Rich in culture and history, and home to diverse landscapes, East Asia is an exciting region to visit. The area includes popular destinations such as Hong Kong, Tokyo, Seoul, Beijing, and many more.

Intrigued by the history, cultures, and rapid economic growth in the region, I embarked on a solo trip to learn more. I visited Hong Kong, Seoul, and Tokyo, and traveling solo was an intentional and wholeheartedly made decision. Are you interested in taking a solo trip through East Asia? Are you wondering about what the experience of traveling through East Asia as a Solo Black Female traveler could be like? Read below for my takeaways, tips, and more!

Why Solo Traveling?

Let me first begin with saying…Solo travel isn’t everyone and that’s fine! Not everyone enjoys it or can handle it. Before committing to a major solo trip it’s important to be aware of the type of person and traveler you are, and to determine if Solo travel is for you.

As a black woman, the thought of traveling solo, particularly in countries where we stand out, can be daunting. News stories of women being assaulted, kidnapped or murdered, are discouraging and make us fear for our safety. This often prevents the motivation to travel, let alone solo.

So, what led me to travel solo through a region where I would most definitely stand out, do not speak or understand the language, and can be easily identified as a foreigner? All those specific reasons! In addition to wanting to visit these Asian countries I had learnt so much about, I was intrigued. What would the experience as a solo Black female traveler in these spaces be like?

Are you planning a solo trip to East Asia and intrigued about what my experience was like? Read below to learn about my experience as a Solo Black Female traveler climbing hills in central Hong Kong, meeting fellow black female travelers in Seoul, and navigating the Shibuya crossing in Tokyo.

Planning your Solo Trip?

Check out these travel tips and insights on preparing and planning for solo travel as a black woman.

READ MORE

My Experience in Hong Kong, Seoul, and Tokyo

Hong Kong

Hong Kong as a City:

Hong Kong is a busy, bustling, and happening city. Similar to any major city (think New York, London, Lagos, etc), the crowd moved with a purpose and destination in mind. The island is very populated and draws an international crowd (from Europe and other Asian countries) who work in HK, are in town for business, or come as tourists. People were kind and navigating the city as a first time visitor was very doable.

If you plan on visiting HK, keep the following in mind: 1. It’s a very HILLY city. 2. It’s a major city and can come with “big city” challenges, such as loneliness and possibly feeling overwhelmed. 3. Accommodation options are often tiny, expensive, and limited. 4. The city has extensive public transportation options! From the bus to metro, to the trams and water taxis.

Hong Kong as a Solo Female Black Traveler:

My experience in Hong Kong was enjoyable. I had the opportunity to visit amazing sites, such as Victoria Peak, Tian Tan Buddha, and much more. I walked the streets of Wan Chai, Central, and Kowloon. I joined walking and food tours, and learnt about Hk’s history, culture, population, and political movements.

In my time visiting, I felt safe, free to move around, and that navigating the city by public transportation or foot was great. I did not feel threatened or discriminated against because of my skin color or gender. However! I’m aware that everyone’s experience is different and peoples comfort, exposure, and tolerance levels vary. So, please keep in mind that this is just one (my) singular experience. While visiting, I also did not come across any other black individuals.

As you embark on your trip, please keep in mind that HK is a major city, so take precaution and be alert, as you would in any major city. Furthermore, before you travel, do more research and read a variety of articles from other travelers.

Curious about what there is to do in Hong Kong?

From exploring Victoria Peak to a day trip to Macau, check out these 5 Top things to do in the area.

READ MORE

Seoul

Seoul as a city:

Seoul is an energetic, busy and happening city, which has a youthful vibrancy that can capture and captivate your soul (it sure did mine). Seoul is a large and spread out city, made up of unique neighborhoods, which offer something different. Similar to HK and Tokyo, the city has a large population, it’s home to Koreans from all parts of the country, and draws an international crowd (from other Asian countries, Europe, and Africa). My interaction with locals were welcoming and warm. People were helpful and understanding, especially with the language barrier (I hadn’t started my Korean classes then).

If you plan on visiting Seoul, keep the following in mind: 1. Feeding, accommodation, transportation, etc was much more affordable compared to Hong Kong and Tokyo. 2. Because the city is large, do research on the different neighborhoods. Particularly where you want to stay and the ones you want to visit. 3. Public transportation is great! Bus and metro for the win. 4. I found that locals (especially the younger population) were more open to having conversations and it was easier to make friends, compared to Hong Kong and Tokyo. 5. Because of how Black women are portrayed in American films, I learnt that there can be a negative stereotype or expectation of Black women to be more aggressive, etc.

