Hi everyone....
I have the opportunity to go to Japan for work at the beginning of November. I'm very excited as this is my first trip there - first trip to Asia, really! But, I am a little nervous since I don't speak any Japanese. I will be in Tokyo for work - arriving on Sunday and then working until at least Thursday. Our intention right now is to return Friday. However, I am considering staying through the weekend and coming back Monday, with the intention of going to Kyoto. My question is... how easy/safe is it for a single woman who speaks no Japanese to travel around the country? I am very comfortable traveling in Europe and Latin America by myself, but am a little apprehensive about this for some reason. Thanks for your input.

Definitely stay for a few extra days!

On my first trip to Japan - Tokyo - I knew two words in Japanese - thank you, arigatou and excuse me, sumimasen. Those were enough ;-)

As a woman traveling alone, Japan is very safe. Also, if you are going to be in Tokyo and Kyoto there is English signage.

Most restaurants have plastic food so you can point to what you want, or there are pictures on the menu.

Of the four cities we visited in Japan, Kyoto was our favorite.

You'll have no problem at all. The signs in subway and train stations are in both English and Japanese, and there are other types of signage in English in both Tokyo and Kyoto. Plus a lot of Japanese and native English speakers and other tourists who will help you if you get in a bind. Stop by the Tourist Info Center desk at Kyoto station and get maps, ask them questions, and you'll be on your way.

I would not pass up the opportunity for three extra days in Japan, esp. if someone else was paying to get me there and back!

I would make reservations NOW for a hotel in Kyoto for early Nov. Since the trip is so soon and you have only a short period to plan and have never been there and have to work the first part of the week, my advice would be to get a hotel where they speak English (and it would be great if there is a concierge, if you afford that type of hotel) and can help you out w/your questions and plans for the Kyoto time.

If you need any other help planning, ask away.

p.s. Can Mara and I come? We'll work for free...

Sounds good to me, emd!

Also if you are going from Tokyo to Kyoto and back a Japan Rail pass may work for you...

You definitely need to get your room asap....

Please try to stay over the weekend. We were in Tokyo last Dec. and have tickets to fly there the week of Thanksgiving. Japan is a wonderful place and please take the extra few days to see more of it. You will not regret it. I think the maple leaves will be in full color while you are there. Try to go to a garden and just enjoy!

It's easy. It's safer than Europe or Latin America.

Fall colors would be north of Tokyo, I believe. Maybe at elevation, too.

Thanks to everyone for replying to my message! My work has finalized then dates and based on your encouragement and the encouragement of two friends here at home who both travelled to Japan alone, I'm taking the plunge!

So, tentative itinerary...

Arrive in Tokyo on 11/11
Tokyo 11/11 - 11/16 for work.
My coworkers like to have fun and have been there before, so I'm outsourcing this portion of the trip to them.
They're planning to leave on 11/17. I'm going to Kyoto!

Kyoto 11/17-11/20
I plan on taking the train from Tokyo to Kyoto. Based on what I've read here, it doesn't seem like the Japan express ticket would work for me. Let me know if that's not a good assumption.

I'm already trying to reserve a room at the Granvia hotel through AsiaRooms.com. This just seemed the most convenient for me, and it seems to have good reviews on this board. Plus, since work is paying for airfare and hotels in Tokyo, I'm ok with spending a little here. I'm waiting for them to confirm the reservation, so let me know of other potential rooms, just in case they are booked. (Everything seems to be booked in Kyoto!)

I plan to return to Tokyo on Monday night, since my flight is around 1 pm on Tuesday out of Norita. I'll probably try to book at the same hotel as I get through work, but we'll see what the cost for that is before making a final decision!

Please provide any other advice you have! I'm really excited about my first Asian trip! Thanks1

You're right, you won't benefit from the JR Pass if you are only going RT to Kyoto. And if you don't have the pass, you can use the faster Nozomi trains btwn Tokyo and Kyoto.

Granvia is supposedly very nice, and you'll be right at the train station so you'll have food and shopping right there, and you can catch a cab (they are MUCH CHEAPER in Kyoto than Tokyo, you can use cabs in Kyoto without sticker shock) or bus or subway right there. If for soem reason you can't stay there, we can advise on other hotels but I think that is a good choice for a 1st trip with just a weekend- you won't worry about getting to your hotel on Fri night or back to the station on Monday.

Am I understanding that you will leave Tokyo on Fri after work and go to Kyoto t stay Fri night, then have Sat and Sun and Mon. there until you have to leave to head back to Tokyo for Mon. night stay? That is a great amt. of time for a 1st trip to Kyoto. You won't be bored!

and btw, I am very envious. Work that takes you to Japan where you can tack on a few days. Some folks are very lucky.

