Can you go to Tokyo and not speak Japanese?

So, can you travel in Japan without speaking Japanese? Sure you can. In big cities and at major landmarks and popular tourist sights, you'll be just fine most of the time. Of course, once you get off the beaten path a bit, things will get a little more challenging.



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Do you need to speak any Japanese to travel around Japan? Absolutely not. You can travel to Japan without learning any of these words and have a great time. People ask us about the Japanese language barrier all the time, with common questions such as, Do Japanese people speak English?

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Short answer: yes. Many Japanese people speak at least a little English, and you can usually find them in hotels, especially if you stick to major cities like Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, etc. Learn a few words like “please” and “thank you” and “excuse me,” and you'll get along even better.

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You don't NEED Japanese, but it's polite to know a few basic words and phrases. Getting around the major cities with just English is perfectly doable, everything is well signed in English at tourist destinations and in stations. Learn to say thank you (Arigato gozimasu) as you will say it 50 times a day.

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If you speak English and don't mind living in Japan's English-speaking, gaijin-friendly bubble, having little or no Japanese can be manageable most of the time. You'll still be able to meet new people, experience unique moments, and navigate much of Japan just fine.

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One of the first things you'll notice during your Japan travel trip is how incredibly welcoming Japanese are towards foreigners (thank you Japan!). They are well known for their politeness and deep rooted traditions, so they definitely don't expect travellers to know all the social faux pas right off the bat.

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British citizens, or those who hold a British National (overseas) passport, do not need a visa if visiting Japan for 90 days or fewer.

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Most Japanese taxi drivers do not speak English, so you should try and show the driver a name card showing your destination in Japanese characters, or point out the place you wish to go on a map. Japanese cabs also now often have SAT NAV which will aid finding your destination if you know the telephone number of the ...

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Arigatou on its own is a simple, somewhat casual “thank you.” That said, most people prefer doumo arigatou or arigatou gozaimasu as their standard way of saying thanks, because both of those phrases are more polite than arigatou on its own.

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Japan has a reputation as an expensive place to travel to, but it's an image that doesn't hold up on the ground. With a little strategy, a visit can be very reasonable – budget-friendly, even. Many of the country's major sights, for example, cost nothing, and free festivals take place year-round.

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Is it safe to walk around Tokyo at night? The short answer is a solid Yes. Generally, Tokyo is safe to walk around, even very late into the night. Tokyo is one of the safest cities in the world for a reason, more often or not you should be more concerned about missing the last train in Tokyo rather than getting mugged.

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Can you hold hands in Japan? Yes. Recently anime fans have gotten a habit of claiming holding hands is lewd, but it's just a running joke. Still, apparently if non-children hold hands in Japan, it's public display of affection.

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