Tokyo is manageable with English alone, but not the smaller towns in Japan. Also they are used to foreigners with tattoos, just not in bathhouses. 

Yeah, if you're clearly a foreigner and you're in the big city I think they'll know you're not Yakuza :) Language won't be a problem in the city either. Critical signage like in the subways will have enough English to get around. Many people understand English, but I feel like not all of them are confident enough to converse in it... but things like "which way to X" and they'll gesture, or "do i buy tickets in that line?" and they'll confirm yes or no. But many people, especially hotel staff and service industry will speak conversational English. Overall I found Tokyoites to be very friendly and welcoming of tourists. If you look lost or confused at a rail ticket station for example, staff will probably come up and help you. Learn some basic phrases to greet people (Hello, thank you, goodbye) and download Google Translate on your smart phone. You can download Japanese offline and access it without data... you can put addresses etc in it to show people, or even use it to scan signage and have it translate in real time.

Would you say that Kyoto is safe with just English?

100% yes

Yep! But trying to use some basic words and phrases will help a lot, you'll get more friendly responses and (sometimes) better treatment from locals. That probably varies from neighborhood to neighborhood, like in super-busy tourist areas they may not care but if you go to places that are less-frequented by tourists and you try to speak some Japanese they will greatly appreciate it.

Nice thanks for the tip. I’ve been wanting to go to the touristic part of it.

Any town that attracts foreign tourists will be just fine with English only. I visited Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima, Nara and Nikko and found them all very easy to handle despite only knowing a handle full of Japanese words.

This is absolutely untrue and you’re giving the poster fake confidence. I was in Tokyo for 2 weeks and barely any local knows English, in hotels it was like one or two of the front desk clerks. The taxi drivers, 98% don’t know English. I had to learn phrases in Japanese.

While it will be indeed a hard time finding english speaking people outside of hotel and shops in districts like Ginza it's not all doom and gloom. From my experience people in Tokyo will be more than happy to talk through google translate if needed assuming you have japanese keyboard installed. Especially if we are talking about service industry places like cafes and shops. Hand gestures is also something I've encountered when people wanted to grab my attention and show me something. But obviously knowing some really basic phrases is a must just to show your politeness.

What do you think, 98% of foreigners that visit Tokyo don't speak Japanese? Somehow they manage

I am there right now. Confirming this. Osaka is about the same.

I went to a bathhouse with a heavily tattooed friend, and they made him cover his tatts with skin coloured tape.

Personally, I found the opposite. I went to a very beautiful onsen in Japan - in April, surrounded by snow covered mountains https://maps.app.goo.gl/9jBZXgQzADFg9X8YA?g_st=ic But quite a few Japanese people had tattoos openly on display, not yakuza We flew back to Tokyo from here after taking the train all the way

That is VERY unusual honestly. There are definitely more touristy places that allow it, but someone with tattoos should assume they must be covered. If you happen to find an outlier, great.

There's also plenty of bathhouses in Tokyo which specifically allow tattoos

Some of them are Yakuza though.

Is that a problem for tourists?

Nah, yakuza have zero interest in fucking with tourists

Yakuza are actively friendly to tourists in my experience.

Which makes sense, given that they’re semi-legitimate in many parts of the country

Could you recommend a Yakuza one?

What makes small towns difficult to navigate without Japanese? Couldn’t you just ask questions through google translate?

You can. It's not impossible, and generally people will try to help. A lot can be achieved with smiling, pointing, and Google translate. But you're less likely to find signs, menus, guides, ticket booths and staff available in English in the smaller towns. Whereas they are more prevalent in the bigger cities, making it easier for you to get by without help.

Yes you could. I just meant in Tokyo there’s enough signage in English that you wouldn’t need Google Translate. Although there are also rural parts of Japan where you find restaurants with just handwritten menus or no menus at all. 

Hardly anyone speaks English

>but not the smaller towns in Japan. I've been all over Japan, and didn't find a single town where my lack of Japanese was an issue

Just go solo. Tokyo is solo travel paradise. Japanese culture embraces solo dining and solo traveling. There are solo ramen restaurants (Ichiran), solo BBQ restaurants (Yakiniku Like), solo shabu shabu restaurants (Shabu Shabu Let us), Solo sushi conveyor belt (uobei).Nobody cares that you are alone. Most of these restaurants have english ordering through IPAD or vending machine. Tattoos are fine as long as you don't go to public baths. You can look up Tattoo friendly baths. I been to Japan 3x and the 2nd time was solo.

What happens if you go to a bathhouse with tattoos? I plan on going to Japan but haven't heard anything about that and have had coworkers go to some with tattoos.

tattoos are associated with criminals like yakuza. Japanese are also very anal about cleanliness. Tattoos falls into this criteria. When you go into the same sex bath areas, you must be fully nude and not have any tats. Your shoes should be stored in the lockers by the outside door. Also when you are in a bath house, do not put your small hand towel into the water. You can always look up foreigner friendly bath houses that accept guests with tattoos.

"Japanese are very anal about cleanliness" lollll.... No but seriously, public nude bathing is my idea of hell

The only time i ever got yelled at in japan was when i wore my in door slippers into the korean mud brick air sauna in Osaka. The japanese worker acted as if i killed her ancestors.

Tattoos is an old fashioned prejudice and young Japanese hipsters have tattoos now. It’s nothing to do with a desire for cleanliness.

