Is Tokyo Safe for Solo Female Travellers in 2025?
Tokyo is a bucketlist destination for many, and yet you might wonder if it is the right place to visit for a solo, female traveller. Here is my experience, tips and overall recommendations for safety in Tokyo and Japan in general.
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Visiting Tokyo as a woman travelling alone
Is Tokyo safe to visit as a solo, female traveller?
Based on my experience (and that of fellow travellers I met), Tokyo is very safe to visit as a solo, female traveller. Japan in general is one of the countries I felt 100% safe in, something that has never happened on my travels before.
In Tokyo, I even walked around alone at night when I was heading back to my hostel after a night out with some fellow travel girls. Even then, I felt safe and not like I constantly had to watch my back like pretty much everywhere else.
That isn’t to say that you should forget all safety precautions while in Japan and Tokyo. You should always be careful, let someone know where you are, be vigilant and hide your valuables (check out my full guide on staying safe while solo travelling here).
The only negative experience I had in Tokyo was in a hostel that I booked last-minute during cherry blossom season. It was called TenTen Guesthouse and had only one keycard for the front door, with which you could then walk into ANY room. Felt super unsafe here and complained to Booking, who sadly did nothing to prevent this for other travellers. The hotel manager straight out told me he didn’t care, so avoid this one and research your hostel well!
Still, I would highly recommend Tokyo to solo, female travellers as an incredible and safe place to visit and one of my all-time favourites. Check out my accommodation guide for safe places to stay!
Understanding the Safety Climate in Japan
All travel advisories I have checked (US, UK, CA, AUS) have listed Japan as safe and to “exercise normal safety precautions”. That is basically the safest level you can get.
Crime rates are incredibly low in this country. You can for example easily leave your laptop at a table in a café while going to the toilet, something I have done many times. It will still be there when you get back, something that I couldn’t say about my hometown of London.
Something that you should watch out for in Japan is natural disasters as it is located in the ‘Ring of Fire’, which is a string of volcanoes and sites of seismic activity, or earthquakes, around the edges of the Pacific Ocean.
That means it is prone to earthquakes, tsunamis, extreme flooding and typhoons. It is important to note that Japanese infrastructure is built with this in mind and is hence able to withstand the vast majority.
We all remember the 2011 tsunami, since which Japan has spent billions on sea walls along the coastline. They have a strong detection and evacuation system, which means travellers don’t need to overly worried about this when heading to Japan.
Key Safety Considerations for Solo Female Travellers in Tokyo and Japan
Here are the things I would do to stay as safe as possible on your Japan trip:
- Research your accommodation well. Check reviews on several sites and especially from other female travellers. APA Hotels for example have had some concerning experiences from other female travellers. Areas are super important to, I have written a full guide about that here.
- While walking around at night is safe, stick to well-lit and busy areas when possible.
- Get a Japanese E-SIM so you are connected in an emergency – I used this one from Airalo.
- Google Maps is a very reliable way to get around and I used it everywhere during my Japan trip. It will even guide you through the massive train stations of Tokyo, which are so easy to get lost in.
- If you are going out at night, watch your drinks and avoid host/hostess bars and the areas they are in to avoid any possible harassment.
- As always, it is better to lie to strangers than tell them anything about you. Lie about your hotel location, say you are meeting someone and so on! Obviously this doesn’t quite apply to other travellers you meet in hostels etc.
- Keep a copy of your passport and important documents like travel insurance in 2-3 places.
- Have good travel insurance! I love True Traveller and have used them for years (this is an affiliate link but I only recommend stuff I 100% believe in and they have been with me through several medical emergencies).
- Be respectful to Japanese customs and traditions. E.g. take your shoes off when asked, do a slight bow to thank someone, follow queuing systems (!!) and be polite!
Where to stay in Tokyo as a solo, female traveller?
Tokyo has an amazing public transportation network, however, it stops between around midnight and 5am. That means if you are out enjoying the nightlife or a late dinner, you should be really careful with timing or pick a close neighbourhood. Taxis are available all night but on the pricy side.
I’d say for anyone wanting to try the nightlife, definitely stay near Shinjuku. Otherwise, good areas are Shibuya, Asakusa, Ginza and Tokyo Station.
Check out my full accommodation guide here: Where to Stay in Tokyo, Japan
FAQ about Solo, Female Travel:
How do I deal with loneliness while traveling alone?
When I first started solo travelling, meeting people felt super difficult. Even in hostels, everyone already seemed to be in their little groups and I was struggling. I remember being on week 3 of my Australian East Coast trip and calling my mum sobbing because I felt so lonely.
The more I solo travel, the more I have learned about loneliness and making friends. First of all, I am much more comfortable being with myself now. If I don’t find anyone to hang out with, that is okay. FOMO is sometimes still there, but I always remind myself that I am doing my best.
I usually do meet other people though. A good way is booking hostels with activities as it is SO easy to meet others during say a trivia night or a city tour. Another great way is choosing a female dorm – I often find myself bonding quicker with the girls in there. I also use Bumble BFF. That may sound awkward but I have met some of my now closest friends on there and it has been so great while travelling, especially if I am longer in one place. Finally, Facebook Groups – there are hundreds of travel groups out there and so many other solo travellers just waiting to meet you!
Sometimes though, loneliness prevails. Over the years I have learned that when the feeling refuses to leave, it is my time to go home. It’s a sign from my body that I need a break from travelling and constantly meeting new people. I need familiarity and my family. And that’s okay! Trust me, it took me a while to learn this but stopping a trip early is not failure, especially if it has already been a few months.
What are the benefits of solo travel as a woman?
I have grown immensely as a person since I have started solo travelling – in my overall confidence, trust in my own abilities and also people skills. Making friends used to be hard, now I am very comfortable talking to new people and have met so many of my closest friends while travelling. The best part about the people you meet while travelling is that they have a similar mindset to you and also often a lot to share about their own culture and traditions, meaning your worldview opens up a lot.
Travelling solo also means I get to choose where I go when, I can change plans last-minute and if I don’t like something, I will simply leave. These are all things you can’t do as much when travelling with another person. In addition, you get a lot of time for self-reflection but also to take in this new destination. I have noticed that I experience a place much more intensely when I am solo travelling, compared to when I am with e.g. friends.
Overall, I think solo travel truly changes you as a person. Once you have navigated a new country by yourself, you feel like you can do anything. I would recommend any woman to solo travel at least once in her life! Learn to trust yourself and that you don’t need anyone else to do things for you. Obviously it is nice to have someone else to rely on, but solo travel teaches you that it is not necessary – and that will change your whole perspective on life and relationships.
How do I choose affordable but safe accommodations?
The first thing I do when choosing accommodations in a new destination is research the area. Which areas are safe for tourists, especially solo travellers. There are usually lots of resources about these things. If you are unsure, you could also reach out to accommodations for advice.
Second, I usually stay in hostels or hotels that are rated well amongst solo-travellers. This is so I can meet other travellers but also so I know that the location is good etc. Hostel dorms are usually your cheapest option though some countries also have affordable AirBnBs – for those I always make sure it is a female host.
Reviews are crucial!! Check several sites such as booking, Google, Tripadvisor, etc. Some red flags are people talking about stuff being stolen, no women leaving reviews, bedbugs and any negative comments about staff. A huge red flag for me is also when a hotel responds rudely to complaints – it’s unprofessional and will probably affect you if something goes wrong.
Hi, I'm Bell
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