(33F) 3 months solo in Japan / S Korea / Taiwan - tips?
Sooo I've not been solo travelling since I went backpacking around South / Southeast Asia in my early twenties, and it feels like a lot has changed both in the backpacking landscape and for me personally - comfort was MUCH less important to me back then, hahaha. But I'm entitled to a sabbatical next year for 3 months, and I've always wanted to go to East Asia, so I'm beginning to plan a trip around Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, and maybe somewhere else if I feel I have time.
I'd love some tips for solo travelling (especially as a female) and to know what the 'backpacking' culture is like in these countries, how best to meet people, any useful tips (e.g. best time to go, ways to travel around, cultural knowledge that could come in handy), any great travel anecdotes are more than welcome too!
I'm probably going to organise the trip myself for freedom/budget reasons, but if anyone has done a similar trip (or sections of a trip) as part of an organised tour, I'd love to hear which one and how that went.
Three months is quite a long time to travel alone so I would also really like to meet some people while I'm out there. I'm not against staying in hostels, but I do think I'm over shared dorms, so if anyone has tips on how I can meet people and socialise (apps, online groups, tours etc) then that would be amazing.
Also, I've never had problems with this before when travelling, but I do have a mixed heritage, very curly hair etc. Interested to know whether any non-white / non-east Asian travellers have ever experienced any race-related issues while in these countries.
In terms of what I'd like to do when I'm out there - my travel tastes are very broad! I like going to museums and historical sites, walking tours, I love nature and hiking, eating (nom nom nom) and food tours/cooking classes, relaxing in thermal spas/beach days, dancing (but I doubt I'd go to a club or bar alone). I'd obviously love to hit the big cities too, but I'm not really into shopping or I guess "lifestyle" stuff.
Thanks in advance to anyone who responds!