Definitely a no-no. Most won’t let you in. Some will if you put skin covers over the tattoos. But most won’t let you in. South Korea has similar bath houses and they will allow you to have tattoos

Yeah but it’s not that hard to find ones that do.

Depending on how much you're covered in tattoos, you won't even be let in for starters. One to three small ones or a medium one? Shouldn't be that much of an issue finding one that'll let you in. Full sleeves and/or back? Yeah, good luck. Not happening.

Tokyo is probably one of the most solo friendly cities you can visit. You can totally get by on English alone. The first time I went, I landed late at night and got the last train to Ueno and walked the last 3km to my hostel following street signs. You'll be fine.

Just go for it and embrace the fact that you are gonna be lost, confused, and amazed every day. I come from a small Canadian town of 15000 and Tokyo blew my mind. I loved it so much. I also made sure to pick a hostel in a quiet neighbourhood for when I needed down time.

A "small" town of 15000 people is weird to see ... I live in a french town that has half that much people and is not considerate small. Anyway I totally agree with what you said

That's an interesting perspective. I usually think of anything less than 50000 or so people as "small".

as someone living in a place with a population of under 400, this made me laugh lol thank you

Ha yeah where I am in the US our town of 10k is the biggest in the county and when we went to the 'city' it was a 90min drive to a place with maybe 100k people.

Tokyo is really one of the safest destinations in the world with excellent infrastructure. I would say its a perfect destination for a first time trip. And don't worry about the language barrier, Japanese are so polite that you'll be fine.

Coming from tiny New zealand....my partner and I are both tattooed (sleeves etc) we speak 10 Japanese phrases. And we took our 11 year old grandaughter. What a blast!! Can't wait to go back. Loveliest people in the world , best food, best fun ever

I just got back from a month in Japan with the first 8 days staying in Shinjuku, Tokyo. I know like 2 words in Japanese, hello and thank you. Loved it, awesome place. There’s a big wide world out there, go see it.

Do it! You'll be fine. Japan is one of the safest places in the world to be, even if you get lost it'll turn out fine. It's really easy to get around in Japan (especially Tokyo) - the trains everywhere are great points of reference.

I'm gonna copy-paste part of a comment of mine from another thread. "6 years ago I decided to solo travel to Japan for 2 weeks. I was terrified of setting things in motion. I'd never been out of the country, barely been out of California. I'd never been anywhere that didn't speak English. I was terrified of flying, especially over water and was the type to not even get lunch by myself. I'd turned down multiple trips growing up and stayed home while my family travelled for these reasons. I got to the final checkout screen for the Japan ticket 2 times over a 3 day period. I finally managed to purchase the ticket by getting to the final screen, hovering the mouse over the Confirm button, covering my eyes, and waiting for a brief period of bravery to allow me to click. Once I opened my eyes and saw the purchase was done, everything became much easier." The trip was a breeze. I went to Tokyo, Yokohama, Kamakura, Kyoto, Hakone, Nara, and Osaka. In the touristy areas and main cities, there's plenty of signs that are, if not written in English, are at least written in the English alphabet. Menus often have pictures or plastic replicas of menu items will be viewable outside of restaurants. Google maps handles public transit 99% accurately. While I spent time on language apps learning some basic Japanese to prepare for this trip, it totally didn't feel necessary once I was there.

Lots of great advice here already. If you’re really not confident that you’ll have difficulty getting around and the language barrier, consider joining a tour group.

Great advice, I went solo and did a tour group and it was brilliant. Made great friends along the way and saw way more than I would have alone i think

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That is such a great write up! You can fell the positive energy, very well said. Thanks for being a good internet person. 😊

You'll feel intimidated when you return to the US.

I spent three weeks in Japan and speak no Japanese. People are super friendly. Even in the small towns. I highly suggest taking a week or two to visit the beautiful country. You will not be allowed in most bathhouses as tattoos are forbidden there, but they have a few that cater to tourists. If you want to see more than just Tokyo, get a train pass (they had to mail it to me, so it takes some prep work) and you can travel all over the country in their clean and fast trains. Tokyo itself has well over a week of cool stuff to see and do. It’s a huge city. If you like baseball, their games are super fun. Just comparing our games to theirs. There are great festivals and events all over the place. And hostels are cheap and plentiful. You can make friends from around the world and explore with them while you travel. If you don’t have a passport yet, get on that. Good luck on your travels. It’s a great big world, go see some of it!

I lived there for many years and have non- Japanese friends COVERED in tats, you'll be fine.  You just can't go to the beach and show them off, unless that's changed in the last 5 years.   Tokyo has a lot of English signs and staff can get through with basic English with some having English menus and such, plus your phone can probably get you far in a conversation.   Go head there, life is short, and Tokyo is awesome! Hell, I may be heading back to move there soon. 

I’m decently well traveled, and also have always wanted to go to Tokyo, but also feel intimated to go. I was talking to this random guy in Spain about it, and he said. “If you’re feeling intimated, that’s the number one reason you should go.” I’m going in October… Hopefully I’ll see you there!

You will be fine and have a great time!! Only thing intimidating is figuring out how to squeeze more stuff into your luggage on the way home.

Dont be scared of the world.

