Japan #3 – Solo travel – Sep-Oct 2025

This year, I decided to have a solo travel experience in Japan. I spent there about 18 days which proved to be very pleasing. My calendar looked like this:

5 nights in Tokyo,
4 nights in Osaka,
2 nights in Kyoto,
2 nights in Nagoya,
2 nights in Matsumoto,
3 nights in Tokyo.

I bought a 14 days JR Pass before leaving Romania – as you might know, this pass cannot be bought as you arrive in Japan, it needs to be purchased in advance.
For my first stay in Tokyo, considering I was alone, I opted for a “budget” choice and went to a capsule hotel (Anshin Oyado Premier Shinjuku).
Though I had a similiar experience in the past, this time I was a bit down in my first hour there. I even considered moving to a regular hotel, but I decided to give it some time. Which proved being the right decision. As I figured out the flows, how to deal with getting my daily stuff from the luggage area each day, how to use the facilities and all these routines, I really started to enjoy it. Considering all the services & ammenities available in this place, after 5 nights spent there, I strongly recommend it!

First day was allocated to walking. I started in the morning in Tsukiji (wanted to see the famous fish market). Then I took a route from Ginza to Jimbocho. I had some shops I wanted to check, such as Yonex and Mizuno. I also wanted to go through the bookstores in Jimbocho, a district known for this. The weather in mid-September was very hot and humid, a slight discomfort, though I consider myslef quite resilient to unfavorable weather conditions.

The second day was fully booked for events. I started with a morning at Kokugikan, at the September Sumo Tournament. The interior of this venue is really impressive. The morning session was not so vivid though, as the rikishi (the sumo wrestlers) were from lower divisions.
At noon, I went to Suntory Hall, where I attended a classical music concert with the Japan Philarmonic Orchestra. Very good choice, I loved it! The programme: J. S. Bach: Prelude from Suite No. 1 for Solo Cello in G Major / Frescobaldi (arr. Cassadó / K. Kobayashi): Toccata (arr. for Cello Ensemble) / Bruch: “Kol Nidrei,” Op. 47 / Dvořák: Symphony No. 9 in E Minor, Op. 95, “From the New World”. Performers: Conductor: Kentaro Kawase,
Cello: Michiaki Ueno, Navigator: Katsunori Takahashi.

I returned to Kokugikan, in Ryogoku, for the final matches of the day. The atmosphere in this session was electrifying, the house was full and the matches spectacular! I was really happy I managed to see live, in Japan, such a show!

The following day (Day#3) I took a ride to Shizuoka. I visited the Hiroshige Museum (known as Shizuoka City Tokaido Hiroshige Art Museum), which, during my trip preparations, appeared to be the main museum for Hiroshige. The place was nice, in a small locality East of Shizuoka (Yui), but I reckon I expected a bit more, considering how huge this artist is at a global scale.
After this cultural stop, I went to Miho no Matsubara, a famous place for its natural beauty. Actually, it is one of the places that also inspired Hiroshige in some of his works. It is a beach, bordered by a forest of old pine trees, with a straight view to Mount Fuji. Absolutely amazing. I spent a few hour there, very relaxed, in a zen, tranquility mood. A place I would like to return to.
After this peaceful break, I took the train back to Tokyo and went to the National Stadium (which is about 30min walking from the hotel I mentioned above) – because I had tickets to the World Athletics Championship. Actuallly, this was one of the first drivers for me to go to Tokyo in this time of the year. Which proved such a good decision! I wanted to see live Gabi Thomas in 200m, but unfortunately she cancelled her participation, due to a medical issue. Anyway, I had a chance to see Lyle and other great athletes. Again, amazing atmosphere!

Day#4 was for Tokyo, having a longer evening at the World Athletics Championship, with more finals. During the day, I managed to visit Ōta Memorial Museum of Art. I ate some icecream on Takeshita Street and, of course, bought a pair of trail shoes from the Asics shop in Harajuku.

In Day5, I checked out and took the Shinkansen to Osaka. It was my first time in this city. Considering that I was there during the Osaka World Expo, I really wanted to have this experience. Honestly, I did not have great expectations, but I though it was worth doing it since I had this luck to be there during such a rare event (World Expos are organized every 5 years).
As I arrived, I went straight to the Osaka Castle, which was “wow”! I must admit I like Japanese castles and this one was a beauty! I have seen the plum orchard in the gardens, I guess it is outstanding to be there in blooming season.

