A Calm, Budget Way to Experience Tokyo Alone
Hey! 💖
Some links here are affiliate links. If you buy through them, I might earn a tiny commission—at no extra cost to you. I only share stuff I genuinely love, pinky promise! 🤞
I chose to travel solo to Tokyo with one goal in mind: to experience the city calmly and affordably, without crowds or hype and to do Tokyo on a budget without feeling cheap.
Most of my friends are always a bit shocked when I travel solo—especially when it’s a new location or somewhere out of the country. While I lean towards introversion, I do love to get out of my comfort zone as often as possible. Tokyo felt intimidating and somehow still exciting and doable. After all, so many thousands of Americans travel there every month.
I made the decision early on to save as much money as I could and try to avoid hyped-up spots, tourist traps, and anything super crowded (aside from Disneyland) or designed purely to inflate expenses.
Using Jet Lag to Experience Quiet Tokyo
Worried about jet lag? Don’t be.
When you’re traveling alone, you make your own schedule. The reality of jet lag for me in Asia means super early mornings. Because of this, my rule is simple—if I’m lying awake for more than an hour, I get moving.
Because of this, I was able to visit parks and temples early in the morning before the rest of Tokyo was awake. Meiji Jingu is often on everyone’s checklist, and I got to see it with fewer than a dozen other people. It was easy to take photos without other tourists in sight. Most days it felt like even the wildlife hadn’t quite woken up yet. It was one of the coolest experiences in Tokyo for first-time travelers.
(I will admit—I’ve technically been to Tokyo before, but I was a toddler or never left the airport. It didn’t count.)
Who This Tokyo Series Is For
This series is best for:
- First-time solo travelers
- Budget-conscious travelers
- Introverts
- Anyone hoping for a quieter experience (no nightlife)
While there are certainly ways to enjoy Tokyo if you’re into luxury accommodations, partying until dawn, and trying to check everything off your list, that’s not what this series is designed to help you accomplish. It’s here to show you that doing Tokyo on a budget isn’t difficult and doesn’t require that much planning, just a little restraint.
Why It’s Easy to Do Tokyo on a Budget
Budget travel is a phenomenal way to experience Tokyo solo. It naturally cuts out many of the activities and dining experiences you would rather enjoy with others, helping you narrow down your trip.
It also allows you to experience Tokyo a bit more off the beaten path, since you’ll likely concentrate your meals in local areas instead of tourist traps. If you’re eating with locals, you’re usually getting a more authentic experience.
What This Series Will Help You Do
This series will help you plan a calmer, more intentional visit. I’ll share what I ate, where I stayed, how I got around, and what I saw.
I read a lot of travel forums and Reddit threads before my trip. Many travelers were worried about visiting alone, the language barrier, and the cost. While everyone’s experience is different, if these are concerns you share, this guide is for you—especially if you’re looking for easy ways to solo travel in Tokyo.
See all my Tokyo posts here!