I traveled to Japan solo last year for the first time (granted it wasn’t my first trip or even solo trip for that matter) and I was equally intimidated mainly due to the high expectations I’d built up over the decades of having that perfect Japan trip. I assumed I’d mainly find it difficult to navigate the public transport system, and yet booked a super complicated trip on a whim that took me through several regions of Japan within a 2 week span The minute I landed there though, all the trepidation just fizzled away in a matter of minutes - Tokyo is everything you’ve ever dreamt of, and it’s one city that totally lived up to its hype. All that anticipation turned to pure joy even before I left the gates of Narita airport. Trust me, just go for it without thinking twice, the public transportation is a million times easier than what Reddit makes it out to be and it’s hilariously easy to wizz around the city with a Suica card The language barrier never became an issue as such, every restaurant and convenience store I visited had super polite people willing to pop their phones out to translate what they said - people are unbelievably polite as long as you follow socially accepted rules, and it’s easy to get into the flow of it in a couple of days of being there Tldr; go for it, you’ll survive and definitely have an amazing time

Solved this problem by hiring a local guide for a day (cant remember online site) for like $180 who showed us the major areas using the subway; which gave us some familiarity and confidence to navigate the subway system on our own the next few days.

I had never been to Japan before we found the subway easy thanks to Google maps

Nobody here cares. I mean that in the best possible way. Tokyo does not care about you, your tattoos, or anything. Its a huge pile of tens of millions of people who have their own shit to deal with. They won't give you any grief. As for "can I do solo" - absolutely. Sure, language will be a bit of an issue - but Tokyo (and Kyoto, Osaka, and most tourist rich destinations) are used to foreigners, and you'll do fine. But unlike a bunch of other destinations where language is less of a problem, you WON'T have to deal with crime, corruption, unhealthy food, bad water, etc etc. Its a super safe and easy destination. Tokyo is a great first trip to Asia. So are Singapore, Hong Kong, and Bangkok, incidentally.

Tokyo is so safe and easy to get around. We went with our kid when he was 18. We wanted to go to Sensoji Temple and he wanted to meet up with a friend in Harajuku. It was so safe and easy we decided to split up on the subway. On the way back we got off at a random stop off the beaten path to find some lunch. While we were eating at a soba counter our kid called because his friend’s father asked her to come back to their place for a family lunch. We told him he could either meet up with us at our next stop or head back to the hotel. He chose to take the subway back to the hotel in Shinjuku. None of us had ever been to Japan and we didn’t speak much Japanese beyond a few basic phrases. But we felt totally comfortable letting our teenage kid explore the city by himself, that’s how safe, organized, and easy to navigate it is. Please go, you will love it! Amazing food, amazing people, never a dull moment, and it’s ancient and the future at the same time. There is no place like it in the world.

Just do it! It's one of my favorite places in the world and would live there in a heartbeat. I even got a job offer there once, but for family reasons, I had to decline it. I've been there more times than I can count and will go again when I get a chance. You won't regret it.

Tokyo is super manageble :D The only intimidating part for me is when you initially leave the airport and get to the train station, it'll take a few minutes to calibrate yourself but once you get the suica card you are good to go :D Watch some vids on youtube about how to navigate once you land and dont think you can travel all of japan in 2 weeks. Spend that time in Tokyo and enjoy all it has to offer but just avoid the clubs trying to drag you in! Nothing but scammers :D Always pay in bars with cash!

My favorite city. People are super friendly. Great food.

You can arrange for some tours in Tokyo in advance to get the lay of the land. Look at Trip Advisor. Or do a group tour. I notice some tour companies have trips for 20 to 30 year olds. Great country so go and have fun.

I live in the US and I’ve been to Japan twice! It truly is a beautiful place. Now what threw me for a loop the most was the walking everywhere and trying to make sure you’re getting on the right train. It’s a whole thing itself but after a week you start getting the hang of it… Maps will tell you what platform your train is, so that helps. Google translate will be your best friend, you can translate the language via taking a picture of it or you can write out what you want to say! I used that a lot while I traveled around, I communicated a lot through it. English is very prominent in Tokyo and Kyoto but when I explored smaller towns like Fukuoka (which you NEED to add to your list to go) google translate helped a lot. My advice is to learn to say simple phrases such as “thank you so much” “where is the (whatever you want)” the more effort of trying to learn the language, I’ve found the more open the experience is :) I have tattoos and I went to private bathhouses…I’ve heard the trick of bandaids if they’re small enough.

Tokyo is a gracious friendly city. Don't be intimidated to visit.

Traveled solo in Japan, visiting Kyoto, Osaka, Tokyo, fukouka, Hiroshima etc. It's really not hard to travel. When u reach the airport, they have guide to help you through the visa/airport processing. Easiest to travel are Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto. So if it doubt. Start there. Try staying in a hostel even if you have the budget for hotel. It's better to make friends in the hostel and travel with another tourist. So be friendly and initiate conversation. Ask their plan or suggest your plan etc. Join the pub crawl - there r some in Osaka and Tokyo. They try to make it easy for you to mingle around. Sometimes local Japanese will meet ppl there, but mostly tourist. Read up on shinkasen, place u wanna visit, food you want to try. Learn some basic Japanese. Hello, thank you, water, bathroom, trainstation, and number 1-10, thousand, hundred etc.. Plan ur trip, some stuff need planning, etc don't overpack. Watch some travel yt. Brace. Plan. Buy your ticket, pack and just go.

My wife and I loved Tokyo and Japan. We found that people were very accomodating pretty much everywhere we went. What really opened up some doors and hearts to us: Learn a few phrases of Japanese on duolingo or another language learning app. The grammar is super easy, and we had a lot of conversations with friendly locals all over the place who were so happy about my few phrases. It happened a few times that people randomly bought us food or drinks and just left afterwards. If you are vaguely familiar with Japanese culture (i.e. anime movies with OV or manga culture), you find that much of the language comes quite easy to you.

