Japan will never cease to amaze you. This guide will help prepare you for your incredible adventure! Please read this carefully, and if there is anything we have not addressed, feel free to reach out at [email protected]. Can’t wait to show you this amazing country.
Things to Expect
Physical level
Good general fitness and mobility will play a big part in making your trip more enjoyable. Japanese cities are best explored by foot and public transport, so be prepared for a lot of walking each day you are in a destination! Many travelers are surprised how much distance they end up covering each day just seeing the sights. Bring comfortable walking shoes and be prepared to spend most of the day on your feet. You will also be expected to carry your own luggage, including while moving about busy public transport hubs.
Inclusions
exclusions
Itinerary
Your general Japan itinerary can be found on the Japan Meetup Tour webpage. Daily schedules will be given by your guide when you arrive in Japan. Because the seasons, operating hours of inclusions, traffic, and many factors can affect the daily schedule, specific timing will be determined by your guide to give you the best possible experience. If you have questions about when to wake up, how long you will spend at a particular site, etc. please feel free to ask your guide at any time.
Itinerary Disclaimer
Our itineraries are updated regularly throughout the year based on customer feedback and to reflect the current situation in each destination. The information included in this Japan Traveler Information may therefore differ from when you first booked your trip. It is important that you review this information prior to travel so that you have the latest updates. Due to weather, local conditions, transport schedules, public holidays, or other factors, further changes may be necessary to your itinerary once in-country. The order and timing of included activities in each location may also vary seasonally to ensure our travelers have the best experience. Your tour leader will keep you up to date with any such changes once on tour.
Joining Point
Remm Plus Ginza
8 Chome-11-11 Ginza, Chuo City, Tokyo 104-0061, Japan
Joining Description
Fly into one of Tokyo’s main international airports, Narita (NRT) or Haneda (HND).
A n airport transfer is included when you arrive on Day 1. Depending on what time you arrive, you may share the taxi with other women from your group. Upon
arrival at the airport, our driver will be waiting for you holding a sign with your name and our SoFe logo on it. We will provide you with a travel voucher before departure with more detailed instructions on how to find your driver at the airport.
If you arrive a day or two early, the airport transfer is not included. Please email us directly if you book flights outside this window so we can assist with arranging a transfer and an early night in the hotel.
Our tour starts at 6pm, so we recommend that your flight lands no later than 3pm on day 1 so that you have extra cushion time to get to the hotel and settle in before your welcome meeting. However, regardless of what time you arrive, your airport transfer is included any time on Day 1.
Finishing Point
Hiyori Hotel Osaka Namba Station
3 Chome-1-2 Nanbanaka, Naniwa Ward, Osaka, 556-0011, Japan
Finishing Point description
Fly out of Kansai International Airport (KIX) any time on your tour end date. Check out time is 10 am, but if you are departing later, you can arrange luggage storage at the hotel.
Departure transfer is not included. However, your tour guide is more than happy to help you arrange your transportation to the airport or your next destination. Just ask her!
If you are extending your trip on your own and need to fly domestically (back to Tokyo), you can also fly out of Osaka International (Itami) Airport (ITM).
Problems and emergency contact
While we always endeavor to provide the best possible holiday experience, due to the nature of travel and the areas we visit sometimes things can and do go wrong. Should any issue occur while you are on your trip, it is imperative that you discuss this with your group leader or our local representative straight away so that they can do their best to rectify the problem and save any potential negative impact on the rest of your trip.
We recognize that there may be times when your group leader/local partner may not be able to resolve a situation to your satisfaction – if this is the case, please ask the leader to speak to their direct manager.
You may also choose to provide details in your online feedback, which we ask you to complete within 30 days of the end of your trip. Please do be aware that it is very difficult for us to provide any practical help after the trip is completed, so informing us while still traveling will give us the opportunity to resolve the issue in real-time.
For general contact details please use the following page: https://thesolofemaletravelernetwork.com/contact-us
On the ground emergency contact number: +81 (0)70 1771 5588
Payment schedule
You are required to pay a non-refundable $550 deposit at the time of reservation. This non-refundable deposit confirms your Meetup Tour booking and you will receive a confirmation email detailing the terms of your reservation. Once the confirmation email has been sent to you, a contract will exist between us from the date we issue the confirmation invoice.
