Boldly Go Solo

Tokyo cafes where solo travelers can chat with Japanese residents

In my previous post, my friend Bob described the conversation café scene in Tokyo. The conversation continues.

Do guests always just sit down at the conversation cafes and chat?

No, the cafes also hold “international parties” on the weekend once or twice a month. At a Norton Place party, a pianist provided a mini-concert at the cozy café that looks like someone’s family room. 

(Except that family rooms don’t tend to host belly dance parties. But this cafe did. And it displays the photos to prove it, Bob says.)  

Leaf Cup’s international party was a standing happy hour type event.  Because people are eager to practice English, finding someone to talk to at the parties is easy. They want to hear about where you're from and what your experiences have been in Japan.

Tokyo's conversation cafes welcome native English speakers

Clearly, Japan is a café culture. The last time my friend Bob returned from a solo trip to Japan, I asked him about his travels and he contributed his observations about Japanese cat cafes to my blog.

This time, he stopped in at several English-conversation cafes in Tokyo, where he was a top attraction, I'm guessing, being so good in English and all. 

What did you like about going to English-conversation cafes in Tokyo?

Tokyo’s English-conversation cafes give you a chance to interact with Japanese people in ways you might not otherwise.  

Solo vacation in DC for cherry blossom seekers

The cherry blossoms are coming! Very soon now. I happen to be highly aware of the impending pinkness (pinker as buds, then very pale pink as blossoms) because I was immersed last month in writing a cherry blossom guide for a hotel magazine.

Recently, the National Park Service announced its prediction of the peak cherry blossom bloom times: March 20 to April 3.

While a lot of the cherry blossom events are for kids and families, several would be perfect for solo travelers looking for company while in D.C. I'm thinking about doing one or two of these myself, even though I've been to the Tidal Basin's beautiful cherry trees many, many times. And even though I might visit at other times with friends.

Washington Walks offers a "Blossoms Secrets Stroll" that teaches you all the cherry tree lore you could possibly want. I just learned that the 17th-century Japanese stone lantern near the Tidal Basin, where a veritable forest of cherry trees resides, is the oldest manmade object in the country that's not housed in a museum.

One half of a couple travels solo in Japan

I landed upon the blog of a woman who normally travels with her kids and her "other half," who she says takes good care of her by packing and doing laundry for her. (Is he for rent?)

Recently, she had the opportunity to travel in Japan on her own for two days. "Big deal, right?" she writes. "But to me, it was a big scary deal."

She hadn't traveled alone before, not even on a business trip. She feared having no one to talk to and no one to remind her of the essentials, like taking her meds.

Her blog post on solo travel is long so I'm going to pull out the pertinent bits, including that she has also had "rip-roaring fights" on some of her travels with this treasure of a packer and launderer, so remember that nothing is perfect and score one for solo travel versus angry partners.

So, she finally gets to her destination and realizes she not only has the whole room to herself, but can soak in the tub for as long as she likes without kids banging on the door. She can surf the net without anyone nagging. She can have a meal without having to cut up meat for a child or referee a fight.

A cat cafe in Yokohama Japan good for solo travelers seeking companionship

The best time to go to a cat café is during feeding time. In case you were wondering. That’s when the cats burst to life.

What, pray tell is a cat café, you ask?

I’ll let my friend Bob tell the story. Bob recently returned from a two-week visit to Japan. This was his 10th visit to the other side of the planet from where he lives in Washington, D.C.

While there, he visited a cat café in Yokohama called Neko Café Leon. “Neko” is "cat" in Japanese.

Tell us what exactly is a cat café?

These types of establishments have cropped up to meet the needs of cat lovers who can’t have pets in their apartments or don’t have them for other reasons. The staff at Café Leon consists of a few human employees and 17 cats of various sizes, shapes and colors.

For reference, the cats’ photos and profiles are displayed on the wall. The profile for Leon, a unique 2-year-old short-legged breed, indicates that he’s the café’s main cat.

Translated from the Japanese: “Leon’s idol, Mr. Leon. The walnut-shaped eyes that look a bit powerless make you want to hold and protect him. Also, his charming feature is short legs that are typical of the Munchkin breed. His clumsy footsteps make everyone be crazy about him.”

Can you eat there too? Or would you even want to?

Although it’s a café, you can’t drink coffee and pet cats at the same time. The coffee shop is separate from the cat play room, which is filled with cat toys and things for them to climb and sleep on.

