How To Survive In Japan Without Speaking Japanese

Above, a Denny's restaurant in Asakusa, Tokyo. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Over the past 18 years, I have been to Japan eight times and I don't speak Japanese. But that has never been a problem. Generally, no matter where ones goes, someone there will probably speak English. I have found that older Japanese men and younger Japanese women will want to try our their English skills on you.

But, if one is still not convinced that no knowing Japanese is no problem, Travel Daily News has an article on "How To Survive In Japan Without Speaking Japanese".

They begin with:

Have no knowledge of Japanese language and culture? That is not a problem; this brief article explains the basic ways you can survive in Japan without speaking Japanese. 

Traveling to Japan 

If you’re interested in going to Japan but don’t have any prior knowledge of the Japanese language, you don’t need to bother about that.  Japan is a lovely country, and Japanese citizens are both helpful and kind. You’ll definitely find help if you’re in trouble.  

However, the cost of living in Japan is higher than in some other countries, according to data sites like numbeo.com. This is true when comparing some Japanese cities like Tokyo with Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia). This information, coupled with the language barrier, can deter some individuals from visiting this beautiful country. Many agencies exist for a Japanese to English translate like this service  https://www.translate.com/japanese-english  which we highly recommend to help make your stay in Japan fun. 

This article serves to help you settle in Japan quickly without speaking Japanese, below are things you might want to do to survive in Japan.

To read more, go here.