When I was 23 y, my friend and I planned a 5 week trip to Europe. She met a guy and bailed a week before we were due to leave. I went anyway. I am 63 yr this month and I think about that trip all the time. Life changing. Please go. It isn’t the comfortable or easy choice, but you will respect yourself for making it happen

Similar story. My friend met a guy and bailed on a trip we were planning. I was so angry and determined to go alone. To cut a long story short, going on the trip was one of the best decisions ever as I now have some very dear friends abroad and have built a connection with their country and visit regularly, they are like family to me and it wouldn’t have come about if I wasn’t alone.

That said, I think Japan for OP is quite a big step for someone with little travel experience. I’d advise them to consider joining a small group tour, even if only for the first part of the trip, or maybe even trying a short solo trip elsewhere (maybe somewhere without the language barrier) just to get a taste for solo travel.

I just came back from a 13-day solo trip to Japan. You're going to love it, if there's ONE country that you can go solo and have a wonderful time no matter what you define that as it's Japan. scrap your old itinerary, and create one that you want to do. you're free! Go and have a great time!

Massively agree with all of this. Japan is an amazing place to visit - but if I was an 18-year-old who'd never travelled solo, and had lots of anxiety, I don't think it would be my first solo journey!

I'm 37 and have done plenty of solo travel, and though I loved my trip to Japan it was also quite exhausting in some ways. Constantly Google Translating everything to make sure you're ordering food you actually want, are travelling to the right place... It's cool and exciting, but also can cause some stress and decision fatigue!

OP, your friends and family will know you best (though from what you've said it sounds like we can predict your parents' response!). I reckon chatting it through with someone you trust would be good. Sorry to state that obvious!

A group tour to Japan might be a way to go, as you'll get the sites and plenty of the experiences with much less stress. If you do decide to go risky solo, I'm sure lots of posters will be happy to give Japan tips. Alternatively, if you'd like ideas for other destinations for your first solo international trip, I'm sure Reddit can help there too!

Good luck!

Japan is very safe. Not the same culture but well organised and with a smartphone you can always find your way and have help to communicate. Doable solo.

It is a very safe country, though obviously some common sense is still required like "don't follow touts" (the legal drinking age in Japan is 20 so you avoid a large part of some issues). You don't really need Japanese to be a tourist in Japan except if you want to have conversations with some Japanese because the transport of most big towns are also in English (and in few picked languages) and the staff of accommodations/shops/restaurants usually know enough English for the usual stuff ... or use translation apps... or it is obvious enough.

Do it. Japan will take care of you. I really mean it.

Japan would be great for a first solo trip. It's very safe, convenient to get around, and dining solo in Japan is easy.

Perhaps plan a solo trip closer to home where you speak the language. It would be a less stressful introduction to solo travel.

How about a group tour for the first bit to settle you into Japan ans then continue solo?,

• Never flown before

• Gets stressed pretty easily

• Terrified of the language barrier

• August

Save Japan for another time - it isnt going anywhere!

What do you want out of this trip now if you are solo? Meet people? Visit museums? Experience another culture?

And yes yes yes everyone, Japan is very safe in terms of crime bla bla bla, but that doesn't automatically make it the ideal first solo destination for every 18 year old. Most people manage to travel everywhere without being a victim of crime.

Genuinely, for someone who describes themselves as easily stressed, nervous, and cos of this post seems prone to overthinking, Japan can actually be quite demanding. It's far away, culturally very different, many everyday interactions follow unspoken social rules, and even simple things like ordering food, finding the right train platform, or dealing with a problem can feel overwhelming when you're already anxious. Sometimes you need a certain app that you havent got.

It isnt "everyone speaks English.

It'd be an ok place for someone outgoing who throws caution to the wind. But not everyone is like that, and that is ok.

Also August in Japan can be brutal, and im guessing American here, it is all too easy to say "I am used to hot weather", but that can be quite ignorant. Lots of attractions are outdoors, you walk more, and Japan often doesnt have that super chill air con you might expect when you walk into a shop or hotel. They mostly set it to be mild, not that big chill like in say Singapore.

If you still want to go away alone - maybe explain what kind of trip you want and people can suggest some other options to consider. Or would you consider a small group tour? Something like this

TL:DR Japan is arguably one of the safest countries for a traveller. It isn't necessarily one of the most forgiving countries for a young traveller with anxiety. Those are two completely different things.

100% go but just be advised you will have to deal with navigating transportation and all of that which isn't hard but not that easy either. I remember my first trip to Japan it was life changing. One other option you can do is book a group tour there are tons of them that do them in Japan. Solo or group tour, you will love it either way!