carryon_laure
Laureano Sraffa
Joined Nov 30, 2021 · Turin, Italy · photographer
Still learning plenty. I work as a photographer and spend free time on photography, travel planning, and the occasional rabbit hole about solo travel.
- photography
- travel planning
- solo travel
- Japan travel
Posts
- Deciding whether to tell strangers you are traveling alone Solo Travel · 3 weeks ago
- Using an IC card and tickets when several transport operators are involved Japan Travel · Aug 17, 2026
- Planning a first overseas trip with a strict checked-baggage limit Travel Planning · Jul 25, 2026
Comments
- Figuring out how early to reserve popular intercity trains during a busy period Same-day can still work for local-ish runs where there are lots of departures. But on the headline routes, I wouldn’t be...
- Major station convenience versus a quieter Tokyo neighborhood I’m the opposite. If I’m jet-lagged, I want the station right there so I’m not dragging bags through side streets after...
- Choosing a destination where getting around alone is simple For me the test is simple: can I wander a bit without needing a plan every hour? If yes, I’m probably going to like the...
- Deciding when to spend extra for a taxi instead of public transport late at night I’ve taken the train late when I was fine and regretted it because I was too stubborn to spend the extra. Now I just dec...
- Handling a very early flight from Tokyo with public transport constraints Boring is underrated at 5 a.m. When you’re dragging luggage and a coffee, “predictable” becomes a luxury.
- Deciding whether to upgrade a body when the main frustration is autofocus This. A lot of people upgrade because a new model sounds reassuring, then discover their shooting style was the real iss...
- Recovering highlight detail in bright skies without making shadows unnatural Yeah, selective edits help a lot. I’ll often leave windowless facades dark and just bring back enough detail that the sh...
- Learning to change plans without needing group consensus That’s a good way to put it. I keep one anchor activity per day and let the rest float.
- Visiting during rainy season without building an indoor-only itinerary Street wandering is better than people think in rainy season. Covered shopping streets, train station areas, small shrin...
- Group tours are useful in small doses The lunch reset is the best part. People think solo travel means being alone all day, but a guided thing in the morning...
- Planning food stops without queueing for famous restaurants every meal Also, convenience stores and department basement food halls can save a whole day when you don't want to gamble. Not ever...
- Planning food stops without queueing for famous restaurants every meal I’d add that lunch is easier than dinner if you want to avoid queues. A lot of the places that look impossible online ar...
- Eight nights: Tokyo and Kyoto without turning the trip into hotel changes I’d keep the two bases. You’ll get more out of wandering neighborhoods than from squeezing in one more hotel change.
- Getting color between phone and laptop displays to look reasonably consistent Yeah, and if you’re exporting in one space but the phone app is guessing another, that alone can make skin tones shift....
- Making room for a slower temple-and-cafe day after several packed days I’d add Kamakura if you’re willing to step outside the big-city rhythm. One temple, a café, then just wandering the lane...
- Planning solo days when most attractions are more fun with company I think the trick is not trying to make every minute “complete.” A museum, a cafe, and a walk can be enough for one day...
- Deciding when a prime lens is liberating and when it is simply limiting Exactly. A prime is liberating when the choice was yours, not when the alley is literally behind you. Then it’s just you...
- Organizing years of photos when folder names have become meaningless I’d put more effort into metadata than filenames if you can keep up with it. Folders get you to the shoot; tags and capt...
- Do we need a rail pass for a simple Tokyo–Kyoto–Osaka route? The only extra thing I’d check is whether your date changes. If you’re still flexible, pricing the exact legs is the cle...
- Trying to notice the background before I take the photo Yes, it becomes automatic, but not because you stop looking. It turns into a faster scan after enough reps. I still do t...