Coming from someone who can barely speak english as a first language, any advice for a midwesterner who doesn't know a word of Japanese?

My brother will be out there for 2 years and I'm going to probably fly into Tokyo, then take a train or another flight to Sopporo. Are there signs in english around and will I have any trouble communicating with people?

Should I just carry a japanese to english translator and hope for the best?

 

I've been to Japan several times and don't speak a word of Japanese. It's easy to get around, the train system (probably the best in the world) is easy to use with maps in English. Tokyo is a pretty "touristy" city so the signs, menu's, pretty much anything you would need to read are in English. It wouldn't hurt to buy a pocket translator book just in case. I didn't go to Sopporo, but I did take the Shinkansen sp? a.k.a. bullet train to Kyoto (If you visit only one city in Japan, this should be it) and the stops along the way were announced in English. And just like Tokyo, I had no difficulty getting around Kyoto. I recommend looking at a guide book like Fodors just to get tips on how to make your trip easier. You don't have to buy one, just swing by your local Barnes and Noble and look at theirs. Also, try posting this question in the Japanese S2000 owners section of s2ki.com.

 

Here is Fodors website...

Japan

 

I'm excited as heck about going. I've only been about 20 miles outside the US border. I think I'm so interested in Japan because even Canada is pretty much the same thing as the US. I was in Nogoles, Mexico just for a few hours and it was still "American" to me.

Thanks for the links.

 

No problem, but there is plenty of "American" influence in Japan. You can still go to a 7-11, get a cappucino at Starbucks and a Big Mac at Micky D's in Tokyo.

 

I heard they have outback out there. My brother taught out there for 3 years and said he lost about 30 pounds the first month trying to get used to the food out there.

We went out to eat with his Japanese friend to a local sushi restaraunt, and his friend loved it. So I guess the worst case, i can eat sushi out there the entire time.

I think what I'm worried about is just being "alone" in another country, since it can be overwhelming.

But, Japan isn't like the US and from what my brother tells me, people there are nice and helpful, and there is a large English influence since that seems to be the universal global business language.

 

The Japanese are nice and respectful people, you should be o.k. Off topic, it says in your sig you traded your 00' Silverstone on 12/10/2004 for a 2004 Trailblazer. Is it supposed to be 12/10/2003 ?

 

Woops, yes. Can't predict the future. Though I wish I had the S instead of a stupid SUV

Thanks

 

Its pretty tough to find bad resturant food in Japan. I would be worrying about coming back home with a few extra pounds, if anything! Don't worry about anything, Japan is very safe and the Japanese are very nice (and love Americans).

 

In Tokyo, yes, it is very easy to get around without knowing any Japanese. Lots of things are written in both Japansese and "romanji", the Roman-alphabet equivalent.

In some of the other cities it may be a bit harder to get around, but if you will be in Tokyo it should be no problems. The Japanese are very patient and very polite people as a whole.

I would recommend getting a basic phrasebook like Berlitz that gives you a basic intro to the language, as well as the culture. It should be a wonderful trip!