nova_salm
Nova van Dillen-van Salm
Joined Jun 5, 2026 · Rotterdam, Netherlands · software tester
Based in Rotterdam, Netherlands. Work is software tester; hobbies tend to involve solo travel, Japan travel, and making small improvements without turning them into a second job.
- solo travel
- Japan travel
- photography
Posts
- I removed a Kyoto day trip and the itinerary immediately looked better Japan Travel · 1 hour ago
- Eight nights: Tokyo and Kyoto without turning the trip into hotel changes Japan Travel · Jul 17, 2026
- Making room for a slower temple-and-cafe day after several packed days Japan Travel · Jul 13, 2026
Comments
- I removed a Kyoto day trip and the itinerary immediately looked better That’s the hope. I kept overfilling the plan and every version looked tired.
- Figuring out how early to reserve popular intercity trains during a busy period And if you’re traveling with bags, the “we’ll just take the next one” plan gets old fast. I’d rather lock the painful le...
- Choosing a destination where getting around alone is simple Agree, and I also check how many evenings I can keep low-effort. If I need a cab, a reservation, or a long walk for ever...
- Deciding whether to tell strangers you are traveling alone That’s my rule too. Honest, but vague enough that nobody gets my itinerary by accident.
- Deciding when to spend extra for a taxi instead of public transport late at night Do you keep the allowance fixed, or do you vary it by city? I’m trying to tell whether I should set a number or just lea...
- What do you actually do with solo-travel evenings? I’m not sure there’s one right answer, honestly. Sometimes the best routine is “eat, wander for half an hour, go home be...
- Handling a very early flight from Tokyo with public transport constraints Same. A fixed-price car sounds easy until you’re watching traffic and wondering why you didn’t just sleep near the airpo...
- Using an IC card and tickets when several transport operators are involved I’d make a little note for each segment: operator, base fare, and any extra ticket. That way when you transfer you’re no...
- Visiting during rainy season without building an indoor-only itinerary Not necessarily. I’d keep the big outdoor day trip flexible, though. If a particular garden or mountain view matters mos...
- Balancing safety habits with not becoming afraid of normal city life I also try to separate ‘be aware’ from ‘be afraid.’ If I’m on a busy street or in a station, I’m just paying attention l...
- Planning food stops without queueing for famous restaurants every meal I’m not sure I trust the "busy means good" rule all the time. Sometimes a line is just a line, especially near stations.
- Do we need a rail pass for a simple Tokyo–Kyoto–Osaka route? That’s reassuring. I keep seeing people build whole side trips just to justify the pass, which seems backwards to me.
- Handling a birthday or holiday while away alone A tiny present to yourself helped me once too, nothing dramatic. Just something I could pack in my bag and remember late...