Yumiko Fukui, author of the "Hitorippu" series, has traveled solo overseas over 400 times. She shares her tips for solo travel that will make you want to travel.

"When you hear the word 'overseas' you might get nervous, but in fact, in this day and age, you can go there just as casually and easily as you would travel domestically. Japanese people tend to think that they shouldn't go abroad that many times a year, but that's not true at all."

Now that we can search for information from all over the world on the Internet and it's easy to book flights and hotels, there's no reason not to go.

"I started traveling solo after I started working. Now, when I go to Taiwan, I go to Kyoto, and when I go to Hong Kong, I go to Osaka."

Even if we can't communicate using the same words, we won't give up. Because our feelings will definitely be conveyed.

However, going to a foreign country can be a big challenge. You may be worried about the language and security, and you may feel lonely. But according to Fukui, "It'll work out!"

"The important thing is not to give up on communication just because you can't do it. Of course, it's better to be able to speak the language than not. But at the very least, you should be able to say things like "hello," "thank you," "it's delicious," and "how much?" in the local language. And if you can also learn the numbers 1 to 10, you'll be able to manage. If you just don't understand and become a shell, that's the end of it. If you do your best despite your limitations, your feelings will definitely be conveyed, and when necessary, I also draw pictures to show them."

Moreover, we live in an age where most languages can be translated with a smartphone.

"In that sense, the internet environment may be more important."

Whether it's loneliness or safety, it's surprisingly easy to manage with just one mindset

Similarly, there's no need to worry about loneliness.

"These days, you can connect with people anytime through social media. If you send a message about your travels on LINE, you'll get a reply right away. We live in an age where you can share your impressions in real time. Sometimes you'll be so busy messaging all your friends on LINE, you just have to be careful not to overdo it (laughs). So, if you're worried that you might feel lonely, it's actually okay as long as you have a smartphone."

In terms of security, going alone is said to be a way to protect yourself.

"Especially for women, being alone makes them nervous, wary, and less likely to let their guard down. In fact, Japanese men traveling in groups of two or more are more likely to be vulnerable. Guidebooks dedicate about 10 pages to warning them about this, yet they are forced to buy obviously expensive carpets (laughs)."

Traveling for the second time: Tips for enjoying your time abroad

Once the hurdle of solo travel has been lowered a little, the main issue becomes "how to enjoy it." Here are some tips that only Fukui can offer.

"Traveling starts from the second time. If you're in a new place and you feel like you've never been there before, just go again. A trip isn't a one-time thing, so it's important to be greedy but not too greedy. The first time, you tend to just see the places you should see and then it's over. But from the second time onwards, you can focus on the places you really want to go and the things you want to do."

It is essential to do thorough research before traveling. As a courtesy to the destination and to avoid unnecessary travel time, Fukui-san's style is to read at least three different guidebooks. He says that the discoveries and surprises he encounters on top of that are what make traveling fun.

"In my case, when I'm in a new place, I set aside one day for sightseeing and one day for shopping. That's because I love shopping. I've been doing this ever since I did a very quick month-long tour of India, and realized that I didn't have much time to shop, which left me with indigestion at the end."

Traveling alone is surely a good way to concentrate on what you want to do without having to worry about anyone else. Of course, it's up to you to decide what you like and how you want to pursue it. And one of the recommended countries to start with is Taiwan.

Taiwan is a land of gourmets. His detailed information on his experiences is published in his book "Hitorippu" series.

"The people are very friendly and Japanese is easily understood. The "people who speak to you in Japanese", which you might not trust in other countries, are often doing so out of kindness, and there are many food stalls, so it's easy to eat alone. Once you go, you're hooked, and many people return multiple times. But please be careful of pickpockets in the night markets. I was picked up once.

I was so engrossed in shopping at the night market that I had my bag on my back, and before I knew it, the bottom had been cut off... When I opened the bag to get my wallet at the checkout, I was stunned and said, "What?! I can see my feet!?" (laughs). But the shopkeeper was very kind and bought me a replacement bag from a nearby shop. I was shocked that I'd been pickpocketed, but at the same time, I was so touched I cried."

