Should I? Solo, male, 52yo, deliberating
 

Hi all, it is still on my wish list, visiting Japan, getting an impression of this - out of this world - world so to say. Have done some reading about it and of course some TR's. But I need some help in decision making and hope to find it at this forum.

I'm from The Netherlands and quite an experienced traveller, mainly Europe, but also bits of Asia and the USA. Usually with the rest of the family, Japan will be a solo thing, rest of the family isn't that enthusiastic. Which I find disappointing but on the other hand also way more budget friendly.
The thing is that I would skip most of the 'must see' destinations (crowded, doesn't live up to expectations) and I question myself: should I go? And if so, what to do? I just found out that for me my maybe highlight - hiking Japanese Alps - the season has (almost) ended (just checked a webcam: snow and misty). Another highlight which sounds attractive to me is discovering Kyoto on a bike.
My itinerary for now is just Tokyo - Kyoto - Nara - Tokyo. In 12-14 days and with a daily highlight being having sushi in a family run place. I forgot to mention that I als look forward to get a little-more-than-beginner-but-not-quite-advanced sushi making course. I also would travel light, just cabin luggage and a daypack buying clothing at Uniglo. First choice of accommodation would be AirBnB (and get in contact with host) but also one or two stays in a ryokan.
I find myself deliberating whether this all would justify me to visit Japan. To make it even worse, very much to my wife's surprise I wasn't that impressed by NY as a city, except for the 9/11 Memorial which made a deep impression. So, there you have it. Not a standard request, I do hope to get some thoughts and maybe some tips on where to go/where to stay which I haven't thought about yet. I'm not bound by a schedule, I would like to be off and back in November - December.

If you want somewhere more rural in Japan, have you considered Shikoku?

Finding a ryokan that will take a solo foreign traveler is very difficult. Business class hotels e.g. Toyoko Inn, Dormy Inn - are very cost effective for solo travelers.

I (solo female traveler, late 60s) am currently in Japan. The crowds at the main sites in Kyoto were bad, but there are plenty of places not designated by UNESCO or on the top ten lists that are well worth seeing and much quieter.

Yes, for a solo traveller, it will be more like "business hotels" that will be easy and useful for you.

NB, Not business "class" hotels, just so that you don't get a wrong idea that those are expensive hotels.

No one but you can answer whether or not your itinerary will be "worth it". I think your basic itinerary looks reasonable for a 12-14 day trip as you are not trying to cram too many locations into too short of a time. I am also a male, solo traveler and I have had success staying in ryokan. Yes, some will not accept solo travelers (I still have not received an answer as to why that makes sense) but some will. You may have to pay a single supplement though but it is a very cool Japanese experience.

I can understand wanting to avoid crowds but why would you skip the major destinations for fear of "not living up to expectations"? It seems like a very "glass 1/2 empty" outlook. That outlook, more than anything else, would make me question whether much of anything will live up to your expectations, whether it is Japan, NYC or anywhere else.

Okay, just checked Shikoku. From it's official website it looks more like 'me', thx for the suggestion! I'll spent some time looking into travelling there (after also checking upon the four prefectures/places to stay) and whether I could/should use JR Rail pass/JR West pass. But definitely a nice option.

For sure I'm the only one who can answer whether a trip to Japan is worth it or not (for me). I have no doubt that it will due to the fact that it's way of life is so different from mine. And because I 'cannot escape' but will be continuously submerged in it, is enough. It is just that I'm asking myself (and other travellers via this forum) what to do to kind of participate in it in stead of being a spectator. On the other hand - despite looking Asian (some mistake me for being from Japan actually) - I'm fully aware that I'm a tourist abroad.

I didn't know about ryokans not accepting solo travellers. Staying at one would of course be very nice but if not, it's no big deal. I'll also have trust and faith in the unforeseen.

In the mean time, suggestions are still welcomed.

I'm a woman who is fully committed to solo travel -- I far prefer it, as it is utterly self indulgent. ;-) Here's a thread that includes reports from many of us.
http://www.fodors.com/community/trav...collection.cfm

I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Japan and agree that the basic itinerary you initially suggested would make sense for your time frame. I can't speak to Shikoku.

According to japaneseguesthouses.com, "Ryokans are reluctant to accept single travelers for the simple reason that they charge on a per person basis, not on a per room basis."

When you mentioned hiking I immediately thought of Kyushu, particularly Kirishima (where I've visited but not hiked).
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2427.html

ryokan charge based on the number of guests in the room and the number of guests having meals. So, they might not allow solo travelers and might not have a room-only option if they think they can fill the rooms with hungry couples. Buying, cooking, and serving meals or cleaning the room takes about the same effort for two guests as it does for one. I think I'd rather have 3 couples and 3 empty rooms in my 6-room ryokan instead of 6 solos.

I'm always so pleasantly surprised with the helpful reactions. Thank u! I will have a look into the links.

For now I think I have enough info to take into consideration upon deciding. And otherwise I'll ask in a new topic because I expect my questions then would be much more specific. One question still up though; Does anybody has experience with a course making sushi? Outside Tokyo?

In Japan, most sights have been discovered, if not by overseas visitors, certainly by Japanese ones. But of course, there are sights and destinations that are less crowded than the big places such as Tokyo and Kyoto.

Speaking personally (and I'm not a big NYC person either, other than the food I find it pretty boring), I have never been underawed by a sight in Japan and have found it worth braving the crowds on most occasions.

But we have also loved being able to get out into rural areas, and experience a different side of Japan.

On our latest trip, we spent a single night in a traditional wooden house with bamboo thatched roof in an area known as Miyama, a little north of Kyoto. I wish we'd spent 2 or even 3 nights here. The big house we stayed in could easily sleep 10, and may be a bit too pricy for a solo traveller, though for the two of us we felt the splurge was worth it. However the same association also offers a smaller house in the area, a modern build but still with traditional aspects. The reason I'm suggesting them is that they offer walks, local bike tours, cookery lessons, and we did a bamboo craft lesson. All are payable on top of the house charge, obviously, but worth enquiring about. Here's my report, note that response times are super slow so you may need to have a good lead time to get things organised here. http://www.kaveyeats.com/2016/08/miy...ral-japan.html

If you are open to driving, we loved that as an alternate to the wonderful trains, with the bonus that we could get a closer view of the small rural villages that make up much of Japan. We drove for a week in Kyushu in 2013, and for another week+ of this latest trip in April 2016.

I have heard that many ryokans don't accept single guests, but some do, so it may be worth persevering to have that experience once. http://www.kaveyeats.com/2012/11/sta...se-ryokan.html

But also worth looking into minshuku, more of a guest house or pension (in European terms) experience. I've not done that, but have friends who have loved it.

I second the suggestion for Dormy Inn on the more budget-oriented western hotels. There are lots of different chains in this category. I'll check some of the others we have used.

Also, you could do a night in a Capsule hotel if it appeals, super Japanese. There are regular ones plus lately, a few high end ones, still less than regular hotels but more space and amenities than the usual.