I just returned from a two-week solo trip to Japan.
Whether you’re traveling across the world or just heading out of town for a few days, a few simple apps can take the mystery out of being in a foreign land and make your trip so much more fun.
You don’t need to be tech-savvy, but you do need a smartphone and a willingness to practice before you go.
Before you travel, try getting “lost” in your own town and using these apps to find your way home. It’s definitely a confidence builder.
It’s also a good time to ask yourself:
- How strong is my sense of direction?
- Do unfamiliar places stress me out?
- Am I comfortable figuring things out on my own?
When you travel solo, there’s no collaborative thinking. It’s all about you and your ability. I like to think of it as a puzzle when I am far from home. A puzzle that only I can solve. Don’t forget that it’s very difficult to get really lost these days. The most that can happen is that you end up taking a cab back to your hotel. If you are the kind of person that tends to get overwhelmed in new places, consider a few short solo trips first.
Some of my greatest discoveries were when I got lost in Japan. I found great restaurants, markets and buildings just aimlessly wandering the back streets and immersing myself in the moment.
Here are five apps I used every single day in Japan.
Google Maps
I used Google Maps constantly. Drop a pin at your hotel as soon as you arrive – especially in countries where English isn’t widely spoken. You can show the address to a taxi driver or quickly navigate back after a long day.
I also take photos of the hotel exterior and nearby cross streets. After hours of sightseeing, everything can blur together.
Download the local map for offline use. Subway systems and underground stations often disrupt service.
Google Translate
This is a lifesaver. It translates speech, text, and even signs through your camera.
When I was trying to find body lotion in a pharmacy, I simply spoke into the app, and it translated my request into Japanese. The clerk responded verbally, and it translated that back to me. The best use is for menus. You don’t have to rely solely on restaurants that have photographs of food for tourists.
Google Lens
Point your phone at a landmark, statue, or unusual building and it tells you all about it as well as its geographical location. I loved using it for the unexpected architecture that wasn’t in any guidebook.
ChatGPT
Learning how to use ChatGPT can dramatically reduce travel stress. You can ask for directions, entrance fees, best visiting times, and even step-by-step train routes.
However, always double-check directions and take screenshots. Sometimes instructions lack small, but crucial details like whether to turn right or left after exiting a station. Ask for hotel to attraction directions starting with turning right or left when you leave the hotel. You can ask it to add the direction the train is going in Japanese and what train to take. Get all the information and download it. I also took screenshots for easy access.
Use ChatGPT as a tool but not your only source of information. Doublecheck it with a local map. Tell Chat GPT when it makes mistakes. Ask whether there are any hills, steps or how long it will take for you to walk, which can be important if you have luggage. ChatGPT loves saying something is five minutes away. Program in how long it will take for “me” to walk it.
Booking.com
If you want to move from city to city, this app is invaluable. Don’t forget to read all the reviews for a hotel or apartment and ask ChatGPT whether the area is safe for solo female tourists. You can also ask ChatGPT for a list of the safest places to stay and cross check it with Booking.com
Make sure:
- There is a 24-hour staffed reception.
- There is an elevator or ground-floor access.
- Close to restaurants, transportation and convenience stores.
- Flexible cancellation.
- Ensuite bathrooms.
I stayed in a couple of Airbnb type apartments. Trust me, dragging luggage up three flights of stairs is the last thing you need after a 13-hour flight. Also, be careful about self-check-ins. I arrived at my apartment only to find that the PIN they gave me did not work and had to email the property for the correct one. Again, you don’t want to spend the first day in a new city waiting outside with all your luggage for hours.
Final Thought
This list isn’t exhaustive, but these five apps helped make my trip to Japan an amazing experience. I am so looking forward to planning my next solo adventure. I learned so much about myself and my abilities that a whole new world has just opened up for me. I hope it does the same for you.
Let’s Have a Conversation:
What are your favorite travel apps? Where have they helped you most? What would you recommend to first-time solo travelers?
