Planning a group trip can be stressful. It sucks to prepare for a group vacation only to watch the number of travelers dwindle as the trip gets closers. To avoid this plight, many Black millennials and Gen-Z travelers have been opting for solo travel instead of group trips.
Now, solo travel is a whirlwind of its own. However, it comes with some perks. Travelers love exploring alone because it allows them to see the world on their own time. No more waiting for travel buddies, having to stick with the group, or the occasional group trip drama that can sometimes pop up.
The only downside to traveling alone is safety. It’s important to take proper safety precautions when traveling solo both internationally and domestically, but some places are safer than others. According to Bounce’s 2023 Solo Travel Index, the safest country for solo travelers to visit is Japan.
“Traveling alone can be one of the most rewarding and enriching experiences of someone’s life. You can explore different cultures and open your mind to new ways of living while also meeting new people,” Bounce wrote in the study.
Prioritizing Safety
With Switzerland and Slovenia right behind it, Japan was ranked as the safest destination for solo travelers in 2023. The survey describes the Asian country as the place where “more safety-minded adventurers will feel right at home in cities such as Tokyo and Osaka.” The country ranked 23.1/100 on the crime index, according to Bounce’s survey.
Crime in Japan is significantly less than in the United States. According to Interac, the homicide rate in the US is 14 times higher than in Japan. According to Kyodo News, however, crime in Japan increased in 2022 for the first time in 20 years. Police data attributed the spike to more people reentering the streets following Covid restrictions lifting.
There was an increase in heinous crimes, with murders being up 8.1 percent to 9,536 cases. There was a total of 601,389 reported crime incidents in the country in 2022.
Despite an increase in crime, Japan still reigns as the safest destination for solo travelers this year. Close behind was Switzerland, which has long been a hub for safe travel. Slovenia also landed in the top three with a 75.8/100 safety score from Bounce’s annual survey.
Summer is coming and it’s time to get outside. If solo international travel is on your bucket list this season consider checking out these destinations where safety is a top priority.