How much Japanese should I speak when traveling to Japan?

RUV says on Jun 4, 2008, 10:49:

Depends where you go.

I go around most of the populated areas in and around Tokyo with no problems. The train system is old but great. The train stops are labled in English. Outside in some of the rural areas English is not used and you have to rely on kanji.

English is a very popular second language. Lots of Japanese either understand it or know it. The problem is that many do not want to use it with strangers. It is amazing how older adults will shy away when asked something in English. The trick here is to ask a teenager or a kid. They will go out of there way to help. I even had police men do the same.

There are plenty of maps in the train stops, especially the major stops. You can also print them out. There are specials for train for tourist.

Here are some helpful links:
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2016.html

As for odering food. There are a couple of things. We sometimes get lucky and have an English speaking waiter (this has not happen to often). There are some resturants that have picture menus. I even taken Japanese friends and have them order. We sometimes go sit down order a beer, go to the bathroom, as we walk to the bathroom we find something that looks good and ask the waiter to bring it. Not in the bathroom. There is no tipping in Japan.

In most part, prices are labled on almost everything in the store. If you normally do not like Japanese food (raw food) if you look around you will find something to your taste. Indian food in Japan is really good. The Korean BBQ are great.

Japan can be a little scary, with all the people and large buildings but If you plan your trip you should be fine.

Good Luck,

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fujiman says on Jun 4, 2008, 19:58:

Peter,
I disagree with Doc, I have lived in Japan for 7 years and the Japanese do not look down on Americans unless you are a complete A** and disrespect them. I travel from one end of the country to the other and the Japanese will help you even if you do not speak the language. But just like any other country you will go much further and make a great impression on them if you try to speak Japanese. I only speak a little but I have never had any problems. However they see I try to speak Japanese and everyone I have encountered goes out of their way to help you. Let me know if you need anymore information and I will be glad to help you out. Just send me an email with your questions.

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houstongal (Trustee board) says on Jun 4, 2008, 21:23:

As someone of Japanese decent, I can't really comment on whether or not the Japanese look down on Americans.

Peter - I think Tokyo is pretty easy to get around without speaking the language. I've caught trains and ordered at restaurants without any problems. Taxi drivers seem to understand where to go if you give them the address (even better if you have a map). And I don't really speak the language.

About the only time Japanese would've been helpful is when a friend and I ate noodles in a restaurant located under one of the train stations. We selected the restaurant because there was a line out the door. There were no western faces in sight. No one spoke English.

When we got to the door we watched as the people in line before us put money in a vending machine (looks like one where you would pay for parking) and take a ticket. We quickly figured out it was the ordering system and cashier. We were adventurous and gave it a try (no one offered to help). Everything was written in Japanese characters and we had no idea what we were ordering. We based our choices on price.

My friend was bummed when we later figured out that drinks were also to be ordered at the machine. One of those characters spelled out beer! We had a good laugh and a couple of delicious bowls of noodles. His was hot, mine was cold!

Peter - Thanks so much for creating the other boards. I travel a lot in my job and it's nice to know that I may be able to meet other PBHers in other countries. So far I'm up to 9 people in 3 countries. I look forward to meeting folks like Fujiman in the future (darn..I just flew through Japan a couple of weeks ago!).

"It is now official: there's no place on earth where you will not find a Peruvian band." David Sedaris

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fujiman says on Jun 5, 2008, 01:30:

Houstongal,
Just let me know the next time you come through and I will have cold beer for you...LOL

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Peter (Moderator) (Trustee board) (Dev team) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Jun 5, 2008, 04:58:

houstongal (Trustee board) says on Jun 5, 2008, 06:38:

Fujiman - You're on! I was last there in Dec 2006, but it seems that I fly through Narita to other countries in the Pacific each year. Will let you know the next time in your neck of the woods.

"It is now official: there's no place on earth where you will not find a Peruvian band." David Sedaris

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RUV says on Jun 9, 2008, 13:43:

I go to Japan one or twice a year. I am glad to chip in where I can. I have used your Colombian forum so much. It is us who should be thanking you. I will try to add some more information as I can.

Thanks again,

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JGD (☼Travelguide writer) says on Jun 14, 2008, 15:56:

Very interesting and informative link about visas and inmigration Q in Japan:

http://www.hiraganatimes.com/hp/visa/index.html

You are worried the US is going to invade and take the Venezuelan oil?... you are selling everything to them !!Peruvian Pres. Alan Garcia to Chavez

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antelope217 says on Jun 14, 2008, 20:15:

If you have a PDA, you can load a English to Japanese (and vice versa) dictionary on it. In Kyoto once I asked around for "pharmacy". After 2 confused stares I used my PDA and asked a stranger for "yakkyoku". This guy walked me to the pharmacy, he could not give me verbal directions in English.

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Dan says on Jun 19, 2008, 07:32:

Hey Peter... or anyone else for that matter...
Here's a site I've been using off and on for the past year to learn Japanese. So far, I'm hardly past the alphabet and haven't even started on Kanji. But, there are some good resources to get started and there's a lot of people there (many seem very young) that are pretty advanced in comparison but good to check out still.

http://www.thejapanesepage.com/

God Bless America!

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Dan says on Jun 19, 2008, 07:35:

One for Numbers:
http://japanese.about.com/bl_number.htm
One for a few Kanji:
http://japanese.about.com/library/bl50kanji.htm

God Bless America!

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Trvlr says on Oct 31, 2008, 17:31:

www.japan-guide.com does look pretty helpful! thanks!

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Cruz.Hermosilia says on May 28, 2009, 08:24:

Come on, Japanese people do discriminate, whether American or not. But it would be worse if you come from a country like mine. It depends where you go. In provinces, people might stare at you and the percentage of people speaking in English is low. Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto are major tourists spots so they have English signs etc. I don't know about Okinawa and Hokkaido though.
People would stare at you, but get used to the attention.
If you plan on staying for a long time, like more than 3 months, learn Japanese. But as long as you are here just for a week or more justto party, shop, have fun, just basics and maybe greetings. If you have a friend who can speak Japanese, you could use them to help translate for you.
And don't expect everyone to speak perfect English.

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