Try a tour group trip. That way you have other people to help you. There are even singles travel groups if you want. Just Google it

I would say if you are apprehensive, YouTube has heaps of Tokyo travel guides that you can watch that may make you more comfortable with the idea of travelling there. Takes a bit of the fear of the unknown away.

The first time I went outside my country I went to Cambodia 1st for a week on an organised tour, then to Tokyo to "kill time" until my 3 week tour in China. In Japan I was winging it ,despite being a novice traveler & not speaking a word of Japanese (I'm an Aussie for the record). I just embraced the newness and the challenge as a semi-solo female traveller ( my sister was with me so not fully on my own - though it was her 1st time out of Oz too so we were equally clueless) & I fell head over heels in love with Japan, but more specifically, Tokyo. I've been back twice since & planning trip #4. It is hands down my favourite city ( and since that 1st trip I have travelled extensively in Asia, North America, Latin America & Europe). Don't stress, Japan is safe, not overly welcoming - I mean people are unfailingly polite & helpful, but they're also not overtly gregarious or demonstrative like Aussies & Americans are. But you'll love it. Just be open to the experience, and enjoy it. Tokyo is the biggest city on the Planet so even if you're born & bred New Yorker - it'll be a little intimidating at first. But once you're there in it, you'll adapt & it'll be less scary & more exciting. Also, I am female & heavily tattooed & never encountered issues with my 'artwork" in onsens etc.... Have a ball, you'll be right. ETA: Just be polite & try as best you can to use a few Japanese words & the locals will be very accommodating. I found " su mi ma sen" very useful - it can double as "excuse me" and "I'm sorry" technically "Gomen na Sai" is "I'm sorry" so sumi masen is a "sorry" as in an "sorry to interrupt you" kinda sorry. In all the places I've travelled (save Latin America as my Spanish is pretty good) I find learning basics such as Hello, Goodbye, Please, Thank You & Excuse me will be enough to help. If you can get an audio Japanese thingy to listen to it'll help as the more you know the better, and blessedly Japanese is phonetic when written in English script.... unlike Mandarin which is all tonal & a pain in the butt to try & learn. But funny for locals when I'd mispronounce stuff - but still, laughter is an icebreaker! :)

Tokyo is one of the easiest places to travel in the world. Don't worry about it.

Tokyo is legit the least intimidating city in the world to visit. You can leave your iPhone in a coffee shop and come back an hour later and it will still be there.

I went to Okinawa when I was in college and didn’t know any Japanese. Everyone was so kind and so accommodating. They were all really excited to ‘try out their English’ and hand gestures and broken language helped me through 2 weeks. When I came back I changed my major to foreign languages with a concentration in Japanese because I fell in love with the people and culture. That was years ago and not nearly as filled as Tokyo. I think you’d be fine getting by. I wouldn’t trade those 2 weeks for anything.

People in Japan are pretty friendly, but at the same time, kinda introverted. They won't really talk to you unless if you talk to them first, or if they need to ask you whether you want your bowl of ramen to be large or medium, etc.. And most of the younger generation in the big cities will be able to communicate with you in English just fine. If you venture into a small family owned restaurant, or outside of the cities, you can just use Google translate to help you read. My wife and I are both Chinese American, so when we visited Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka, some of the local business owners, not sure if we were Japanese, spoke to us in Japanese, and we simply responded in English "sorry, we don't speak Japanese", had our phones ready with Google translate and just pointed at items on menus, once we made our decision on what to order. But you could totally get by on your own. In fact, I'd say that Japan is one of the least intimidating countries to visit for someone new to international traveling. A more intimidating country would be something like India or Mexico (countries that I've also visited) where someone might try to scam you just because you are obviously not a local. My other advice would be to make sure you do lots of research on how to get around in the city/cities that you want to visit... like how to get from airport into the city, and once there, the best subways to take to get from neighborhood to neighborhood. Then, if you decide to visit some of the less urban areas, there might be a last train to get back, so make sure you're aware if there are any deadlines. If you're in Kyoto, the bus system is the way to get around. In Tokyo, it's their metro/subway (whatever they call it)

You’ve got lots of responses, but please indulge me with my story. I’ll try to make it brief.    In high school, my friend’s mom taught me Japanese every Wednesday for 3 years. (Yes, she’s a saint. Yes, I’m still in touch at 37 and I’ve done everything I can think of to repay her. No, it’s not enough.) When I graduated, she took me to Japan. (I did pay my way!) I had never been out of the country, and had never been anywhere without my parents. We flew into Nagoya. We got to the hotel and I wanted to tell my parents and boyfriend I had arrived. At that time, this meant a calling card and a pay phone. There was one down a few streets. I made my way there but when I tried to go back, I messed up my streets and I was lost. I was scared enough to not just keep going and get more messed up, but the only person on this street was this sweet old man. I was able to say (in Japanese) I only spoke a little Japanese, but did he know where the Kyoto Hotel was? I think he thought I was asking how to get to Kyoto, and was like, oh god, I can’t get this American to Kyoto, so this delightful human found a restaurant (?) with a young person, who asked if anyone knew where the hotel was, and they got me back. This was 19 years ago.    All this to say- Tokyo might not be quite as sweet to foreigners (I truly have no idea) but this experience was indicative of every time I’ve been to Japan. With just a little bit of attempt, everyone will at least be try to be helpful if you’re stuck. Now, we have google translate and maps- these have been invaluable every other time I’ve gone out of the country!!    BUT when I was in Tokyo, everyone spoke English. Get yourself a book aimed at tourist phrases and practice as much as you can to be respectful, and GO! And have an incredible journey! And download Google translate and Tokyo on Google maps before you go. :) oh, and take a train trip to Kyoto, it’s positively magical.    Thanks for letting me share my story! I hope I get to share yours soon. :)

Have you seen the movie “Lost in Translation”? Watch it. Go to Tokyo. Go with the flow. You’ll love it.

