When I found out that I was finally getting my chance to live in the land of the rising sun, my mind began racing. 

• What do I want to see?
• Where will I stay?
• Is there anything interesting going on while I’m there?

But perhaps the most important question was do they speak English?

I started thinking about the English print I had all around me everyday in the U.S.—business names, restaurant menus, street signs, bathroom signs, and even the instructions for baby changing stations. 

I got worried!

What if I can’t read anything in Japan?

What if I order something terrible at a restaurant?
What if I walk into a men’s bathroom on accident? 

Any of these could quickly lead to some embarrassing situations. 
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But as much as that scared me, I realized there was a bit of hope: maybe Japan accommodates for English-speaking foreigners the way we accommodate for Spanish-speaking foreigners in the U.S.

Whenever I called a government office, doctor’s office, or some other companies, they offered to have the call in Spanish.  “To hear this call in Spanish, press 2…”

I wondered if Japan would be the same. And I was mostly right. Japan has made many accommodations for English-speakers who come to their country without any Japanese skills:

• Restaurants often offer English menus
• Public signs may have English in their subscript
• Areas near Tokyo or other big cities are likely to have many people proficient in English willing to help you
• ATMs and Ticket machines at train stations offer the choice to use them in English

It’s actually pretty easy to get by in Japan without knowing any Japanese, and I saw many travelers who did it! However, I also saw them struggle with a few things:

• Street signs (stop signs, etc.) are only in Japanese
• Some train stations don’t have any employees who speak English, especially in rural areas
• The train maps may not have English, so trying to find your desired stop can be tricky

In these cases, you have to be patient. If you ask for help, the people helping you will probably try their best, regardless of how well they can speak the language, and who knows? The person who helps you may be really good at English. In any case, be grateful for the help you’re getting and try to make it clear where you are trying to go, or what you need. You may also try to write it down, as many Japanese are better at reading and writing English than speaking or listening.

Still worried? Don’t be. Take everything with a bit of stride, and laugh about it afterwards. You’ll be fine! 

HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION ABOUT LIFE IN JAPAN?

​Leave a comment below!

And, as always, thanks for reading! 

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