I felt like Will Smith in “I AM Legend”.

In the movie, “I AM Legend”, Will Smith and his dog were the only two people left who didn’t get affected by the apocalyptical virus.

He and his dog did whatever they wanted, traveled to where they wanted, and ate what they wanted without any judgment or pushback from others.

That was what it was like for me in Tokyo, Japan.

I got to behave like an introvert without the judgment that comes with this mentality.

This judgment would have been magnified back in the United States.

Tokyo, Japan is a place for introverts.

Secret 1: The Tranquil Appeal of Traditional Japanese Garden

Tokyo’s traditional Japanese gardens create an oasis of serenity amidst the hustle and bustle, enabling introverts to find peace and solitude.

Become one with nature and you become one with yourself.

Listening to the sounds of nature rather than listening to the sounds of the world is like night and day changing. Tokyo, Japan’s serene garden scenes allow introverts to experience peace with many parks and gardens throughout the city. Don’t let the giant metropolis fool you, going to these gardens will make you forget you are in Tokyo.

I have never felt this kind of peace before.

I felt like an anime character when I visited Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden. There was something about the color pink that put me at ease. Even though it wasn’t Cherry blossom season, I was still able to see some cherry blossoms.

How do tranquil gardens help introverts:

• It allows you to clear your loud mind
• The lack of mental stimuli allows your mind to rest
• The calmness of gardens brings creative surges

Secret 2: The Solitude of Themed Cafes

The culture of themed cafes in Tokyo, such as cat cafes or book cafes promotes reflective atmospheres, serving as the perfect environments for introverts.

Eating alone in Western society has a negative stigma.

In Tokyo, Japan, doing things alone is a part of the culture. If social distractions from the company of others are your thing, Tokyo, Japan may not be for you. For introverts, it is a place where they can do what comes naturally to them without fear of being judged, doing things alone in solitude.

Being able to not hide your need for solo activities like you do in Western society does wonders for your mental health.

I was able to eat at many places without the stigma of being judged.

But the one that stood out was my meal at ICHIRAN Ramen. There were booths that were specifically for people who wanted to eat alone.

Ironically, these booths resembled office cubicles that give you the same isolated feeling.

There are two walls on each side to separate you and the person next to you. Your food is slid to you on a tray without the server speaking to you.

More Solitude Cafes in Tokyo:

• Shabu Shabu Let Us
• Ichiran ramen
• Marugame udon

Secret 3: The Concept of ‘Hitori’ and Solo Activities

The Japanese trend of ‘Hitori’, or doing activities alone is well-respected in Tokyo providing introverts an array of options to recharge in the bustling city without feeling out of place.

Being able to blend in without standing out is like having a superpower for an introvert.

The “Hitori” concept in Japanese means “one person”. This concept allows introverts to engage in activities alone without judgment from their peers. Tokyo has many solo activities you can do while enjoying your solitude.

In Western society, introversion gets a negative label and the first myth that comes to mind is alone means lonely.

I dabbled in some group activities while in Tokyo but I relished doing things alone. Tokyo is such a big place, no matter what you do alone, you are never alone due to the huge population.

My highlight of the trip was visiting the Sky Tower and taking in the skyline of the city.

I could even see Mount Fuji in the background from the tower. I took all the time I wanted and did the activities that I wanted to do.

I have traveled with others before and I would not been able to do this with a group.

Hitori Concept activities in Tokyo:

• visiting shrines
• person capsules
• taking samurai classes

Secret 4: Easy Access to Health Convenience

Introverts are extremely self-aware.

Self-awareness creates the need to self-improve. With all of the solitude you will get in Tokyo, the need to improve yourself especially your health will nudge you to take action.

One thing I noticed was how easy it was to get a hold of basic nutrients that I needed with convenience. I was able to find supplements such as turmeric in a convenience like 7–11. Back in the USA, you have to go out of your way to vitamin shops to get quality items like this. Having access to things that will improve your life is like being a kid in a candy store. Introverts’ minds are always future-oriented especially when it comes to improving themselves.

Tokyo has many accessible healthy resources that help introverts bring themselves some peace by improving their health mentally and physically and being healthy plays a part in mental stability. Dealing with symptoms from being healthy causes a lot of stress.

When your environment helps you to stay healthy instead of hurting you, your peace of mind increases.

Secret 5: Samurai Sensi Mindset

The samurai mindset doesn’t have any flash or attention drawn to its movement.

Introverts do not like attention on them. Much of Japan’s culture is influenced by samurai culture which is a lot of self-reliance and self-dependency.

Introverts spend a lot of time in their minds. Religions like Buddhism were introduced to the samurai. Buddhism focuses on a lot of meditation practices. The samurai mindset can help calm the busy mind of an introvert. The way athletes train before a sport, samurais would train their minds.

On the outside, introverts look as calm as the ocean. On the inside, their minds are all over the place like ocean waves. Adopting a mindset that controls thoughts will improve their life 10x.

The samurai mindset is sprinkled through Japanese culture so it is easier to adapt while in Tokyo.

In the Western world, introverts get criticized for their behavior that doesn’t align with the norm.

Anything extroverts do is considered “normal”.

Tokyo, Japan has a culture where introverts can fit right in and just be themselves.