Please refer to your booking confirmation for specific dates, deadlines and details regarding final payments for your Meetup Tour. For standard Meetup Tours, the program fee balance payment is due 90 days before the departure date. SoFe’s payment system allows you to input the dollar amount for each payment you submit, so you are welcome to make as many payments in any dollar amount as you prefer before the final payment is due.
The final payment deadline is 90 days before the Meetup Tour start date, with the exception of Antarctica and Polar destinations.
If you have not paid the full balance, requested a cancellation and/or transfer by the final payment deadline, your credit card on file will be automatically charged the remaining balance of the Meetup Tour program cost. A $100 late payment fee will also be levied. Additionally, SoFe reserves the right to treat your booking as cancelled.
Feedback
Can’t stop thinking about your adventure? Tell us all about it! We read each piece of feedback carefully and use it to make improvements for travelers like you. Share your experience with us by emailing [email protected]!
Before you leave
Important notes
Food and dietary information
While traveling with us you’ll experience the vast array of wonderful food available in the world. Your group leader will be able to suggest restaurants to try during your trip. To give you the maximum flexibility in deciding where, what and with whom to eat, generally not all meals are included in the trip price. This also gives you more budgeting flexibility. As a rule our groups tend to eat together to enable you to taste a larger variety of dishes and enjoy each other’s company. If you have dietary requirements and/or food allergies, please let your booking agent know prior to departure.
FOOD IN JAPAN
The Japanese daily diet contains gluten (ie. in flavorings such as soy sauce) and seafood (dashi, or fish stock, is the basis of most dishes, even vegetable ones), so we highly recommend that vegetarians, vegans and coeliacs do their own online research before traveling about some of the options that might be available to them. While our leaders will assist you whenever they can, there may be some included meals that are fixed in advance and not flexible, such as those included at ryokans, and cannot be modified for different diets. For those suffering from particular food allergies, your group leader will endeavor to disclose to their fullest knowledge the main ingredients in dishes being consumed. It is, however, still your personal responsibility to ensure that you do not ingest any foods to which you are allergic.
Money Matters
Spending money is a personal choice, and everyone will have different spending habits and needs. It is best to budget a reasonable amount for things like meals not included, drinks, shopping, optional activities, and laundry. It’s always better to bring a little more than you think you’ll need. Please have a thorough look at the itinerary and at what is included so you will be prepared for what isn’t included. Our Meetup Tour is very inclusive, however some meals and extras are not included. This guide should make budgeting a little clearer.
Atms and credit cards: Japan is predominantly a cash society and locals carry large amounts of cash for daily business. International credit cards can usually only be used at major department stores or large restaurants but cash from non-Japanese bank accounts can be withdrawn via the Cirrus and Maestro systems by direct debiting (as well as Mastercard and Visa cash advance). This is now available at all post office ATMs around the country, as well as 7 Eleven convenience store ATMs, making it very easy to get access to cash throughout the trip at each location 24 hours a day.
Money exchange: If you want to bring cash from your home country and exchange it, the best place to do this is at the airport. We can not guarantee that there will be time to visit a money exchange place on the tour. The best way to get local currency is by using an ATM with a debit card.
Most tips are included – covering hotel staff, included experiences, included meals, and the people who will take care of you during your travels.
This amount does not include a tip for your leader, so you may wish to set aside some funds for this. The amount is entirely a personal preference, however as a guideline $12-15 per person, per day can be used. Of course you are free to tip more or less as you see fit, depending on your perception of service quality and the length of your trip
There may be times when you find yourself exploring solo. Overall, tipping is not customary in Japan. Tipping in Japan without a good reason, or doing it the wrong way, could come across as crass or rude. Japanese culture is one that is firmly rooted in dignity, respect, and hard work. Therefore, there would be no reason to pay extra for good service. As different as it may seem in comparison to your home country, it is not necessary to tip in restaurants. Just be polite and thank your waiter or waitress for their service. If you come across a circumstance in which you do need to tip, the best way to do so is to place cash neatly in an envelope and give it to the recipient using two hands.
Currency: The official currency of Japan is Yen (JPY)
Climate information
Japan has four distinct seasons with hot, humid summers and wet winters. Any time of year is possible to visit, but spring and fall months are have the mildest, driest climate.