Curious about what there is to do in Seoul?

From biking the Han river to exploring different neighborhoods, check out these 10 Best Things to do in Seoul.

READ MORE

Seoul as a solo black female traveler:

My beloved Seoul, I LOVED my experience in that city, so much that Seoul is on my top 5 list of places to live. While there I visited Palaces (I LOVE palaces), climbed Bukhansan (highest mountain in Seoul), cycled along the Han river, joined walking tours, and ate amazing food. I felt safe, at home, free to move around, and did not feel unwelcome or stared at because of my race or gender. Please note, this was my personal and singular experience, everyone’s is different. While you visit, be sure to take precaution as you would in any major city, and read about other travelers experiences.

Meeting Other Solo Female Black Travelers?…YES

In my time in Seoul, I came across 4 female black travelers (yes I counted and yes I remember my experience with each one - it’s not often). 2 were sisters traveling together, they were Somalian and lived in the USA. I loved meeting them, so much that we ended up talking the whole evening and then grabbing a cab from Hongdae to go clubbing in Itaewon together (I love spontaneous travel adventures and making friends).

1 was a middle aged Senegalese woman who also lived in the USA. We met during a walking tour and bonded over our love for solo travels. She does a yearly solo trip to a place of her choice and I loved that even as she got older, solo travel maintained priority. The 4th was German (yes German people can be black..) and was traveling with her husband and friends. We spoke in German, which was delightful and fun (what are the odds of finding another black female traveler in Seoul who speaks German?!)

With every black woman I came across in the city, I made the effort to speak with them and learn about their experience in Seoul and traveling in East Asia. Were they living in the region? What had brought them there? How was their experience as a black woman? The conversations were insightful and it was great to bond over shared experiences and challenges we faced while traveling as black women in East Asia.

Tokyo

Tokyo as a city:

Tokyo is a large, busy, and bustling city. It’s home to a large population and attracts an international crowd (from other Asian countries, Europe, and Africa) who work in Tokyo or are tourists. As a first time visitor and an individual who does not speak Japanese, I found Tokyo hard to navigate. Due to the language barrier (not too many people spoke English and lack of many English signs), taking public transportation or ordering food in restaurants was challenging. People were kind, but I also found it harder to make friends with locals.

If you plan on visiting Tokyo, keep the following in mind: 1. Tokyo is expensive! Compared to Hong Kong and Seoul, Tokyo was the most expensive city for accommodation and food. 2. Tokyo is a large and spread out city, so similar to Seoul, do research on the neighborhoods that interest you (where you want to stay, visit, etc). 3. Have a translator app on your phone and know some basic Japanese phrases. 4. Cash is QUEEN. Always have cash handy! 5. As a major city, it can be overwhelming, so be prepared.

Tokyo as a solo black female traveler:

Tokyo surprised me! Tokyo is a destination I have been wanting to visit for a long time. Due to this anticipation, I expected to be “swept off my feet”. Although I did not fall in love, I truly enjoyed my experience. While there I visited temples, the Great Buddha of Kamakura, walked the Shibuya crossing, took in Harajuku, chilled at the Golden Gai, and got lost wondering the isles of Don Quijote.

What surprised me about Tokyo was how overwhelming it could be. For a person who grew up in Lagos and Abuja, Nigeria, New York City, and Los Angeles, USA, this was unexpected. As a black solo female traveler, I felt safe but was more cautious in Tokyo because of the scale and fast paced nature of the city. Please note, this was my personal and singular experience, everyone’s is different. Before you visit, please read about other travelers experiences.

Meeting Other Black Travelers?…YES

While there I came across 3 black travelers (yes I counted again). Similarly, I made the effort to speak with them and learn about their experience in Tokyo and traveling in East Asia. Were they living in the region? What brought them there? 1 individual I spoke with, was a black man who worked in the NBA and was working in Tokyo as a coach (how cool!). I also came across a lot of Africans and black travelers in Roppongi.

My Takeaways.

Traveling solo through HK, Seoul, and Tokyo, as a black woman was an experience I enjoyed. Although I did not come across many black people, I was to really connect with the few I met. While traveling I did not feel threatened or ill treated because of my race or gender, and as a solo female traveler, I was conscious and vigilant, as we would be anywhere.

However! Please note, this was my personal experience in East Asia, and I highly recommend you research more to learn about other experiences. If you’re looking to embark on a solo trip through East Asia, plan ahead, book that ticket, and go for it!