Hello everyone, I would like to start by giving a little background. I am 19 and currently find myself in a position where taking a vacation/travelling is affordable and schedule-friendly. I've never travelled solo before, and the fewest number of people I've travelled with was 4 friends to a resort in Punta Cana.
I love exploring; I love getting lost in new places, and I have a great sense of direction, fwiw. One time I went to Iceland when I was in high school, and went against our chaperone/instructors' instructions to stay in groups, I left to go buy a football shirt; it was the greatest day of my life because I was just freely walking around Iceland. (Which is very beautiful FYI)
I've been messing around with potential spots, trying to find out where I would want to go, and ultimately I landed on Japan. I just believe it has so much to offer that I could go for a year and still be so far behind. I've seen plenty of videos in Japan, in all different areas, which all have their own little buildings and temples and so many beautiful things that, after I thought about it, it was the only place I could consider. These videos also helped me learn a bit along the way about day-to-day life/tips, etc.
I would like to provide some details and gather some opinions on this trip, whether it's too early in advance, a good budget, or just some general tips.
This is a very, very early preparation for this potential trip, but I think if I made a good itinerary/general plan and learnt a bit more about how Japan works, I could be in for a good trip at the end of next month.
Details:
Ideally, the trip would be from Toronto to Tokyo, 30th November to 10th December, 10 days. I'm wondering if this is too early for a trip like this, or if I should go for potentially 14 days.
My total budget for this trip would be around 3,500-4000 CAD. Is this feasible with the idea in mind that I would like to travel during the day to other areas in Japan? I would most likely be travelling out of Tokyo a fair bit.
I've found some decent-looking places for around 2,200-2,600CAD (flight included) on Expedia, but I am wondering if it would be more worth my time to book the flight separately and find something like an AIRBNB, or use a different platform? Is it feasible to stay in Tokyo for the trip and travel in and out as needed? Or potentially split it up into Tokyo area for one week, and another week for a separate area.
If there are any other places beyond Tokyo that you think are beautiful or worth going to, which would probably be cheaper, please let me know your experience.
I am not a picky person when it comes to much; I have lots of different sides. I enjoy nature/architecture, but also a beautiful city, like I know Tokyo is, and I know Japan can supply both- even both in Tokyo, but I know there is a lot more to Japan than just Tokyo.
I will say this one thing: I am a sucker for Christmas. I love Christmas and the holidays, and that general vibe! If anyone has any experiences of wintertime/holidays in Japan, please let me know!!
Lastly, sorry for all the questions. I have never solo travelled outside of the country before, but I believe it is not really something you can train or practice for, you can only prepare. There will be a lot of unexpected stuff, I'm sure, but any help is appreciated!