PEAK TRAVEL TIMES
Please be aware that while traveling during major national holidays (late Apr to early May) and peak seasons in Japan (Apr-May/Sep–Oct) are fascinating and exciting times to travel, there will be huge crowds at most tourist attractions and on all public transport. It’s common for there to be difficulties in securing train tickets at our usual preferred times, hotels become overbooked, traffic jams and changes to the itinerary without prior notice can be necessary. If you decide to travel during peak periods come with a sense of adventure and flexibility and we are sure that your experience will still be rewarding and memorable.
passports, visas, and entry requirements
Many nationalities do not require a visa for visits less than 90 days, including citizens of the USA, Canada, United Kingdom, and Australia.
For the latest update of what is required in order to enter Japan, please check your government’s foreign travel advisory or contact the embassy for more information.
If you are from a country that does require a visa to enter Japan, you may be required to submit a few documents along with your visa application form. SoFe is able to provide you with these documents upon request. Please request them from us and provide correct passport details and your email.
You need a valid passport to travel internationally. Most countries require that your passport does not expire for at least 6 months after the date you enter. We require your passport details 45 days before departure. When booking your Meetup Tour, please enter your name as it appears on your passport and contact us immediately if there are any errors.
We recommend taking copies of the main passport pages and other important documents with you as well as leaving copies at home with family or friends.
Packing
Our tours are comfortable and very inclusive with premium accommodations. This means you can pack a little lighter since the hotel will have a wide range of amenities. Since you will be carrying your own bags to the lobby or at the airport, we suggest packing in a way that is manageable for solo travel. You’ll also need a day pack/bag to carry water and a camera etc. for day trips.
We recommend you pack on the lighter side, ensuring that you are able to carry and lift your own luggage and walk with it for short distances or up or down a flight of stairs. Help will be on hand in most locations, but there may be times you need to handle your own luggage, for example in airports and train stations.
There are size restrictions for luggage on Shinkansen trains. Luggage over 160–250 cm may require an additional USD 10 fee per train journey. Luggage over 251 cm will NOT be permitted on the Shinkansen trains at all. Please notify your group leader at the welcome meeting if your luggage is over 160–250 cm so they can help you make the necessary arrangements. Additionally, each piece of luggage cannot exceed 30 kilograms.
On Day 4, we will send your main luggage to Kyoto, as you will use a lot of public transportation over the next couple days. You will need to prepare a light overnight bag for your stay at a traditional ryokan. 1 piece of luggage is included in the luggage forwarding service. If you have extra luggage you’d like to be forwarded from Kyoto to Osaka, the cost will be about 1800-2300 JPY depending on the size. Your leader will be able to advise the exact amount whilst on your trip. Because of this, we recommend packing 1 checked bag and another smaller backpack to use as your overnight bag.
The following is a general list to be used as a guideline. If you think you need more items, pack them.
ESSENTIALS
– Day pack: for carrying essentials when exploring destinations
– A comfortable pair of walking shoes
– Shoes that are easy to slip on and off, as some places require you to take off your shoes
– Some conservative clothing to wear in temples, etc. To show respect, you should cover your shoulders and knees at religious sites
– Sun protection – hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, lip balm
– Warm layers in case of chilly nights
– Passport
– Wallet, credit/debit cards
– Medications
– Electronics, chargers, universal adaptor, power bank
RECOMMENDED
– Personal medical kit. Your guide will carry a large kit but we recommend you carry items such as, mild pain killers, adhesive bandages and electrolytes.
– Camera with spare batteries/charger/power bank: You will have access to power to recharge your electrical items most days, however these are a good backup.
– Electrical adapter plug
– Hand sanitizer
– Water bottle – some hotels may have filtered drinking water to refill your bottle.
– Money belt or pouch
OPTIONAL
– A good book, a journal and music player
– Sleeping mask and ear plugs
Please try to avoid bringing unnecessary valuables, and use your hotel safes to store the bulk of your money, passport, and airline tickets. It’s also a good idea to purchase a money belt or pouch that is easily hidden. We strongly recommend that you photocopy all important documents e.g. air tickets, passport, vaccination certificate, etc. and keep the copies separate from the originals. While not valid, a photocopy makes it very much easier to obtain replacements if necessary.
Power and voltage: For Japan there are two associated plug types, A and B. Plug type A is the plug which has two flat parallel pins and plug type B is the plug which has two flat parallel pins and a grounding pin. Japan operates on a 100V supply voltage and 50/60Hz.
Travel insurance
Travel insurance is mandatory on all our Meetup Tours. We require that at a minimum you are covered for medical expenses including emergency repatriation. If you are traveling within your home country or region please confirm before travel that you are entitled to access the public medical system easily should an accident occur. We strongly recommend all travelers have a policy that also covers personal liability, cancellation, curtailment and loss of luggage or personal effects. For international trips, you will not be permitted to join the group until evidence of travel insurance and the insurance company’s 24-hour emergency contact number has been sighted by your leader.
