<\/p>\n
\n![](\"https:\/\/img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net\/tenant\/amp\/entityid\/AA1xUnoc.jpg\"\/)
<\/p>\n
\n In November, after three months of interviews, I lost out on a job and decided it was time for a travel break. I set out on a 3 \n The timing worked out \u2014 the favorable \n Given the limited time to search for a travel partner, I welcomed the independence of going alone and the flexibility to decide spontaneously. As I had previously journeyed solo, I believed I was capable of handling things as they came. \n My journey involved visiting the “golden triangle” region. \n The trip cost about $3,400, not including the airfare, which I paid for with credit-card points. As a \n The largest part of my expenses went towards lodging, amounting to over $915 for staying 24 nights. Ground travel also accumulated significantly. Although local trains were quite cheap, train ticket costs still piled up. \n A few indulgences included attending a kimono tea ceremony, a \n Although I enjoyed the journey, there are three aspects I would have changed.\n <\/p>\n \n I concentrated my preliminary investigation on locations and experiences rather than logistical details. Apart from arranging the initial couple of things, I did not make reservations ahead of time. \n I had heard that Japan attracts many visitors during autumn, yet it turned out to be even more crowded than I anticipated, making it challenging to secure affordable lodging at short notice. Numerous well-known sites, such as \n I was fortunate enough during the tea ceremony \u2014 an added bonus. \n I too should have made reservations beforehand using platforms that offer free cancellations. That way, I could guarantee my place to stay and still maintain the option to alter my arrangements later.\n <\/p>\n \n For travel arrangements, I would have arranged my transport. \n A lot of folks believe that traveling alone means doing everything by yourself. However, what I enjoy most is meeting new individuals during these trips. Hostels typically provide a great environment for socializing, so I expected similar experiences elsewhere. \n However, I quickly became friends with people at the hostels where I stayed. \n Approximately 90 miles north of Tokyo, \n The 126-acre Tokugawa shrine and temple area \u2013 designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1999 \u2013 lies within ten miles of Lake Chuzenji, marking the starting point for the ascent up Mount Nantai. However, despite their proximity, moving between these locations might require about sixty minutes. The intricate details and grandeur of the place were such that I wished I had spent all day exploring it, particularly the renowned Toshogu Shrine.\n <\/p>\n \n I also hope I could have spent an entire day discovering the stunning lake, cascading waterfalls, and numerous trails surrounding the mountain. The one-day visit seemed hurried and only covered the main attractions.\n <\/p>\n \n I likewise hope I had devoted \n The Dotonbori district was brimming with lights and crowds, exuding an energetic vibe that I really appreciated being immersed in. I had a great time exploring for about half a day. \n \n If you liked this tale, make sure to follow After losing out on a job, Erica Hobbs booked a 24-day trip to Japan. The November vacation was planned last minute, so she ended up traveling solo. Reflecting on her past experience, she wishes she had booked transport ahead of time and chosen to lodge in more hostels instead. In November, after three months of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3146,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[187,764,278,430,282],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3145","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-travel","category-travel-advice","category-travel-destinations","category-travel-planning-and-tips","category-travel-recommendations"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/sanggraloka.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/AA1xUpfh.jpg","jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sanggraloka.com\/id\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3145","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sanggraloka.com\/id\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sanggraloka.com\/id\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sanggraloka.com\/id\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sanggraloka.com\/id\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3145"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sanggraloka.com\/id\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3145\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sanggraloka.com\/id\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3146"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sanggraloka.com\/id\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3145"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sanggraloka.com\/id\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3145"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sanggraloka.com\/id\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3145"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\n