Before interacting with the entertainment, you must wash your hands and be aware of certain rules. In the play room, no flash photos or loud noises are allowed. In fact, the room was so quiet that it seemed more like a library with cats.

About half of the cats were sleeping on the job. Others were roaming around, playing or being pet by customers. I don’t know if these cats were screened for their pleasant personalities, but they all appeared to be getting along. Two cats were chasing each other playfully, but I saw no fights.

The most startling thing that happened was when a cat suddenly jumped on my friend’s shoulders. 

Traveling solo in Japan, eating and sleeping cheaply

In my last post, my Japanophile friend Bob talked about some of his favorite places to visit in his favorite country. In this post, he talks more about traveling solo, why he loves Japan and the types of places he goes to eat and sleep when he visits.

What so intrigues you about Japan?

The mix of modern and traditional cultures, the delicious food, great customer service, and the discovery potential.  Japan has all of the modern conveniences imaginable, but also ancient traditions and architecture. 

Tokyo, for example, not only contains bustling neighborhoods with bright neon lights, but also serene shrines and temples and beautiful gardens.  However, I don't want to give too much away because the best part of being in Japan is making your own discoveries.

When did you first go to Japan?

It was about 15 years ago when a friend was working there as an English teacher.  He took me on a wonderful tour of Kyoto, which contains the flavor of old Japan.  That first visit to Kyoto made a lasting impression.

Have you always set out solo or have you gone on trips to Japan with friends before? What's your preference?

I've done both.  The first time, I met some friends in Japan who had come from their home in Hong Kong.  These days, I usually spend about half of my time traveling around on my own and the other half with Japanese friends I met here in the U.S. who have moved back to Japan.

Traveling solo around Tokyo, Kyoto and other places in Japan

Anyone who knows my friend Bob knows how much he loves all things Japanese. He's been studying the language for years in Washington, with Japanese language partners and in classes. He's even learning how to write kanji, one of three Japanese alphabets. The most complicated one from what I can tell.

Every time I turn around, Bob's off on another trip to Japan, including the time he rented out his apartment in Washington a few years ago and lived in Tokyo for several months, going to language school there and traveling around.

Having never been to Japan, I decided to let Bob talk about what it's like to travel around Japan solo. Usually, he splits his time during his vacations in Japan, visiting friends and then heading out on solo jaunts to explore new places. He's in Japan now. He answered my questions before he left. (btw, the women pictured at left are NOT geisha, but maiko. Find out the difference) 

How many times have you visited Japan?

This trip is my tenth. Each time, I go someplace new that I found in my Lonely Planet guidebook, or that someone recommended.

What places do you like the best?

My favorite places are Tokyo, Kyoto, Miyajima and Beppu. Tokyo may be too crowded and modern for some people but I have found much to enjoy. In the spring, for example, the cherry blossom trees around the Imperial Palace are truly spectacular.

I like the parts of Tokyo where you can see the remnants of old Japan. Asakusa, a popular area with an ancient Buddhist temple and five-story pagoda, is a good place to get started. It's also where you can find all kinds of tourist gifts.

Close to Shinjuku station, literally the busiest station in the world, is an area called Omoide Yokocho, or Memory Lane. It's a maze of alleys filled with tiny restaurants that were built after World War II and serve tasty yakitori (grilled chicken on a stick).

For a sample of great Japanese tradition, I would recommend visiting the old kabuki theater in the Ginza district of Tokyo. Kabuki plays can last all day but you can buy a ticket for just part of a performance for an hour or two.

  And if you don't understand the story (I didn't, even with an English translation headset), just seeing the theater and the way of performing is worth the visit.

I think no trip to Japan can be complete without a visit to Kyoto. It's where you can see the most of old Japan, with its many temples, shrines and gardens, and possibly, a geisha in the Gion district.

Miyajima is a small island near Hiroshima that is said to be one of the three most beautiful places in Japan. I would agree. It is famous for its gorgeous torii, or entrance gate, to a Shinto shrine sticking out of the water, and deer that wander the streets.

Beppu is in the far western part of Japan, in Kyushu, and is known for its numerous hot springs. In addition to the mineral water baths you can also take mud and sand baths. Beppu's collection of nine bubbling hot springs, known as "hells," are not for bathing. Just for viewing.