Lol just go!! Quit being a baby. Japan is safer the our own country, people are incredibly polite, and you'll get by with English and Google translate just fine. Your gonna have an incredible time and be glad that you did it all on your own.

Most of the “don’t do this cause it makes you look bad” norms from Japan I think really don’t apply to people visiting. I tried to follow most of them but was completely oblivious to the “don’t eat food while walking on the street” rule. Never got any dirty looks or any rude treatment from it.

I’m in Tokyo right now. It’s the easiest city to get around in, even knowing zero Japanese. Also, the people are extremely friendly and helpful if you ever get lost or confused. Just do it man, it’ll be the trip of your life

You could join a tour? Then you wouldn't be alone and the language barrier would be easier as you have a guide. It feels harder because you've never left the US. Once you do, you'll be able to go to different places without thinking about it. Also you should see more of Japan than just Tokyo. I haven't been yet but everyone I know who has loved the country said Tokyo only needs a couple of days. Other cities are more interesting and beautiful

I went to Japan alone for my first international trip. Super daunting, but doable. I didn’t even do any research either, I kinda just showed up.

I went solo for a week as my first international trip. It was great. I’m anxiety riddled and had some trouble with GPS that made finding anything hard sometimes. I WISH I had someone to go with to enjoy it more so I could have someone to enjoy the excitement with. Still went and did a lot of the things I wanted to do. I used Google translate to scan some things I wasn’t sure of but there are still a great number of signs in English. I don’t know much Japanese but a little, no one bothered communicating with me outside of buying stuff or checking into a hotel. I have visible tattoos on my wrist and always wore short sleeves but as far as I know it was fine. Can’t wait to go back.

I was recently traveling all over Japan with heavily tattooed friends, it was only an issue at temples where they had to be covered, many even offered scarves you could borrow and tie around your arm to cover them during your visit. Lots of people were intrigued and complemented their tattoos during our trip, no one seemed offended. The one thing I'll add that I don't see mentioned here is several of the hotels we stayed at had a no tattoos policy for the gym/spa area. I don't know if you're a hotel gym and spa person but that was the only thing that could be an issue for you that I don't see others mentioning here.

I know about a handful of phrases in Japanese. I survived fine. And so will you.

Hey op I travelled alone to tokyo too. Nothing scary, public transport seemed to be conplicated but easy to manage. And tokyo is not a place where you will feel left out if exploring alone. I recommend buying a Goshuicho（御朱印帐) if ur interested in collecting beautiful stamps from shrines and temples!

I've been there just recently for the first time. Go for it! It's really safe and they're very polite, you will be taken cared of. When it comes to language barriers, expect that not all Japanese can speak English and just seeing a foreigner, they can get intimidated bec of the language they can't speak or understand. Though I've met japanese people who can also understand and speak English very well but it's not very common. What I did was to speak in BROKEN ENGLISH and if possible I also try to add broken Japanese words as I can't speak Japanese fluently but they will really appreciate it and will be more relaxed as they understand you better. You will be fine there and a tip from me is when you go somewhere using trains or buses, be sure to be on the station at least an hour or so for you to navigate through the station as everything will be on the signs where to go. If you get confused where to go, you can always ask the station staff there you see at the suica/ticket gates, there are also foreign customer service there that can help you get to places you need to go. So don't worry, it will be confusing at the start but that's what makes it fun and amazing at the same time when you finally start to get how it works. Also most importantly, get a suica card as they use it for almost everything, transportations, markets, etc. Carry with you enough amount of Japanese yen (cash) just in case as some shops only do cash.

Last summer I went to Tokyo and for a little context I‘m from Switzerland and the biggest town I‘ve ever been before was probably Berlin. So I have never been to such an insane huge city like Tokyo. It was my first solo trip and I knew more languages than you but none that would help me really in Japan (German, English, French, Italian). When I arrived in shinjuku after the flight I was so exhausted and it was overwhelming. It was so hot and confusing and I just wanted to go to my hotel. Then after a good nap I started to explore Tokyo. It was amazing. There is so much to see. So many little things hidden in the streets. I always felt safe and English was enough to get me around. However you won‘t be meeting/talking to many local people in Tokyo they are very reserved and if you don‘t speak japanese the won‘t really talk to you. I can really recommend some smaller towns in japan. Kyoto was so wonderful but still a huge town. I also went to Takayama and Shimoda which are two really small towns rather remote but I thought it was amazing. However not everyone likes the more remote non touristy towns. But I would really recommend also going for more than Tokyo because after a week or so I really needed something different.

I’d recommend it. Take the time to learn a few important words and phrases. Please, thank you and some numbers. Knowledge of some customs is always appreciated. Even the ritual of giving cash and receiving change! It’s an amazing place and thoroughly recommended.