\n \u00bd-
\n <\/span>
\n week
\n trip to Japan
\n .\n <\/p>\n
\n dollar-to-yen exchange rate
\n , mild weather, and vibrant autumn foliage made it a great time to visit.\n <\/p>\n
\n trip to Japan
\n proved to be more difficult than expected.\n <\/p>\n
\n Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka
\n , including excursions to nearby locations like Nikko, Mount Fuji, Nara, and Himeji. The itinerary also encompassed stops at Hiroshima and Miyajima Island along with a week exploring central Japan.\n <\/p>\n
\n cost-conscious backpacker
\n I opted for staying in pod hotels or hostels and usually dined on street food, items from convenience stores, or noodle dishes at ramen shops.\n <\/p>\n
\n Shinkansen bullet train
\n They were pricey. The journey from Tokyo to Toyama cost me the most at around $100, followed by Hiroshima to Osaka which was approximately $70, and finally Osaka back to Tokyo costing roughly $90.\n <\/p>\n
\n Kobe steak
\n dinner, and visits to a handful of themed caf\u00e9s.\n <\/p>\n\n 1. Increased preparation prior to the journey
\n <\/h2>\n
\n days in Tokyo
\n This resulted in a disorganized and ineffective journey filled with skipped trains, forfeited chances, and avoidable tension.\n <\/p>\n
\n Tokyo’s Ghibli Museum
\n Moreover, the Ninja Tokyo restaurant was reserved beforehand. Various locations across the nation, such as Osaka’s Nintendo Museum, were also included.
\n ryokans
\n \u2014 Traditional Japanese ryokans \u2014 were also fully booked soon.\n <\/p>\n
\n solo traveling
\n \u2014but I really wished I had booked them in advance since I couldn\u2019t get into some of them.\n <\/p>\n
\n IC card
\n When I reached the airport, I encountered these cards\u2014Suica, Pasmo, and Icoca\u2014which function as prepaid options for seamless transit across various public transport networks within major urban centers. Following a lengthy 13-hour journey, I hurriedly made my way to check into my accommodation. However, obtaining one of those cards turned out to be more challenging post-flight; they could typically only be found in bigger railway hubs and weren\u2019t always readily accessible elsewhere.\n <\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net\/tenant\/amp\/entityid\/AA1xUB9V.jpg\"\/)
<\/p>\n\n 2. Chose hostels over capsule hotels
\n <\/h2>\n
\n capsule hotels
\n Instead, I discovered that the pod hotels\u2014although wonderfully serene and spa-like\u2014were far less sociable. Additionally, many of the guests staying there were local travelers who did not speak English.\n <\/p>\n
\n Hiroshima
\n , we had an amazing time exploring Miyajima Island as a group of seven throughout the day, even tackling a mountain I probably wouldn\u2019t have gone up solo. If I had begun my journey staying at hostels, I might’ve met traveling companions sooner.\n <\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net\/tenant\/amp\/entityid\/AA1xUl3i.jpg\"\/)
<\/p>\n\n 3. Dedicated additional hours to exploring Nikko and Osaka
\n <\/h2>\n
\n Nikko
\n It\u2019s a common day trip destination, yet I felt that allocating two whole days would have been ideal for thoroughly experiencing the town. The area is renowned for its intricate shrines and temples as well as stunning mountain landscapes. During my visit in November, all attractions shut down by 4 p.m., causing darkness to set in soon afterward. This restriction made it challenging to see all of what Nikko has to showcase within the available time frame.\n <\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net\/tenant\/amp\/entityid\/AA1xUnoi.jpg\"\/)
<\/p>\n
\n more time in Osaka
\n Since it gained prominence mainly because of its cuisine, I assumed two days would suffice; however, it turned out that the non-culinary aspects were my highlights and what I wished I could have explored further.\n <\/p>\n
\n Osaka Castle
\n , however, with additional time, I would have explored the Osaka Museum of Housing and Living as well as the Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan, places that fellow travelers I encountered spoke highly of. Additionally, I would have taken a direct flight back home from Osaka, saving myself both half a day and the $90 cost of a bullet train ticket.\n <\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\n Business SANGGRALOKA
\n on Microsoft Start.\n <\/p><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"