I took a solo trip to Japan in my 20s. My experience traveling there alone as an English-speaking woman astonished me.

I went to Japan by myself in my 20s. My experience as an English-speaking solo female traveler there surprised me in many ways.

Jodie Hughes

Since my first solo trip in 2013, I've done the majority of my traveling alone.It's become second nature, and family and friends are used to it at this point, but I raised a few eyebrows when I announced in 2023 that I was going to Japan entirely by myself.I would be traveling farther than ever before, immersing myself in a very different culture with a significant language barrier: I grew up in England, was living in France, and didn't speak any Japanese. Although this solo trip felt like an exciting adventure to take in my 20s, I still wondered what kind of challenges I could face. Turns out, I didn't need to worry.Halfway around the world, I'd never felt safer

During my time in Kyoto, I felt generally safe and peaceful.

Jodie Hughes