[5 Carefully Selected Countries] Recommended Countries for Men's Solo Travel | From Classics to Off-the-Beaten-Path Destinations
From the places I have actually walked alone, I have carefully selected **"5 countries that resonate with a man's solo trip."**
Introductory, stimulating, spiritual, urban, and European. These are countries with 5 different faces. Whether you are currently seeking "peace of mind," a "reset of your life perspective," or "luxurious silence," please choose based on your mood.
🥇 1st Place: Taiwan | The "Absolute King" of Men's Solo Travel
Recommendation Level: ★★★★★ Estimated Budget: 70,000-100,000 yen for 3-4 nights Flight Time: Approx. 3.5-4 hours For men like this: First-time solo travelers, those who don't want to fail
Taiwan was also the country I chose for my first solo trip. The reason is clear: because there is a "sense of security that things will work out even if you fail."
Outstanding public safety: Not scary to walk the streets alone in the middle of the night
Meaning conveyed through Kanji: Menus, signs, and station names can be read to some extent
Kind to Japanese people: Even if you get lost, there are people who will help you with broken Japanese
My failure story: I got completely lost at Taipei Station. The underground structure is complex, and I took the MRT (subway) in the wrong direction twice. But the station attendant at the ticket gate taught me everything with gestures, and for some reason, they even treated me to tea at the end.
Tips for eating alone: Aim for "shops where local guys gather." Not shops for tourists, but shops for locals. Taiwan has a shared seating culture, so you will end up eating shoulder-to-shoulder with strangers, but that in itself is a supreme experience.
I was once asked by an old man at a shared table, "Are you Japanese?" and we ended up talking for 30 minutes through Google Translate. I will never forget that time.
Recommended areas: Taipei (for beginners) → Taichung (hidden gem) → Kaohsiung (tropical atmosphere)
🥈 2nd Place: Vietnam | A country of stimulation that shatters your values
Recommendation Level: ★★★★★ Estimated Budget: 80,000-100,000 yen for 5 nights Flight Time: Approx. 5-6 hours For men like this: Those tired of the constraints of Japan, those who want to bathe in raw energy
This is the country that inspired me to aim for solo travel. A seasoned traveler senior told me, "Solo travel changes your view of life," and I flew to Ho Chi Minh City half-doubting it.
Flood of motorcycles: No crosswalks, no traffic lights, yet a mystery that there are no accidents
Super cheap Pho: The best breakfast of your life for 200 yen a bowl
A Mass of Energy: The vitality is incredible, the sense of being alive is different
An Unforgettable Experience: When I first tried to cross an intersection in Ho Chi Minh City, my legs froze. Motorbikes were rushing toward me like a wave. But a local lady took my arm and walked across with me, as if to say, 'Walk slowly, don't stop.''Even in a place without order, people can live by helping each other' That was the moment I realized that.
The more tired you are of Japan's 'efficiency' and 'order,' the more Vietnam will resonate with you.
Recommended Areas: Ho Chi Minh City (Heat) → Hoi An (Nostalgia of an ancient city) → Hanoi (The calmness of the north)
🥉 3rd Place: Nepal | A Spiritual Journey to Strip Away the Soul
Recommendation Level: ★★★★☆ Estimated Budget: 120,000–180,000 yen for 7–10 nights Flight Time: Approx. 10–12 hours (1 layover) For men like this: Those exhausted by work, those who want to reset something
I'll be honest. Nepal is not a 'travel destination' but a 'pilgrimage site.' If you are looking for fun tourist spots, don't go. But if you are seriously thinking, 'I want to reset my life,' this is the only place.
Pokhara overlooking the Himalayas: The luxury of doing nothing by the lakeside
The chaos of Kathmandu: An atmosphere where dust, dogs, incense, and prayers mingle
Trekking: A sense of scale you can never experience in Japan
What I realized here: I spent three days just sitting by the lake in Pokhara, gazing at the Himalayas. I didn't open my smartphone, I didn't read books, I just sat there.'I didn't know that 'time spent doing nothing' could be this rich'.
After returning home, I completely changed how I work. I started using 'whether my heart is moved, rather than efficiency' as my criteria for judgment. Without those three days, I don't think I would have had the courage to switch to a three-day work week as a support nurse.
Points to note: Risk of altitude sickness, hygiene, power outages.You need the resolve to abandon 'comfort'. That is precisely why what you gain is so great.
Recommended Areas: Kathmandu (Culture) → Pokhara (Healing) → Nagarkot (Mountain views) if you have time
4th Place: Hong Kong | A Sanctuary for Men Who Never Sleep 24/7
Recommendation: ★★★★☆ Estimated Budget: 80,000–120,000 JPY for 3–4 nights Flight Time: Approx. 5 hours For men who: Want urban excitement and want to indulge in gourmet food and night views
A country that completely defies the image of "Asia = cheap and rustic." Hong Kong is a metropolis that rivals New York and Tokyo.
Million Dollar Night View: The view from Victoria Peak is a once-in-a-lifetime experience
Dim Sum Culture: The luxury of enjoying dim sum alone from the morning
Double-decker Tram: Traverse the city for 1.5 HKD (approx. 30 JPY)
Local Back-alley Eateries: The Cha Chaan Teng culture is the best
Why it's great for solo male travel: Hong Kong is a city where “it’s normal to enjoy things alone.” You won't stand out drinking alone at a bar. You can order dim sum for one. You can savor the city at your own pace without worrying about those around you..
My favorite way to spend time: Walking along the waterfront in Tsim Sha Tsui on the Kowloon side at night, gazing at the skyscrapers on the opposite shore. You can feel like you are at “one of the centers of the world.” It’s a miracle that you can get here in just a 5-hour flight.
Recent real-world info: Although there have been changes due to social conditions, its safety and convenience as a tourist destination remain intact. In fact, it might be “a city you should see while you still can.”
No. 5: Portugal | The most solo-male-travel-friendly country in Europe
Recommendation: ★★★★★ Estimated Budget: 200,000–300,000 JPY for 7–10 nights Flight Time: Approx. 15–18 hours (with 1 layover) For men who: Want to graduate from Asia and step into Europe
I can confidently say it is the most friendly country in Europe for Japanese men traveling alone.
Lowest prices in Western Europe: Less than half the cost of Paris
Good safety: Lisbon at night is also relatively safe
Few Japanese tourists: You won't run into other travelers, allowing for a unique story
Food suits the Japanese palate: A culture of seafood and rice that feels strangely comforting
The moment I was captivated: The Alfama district in Lisbon. Slopes, cobblestones, and alleys where laundry flutters in the breeze. In the evening, I sat next to an elderly local man at a miradouro (viewpoint) on the hill, watching the sunset sink into the Tagus River. Even though we didn't speak the same language, I felt like we somehow understood each other.
A night of Fado: There are countless small taverns in Lisbon where you can listen to Fado, Portugal's unique music. A night spent listening to Fado alone with a glass of wine is a time I want everyone to experience at least once in their life.
Recommended areas: Lisbon (capital city charm) → Porto (wine and river) → Sintra (World Heritage royal palaces) → If you have time, Madeira Island (a paradise in the Atlantic, the hometown of soccer player Ronaldo)
Points to note: The flight time is long and costs are higher, so it is recommended to position this as a 'reward trip' after earning money as a travel nurse.