I just booked a solo trip to Japan for late April/early May for 2 wks. I like adventures and food! Any recommendations on places to stay, sample itineraries, travel tips, etc. would be much appreciated!

I enjoyed Tokyo and Kyoto via bicycle rental.

If going to Tokyo, check out the Tuna auction - it is very early in morning Tsukiji market but worth it. Then have sushi for breakfast in the surrounding market stalls. Imperial gardens, Akihabara (manga comics area),Meiji Shrine and Yoyogi Park.

i did a solo trip at the same time of year and found this guide really helpful: https://www.japan-guide.com/

I second this! Make sure you plan your adventure around the operating hour of some tourist sites. Depending on which cities you plan on going to; I would recommend that you look into getting JR Pass before leaving for Japan.

My Itinerary for my trip last summer.
https://travefy.com/trips/973446/-1584149512

This is awesome thanks so much!

Mt Fuji is great for hiking (up the mountain or around the lakes)

I went in April of last year. If you make it in for the cherry blossom. It's beautiful!

JR pass beforegoing really worked for me. Anne hostel in Tokyo was good. Kyoto take a bus tour as way easier to see alot in one day. They get priority in line at the ticket booth at the temples and shrines. Osaka Ark hostel was good. Shinbuyku the famous crossing in Lost in Translation the movie.

When in the Osaka area, I HIGHLY recommend taking the train for an overnight trip to Koya-san in Wakayama. The largest cemetery in Japan, and PACKED full of Buddhist monasteries where you can stay, eat traditional washoku food, and sit in on their morning ceremonies. Love it there so much.

Koyasan was the highlight among so many highlights in our 3 weeks in Japan!

Sheila: same!

Hahah talk to me at work Marisa!!! I’m so pumped for you, it’s the best!!!!!!

I went for 2 weeks in October solo and it was amazing. I did a week in Tokyo, then one night at a ryokan on the Izu Peninsula, then four days in Osaka (including day trips), then one final night in Tokyo before flying back.
You'll never be bored in Tokyo. If you like exploring (and walking), don't even set yourself a firm itinerary. Pick a couple of things you want to see on any given day, subway to the first one, and then walk to the next one. You can spend entire days like this and you'll discover little nooks and crannies literally *everywhere*. Plus you'll stumble across a lot of stuff that you wouldn't otherwise see, while still hitting all the touristy stuff.
Speaking of touristy stuff, obviously hit the major neighbourhoods. Tokyo Tower is an amazing stop (Tokyo Skytree a bit less so - more out of the way and more tourist trappy). Tokyo Metropolitan Building is also great. Try to find some of the Shinto shrines scattered around the city. Take a day to visit the Five Lakes Region and maybe you'll see Mt Fuji. The list goes on.....
Ryokan are pricey but worth every penny. Find one that you can live with the price and spend a night. You absolutely won't regret it. There's nothing else like it. And if you absolutely can't spring for the ryokan, at least visit an onsen. Your trip isn't complete until you do.
I found I didn't really need to spend more than about a day visiting Osaka itself, so I took day trips to Nara, Kyoto, and Hiroshima (including Itsukushima Island). All highly recommended. Make Osaka your home base and enjoy all the great food there too (it's the home of okonomiyaki, so don't miss out on that!)

If going to Tokyo, I recommend staying at the Akihabara Bay Hotel. They're a female only capsule hotel. Perfect for solo travellers. It's clean, safe, and a very unique experience.

ROBOT RESTAURANT in Tokyo is a MUSTTTTTTT

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Koyasan

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