About Visiting Japan, Frequently Asked Questions

Above, a view from the Landmark Tower in Yokohama. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

If you are planning to go to Japan anytime soon, you may have some questions that need to be answered before you go.

Fortunately, Kotaku Australia has complied some "frequently asked questions" about visiting Japan. You don't need to be from Australia to find them very useful.

They begin with (along with the first question):

So, you’re going to Japan, huh? Fantastic. You might have some questions. Hopefully, I’ll have some answers. 

Back in 2001, I visited Japan for the first time. I liked the country so much, I ended up staying. Permanently. Over the years, I have gotten numbers emails from Kotaku readers, asking me a variety of questions. 

Let’s have a look at some of the most frequently asked ones: 

Do I need to speak Japanese? 

No. Absolutely not. The first time I came to Japan fourteen years ago, I didn’t know a word of Japanese. (That being said, once you do learn the language, the country really does open up!) Since calling Japan home, I’ve had numerous friends visit me, and none of them spoke a lick of the language, and they all seemed to get around OK.
Be aware that every Japanese person studies English in junior high and high school (many get some sort of basic English instruction in grade school).

To read more, go here.