Japan Travel Forum

hi, I am planing my first trip to Japan in September 2011 for 3 to 4 weeks- however I will be travelling alone (as a 21yr old female) and I was concerned about hostels. Part of me wants to stay in a hostel, to meet new people and have some company. But I am mainly going for shopping purposes (as a follower of lolita and gyaru fashion) and I am planing on making expensive purchases there. How safe will I/my purchases be, staying in a youth hostel? ><; Has anyone else experienced staying in hostels in Tokyo? Would it be wiser to just stay in a cheep hotel?
Also, as a solo traveller, will visiting places like Disneyland/Sea, etc, be extremely lonesome? And safety wise, should I be concerned being by myself out at night- especially if im dressed in gyaru or lolita? My Japanese is limited, btw.
Sorry if these are silly questions, I just need to reassure myself (and my mother! haha) :)
thankyou very much!

To answer some of the questions,

Safety in Tokyo: I consider Tokyo the safest developed country in the world. While it isn't 100% safe, I wouldn't be worried about someone trying to steal something from me. Even for women, I wouldn't worry that much. If you are smart, you'll be able to spot any trouble before it happens.

Visiting Disneyland/Sea on your own should be fine. If you are the type of person who can enjoy themselves when alone, it will be fine. Japan is a country where you can do things on your own if you have to. That's why, if you travel alone, I'd recommend staying in a hostel. Security at a hostel will depend on the hostel and if they have lockers or something. I wouldn't worry about the staff there if that's what you are worried about.

Lastly, if you are worried about speaking Japanese, don't worry too much. Point and speak English is generally fine in most shops. Unless you enter a small hole in the wall, most people can understand enough, or someone nearby should know enough. If not, they'll go out of their way to help you with electronic dictionaries.

I think you'll find that Japan is very safe...not sure about the safety of your things at the hostel (not because I'd be suspicious, just because I literally don't know), but as far as physical safety for you, you'll be fine and you'll probably make friends in the scene...I really liked Japan much more than I expected.

Some hostels have safes, and if there aren't any, just lock your stuffs inside your backpack/luggage. Japan is a pretty safe country, I've been there a couple of times on my own and has no problem.

Many can understand simple English. Speak simple words or even better, write them down can help. People are very friendly there and are willing to help strangers.

In 1995 I tested the safety in a Tokoy railway station waiting room by just leaving my luggage and coming back to get it one hour later. It was still there.

My daughter (she was 21 years old last year) traveled to Japan last year for 2 weeks alone. Granted, we have relatives in Japan but she was pretty much on her own. Fortunately, we afforded for her to stay in hotels or ryokan which was safe and convenient. My parents traveled to northern Japan where we have no relatives and they stayed in hostels with no problems but then again, they speak Japanese and are older. My daughter climbed Mt. Fugi with a group but she didn't know anyone in the group. She said that was an experience she will never forget. My daughter's favorite part of her trip was staying in Uji in a ryokan by the river just outside of Kyoto.

I say for the most part, you should be alright. Use common sense when traveling alone. Stay in well lit areas in the evenings. BTW, my daughter communicated with me almost each day/every other day on her trip via email. You should be able to find an internet cafe fairly easily and it's not too expensive (for your mom's sake).

If you can afford a hotel, then stay in a hotel. It's been a long time, but when I stayed in a hostel in Tokyo once, it seemed that everyone was there for business (transitioning between jobs, cities, apartments, etc...), not tourism.

As for safety, Japan is a very safe country, HOWEVER, you are making yourself an exception by your fashion choices. You give me pause because you are kind of old to be dressing in this fashion, which could result in your being identified as a sex worker. Possibly, people will think you have some sort of mental issues.

Your understanding of what these fashions mean as a foreigner is not what they mean within the culture that created them. They are identified with a certain "class" of girl (and I do mean girl - mid teens, not twenties). In this case suburban, uneducated, low-income, etc... Gyaru is in fact a Japanese interpretation of American "trailer trash".

You could have fun going about like that, but it certainly posses some problems as well.

Although Japan is safe, you don't know who will be staying at the hostel and typically you do share rooms at hostels. Especially in Tokyo, the other guests may not all be Japanese, so you don't know what the situation will be like.

You want to buy expensive things, and if you are bringing any Lolita fashions of your own to wear, you will already have expensive items with you. Hotels in Japan are very cheap, and I personally think it may be worth your money to get your own hotel room.

Not only will it provide you with extra security to keep your purchases safe, if will also give you space to get dressed and such alone and without roommates bothering you or staring at you (Japanese Lolitas draw stares, and a foreign one will draw even more).

Roppongi is the sleaziest and least safe part of Tokyo at night. I have female friends who have gone there alone at night (not in Lolita) and they had mixed experiences, but both of them agreed that it's not a great place to be at night in Tokyo.

As for whether or not Tokyo Disney and Disney Sea will be lonely... It's impossible to really know. For some going alone would be lonely, for others it would be fun and they would be happy to be able to go wherever they wanted and do what they wanted. That just depends on you...

thankyou! :)

@ Fugu- hehe, dont worry, I already buy clothes and shoes from japan- so I should be ok! Thankyou! :)
@ SfumatoPants- well, I have to admit I do take offence to being called too old to dress in Lolita ><; lolitas in japan are aged between 16-30years old. It is a universal fashion, and I know plenty of grown women who wear it. That, and it is designed for grown women- not children (I dont think children could afford $300 dresses! haha)
As far as gyaru goes, I am well aware that there are mixed messages regarding this fashion. However, with the popularity of magazines such as Ranzuki, Egg and Ageha, I have a feeling that it is not as harshly looked apon anymore- it is just another fashion that women do (women in there late 20's, btw- all the models in such magazines are in there 20's, and there is a popluar gyaru magazine dedicated to mothers). I am sorry if I sound alittle urked, but these are both commom misconceptions of these fashions.
Thankyou for your concern, however! I wasnt planning on wearing either every single day (it takes too long to get dressed! haha) :)

Thankyou everyone!