How To Plan A Solo Female Trip To Tokyo, Japan

Forbes

15-07-2025

Tokyo's cityscape at night getty
Though I typically steer clear of popular travel destinations, especially during peak summer season, I make an exception for Tokyo. From childhood summer vacations to, more recently, solo sojourns as a middle-aged woman, Japan's capital has never felt too familiar. If anything, it always surprises me.
While it'd be easy to bandy about well-worn clichés such as Tokyo's mix of old and new, its storied food scene, and how distinctly it contrasts with Western cultures, none of these things would hold much appeal if the city didn't prioritize public safety—which is key for a woman traveling, well, anywhere.
With that in mind, ahead are some curated recommendations on how to plan a memorable solo female trip to Tokyo.
Alaska Airlines' inaugural flight from Seattle to Narita on May 12, 2025. Alaska Airlines
Last fall's strategic merger of Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines expanded their collective global presence, while offering loyalists across both brands more benefits including Alaska Airlines' reputable loyalty program, consistent track record of on-time domestic flights, and unique culinary programming such as Chef's (tray) Table ( First Class meals by acclaimed chefs like James Beard Award-winning Brandon Jew)—along with Hawaiian Airlines' warm hospitality and robust international network. (The brand has flown to Tokyo for nearly 15 years, since November 2010.)
Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines inaugurated their new nonstop flight from Seattle to Narita International Airport with a ribbon cutting and a new whiskey cocktail at Alaska's N Concourse lounge called Narita Banana. Alaska Airlines
Speaking of which, it's now easier than ever to arrive in Japan's capital city rested and ready to explore, thanks to a new direct flight from Seattle to Narita International Airport. Inaugurated on May 12 with festivities including a ribbon cutting, a Taiko drumming ceremony, and Narita Banana, a whiskey cocktail exclusively available at Alaska's N Concourse lounge, the route's goal is to establish Alaska Airline's hub as the West Coast leader of international air travel. (Twelve more in-demand overseas destinations, including South Korea's capital city Seoul, will be rolled out by 2030.)
Though economy class in Hawaiian Airlines' widebody aircrafts is a competitive product with terrific complimentary perks like speedy Starlink WiFi and pre-departure Mai Tai cocktails, spring for a business class seat if you're able. In addition to a lie-flat bed, you'll be pampered with travel-friendly Lōli'i toiletries—the hydrating mist is an in-flight skinsaver—and locally-inspired menus that feature beloved Hawaiian pastry chef Michelle Karr-Ueoka's lilikoi crunch cake for a sweet finish. Where to Stay in Tokyo
Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Otemachi Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Otemachi
A sky-high urban oasis, Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Otemachi takes up residence in the Otemachi Tower's top six floors, and makes a posh and centrally-located home base for getting around town. Plus, the expansive views of the city, especially the Imperial Palace and Mount Fuji, are downright dreamy. Bathed in soothing grey tones, the 190 guest rooms and suites are configured with an open layout and oversized ceiling-to-floor windows. Ideal for unwinding after a long day on your feet, the spa offers Japanese-inspired treatments such as the hourlong Yakusugi Forest Renewal, which combines a full-body exfoliation and massage softly scented with Hinoki.
Keith Motsi oversees Virtù, an award-winning cocktail bar tucked away in Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Otemachi. Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Otemach
In true Four Seasons fashion, the hotel's restaurants and bars are all exemplary—Michelin-starred Est, for example, specializes in modern French cuisine spotlighting Japanese ingredients—but the award-winning bar Virtù takes top billing with a gleaming Art Deco design, original French-Japanese cocktails—try the signature martini that blends Japanese gin and vodka with French vermouth—and impossibly charming staff led by the head bartender Keith Motsi and assistant head bartender Graham Kimura. What to Do in Tokyo
The Japanese luxury fashion brand Sacai was established by Chitose Abe in 1999. Sacai
As a global epicenter of style, Tokyo is a shopper's paradise—the sluggish Japanese Yen and tax-free options help, too. (Have your passport ready at all times.) Though you'll find outposts of every major fashion house here, why not splurge on something local and harder to come by back home? Established in 1999 by Chitose Abe, an alum of Rei Kawakubo and Rei Kawakubo, Sacai embodies quiet luxury with its meticulous craftsmanship and innovative mix of textures, fabrics, and silhouettes. Its flagship store in the posh Aoyama district, with its concrete gallery-like design, adds to the allure of the shopping experience.
Wrestlers in the ring during the Tokyo Grand Sumo tournament at the Ryogoku Kokugikan. Getty Images
Originally performed as a ritual dance to honor the gods and pray for a good harvest, Sumo has, over time, evolved into Japan's national pastime. Even if you're new to the world of Sumo, attending a Grand Sumo tournament is a must if the timing's right. Held in January, May, and September at Ryogoku Kokugikan, these 15-day events are thrilling spectacles merging ancient traditions with electrifying audience participation. Tickets are required, and while you're there, try some Chanko-nabe, a hearty hot pot favored by sumo wrestlers.
Bubble Universe at the teamLab Borderless AFP via Getty Images
Since relocating to Azabudai Hills in February 2024, TeamLabs Borderless has already attracted one million-plus visitors—easily ranking it among Tokyo's top tourist attractions. Unlike conventional museums or galleries, this innovative space features 50 digital installations spread across five main zones. Each installation responds to your movements, immersing you in a constantly evolving and dazzling world of light, color, and sound so no two visits are the same. Where to Eat in Tokyo
Visit a standing sushi bar in Tokyo for a truly unique dining experience. getty
Tokyo is jam-packed with diverse dining, from nouveau Peruvian hotspots like Maz to the beautifully blistered Neopolitan pizzas turned out at Nakameguro's Seirinkan. But it's unfussy and traditional Japanese food I can't get enough of when I'm in town. For a unique dining experience—and since pricey omakases and affordable conveyer belt sushi bars are readily available in the States—visit a standing sushi bar. These are casual and affordable nooks where you'll enjoy your food, as the name suggests, standing around a bar counter. Popular ones include Magurobito Okachimachi (its specialty is fatty tuna), Standing Sushi Misaki, and Tachiguizushi Akira.
Yakitori consists of assorted chicken parts (skin, thighs, tails) grilled over Binchotan charcoal. getty
Another common Japanese food, yakitori consists of assorted chicken parts (skin, thighs, tails) grilled over Binchotan charcoal and finished simply with salt or tare (thick and sweet soy-based sauce). Torishiki is arguably the most famous yakitori spot in Tokyo, but Toritama Kagurazaka in Shirokane feels more special with its off-the-beaten-path address and twenty-plus cuts of chicken, including rarer pieces like gizzards and livers. If you want try a few different things in one go, check out Ebisu Yokocho, an alley converted to a food court housing 19 homey stalls selling casual bites from basashi (raw horse meat) to kushikatsu (deep-fried skewers).