By "Japan express ticket" I think you mean the JR Pass. If so, then you are correct, you wouldn't really need one just to go to Kyoto and back to Tokyo.

If you are planning to go to Nara AND use the Narita Express to get to the airport then a JR Pass might save you 3000 yen. But you can just buy the Tokyo-Kyoto return tickets and take a limo bus to the airport straight from your hotel.

Am assuming that your Tokyo transport costs before the 20th are covered as a business expense. I would skip the JR Pass and just get Nozomi shinkansen tickets.

Japan is very safe and honest. I once left a bag full of shopping in the toilets of a busy dept store in Tokyo & forgot about it for 10 mins. When I ran back no-one had even touched it and it was right where I left it. If you leave your wallet in a taxi or train, you will get it back (providing it is not picked up by a foreigner!).

I hope you have secured a room at the Granvia with Asiarooms as I checked a few sites - Nippon travel agency (where I booked my room), Rakuten & the hotel itself & they all showed full. It seems to be full from 16-28 Nov which is the best time to see the autumn colours. It also seems that most of the Kyoto hotels are fully booked - if you do a search on some of the websites - there is no availability. I only found 2 inns (probably not very nice given the cheap price) in Kyoto & no ryokans (I could be wrong but I don't think most medium-high end ryokans accept 1 person anyway - usually min 2 per room as the fewer the people, the more expensive it is as they have to have a minimum cost to cover). Maybe your best bet is to stay in Osaka and take the short trip(under 1 hour) to Kyoto? But I think even there some of the better hotels are not showing availability. I'm sure someone else in the forum will provide you with more info & suggestions.

EMD - There are times (like this one!) where I can't believe I actually have this job. They have been good to me, so I'm grateful!

I did mean the JR Pass - not easy to post from memory.

I'm not having any luck at all finding a hotel for Kyoto. Everything seems booked! I need to purchase my plane ticket in the next day or so, so I'd like to have something planned before I do that. Any suggestions?

yes, and the Granvia's own website shows no availability for your Nov. dates.

Let us know is asiarooms doesn't come up with something. Sounds like it could be rough staying in Kyoto those dates at this point.

I did hear back from Asiarooms. They Granvia is booked and they say they are not able to find something comparable. Would I be better off calling them directly and trying to do this over the phone? I have only been looking at hotels, but I'm willing to explore other options and would consider staying outside of Kyoto if the "commute" in was easy.

Can you change your flights so you depart from Kansai (KIX) or even Nagoya (NGO). Both of these have nonstops to SFO (on United) and other US cities. Saves the time and cost of getting back to Narita. If you have to use Narita and will have already explored Tokyo, consider staying in Narita city the night before your flight. It's an interesting temple town.

If Granvia's website is saying they are full, I doubt you'll get anywhere on the phone w/them. Hyatt, Okura, New Miyako, and Westin Miyako are all sold out Nov. 17-20 also. You'll need to start looking around pronto at other Kyoto options, and you might very well be too late for this popular autumn leaf weekend.


Commute from Osaka to Kyoto is easy, btwn 45 min to one hr for regular limited express train that runs very frequently, and there is also a "JR special rapid train" btwn the two cities that takes only 28 min but runs less frequently. Cost is 540 yen on either. If you have to go that route, it would be best to stay somewhere in walking distance to the train station in Osaka; others here can advise you on that. Be aware there are two train stations in Osaka, the shinkansen station and the regular other JR station. From looking at Hyperdia.com (the online train schedule), it looks like there are also JR Kyoto trains (40 min., also 540 yen) from Shin-osaka station to Kyoto also, but my guess is that they are run more frequently at the regular JR Osaka station.

Others who have stayed in Osaka for trips to Kyoto (Ihave not done so) will chime in to help you, I'm sure.

Good luck. Do not let this discourage you from going to Kyoto. This is just a minor nuisance that you can easily overcome- your trip will be great once you get your accomodations worked out.

My two daughters aged 23 and 19 travelled through Japan in August. The youngest spent 4 days in Kyoto alone and found it very safe. Having just returned from visiting our eldest daughter who remains in Japan , I would agree so have no concerns in that respect. BUT don't give up on staying in Kyoto. Look at Tour Club and its sister place Budget Inn. We stayed in the Budget Inn and the value and standard of accomodation were good. The feel is of a hostel but we had a room for two with our own bathroom and proper matresses not futons. One daughter stayed at the Tour Club and the other on a later visit in the Budget Inn also. They are very prompt at answering emails. see www.kyotojp.com

Flying back from Osaka was a great suggestion.

The JR Kyoto line from Osaka station goes via Shin Osaka station to Kyoto. Same trains.