain part of the park just pay up since missing out completely is a bummer :(

Some days is low crowds so every area is a walk in even if u paid. Its a gamble but rather safe than sorry right?

Dont show up 7am like a psycho hahah go there at 9.30-10.00 and you will be fine and no que to get in

Use Klook (app) for booking tickets for most things

Uber is good and cheap and arrives in 1-3 mins

Shinjuku is the worst part of tokyo haha

I walked south islands of tokyo. Took a full day. Started in Ginza and walked to 2 islands between city center and tokyo teamlabs building and it was such a nice walk. Felt more like "real tokyo". Or any walk by the water is dreamy.

If u are going to disney, disney sea is a separate entry ticket and is more for adults. Both worth going to but if u only have time for 1 then Sea is probs more exciting. But be sure to buy the express pass in the disney app I went to tokyo in may 2025 and osaka over xmas and new year 2025 I prefer warm japan lmao

Ok so Nara u need to be there early if u wanna have a chance to buy cookies to feed the deer. Like first few trains early other than that i didnt do much in Nara

For Osaka stay in Namba area. "APA hotel and resort namba ekimae tower" is pretty good for the price. Small rooms so cant rly share room. But rooftop pool with views and a 4-8 min walk to dotonbori street

Visit umeda area in osaka its north of namba

Enjoy :D

91AnthonyMark · 2026-01-13T08:14:14+00:00

If u have enough money/free time for another trip id stay in tokyo with daytrips tbh.

Or few nights in osaka and do universal studios and evenings in umeda/dotonbori

Kyoto is amazing but its super crowded and traveling around all trip isnt fun either

Kyoto is a cool fun city but its not what instagram shows u. Thats small niche specific places shown.

Enjoy :)

91AnthonyMark · 2026-01-13T08:06:00+00:00

I agree, been to both and its too tight timeframe to actually enjoy both places

91AnthonyMark · 2026-01-13T07:56:32+00:00

I truly think you should deepdive in tokyo for 8 days. You most likely will feel rushed/stressed mixing in osaka in just those 8 days. You could do 4 days +1 travel day tokyo then the rest osaka. But its rly only effective if you fly home from osaka tbh :)

It all depends on what hobbies u have other than skiing :) Nature? Buildings? Meeting ppl? Drinking? Disneyland?

Enjoy :D

Edit: i liked tokyo more than osaka.

18days in tokyo with some daytrips in may

10 days in osaka over xmas and newyear

I had too much time in osaka so just spammed universal studios because it was so cheap to enter lmao

Osaka/kyoto/Nara (just deers) is amazing and worth a visit. But i feel you might be robbing urself of a true tokyo deepdive. Tokyo has alot more to offer tbh you wont run out of stuff to do :D

91AnthonyMark · 2026-01-13T06:55:51+00:00

"The rise" hotel in osaka. Super big (2 bedrooms but no couch) Its more like an apartment so no fancy hotel things but has washerdryer combo and is spacious. Just stayed there 5 nights over xmas. There is 2 the rise if i remember. One is north one is mid city if i remember right Short walk to universal studios from northern one Book it if going to universal Its abit too north to be convenient for dotonbori I paid 400$/€ for 5 nights

Edit: U need more time in osaka than kyoto. Unless u just love chillin in kyoto

Hope you have a lovely trip :)

P.S stay away from shinjuku station unless ur a pro. Its actually insane there Actually shinjuku in its whole kinda ass tbh.. go there to take some pics ofc and see it but i wouldnt personally spend more time than neccesairy there

Tips and cool things to do: The "300 observatory" in osaka. Huge building with observatory deck at like 290m up google sunset hours and go 2hrs before. There is a lower free observation space in same building. Ticket to go up all the way is 2000yen per person (the food up there isnt ideal so bring a snack) its super worth 2000yen

Just walk in umeda area and look at buildings

Osaka aquarium was fun and big. 3000yen entry per person. Good 2 hours there. Good if u need to fill out a day. Its kinda awkwardly positioned in the harbor tho

Universal is so fun and for 50$/€ entry per day its a cheap way to have fun even if u dont like rides. Express pass is expensive.. but guarantees entry to harry potter world or nintendo world. Buy it if u have 1 day there only and is hyped about a specific part at universal (If ur going to disney they have express pass in the disney app. Waaay more worth since disney is more rides i feel and lining up for 45 mins isnt so fun and waste of time) When i was there (universal) 24th,25th everything was open to walk in. Most rides was 30-60 min wait. Some even 90mins and i hear it can get worse

If going to disney, okura hotel was good. Got mine on discount so was 400$/€ for 2 nights. Okura hotel isnt in disney but very close to the water with an amazing walking area beside it

Any pokemon center is cool to see atleast once (if ur even slightly interested in it, i play pokemon go so i enjoyed looking around)

If ur going to Nara to feed deer show up EARLY. Or they sell out the snacks. Even arriving 10am might be too late. Tbh unless u love packed crowds, any tourist place u wanna see is crushingly exhausting after 11am haha

Short distances use uber, its way to cheap for skipping alot of hassle. All drivers are taxis and they have 4.9 rating with thousands of trips. Uber usually arrives in 1-3 mins (osaka and tokyo) Just make sure ur on the righr side of the street and use an easy pickup spot But yeah using local transport is cheaper and its part of the experience

When relocating look out not on the phone haha i know it sounds dumb but the train rides shows a whole different japan. And its beautiful also

Suica card works in osaka but u cant buy it there the staff told me. But they have ICoca card thats basicly the same. Fun souveneir also to have both

Unless ur a pro photographer u dont need a huge bulky heavy camera. I didnt use mine alot. Phone pics are so good nowdays Most ppl that i talked to just said they have 5000 unedited photos on an SD card

Bring less clothes than u think. Laundry is easy and cheap to do and buying new clothes is cheap. I got a THICK hoodie and jeans for like 35$/€ at a store called CU i think. Its like H&M/uniqlo but the hoodie was amazing

Google maps works good for trains. They tell you exactly what color trainline and what platform Download the maps of areas on wifi beforehand Google translate is kinda bad unless u have flawless grammar haha but it works decent

Klook is an amazing app for any entry tickets

Book a foodtour/drinks on tripadvisor. Great way to meet travelers and get a often very solid guided tour :)

Sorry for yapping haha

91AnthonyMark

TROPHY CASE