Best known for its dichotomy between ultra-modern cities and ancient cultural landscapes, Nippon has an annual tourism growth rate among the highest in the world. Equally notable is its population of over 89 percent native Japanese people. While there'south been an increase in English-speaking initiatives every bit the small nation prepares for an influx of visitors for the Olympics in 2020, English is not widely heard or spoken exterior of tourist epicenters. Therefore, getting by without knowing the language tin can exist a challenge, simply information technology's still completely doable. If you lot're considering a trip to Japan, here is a helpful beginner'due south survival guide offering tips on how to navigate the country without speaking Japanese.

Ride the trains using basic knowledge of colors, numbers, and shapes.

Globally revered for its sophistication, cleanliness, and staggering punctuality, Japan'due south railway arrangement is an attraction in and of itself, serving over 20 million people every mean solar day in greater Tokyo solitary. In the cities, railroad train announcements are repeated in English and signs are written in both Japanese and Romanji — the romanization of Japanese that tin can be sounded out phonetically and read in alphabetical characters. For case, しんじゅく is followed by its Romanji, "Shinjuku," which is the busiest train station in the world and located in the middle of Tokyo.

When in doubt, rely on an uncomplicated agreement of colors, numbers, messages, and shapes. Each train line has its own color and abbreviation, and each train stop has its own number, and then follow color-coordinated signs inside the station to ensure you're on the right track — literally. Stop numbers should ascend or descend appropriately depending on the direction you lot're going. Decrease the lower number from the higher number to make up one's mind how many stops your ride is in total.

To commute similar a local, pick upwardly a Suica carte du jour and avoid wasted time ownership single-ride tickets. The prepaid smart card grants access to near public railways and buses, and information technology functions as an electronic wallet to make small purchases from vending machines, convenience stores, and select casual restaurants. Suicas cost around $18 upwards front, divide into a $4.sixty issuing fee and a $13.eighty initial accuse. They can be purchased and recharged at most stations and convenience stores. Note: They do not cover loftier-speed bullet trains (shinkansen) or long-distance buses.

If yous're making more than than one long-distance trip, east.g. from Tokyo to Kyoto, the Japan Rail Pass, or JR Pass, is the most cost-effective option. A one-time fee of $300-600, which covers between 7 to 21 days, will give you unlimited entry onto major railways, loftier-speed bullet trains, buses, and ferry boats. To be eligible for a JR Pass, you must be a foreign passport holder and a temporary visitor. JR Passes must exist purchased before entering the country.

Maximize independence with these digital must-haves.

Pocket Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi is a must. If switching out your SIM carte seems invasive, and mobile carrier options for staying connected while abroad are disruptive or expensive, there is a elementary respond in pocket Wi-Fi. The small, portable router provides loftier-speed net and unlimited data for up to 10 devices including your phone and laptop, relieving the need to hunt down public Wi-Fi or buffer through a spotty connection. Pocket Wi-Fi is priced per mean solar day and bachelor for online order, and you can pick ane up at kiosks in Japanese airports upon inflow or accept information technology delivered to your hotel.

Google Maps

Plug in the data and Google Maps will lay out exactly which steps to take by human foot, machine, or railroad train with varied departure and inflow times, so y'all can choose the road that best fits your schedule. It will tell y'all when there are delays, how much fares volition cost, and which station exit to use that's closest to your last destination. If you don't accept a data connexion, you lot can salve the maps for offline apply while you're still continued to Wi-Fi.

LINE

For texts and calls, consider downloading Wi-Fi-based messaging app LINE, the near widely used social platform in Japan. Aside from a cafe of beautiful stickers and animations to decorate conversations, LINE offers free vox and video calls and does not crave exchanging phone numbers to start a chat. An app-generated QR code or username is all you need, which allows for greater privacy and quicker connexion to others.

Keep cash on paw to make everyday purchases.

For amend or worse, blending in and keeping the peace is important in Japanese club. For travelers, this means not disrupting the natural flow of things and conforming to norms, an important ane being having greenbacks.

Credit cards, Apple Pay, and cryptocurrency may agree up in other parts of the earth, but in Japan, they won't make it. The Japanese stick to the basics when it comes to coin. Cash is king and the virtually efficient and mutual course of payment for daily purchases. Department stores, boutiques, restaurants, and bars in heavily trafficked tourist areas volition accept carte payment, merely if you desire to experience lesser-known gems and facilitate fluid transactions, preserving a healthy wad of bills is a priority. ATMs are your best bet, rather than money exchange services, and are bachelor with an English language selection in all major convenience stores.

