first time in Japan I traveling solo, food & thrifting (tokyo, kyoto & osaka)

first time in Japan I traveling solo, food & thrifting (tokyo, kyoto & osaka)

After 2 months in Asia, I finally made it. My last destination, Japan. I spent three weeks soaking in the energy of this country, wandering through quiet back streets, getting lost in the bars of the cities, eating way too many sushi and bowls of ramen, and just letting myself be fully present. In the beauty of being solo in Japan, the country offered me the missing part I didn’t even know I was looking for. It felt like the perfect ending. bittersweet, a little surreal, but exactly the way I wanted to close this journey. [Music] [Music] How is it? [Music] for the last vlog, the last stop of my Asia trip. I just arrived in Tokyo, Japan. I’m actually so excited. I can’t wait to discover more about the Japanese culture, uh the city, which is so calm. Everyone is so nice and I can’t wait to take you along with me in this new video. So, I hope you’re going to like it. Enjoy. It’s actually so good to meet on the street. Really good. It’s a nice breakfast. [Music] I’m now having lunch at Mitch. They are renown for their car noodles. [Music] I want to say it’s a must. [Music] It really tastes like ice. Like my brain is a bit confused, right? [Music] So this is the famous Shimuya crossing and it is so crowded. I’m spending the day in Yanaka. It’s kind of the old town from what I read. He designed everything and then he printed them. Oh my god, I love this. [Music] There’s so many cute things. I don’t even know what this is. [Music] We’re having dinner at the standing sushi. I don’t even know if this my table neighbor is teaching me everything. [Music] when I’m underesting sushi experience. First, I didn’t know it existed. That’s one thing. Just put it on your little like plate and you have to pick it. I think you have like five or 10 seconds. Like, I know how to eat sushi, but apparently I had no idea how to eat sushi correctly. So, there was like a couple next to me and we had so much fun. Uh, they were a bit laughing at me and then explaining me how to eat sushi properly. So basically some of them you have to put the soya sauce but some of them you should not put the soy sauce. Apparently you have to put the soy sauce on the fish part and not on the rice part because I mean it’s super logic when you think about it. And then they told me oh but you’re from Paris. We went to Paris like 20 years ago 25 years ago trying to remember where they stayed next to the L. Uh, and then they offered me some sushi because they said, “My god, you have to try this. You have to try this.” I’ve had the best sushi of my life. They were telling me like standing sushi is super casual. I think it’s like going to like a French brai. [Music] [Music] I’m trying my best to stir, but it’s really not working. So, a few facts I learned about ramen at the museum. Well, everything is like important. the ingredients and the order they put it in the bowl, which I had no idea. And when they serve it, it’s literally around 60 to 50°. So, you literally have to like take the noodles and like lift them up. It’s like a men dish. Also like burgers because it’s something like you eat in actually 5 to 10 minutes and then you leave immediately. Originally, it was from China. Yeah, that’s it. But it’s easy. Today I’m actually changing hotel. My area is Aakuza because it’s in the middle of everything. The main areas where the main restaurants are are basically Shibuya, Shinghunu, um, and Genza. Thing is now like Tokyo is so big. I’m literally like in the middle. So I’m around 20 minutes from everything, which I think it’s super convenient. Yeah, like I’m starting to realize that I just have 10 more days and out of 2 months I think is not a lot. I’m moving in two days to Kyoto and then I have few more nights in Ozaka and then I’m going to do Ozaka Paris. So I’m starting to get a little bit nervous feeling like oh my god I need to buy gifts for my whole family but I have no idea what to buy. I honestly think that this solo trip was the best decision I’ve ever made. Actually, just for you to know, like 2 3 years ago, I was someone that would never have gone to the beach. Um, because I was living in Barcelona alone, even if I wanted to go so much. And now I’m just like moving around Tokyo alone, which is so insane. I’m having so much fun. Like the thing about solo trips is that basically you do whatever you want whenever you want. And also like eating at the restaurants alone I think is also one of my favorite thing to do. I think Tokyo is such a nice city to go on a solo trip because here everyone a lot of people do things on their own and a lot of people go to the restaurant on their own. So in most of the cases there would be like one person only next to you and then you just end up