The follwoing day (#6), I had something in mind: I went to Sakai, in the Southern part of the city, to visit the Shimano Bicycle Museum. Being connected to bikes all my life, I felt that I had to do this. It was a very pleasant experience, I am glad I did it. In the afternoon, I walked in the central areas of Osaka, nothing special to do…

Day #7, a Monday, was fully reserved for Osaka Expo. I got the first entry slot, from 9 a.m. and, unexpectedly, spent the whole day at the Expo. The location was impressive, a vast space surrounded by a wooden structure which provided a choice for a roundabout strolling, with amazing view on the expo, the nearby sea and the surroundings. The country pavilions were different and some of them very attractive. I visited a few, as the queuing time was considerable in some instances. My first goal was to check Romania’s, as a national duty :). I also visited Colombia (my next destination), Saudi Arabia, Azerbaidjan and many smaller countries included in the “Commons” (out of which Moldavia and Mongolia were on my “to do list”). I really liked the Expo, I would go again to such an event, even spend a couple of days. The next one is in 2030 in Saudi Arabia.

Day #8 was again booked for a cultural event. I had tickets for a taiko concert in Akashi, performance by Kodo, probably the most famous taiko band in Japan. The show was part of the World Tour, as Kodo has several performances outside Japan. They are originally from Sado Island in Niigata, a place strongly associated to taiko. The show was memorable, I enjoyed it. I had tickets in the 3rd row, which made my view spectacular. After the show, I visited the ruins of the Akashi Castle and unsuccessfully tried to find a statue of the Akashi lady, the famous character from The Tale of Genji. A highlight of the day was my way from Osaka to Akashi. As I was not in a hurry and the day was a National Holiday in Japan (Sep 23), I took advantage of this context and made a detour through Kyoto, as I had the chance to ride a famous train that operates only in weekends and holidays: the Kyo-train Garaku. It was indeed a great experience, each carriage has a special design. I even had a chance to sit a while near the zen garden which decorates one of the cars.
After Kodo’s show, being close to Kobe, I stopped by to eat some Kobe beef, which was indeed very tasty.

In Day #9, I checked out and headed for Kyoto. I stayed at Urban Nijo Premium, where I had also stayed one year ago and found it good value for money. I left my luggage at the reception and headed to Sakamoto, towards Biwa Lake. From there, I started to climb towards Enriaku-ji, a famous Buddhist temple I wanted to visit for a long time. Due to bear risks (I was alone and opted for safer decisions) I took the rope-way, which was great experience. The temple is very nice, as it is a complex of buildings spread on the top on Mount Hiei. As I had read in the past about the Mount Hiei marathonist monks, this was another strong driver for me to get there (if you don’t know about these monks, give it a search…). I spent a few hours wandering in a very nice natural environment, soothing moments.
The rest of the day I walked through Kyoto, a jewel. I’ve been thinking, if I were to choose a place or city as the best travel destination around the world, which one would it be? There are high odds that I would choose Kyoto!

Day #10 was again about “hitting the road”. I took the train early in the morning and headed North, to Amanohashidate (~2h ride). I had searched online for bike rental shops and found a proper one near the station. I managed to get one and here I am, riding on the famuos sandbar in Amanohashidate, one of the top natural wonders of Japan. As this ride was quite short, I kept on towards Ine fishing village. The journey was marvelous, and the fisherman villages on the coast were very beautiful. I ate fish in Ine, with a taste out of this world! Also, bought a lot of souvenirs, as I loved the place and thought, as I always do, these purchases might help the locals. When I returned, I extended my ride with a few kilometers and went to the Kanabiki Falls. Not among the top ones in Japan, but cute. I returned the bike, took the train and headed back to Kyoto, loaded with lots of beautiful memories.

In day #11 I moved from Kyoto to Nagoya. Before leaving Kyoto, I went for a couple of hours to Arashiyama, visited Tenryu-ji (which I liked a lot) and the bamboo forest, which is the most famous one in the area. I also had a walk on the banks of the Hozugawa river and bought a few nama yatsuhashi, a specific local dessert. After this short trip, I took the train to Nagoya. I checked in and headed for Nagoya Castle. It was closing time and I did not get inside, but the views from outside were impressive. I spent the evening wandering through the city, preparing for a busy next day…

Day #12 was another memorable one, full of “to do’s”. In the morning, I went to Inuyama Castle, one of the 5 castles included in the list of National Treasures in Japan, considered the oldest standing tower (1537). Though it is not as large as others, it has a specific beauty hard to describe. Its old age might contribute to this perception. From its tower, the view to Kiso river is very beautiful…
Near Inuyama, there is a park worth visiting, Urakuen Garden. This hosts a famuos venue, Joan Teahouse, but the whole compound is an island of inner peace.
I got back to Nagoya and headed for Toyota Museum (yes, I drive a Toyota 😉 ). It is not very convenient to get there, it took me about 1h, but it was worth. It is an automobile museum, it is not dedicated only to Toyota. For those who love cars, it looks like an art museum! I admit I did not have too much time to admire everything, as I hurried a bit to get to Toyota Stadium. I had tickets for a football match between Nagoya Grampus and Kashima Antlers, the latter being the best ranked Japanese team in terms of former titles. Indeed, Kashima won 4-0, but this did not stop Nagoya’s fans from singing and supporting their favorites. The atmosphere was amazing! The stadium and its surroundings also look great!

