Tokyo, through the solo lens

1. Arriving aloneeasyFrom Haneda you're in central Tokyo in under an hour for about 600 to 800 yen by train, and from Narita the Skyliner or Narita Express takes about an hour for about 2,600 to 3,300 yen.
2. Where to sleepfineThe city is enormous, so picking your base matters more than in most places, but Shinjuku, Asakusa, Ueno and the Tokyo Station area all work well for a first stay.
3. Getting aroundeasyTrains go everywhere, signs are in English, and a Suica on your phone does the rest; the one thing to watch is the last train, around midnight.
4. Eating aloneeasyEating alone is completely normal here, with ramen counters, conveyor-belt sushi and restaurants built for one on every street.
5. Things to do aloneeasyGalleries, gardens, shrines, public baths, food halls and city views are all made for wandering on your own.
6. Feeling at easeeasyOne of the calmest big cities for a woman alone, with women-only train cars at rush hour and women-only floors in many capsule hotels.
7. Meeting people, if you wantfinePeople are polite but reserved and English is limited, so meeting people is easiest through food tours, classes and hostels with common rooms.
8. Solo moneyfineThe weak yen makes food and transport good value, but a single room is often small and costs about 12,000 to 20,000 yen a night.
9. When to go alonefineSpring and autumn are lovely, cherry blossom weeks are very crowded, the rainy season runs from June to mid-July, and summer is hot and humid.
10. The wow factorbig wowThe view over the city at night, the Shibuya crossing from above, a quiet shrine five minutes from a neon street. Tokyo gives you big moments, and they're easy to have on your own.