Numerous episodes like these, as well as information gained from real-life experiences, are meticulously recorded in the three books of the "Hitorippu" series.

"I've been to Taiwan 60 times now, so I don't do much sightseeing anymore. I go there mainly to eat my fill. I always try to discover one or two new places."

The motto of the "Hitorippu" series is to provide accurate information based on real experience.

"General guidebooks list many restaurants, but there were many times during my 400 solo trips where I thought, 'This place isn't so good...' when I actually went there. There were restaurants with long queues, but the taste was considered 'drab' by Japanese people.' As I was asked by friends and colleagues, 'What should I eat in this country? What should I buy?' I thought it would be good to have a book that was full of reliable information, even if it only introduced a few restaurants. That was the initial reason I decided to create 'Hitorippu.' So, in Taiwan and other cities, I only introduce restaurants that I think are 'recommended!' based on my 400 solo trips."

Items of preference for experienced travelers

Well, since you're traveling alone, you naturally want to be particular about what you bring with you. We asked Fukui about his favorite items. First of all, he uses Eagle Creek's ORV Trunk 30 as a carry case.

"Bigger is better. I do a lot of shopping, so even on short trips I bring 100L luggage. It's a soft type, so if you don't have much luggage you can tighten it with the belt to make it compact, and the zipper makes it possible to take things in and out while it's standing upright. It's extremely convenient because you can do this while waiting in line to check in at the airport."

It's true that unfolding your suitcase in the airport lobby is a sensitive area and something you probably want to avoid due to security concerns.

"Also, I often find the smell of hotel rooms bothering me, so I always bring an aroma diffuser with me. My favorite is MUJI's Portable Aroma Diffuser. It's light, weighing less than 100g, and compact, so it doesn't get in the way."

There are many more. It would be fun to discover your own must-have items as you travel.

"For example, shoes that you can run in at any time for crisis management. Heels are out of the question, because when you're traveling, you often walk more than 10,000 steps a day. Also, be sure to bring an S-hook. There are often no hooks in toilets overseas, so it's essential, especially if you're traveling alone!"

It may certainly be convenient to be able to hang your bag or coat on the wall regardless of where you are.

"I also have a knife and a mini cutting board. When I travel, I buy lots of local fruit and cut it up and eat it at the hotel. In particular, the Aiwen mango is a wonderful variety that is available in Taiwan in the summer, so I highly recommend it."

Traveling alone is definitely fun once you take the first step.

There is no need to find a companion, and the destination and duration are up to you. Listening to Fukui's story, I somehow became interested in traveling alone.

"The trick to enjoying travel is to get as close to 'zero action' as possible. By eliminating the hassle, hassle, and stress that you don't even realize are associated with travel, one by one, the hurdles to traveling, not just traveling solo, will gradually become lower."

So, what kind of people are suited to solo travel? It is "people who have ever wanted to try it."

"In my opinion, 90% of women who want to try traveling alone, if they just take the plunge, will come back having enjoyed it and thinking, 'Traveling alone is so much fun!' The world is big and life is short. There's no time to hesitate. Don't worry. You can do it too, so please try it!"

Yumiko Fukui

After graduating from university, she joined Shueisha. She is a former editor-in-chief of SPUR. She currently supports solo female travel, calling it "Hitorippu." Over the course of 25 years, she has traveled solo overseas over 400 times, including 160 trips to Hong Kong, 60 to Taiwan, 40 each to Thailand and Singapore, 30 to San Francisco, 30 to China, 30 to Hawaii, 30 to various countries in Central and South America, 20 to the Caribbean, and 10 to the Middle East. All of these trips were private. Based on her experiences, she has photographed, written, and edited the "Hitorippu" series of guidebooks for solo travelers. Three books in the series (all published by Shueisha), including her latest book, "Yesterday Somewhere in the World: Hitorippu 3: Bullet-Drive Reckless Trip Edition," are now on sale.

* "Hitorippu" is a registered trademark of Shueisha Inc.