Day #13, on the road again. Actually, on the railroad, to Matsumoto! A place in the Northern Alps, which I kept for the final part of the vacation. I had several things I wanted to do here, and I may say now that it was all great! First, I started with Matsumoto Castle, another one on the list of 5 national treasures. It is known as “The Crow”, by its look. Very beautiful! It may take some time to climb in the tower, but for me it was worth. The streets in central Matsumoto are also a bit peculiar, a mix of white and black which I have not seen elsewhere in Japan. After the castle, I went straight to the Matsumoto City Museum of Art, which is considered the most important place to go for a Yayoi Kusama experience. The great artist was born in Matsumoto. If you go by, I would say it is a “must” to have this short immersion in her world.
In the afternoon, I took the train towards Narai-Juku, a famous postal town which is very well preserved (on Nakasendo Trail). Though I got there at sunset, the feelings I had in this old town were among the best ones I experience in Japan. Absolutely amazing! As I returned to the hotel, I drank a small bottle of red wine bought from Shiojiri, a town on these routes I took, which was strongly promoted for its wineries. Indeed, a very good wine!

Day #14 was labelled “outdoor”. I have been longing for a day in the mountains in Japan and I chose Kamikochi as my initiation spot. I had in plan to see the beautiful landscapes around Azusa river and climb on a mountain top (I chose Yake-dake). I got there in two steps, first by train to Shinshimashima and then by bus to Kamikochi. It is advised to book the bus tickets in advance (worked well online). I talked to the helpful persons at the tourist point in Kamikochi and they recommended, delicately, in the Japanese style, not to climb Yake-dake, as the weather forecast is not good and a storm may come. As I had time and the morning weather was not so bad, I started on with Kappa-Bashii bridge, the took the path to Yake, to take the pulse. I kept walking and, after about two hours and a half, I reached a small chalet where I discussed with a kind lady and drank a hot green tea. There was not much to climb to the top, probably less than an hour, but it was in the clouds, and someone coming down from there said the wind is very strong. So I decided to go down, got back to Kamikochi and took a bus to Hirayu Onsen. I spent there about one hour, very welcome, refreshing and relaxing after the hike. Got back safe in Matsumoto, having a clear decision that I should repeat this sort of experience in my future trips to Japan.

Day #15. The return to Tokyo. And what a return that was, as I had managed to buy tickets for the finals of the Kinoshita Group ATP Tennis Tournament. The event was hosted at Ariake Arena, in Koto, South-East of central Tokyo. Things were so well laid out for this trip that, unexpectedly, the finals were set for a Tuesday, the day I returned to Tokyo. After the final of the doubles, the highlight of the day (and one of the highlights of my entire program in Japan) was the final match between Taylor Fritz and the current ATP No.1 player, Carlos Alcaraz! It was a great show, watching Alcaraz play live was for me the ultimate experience of this already amazing vacation. Carlitos won in 2 sets. His speed on court, the power, precision and variability in his play were stunning. I really felt like thanking God for this opportunity and for the whole flow of the trip.

Day #16. In the first day of October I planned to “attack” another place that was on my list for quite a while: the Tokyo National Museum in Ueno. I saw a documentary about it and had planned to check it this time. It was great! I spent 2-3 hours there and felt so happy that I had the opportunity to visit it. The teahouse in the garden is worth paying a visit, to realx a bit and enjoy a perfect matcha tea. The rest of the day, walking to Senso-ji temple, eating well and shopping…

Day #17. As departure was close, shopping become more important. I love the area around Harajuku and Cat Stret, so I spent most of the time there, buying some Onitsuka shoes and different other brands I enjoy. I also ate sushi at a kaiten sushi restaurant in Harajuku, a place I had been before and enjoyed.

Day #18. Departure day. As my plane was in the afternoon, I had a quick walk in the morning. My hotel was in Roppongi, so I decided to visit the Zōjō-ji temple, which I really liked. I went there in the morning and there were not many people around, which gave me the opportunity to meditate a bit inside, in the silence of this special environment. Nearby, there is a cemetery of the Tokugawa family, descendants of the famous Tokugawa Ieyasu, one of the 3 great unifiers of Japan, the founder of the first Shogunate. His family ruled over Japan for more than two and a half centuries, from 1603 until the Meiji restauration in 1868. I passed by Tokyo Tower which is nearby, went to Mori Garden and then spent a few moments in a great library, Tsukaya Books (in Roppongi). I left early for Narita, as I wanted to have time for shopping in the airport. Important notice: as we speak, prices in Narita are in line with the street prices, often lower. So, travellers are not captive in a place with huge prices as in most other airports. On the contrary. Which makes it a great place for the final purchases, such as candies and stuff.

Needless to say, I am already thinking of my next trip to Japan 🙂