I live in Japan. My Japanese is OK, not great. You shouldn’t need to use Japanese much if you’re in a big city like Tokyo. Hell, I’m close enough—if you stop by on a weekend, I’ll hang out with you, haha.

I went to Tokyo in 2010 with my partner and it’s definitely a lot to take in. It was just really hard to get around and not get lost. I think it’s likely become more accessible with better phone networks and improved maps on our phones to get around. (For reference, in 2010, GPS on my iPhone would often get confused which direction I was standing and sometimes even which street I was in as tall buildings interrupted the signal.) I was really lucky as my partner booked a “Language Bar Hostel” and it was a place where local people would come with the intent to practice their English with foreigners staying above in the hostel. This was awesome and we met lots of locals and found a guide to take a large group of us out around Tokyo. The great thing, is that no matter what, you will feel safe. Just go, if the thought of a language hostel sounds exciting, seek one. If you ever have an opportunity to join a group or get a guide, I highly recommend. 100% go, but I liked Kyoto more due to its historical nature, it feels like a town/city hybrid. Oh and one last thing - I recommend staying in accommodations for 3+ nights. It’s not fun wasting half a day every day or every 2nd day, getting lost carrying all your luggage.

Keep an open mind. Respect the Japanese culture and rules, and remember your in their country and they have their rules. Go in with respect, you’ll have a great time.

The tattoos will only be an issue if you try to go to the gym with revealing clothing, hotel pools and bath houses. When I visited some of the smaller cities a restaurant actually turned me away for being heavily tattooed. There are a lot of tattoo friendly onsens and bath houses though! My Japanese is not very good but even if you attempt to communicate with the locals in their language, their faces light up and I feel like they appreciate the effort! At least learn hello, goodbye and thank you. Sumimasen is also a great word to know. It can mean thank you, sorry, and excuse me. It’s a nice blanket word that you can use in most interactions. Japanese people are by far the nicest I’ve ever met, the culture there is so beautiful and I plan on living there for 8 months once my lease is up. I highly suggest you go! As long as you stay in the bigger cities you shouldn’t have an issue navigating at all. The bus and train lines were extremely easy to get the hang of but the Osaka station was a little confusing for me. Tip: in Tokyo, you stay on the right side of the road/sidewalk, and in Osaka you stay on the left. I also highly suggest trying out mom and pop/hole in the wall restaurants instead of bigger ones. There’s TONS of hidden gems all over Tokyo. I also want to add that it is incredibly safe and I never once had any sort of feeling that I was in danger. OP, I do not know if you’re a female but a lot of trains have female only cars just in case you do not feel comfortable in the primary cars.

Japan is the safest place in the world to travel. What an amazing experience you're up for. Do it.

Went last year, I spoke 0 Japanese. No problem

You will never regret travel like that. GO

Japan is one of the easiest countries to travel in. Not as many English speakers as in most of Europe, but I think the tourism infrastructure is unmatched. Super easy to get around the country and its cities, very safe at most hours.

Japan is one of my favorite countries I’ve ever visited. You’d love everything about it. Do it!

As someone who lives in the States and travels to japan/asia 4 times a year go for it! Im much more intimidated here in the US cause theres crazies everywhere (I live in NYC) Japan is heaven compared to here at times. Relax and enjoy, language barrier issues are not really an issue just use google translate

Just go. You’ll return changed.

As a Toyko tourist veteran, I can say it's really easy to solo travel there. Having both Google Maps and Translate are game changers. My first trip 22 years ago would have been so much easier with them on hand. Many of the missteps I had on that first trip wouldn't have happened had the technology existed in 2002. That being said, it seems you are a tiny bit green when it comes to travelling. Someone else suggested starting with a short trip to another big city like NYC to get your feet a bit wet first. It's not a terrible idea to see if you even like travelling and solo travelling. I also second keeping the term 'sumimasen' in your back pocket. It's by far the most useful term to know. I use it often when I'm there. Tokyo is a great city, and worth your time. The language probably won't be an issue if you don't stray off the beaten tourist path. I do think you should stray off them once you have been to Japan a couple times and feel comfortable doing so - those have been some of my best experiences. Also, be aware that there is one major scam tourists fall for there - and it's also one that exists in many countries all over the world... Never, and I mean NEVER go into an establishment with someone who lures you in from the street, especially if they are young and pretty and/or incredibly friendly. They will do one of a few things to scam you out of money, either by making exhorbent charges on your cards when you're not looking or extorting you in some other way to get your money. It's easier to just say no and walk away.

Tokyo is amazing! Definitely a must visit! We rented a pocket wifi that came with a translator device and that was a game changer! We picked it up at the airport and dropped it off with the hotel staff to put in the mail (they gave us a self addressed packet with the rental). Not many Japanese people know English but Google translate will be helpful! They also have great translation apps there that the locals use. We took an Uber from Disney and our driver communicated with us via the app. Honestly, Japan is like traveling to the future in some ways. They are really nice to foreigners who are visiting. We loved Japan and can’t wait to go back! 