If you have credit card insurance your group leader will require details of the participating insurer/underwriter, the level of coverage, policy number, and emergency contact number rather than the bank’s name and your credit card details. Please contact your bank for these details prior to arriving in-country.
We recommend that you check your government’s advice in relation to the areas you will be visiting for their latest travel information before departure and ensure that your travel insurance covers you for all areas your itinerary covers.
on the road
Group Guide
All tours with The Solo Female Traveler Network are accompanied by a guide who is with the group for the whole trip. The guide’s role is to be the local expert of the destination and coordinate a lot of the on the ground logistics. Premium leaders are SoFe’s most experienced, with in-depth knowledge and extensive local networks to make it a trip of a lifetime. Your guide will provide information on the places you are traveling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends. You can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the places visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious, and social aspects. At SoFe, we aim to support local guides who have specialized knowledge of the regions we visit. When not already included in your trip, your leader will be able to recommend a local guide service who can share more detailed or specialized information at specific sites should you be interested in delving deeper.
Accomodation
We use a range of accommodation that we choose based on season, group size, and availability and because of this, we can not provide a confirmed list of hotels before the tour. However, here is a list of the accommodation we are most likely to use. Feel free to request a confirmed list of all accommodation from your guide on Day 1.
We do provide the confirmed start and end accommodation to help you plan transportation, pre/post travel plans, or visa needs. You can find this in the “joining point” and “finishing point” sections of this page.
THE MOST ACCURATE HOTEL INFORMATION FOR YOUR DEPARTURE WILL BE FOUND ON YOUR PRINTABLE ITINERARY.
Tokyo: Rem Plus Ginza
Izu: Sora Togetsuso Kinryu
Kyoto: Mitsui Garden Hotel Kyoto Shijo
Mt. Koya: Sekisho-in
Osaka: Hiyori Hotel Osaka Namba Station
9 nights from our collection of favorite hotels, carefully chosen to give you the best combination of comfort, location, and style.
Rooms are twin share with an ensuite unless you upgrade to a private room, based on availability.
The accommodation indicated on the webpage is a guideline. On rare occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to lack of availability. A similar standard of accommodation will be used in these instances.
In the base cost of the tour, a shared room is included. You may choose to upgrade to a private room for an extra charge as long as there is availability.
Upgrading to a private room once in Japan is more difficult and may result in a higher cost than advertised on the webpage.
Our Japan tour is considered premium accommodation. All of our accommodation is 3 – 5 star with many beautiful views in prime locations. When we stay in 5 star hotels, the standard may be less than what you are used to in terms of design, facilities, and inclusions. If there is a problem with your accommodation, always alert your tour leader so it can be remedied if possible.
Sometimes it is not possible to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels, especially if you arrive before check in time. We can store your luggage and you can explore the surrounding area. Standard check in time is 4:00pm.
Standard check out is at 10:00am on the last day.
If you are arriving early or staying late, ask us about extra nights accommodation, based on availability. You may have to switch rooms at the beginning or end of the tour and extra nights are always single rooms unless you are traveling with a friend or family member.
All of our accommodations have air conditioning. Should it not work, we will attempt to replace your room or the unit, dependent upon availability. Bedding is always provided, however if you are extra sensitive to the cold, please be prepared with extra layers.
Optional Activities
For this tour, we will offer a selection of optional activities that have been popular with past travelers. All activities are subject to availability, and may be on a join-in basis. It may not be possible to do all the activities offered in the time available at each destination, so some pre-planning for what you are most interested in is advised. For most, they can either be organized independently on the day, or let your leader know you are interested in the Group Meeting and they can assist.
Where activities are considered medium or high risk, we work with operators whose safety and credentials we have sighted and assessed. Although it is possible that you may find the same activity cheaper with another operator on the ground, we cannot vouch for the safety or quality of that operator. Medium and high-risk activities that are not offered by us have not been assessed by us, and as such our staff and leaders are unable to assist you with organizing these activities. Please remember that the decision to partake in any activity not operated by us is at your own discretion and risk.
