Japan: The World’s Top Nation for Solo Travel

Solo travel is quietly gaining popularity in Japan. According to a 2024 survey by Euromonitor, Japan had the highest percentage of respondents who “travel alone” among the 39 countries surveyed, with approximately one in five people doing so (*1). Furthermore, a survey by the Japan Tourism Agency revealed that the number of people with solo travel experience has increased by about 2.5 million compared to 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic (*2).

Several factors are thought to be driving this trend. Japan is a relatively safe country, which has long fostered a culture where solo activities like “hitori karaoke” (solo karaoke) can thrive as commercial services. The COVID-19 pandemic limited contact with others, and advances in digital technology have made it easier for people to gather information on their own and stay connected with family and friends online during their travels. These factors have reduced the anxiety and loneliness once associated with traveling alone.

So, what is the appeal of solo travel? In the author’s view, the greatest charm of solo travel is the high degree of freedom it offers. In a survey by the Japan Tourism Association, when asked for positive opinions about traveling alone, top responses, cited by over 40% of participants, included “I like being able to do exactly what I want” and “It’s relaxing not to have anyone interfere.” You can enjoy what you love at your own pace, without being influenced by a companion’s schedule. Not having to worry about accommodating others and being able to “decide everything for yourself” is perhaps the unique pleasure of solo travel.

On the other hand, some people also express feelings of anxiety and loneliness about traveling alone. In the aforementioned survey, over 40% of female respondents in particular stated that they “worry about safety.” Furthermore, over 30% of respondents gave answers such as “It’s more fun with someone else” and “I feel lonely by myself” (*3). In terms of cost, it has also been found that solo travelers tend to pay more for accommodations and tours than those traveling with friends, with transportation costs being a particularly significant burden (*2).

To lower these hurdles, travel agencies are offering a variety of tours and plans. For example, “tours exclusively for solo participants” create an environment where it’s easy to meet new people, as everyone is traveling alone. There are also products designed with safety in mind, such as women-only tours and plans that include a tour conductor. To address the cost issue, options are steadily expanding, with agencies promoting “last-minute discount plans” to accommodate the typically higher expenses of solo travel.

The diversification of work styles is also encouraging solo travel. Styles like “workations,” which combine work and travel, and “bleisure” (business + leisure), where people enjoy sightseeing on business trips, are becoming more established. This has made it easier than ever to travel freely on one’s own schedule.

Solo travel allows people to take off on a whim, whether for personal reasons or as an extension of a business trip. Efforts to reduce the anxieties and challenges of solo travel and to further promote services and environments that support it—initiatives that are conscious of these changing times—may further expand the possibilities of travel. (MDK)
　
References:
•Euromonitor International. “Japan: The World’s Most Solo Traveller Country. The COVID-19 Pandemic Has Significantly Changed Views on Solo Travel.”
https://www.euromonitor.com/press/press-releases/june-2024/japan_the_worlds_most_solo_traveller_country
•Japan Tourism Agency. “Survey on Travel and Tourism Consumption Trends,” 2018-2024.
•Japan Tourism Association. “The State of Solo Travel,” 2019.
https://www.nihon-kankou.or.jp/home/userfiles/files/hitoritabi01.pdf