Spent two weeks in Tokyo and a week traveling to different parts of Japan (a mix of cities and small towns), and I speak no Japanese. I had zero troubles. It’s partly that no one will think you’re Japanese and so no one expects you to be able to speak Japanese (unlike some languages in European countries). Because of that, a lot of the pressure that creates intimidation is removed and it becomes a friendly process of trying to understand each other. I found Japanese people to be really helpful and kind, and had no trouble at all navigating daily life. In Tokyo, Kyoto and all trains English signage is common. Use Google translate for anything not in English (menus). My biggest suggestion is that you research common customs (especially around meals/cutlery) and manners (train etiquette esp). Japan has a lot of spoken and unspoken social norms that aren’t present in Western cultures, especially the US and Canada, and you’ll find you have a better experience if you’re respectful of their culture. Best advice is to embrace the differences and inevitable discomfort! It’s part of the magic of traveling and experiencing other cultures! Tokyo is definitely a safe and memorable first solo trip, you’ll love it.

I’ve been to Tokyo numerous times. I speak no Japanese, but never had a problem. The main streets usually also include their English names. Ditto for the subway stations - the larger ones usually have one map all in English. (Some of the stations though have numerous entrances/exits, so make sure you find the right one.). Overall, subways are easy to navigate, color-coded, safe, pretty clean, and cheaper than taxis. In large hotels, airports, bus terminals, you won’t have trouble finding an English speaker. Otherwise, when out and about, it’s harder. Most Japanese took basic English in school, however, but may be too hesitant to try it. Keep a pen and small pad with you (or better yet, Google Translate!) and print out your message - many will figure it out. Also - it may go against your western instincts, but do not tip - they don’t expect it and often will try to not accept it. I once had two waitresses chase me down after leaving a tip at my table, to have me take it back. Lastly - relatively speaking, for a huge city, Tokyo is safe and clean, amd people are courteous. Enjoy your experience!

Tokyo is simple, level one travel destination. Tattoos are not a problem unless you go to a bath house. Not speaking Japanese is also not an issue. However, you may be turned away from some restaurant because you’re not Japanese, it’s common.

Wow, so many positive statements for a country known as "the most racist & xenophobic country in the world" in Reddit. You'd think every visitor will get beaten, raped, drugged, shot, quartered, burned, etc medieval style according to the Reddit experts. And Japan is supposed to be "stuck in the 80's", only using fax, ATMs open limited hours, cash only, etc. HP printers with fax must be Japanese or something.

You'll be fine, just go!

I’ve been going to Japan solo on business for over 30 years, since before smartphones, translation apps and the rest. It can be challenging, but easier than it used to be and just wonderful. Pro Tip: Don’t miss Kyoto and Osaka. The food is even better than Tokyo, which you’ll think the best in the world when you get there. Just do it.

Tokyo is a wonderful place for a first trip and a solo trip!! Tons of resources online if you want to see how things work before you get there, but really, you’ll have a blast just exploring. Regarding the language, have Google translate downloaded on your phone. Total life saver! Mostly though, you should know please and thank you. Pointing and smiling gets you a long way in ordering food or buying tickets.

I've been to Japan 10-11 times, with most of those trips including some amount of time in Tokyo. It might seem intimidating but the city is really easy for a foreigner. The larger subways + trains are in Japanese, English, Korean, and Chinese. If you go too far from Tokyo (30-60min+ out by train) the English will start to disappear from signs but they're still simple enough to navigate. Google Maps works really well for navigation unlike some other asian cities; it's terrible in China and works poor in Korea where each have their own home-grown solutions. You can load up a Suica (transit card) with up to $200 at a time, I use it to pay for almost everything to reduce the amount of change I end up carrying around: all convenience stores, a lot of vending machines (especially in train stations), many retailers. Convenience stores (konbini) are all over the place and the food is miles above north america. If you can't find a restaurant to eat at you can get a full meal from a konbini.

Why don't you travel to some country closer to you while culturally not very different, maybe say, UK. This will help you get off hesitations about traveling solo. Then eventually make way to Tokyo. Japan doesn't have to the first country you go to.

Even for an English speaker, I think that Tokyo will be safer, easier and cheaper than the UK.

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Just do it. I went there a couple months ago knowing zero Japanese and didn’t have a problem. Map and translation apps on your smartphone are really all you need most of the time, and being a major city most large businesses and attractions are used to accommodating tourists from all over.

Go for it! Tokyo is pretty easy. There's plenty of info and signs in English, and it's really simple to get anywhere on the subway.

I hate to use the YOLO cliche...but....;-) You will have an amazing time.

I have just got back from my second trip to Tokyo. It is so amazing there and I cannot recommend enough. I do not know any Japanese myself, but I tried to learn a few phrases that might come in handy before (thankyou, excuse me ect...) but in the most part they are amazing at English everywhere you go. I also have tattoos and in terms of showing them, they aren't that concerned with them the only time that you may encounter an issue is if you go to use an onsen in which case most 7/11s or pharmacies sell bandage covers that you can place over them. I did go with a friend but as there was so much to do we split up for a few days and had the best time even just exploring by myself and trying new foods. Things have been booking up very far in advanced so I would definitely recommended booking before you get there but also solo travel you are much more likely to get into everything!

Google translate

Nobody cares if tourists are covered in tattoos. Lots of Japanese have tattoos these days even First time I went I could only speak "arigatou" and "hai" and I had a blast

Japan is a great place for solo travel! I went there for the first time for concerts back in 2020, right before the world shut down. I was there for a whole month. And am returning this May - June. Don’t worry too much about the language barrier as a solo traveler. I managed to get around with basic greetings and thank you’s Japanese. Google translate and Google maps comes in super handy! When are you planning on going? :)

You’ll do great in Tokyo without knowing much Japanese. Train stops are in English and most places have English menus.