Transportation
Your transportation for this trip will be public transportation on sleek bullet trains!
a few rules
Safety
Most national governments provide regularly updated foreign travel advice on safety issues involved with international travel. We recommend that you check your government’s advice for their latest travel information before departure and ensure that your travel insurance covers you for all destinations and activities on your trip.
We strongly recommend the use of a neck wallet or money belt while traveling, for the safe-keeping of your passport, flight tickets, cash and other valuable items. Leave your jewelry at home – you won’t need it while traveling. Many of our hotels have safety deposit boxes, which is the most secure way of storing your valuables. A lock is recommended for securing your luggage.
Your leader will accompany you on all included activities, however, during your trip you’ll have some free time to pursue your own interests or relax and take it easy. While your leader will assist you with the available options in a given location, please note that any optional activities you undertake are not part of your SoFe itinerary, and SoFe makes no representations about the safety of the activity or the standard of the operators running them. Please use your own good judgment when selecting an activity in your free time. Please also note that your Leader has the authority to amend or cancel any part of the trip itinerary if it’s deemed necessary due to safety concerns.
Seat belts are always provided and must be worn in accordance with local law.
While most of the tour, especially in major cities, will be with your guide and the group, petty theft is common in any tourist area. Do not walk around alone at night if it can be avoided and hold your belongings close on public transportation. Your local guide will give you some safety tips throughout your tour, and we suggest heeding this advice.
As suggested earlier, please do not bring valuables. Use a TSA approved luggage lock to secure your luggage and belongings throughout trip.
We suggest checking your government’s advice in relation to the areas you will be visiting for their latest travel information before departure and ensure that your travel insurance covers you for all areas your itinerary covers.
When not with your guide, we recommend the following:
- Do not walk in isolated areas or at night by yourself
- If hotel staff need to enter your room, arrange to be either on tour or in the lobby, so you are not alone.
- Respect the local customs.
- Do not hire a driver or guide for tours from the street. Always go with a reputable company or ask us to help you arrange any pre or post experiences.
- Do not accept any invitations for anything from random people on the street.
- Always carry your tour guide’s contact information and hotel address with you during solo time.
- Alert your guide of any inappropriate behavior or perceived risk to your safety
Crime levels are low. It is generally safe to walk around at night and to travel on public transport, but you should maintain the same level of vigilance as you would at home and take sensible precautions. Reports of inappropriate touching or ‘chikan’ of female passengers on commuter trains are fairly common. The police advise that you shout at the perpetrator to attract attention and ask a fellow passenger to call the train staff. The Roppongi entertainment district of Tokyo is considered a higher risk area for crime.
While Japan is known for its ‘out there’ fashions overall it is quite a conservative country. Please remember that we spend time at temples, working monasteries, holy shrines, recreated villages and castles, cooking schools and ancient gardens. At these places it is important to be respectful to the staff and other visitors by wearing clothing that covers your shoulders and knees.
Please note, decorative tattoos are uncommon in Japanese culture and therefore you may receive curious and sometimes disapproving looks from locals. Generally, nobody will make a comment about your tattoos but please endeavor to wear modest clothing.
phone and internet access
There is wifi available in most of our accommodations, but it is not always the most reliable.
We suggest purchasing a prepaid sim card at the Japan airport.
Japan is pretty strict about SIM cards that include voice + data for foreigners. Therefore, if you’re looking for a SIM card for calls and texts, they’re much harder to find and we recommend doing your research and purchasing one online ahead of time. Luckily, this isn’t the case for data-only SIM cards. You can buy a data-only SIM card in Japan, either online for pickup on arrival at Narita or Haneda airports or by buying over-the-counter once you’re in Tokyo. There should be several stocked kiosks advertising SIM cards for foreigners in the arrivals area at the airport. Your phone must be unlocked, and you will require your passport to purchase and register your new sim.
Alternatively, ask your home service provider for international plans.
medical and health
All travelers need to be in good physical health in order to participate fully on this trip. When selecting your trip please make sure you have read through the itinerary carefully and assess your ability to manage and enjoy our style of travel. Please note that if in the opinion of our group leader or local guide any traveler is unable to complete the itinerary without undue risk to themselves and/or the rest of the group, we reserve the right to exclude them from all or part of a trip without refund.
You should consult your doctor for up-to-date medical travel information or for any necessary vaccinations before departure. We recommend that you carry a first aid kit as well as any personal medical requirements as they may not easily be obtained while traveling.
Japan’s tap water is drinkable and safe. We recommend bringing a refillable water bottle to use throughout the duration of the trip.