Use convenience stores as one-finish shops for daily needs and a mental reprieve.

Beingness "on" all the time while in a strange setting tin can be tiring. The simplest tasks back home, similar finding a trash bin or restroom tin become daunting abroad due to unfamiliar territory and a stark language barrier. For a mental reprieve should filling the nooks and crannies of a jam-packed schedule catch up to y'all, convenience stores in Nihon offer an ideal place to residuum.

Dissimilar in the Us, convenience stores in Nippon are high-functioning hubs equipped with products and knickknacks to satisfy the needs of your daily minutiae. The Japanese apply their vii-Elevens, Family Marts, and Lawsons in the purest sense of their purpose: every bit a resting stop to grab a quick drink or meal, selection up a necessary item, and fifty-fifty pay bills or pick up a package. Located on every street corner, there may not be an English word in sight, merely there will be seats to take a breather and program out your side by side move.

Eating out does not crave a huge amount of conversation.

Inside view of a kaitenzushi conveyor belt sushi restaurant in Sapporo

Photo: EQRoy/Shutterstock

The nature of everyday dining in Japan caters to the lone soldier and those in a bustle. Enjoying a repast alone is not only normalized merely favored. Restaurants often have limited seating or a streamlined process with minimal to no human interaction. For those nervous about a language barrier, there are a number of options that volition help yous out.

Conveyor belt sushi

Also called kaiten sushi or a sushi train, conveyor chugalug sushi is the premier choice for hungry travelers with express Japanese. All it requires is to sit down down at an open up seat and choose from a revolving parade of sushi, sashimi, and various modest dishes. Information technology is the ultimate visual menu where what you see is what y'all get. If a plate sparks your involvement, claim it from the conveyor belt, and bon appetit. Or, itadakimasu, as the Japanese would say. Prices vary by plate color, design, and shape — once again, surfacing skills acquired in kindergarten — and toll between one to five dollars each, a reasonable demand for sushi in its birthplace. When you lot're finished, departing body language will summon a waiter to tally your plate count and guide you lot to the cashier.

Ticketed vending machines

Walk into almost fast-casual restaurants and ramen shops, and you'll be immediately greeted by a ticketed vending motorcar: a host, menu, and waiter wrapped into 1 bulky jukebox. Some volition have photos, others volition have letters or numbers corresponding to a photogenic menu displayed in the front window. Unfortunately, some machines will have only written Japanese, in which case intuition is your best bet for those with an open mind and palate. Insert bills into the car and receive a paper ticket. Bring the ticket to an open up seat, hand information technology to a waiter, and nutrient will be on its way.

Two popular bondage guarantee an English language language choice on their ticketed machines, Matsuya and Yoshinoya, the cheapest, well-nigh convenient hot meals money tin can buy. Guaranteed results with no awkward paw signaling or stammered Japanese required.

Learn essential, grab-all phrases to use in every interaction.

All this being said, the true secret to getting effectually in Japan is, of course, knowing a little Japanese. These cursory phrases will accept the edge off and carry yous farther than you think:

Thank you: arigatou gozaimasu

The virtually basic verbal gesture of human decency to show your appreciation, nowhere more important than in Nippon.

Excuse me: sumimasen

Use this when pardoning yourself on a busy street or train, calling a waiter over to your table, or when you need to ask for something.

Please: onegaishimasu

This is good to use when speaking to anyone you are asking something of. For example, getting directions or a recommendation. Onegaishimasu can also be thought of every bit "cheers for helping me" or "give thanks you for your kindness."

I'thou fine or no thank y'all: daijoubu desu

Y'all may utilize this phrase to decline something. Or, if you want to tell someone you are, or something is, okay equally is.

Yes: hai

When in doubt, say yep!

I don't understand: wakarimasen

Let others know you don't sympathise what they're saying, and they volition likely switch to their best efforts in English or leave yous lonely.

For more good-to-know phrases, visit the Nippon Travel Heart. If y'all really want to impress locals, check out our guide to Japanese idioms.

Be mindful of social etiquette.

To authentically communicate in Japan is to empathise and speak its unofficial language: a fundamental common courtesy. If there is one slice of wisdom to go along in heed every bit a strange visitor, information technology's exist mindful. The Japanese value group needs over individual gain and operate at a more than diligent default setting than most around the world to proceed a harmonious society. Non speaking on trains, maintaining polite torso language, properly disposing of trash, and standing on the correct side of an escalator are all good starting points, but upholding yourself to the same caste of integrity every bit the Japanese volition dismiss any hiccups you lot may face up by not knowing how to speak the language.

Ganbatte! That means practiced luck.

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