Japan is very safe, but not that easy to negotiate - less English than other Asian countries, expensive and often challenging logistics. Teen boys love Tokyo - If they had someone to take them to the video game centers, baseball game, anime venues, fish market, etc. during a layover, that would be great, but it's not easy to do any of that on their own. And if they did stay in a hostel, the older kids there could be bad influences.

HOWEVER..many U.S. schools have exchange programs with Japanese schools and you might be able to set something up that way. The Japanese classes in my boys' h.s. was hugely popular and many kids went for two weeks to live with families. If your school has a program like that, they might be arrange something short term.

I agree that I don't think they boys can/should do it on their own. Indeed, there are rules about how old a person must be to travel internationally unaccompanied by an adult. I don't know what the rules are for Japan. I expect there is paperwork you have to fill out for your boys to fly alone to Singapore to visit relatives. Even if you were flying with the boys, you would need to present paperwork indicating that the boys' father consents to their travel. So in addition to logistics, there are some legalities you need to check on.

I think it is worth checking with the boys' school on whether they have a travel to japan program. Two of my nieces did a two week trip to Japan through their high school. It may not work out for this trip, but may be something they could schedule for another summer.

If you cannot set up something like a school trip, I'd recommend that the boys just change planes at Narita and not try to have a layover there.

One thing that will be an issue is that an adult is required for hotels (someone over 20 as a rule here).

Which is why I picked option #4 which has been censured and deleted but obviously the editors know better than I

Hi KimJapan, I don't think that's the age limit at the hostels - My son's friends traveled around after a homestay when they were 16 or 17.

20 is the age in Japan as Kim says....fact.

No amount of argument can change that

13 and 16 are the ages mentioned

No school time stays

Just a flight home and stop over from a trip back from Singapore

They know no one in Japan and traveling by themselves

Common sense makes more sense to me here than PC

Just IMHO

Nobody is recommending that the OP's kids should travel on their own!

I was just saying that Japanese hostels do accept teens. MANY American h.s/young college. kids are now traveling to Asia - it's the new Europe for backpackers, especially from the west coast. Super popular last year with my sons' friends - SE Asia and Japan are favorite destinations, so Japanese hostels must have a different age requirement than hotels.

Hostels are not allowed to take minors in dorms but can if they have private rooms. Unaccompanied minors are tricky - most places will not accept them but a few do. Regulations allow for unaccompanied minors to stay with written consent of both parents. However, very few places actually will allow it. Hostels can take unaccompanied minors only older than junior high school age and only in private rooms, not dorms. Some places may be more flexible than others.

Crosscheck, it may be that your friend's kids just were lucky. I have read threads on Thorntree of younger gap-year students having problems in Asia, sometimes not being let into a country.

I am touched and impressed with all who commented. I appreciate them. Some comments here for others who may wish to explore unaccompanied minors flying. My 15 year old is practically a new person after his previous month long Asia trip, increased confidence, humblier and generally more positive and wiser. It could be just his age, but what a coincidence; right after this long trip.

+) My young boys, 12 and 15, flew from SF to HK, Sing on their own AND with no problems
+) Paperwork for unaccompanied minors is 1 piece of paper and only to the sirlines.
+) the airlines accompanied them until they were met in HK, Sing - I have family/friends there.
+) On way back, UA ensured their connecting flight in Narita for SF - different terminal.
+) they both have glowing reviews of the *ENTIRE month long adventure - we're still talking about it 6 months later.
+) we're together planning for another trip in July.

FYI I've found day tours to Tokyo from Narita. Following up suggestions of hosting families, I am reaching out to Japanese folks I know in Ca ... seems encouraging. Thanks again!
KEEP ANY SUGGESTIONS COMMENTS COMING **PLEASE!

As you have noted, the flights are the easy part. As long as you have a friend or family member meeting the boys, the paperwork is easy and efficient.

The question you are facing now is what are the complications if there is no friend or family member meeting the boys? Would they be allowed on a day tour to Tokyo unaccompanied? Would they be allowed to take the train into Tokyo unaccompanied? Would there be any difficulties with entry formalities in Japan?

Good luck. I certainly agree that foreign travel is an exceptionally valuable experience for kids. I was so pleased as each of my nieces and nephews took their first foreign trips.

Transportation is no problem - kids use it alone as a rule alone or with friends. Tours may be an issue especially if they are joinin. Flights no issue at all. Hotels are an issue in most cases.

In answer to the OP's original questions:

3) how safe is it for them to travel alone - not very safe at all. In many countries, leaving children this age alone, would be considered a serious offence.
4) is this just crazy of me and should I scrap the idea - yes!

Travel undoubtedly broadens the mind and is an invaluable experience for anyone commonsensie should surely prevail.

Has the OP ever heard of child slavery? This is the perfect setup for it to happen. I know that no one thinks that it will ever happen to them but like I said this is the perfect setup for it. Why in the world would you chance it happening to your children? I agree with crellston's comments.