The language is the one thing giving us pause - we’d rather not feel stranded the moment we’re on our own for an afternoon. I’m sure plenty of people manage perfectly well, but a bit of reassurance wouldn’t go amiss before we commit. Did not speaking a word of Japanese ever actually catch you out?
I wouldn’t worry about the language.
If you’re comfortable with people, communicating with them is always possible and often amusing.
I’ve visited some 120 countries and don’t have a degree in foreign languages.
In China, I was advised to have my questions written in Chinese.
Sadly, the lady at the ticket counter wrote her reply, in Chinese, on another piece of paper.
So I went back to pointing to maps to show destination and using my watch to indicate time.
As someone who has traveled to Japan twice, I can definitely offer some reassurance: not knowing Japanese really isn’t a major hurdle.
Most people you encounter can understand basic English, and it’s generally quite easy to get your needs across. For those moments when there’s a language barrier, digital translation tools or ChatGPT work wonders in bridging the gap and making sure you’re fully understood. You won’t feel stranded at all!
Honestly, Google Maps, Google Translate, and an eSIMs are your best friend!!! They all work hand in hand, especially if your biggest fear is feeling stranded. A feature you’ll definitely want to use is the camera function in Google Translate. You can point your camera at signs, menus, ticket machines, or pretty much anything written in Japanese, and it will live-translate it on your screen. Google Maps is another lifesaver. I always save all the places on my itinerary in Google Maps before my trip, so when I’m ready to head somewhere I can just tap it and start navigating without having to search for it.
@WinFred, since you’ve been to Japan twice, I’m curious—where did you feel the language barrier the most? Was there ever a moment where not knowing Japanese actually made something difficult?