chatting and then this the other day I was trying the viral carbonara and there was like also like a girl uh which was a bit older than me uh sitting next to me and she was complaining about everything and then we ended up talking and she’s basically Spanish but lives in Belgium and then we kept in touch which I think is like super super cool or like went to like my first standup sushi, standing sushi, I don’t know how it’s called. Um, and there was like this super super kind Japanese couple next to me and they were laughing because I had no idea how to eat sushi and I was doing everything wrong. And then I just ended up like having one of the best dinners of like my trip just because I was like they they literally they taught me like everything how to eat sushi. They even ordered me some sushi. Like so kind. So, so kind. Anyway, I hope you’re enjoying this vlog and it’s not over. So, yeah, let’s go. [Music] I’m now in Shinjuku, the same area I was last night, but I wanted to see it by day. And there’s something I didn’t see last night. Actually, a giant gorilla. And here it is. Guys, I’m seeing the Muji. I just ordered the most beautiful fish bowl I’ve ever had. Like everything. telling you I’m eating alone like it’s officially my last day in Tokyo. Thank god not in Japan because I’m absolutely not ready to leave this country. things that are making me happy today. This lady bird on my t-shirt. [Music] I got super hungry. I’m queuing for Uniiri. Apparently, they have some of the best in Tokyo. And the queue is so long. It’s like 2:00 p.m. and it’s there’s still so much queue. I won’t be able to film inside and the menu was only in Japanese. So, I asked the waitress her favorite and I just took her favorite. So, I hope they’re going to be good. I’m now in Uji City, which is the capital of matcha. And as the biggest Matcha fan, uh, I am I feel like I’m at Disneyland right now. [Music] because matcha is out of stock everywhere. I just want to tell you that I found some here in Kyoto in this little green shop uh in like the old um in the old village. Let me try the apparently best matcha in the entire Japan. So good. [Music] [Music] If you want to lose 10 kilo, come to Japan. [Music] Okay. [Music] For my last hours in Kyoto, I’m going to have brunch at Totaro. And I’m so happy because for the first time, I’m the first one. There is no line and it’s opening in 5 minutes. It’s a standing cafe actually. So, you just grab your thing, order. Cheers. [Music] [Music] Seen you know [Music] hey [Music] I’m spending my last day of the two months trip in Ozaka. And I don’t know why people were saying, “Oh, Zaka is not that good. Don’t stay too long.” I really love it. I think it’s a cool mix between Tokyo and Kyoto. I think it’s like a mini Tokyo. Um, with like so many nice restaurants and cool spots. [Music] just had a big crush on this amazing country. I really wish I’d stay longer, but now I also very happy to get back home after 2 months. If you follow the entire trip, the food so amazing. The Japan is such a wonderful country if you’re solo traveling. It’s actually very easy to do many things on your own here. I feel like I matured 10 years in 2 months by doing this entire trip. I feel like I’m a completely different person. Eyes opened in a way and I’m just feeling so much more at peace and yeah uh I’m just so happy, so proud of myself. And meanwhile, you can follow all my adventures on Instagram and Tik Tok. Please comment. I read all of them and they always make me smile because they’re all so kind. Let me know if you ever tried solo traveling and which country you’d love to see me. So, I’ll try to make it happen. See you soon. [Music] And if you’re traveling to Japan soon, I gathered all my favorite spots in my Japan map that you can find on my website. [Music]

After two months around Asia, my final stop: Japan. I explored Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka in 3 weeks. I ate the best sushis, ramens, had the best thrifting, and loved my solo time. Japan is such a beautiful and easy country for solo traveling, definitely the best way to end this trip.

Insta: @ellevousguide https://www.instagram.com/ellevousguide?igsh=a3JhdnBrcHlvanMy&utm_source=qr
TikTok: @ellevousguide https://www.tiktok.com/@ellevousguide?_t=ZN-8zc63vv70be&_r=1
For partnerships: ellevousguide@gmail.com

You can access my Japan Map with +250 spots in Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka. Curated by me, Japanese friends, and Japanese Michelin starred chefs with whom I worked for!
Japan Map

FAQ
who are you? Estelle, 24
where are you originally from? I’m French, Danish, and Lebanese. I live in Paris
what do you do for a living? I do social media strategy for my own clients, and content creation
what camera did you use? DJI Osmo pocket 3

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