Solo trip to Japan for Christmas 2024 I have always wanted to go away at Christmas, this time I decided to choose Japan at random, it was on my bucket list and never travelled so far solo before. Here is my blog of my time in Japan. Departure Day: Heading Out from Bolton Train Station My journey kicked off early in the morning at Bolton train station. I was waiting on the platform for the 06:54 Northern rail service to Manchester Airport. My friend Neil came along to see me off at the departures terminal—though I secretly think he just didn't want me traveling so far away by myself! The morning train pulled in with six carriages. This extra capacity was a massive relief, as commuter trains heading toward Manchester can get incredibly cramped at that time of day. For this long-haul adventure, I made the conscious decision to travel with just a single rucksack. Skipping the large, bulky suitcase made navigating train platforms and airport crowds infinitely easier. No faffing about wi...