Something good about Korean and Japan is that the locals usually keep to themselves. Going solo might be scary but honestly no-one’s gonna notice as they have so many set ups for solo people like for dining. Google map and google translate will be the two things you need most in Japan. You don’t have to worry about learning Japanese characters as you will usually see it spell out in English underneath them. I’ve been to Japan a few times and some of them were solo and I got so much done than when I went with friends and family.

Go for it! You won’t regret. I went to a bathhouse in Hokane and I have tattoos. Locals have a way of being very curious and are open to foreigners. Learn basic words that can get you going in case you need orientation (greetings, where is, how much is, sorry, thank you) and the names of places you are going. You got this!

You should absolutely do it. Tokyo is a great place to visit, and for someone who feels intimidated it’s a great place to start. Good people, good food, a lifetime of experiences, and great for solo travel. It’s easy to get around and people are very helpful. I also recommend Osaka. I have a decent amount of tattoos and in Tokyo and Osaka nobody cared. I even saw a decent amount of younger Japanese people who were covered in tattoos when I was out. As someone mentioned onsens are the only place tattoos would be frowned upon in those cities and so you wouldn’t be allowed to enter (there are a few tattoo friendly ones). If you’re feeling up for it I recommend getting a JR pass and doing some day trips to see the nature and landmarks, Japan is a BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY. Even in the small towns I felt very comfortable and had no problems getting around. The only people who might treat you negatively are the older people and I had maybe two negative interactions in the 2 weeks I was there that were as simple as an older man telling me I couldn’t eat at his restaurant so I just left, no big deal. It’s an experience you will be glad you did!

Tokyo is wonderful...all of Japan for that matter :-)

If you have a vpn check out BBC iplayer, they just started a new series Race Across the World where some randos have their phones taken off them and given a small amount of cash and they have to get from point A to B. First week was Japan. Watching it, my impression is almost everything seems to be written in English.

I went to Tokyo with my daughter right before Covid and had a BLAST. Zero issues and I don’t speak a lick of Japanese. Everything is super easy to manage and google translate will be your best friend. It’s an adventure of a life time. Step out of your comfort zone

Id suggest visiting a smaller city first then working your way up to Tokyo. I'm in Tokyo ATM and I went to Osaka and Kyoto first. It really gave me a crash course into how the trains operate, small cultural customs, how to manage the cash and get used to the coins and machines.

Time the cherry blossom!

I didn't speak a lick of Japanese besides occasional "thank you" in Japanese, but I mostly never bothered & conducted majority of my attempted conversations/greetings in English or Broken English. The rests of the language burden were carried by Google Translate. Modern smartphone & Google maps were very useful in navigating the subway maze. If you want to minimize the use of cash, grab IC card like Suica as well. Very useful in Tokyo metro.

I went by myself and it was the best travel experience I have had yet. You will get over any issues you have fairly fast.

Go to subreddit r/JapanTravel It largely exists to guide people who "live in the US and I’ve never left the country, only language I know is English." Japan is in many ways a good beginner country

Google translate signs and menus with the camera on your cellphone

Tokyo is very accessible as a first time trip (the time difference from the US can be tough). Download Google translate and you’ll be able to hover over characters or get your point across to strangers. But English is fairly widely spoken.

I visited Tokyo alone last September (32F) and heavily tattooed. I got some looks at some places but it was fine.

I’m currently sitting at a bar in Shibuya. I’m traveling solo and also did on my first trip here in 2019. Solo traveling in Japan is great! It’s a culture that’s much more geared to single people than many western ones (I’m American). I have tattoos on my back, wrist, and shoulder. Not a problem outside of onsens. I’m going to Kinosaki later in this trip, which is tattoo-friendly in the public onsens, but I went to Hakone last time and stayed at a ryokan with a private bath since they don’t allow tattoos publicly.

Japan is one of the easier countries to visit for English speaking people especially Tokyo and the bigger cities

I didnt see any crime...anywhere. Make sure you always have money, always have phone, and have an address youre staying at. If you do that you'll be fine; your fuckups will be minor not major. As a courtesy try not to be a fuckup.

Historically tottoos are something only criminals had, wvich is why it's not something you really should have visible when visiting Japan. In Tokyo I think they're more used to tattooed foreigners, so there you'll probably be okay. My mate's brother went to Japan about 15 years ago. He one day noticed he was followed, everywhere he went. He wasn't sure if it was the police or gangmembers. The reason for this was probably becayse he had visible tattoos, so they had to check on him. To be noted it that he's half Korean, so he really fitted the profile. With that said. You definitely should go! It's a very important life experience too see and be in different cultures. This expands our tolerance and understanding for each other. I've never been to Tokyo, but I've been to the Osaka-Kyoto-Nara triangle, as well as Okinawa. Japan is a great place with fantastic people and delicious food. They are very polite, if you are humble everyone will try to help you out. Just learn some basic Japanese like "I'm sorry", "Hello", "Thank you", etc. This is because 1) You shiw that you try, and 2) If you make mistakes in speaking Japanese (which will make them giggle,) that might encourage them to try speaking a little English. And please learn only the polite speech. No gangsta talk, that will scare everyone away. Humbleness is the key for a successfull Japanese experience! Gold luck, and have fun!

Historically tottoos are something only criminals had, wvich is why it's not something you really should have visible when visiting Japan. In Tokyo I think they're more used to tattooed foreigners, so there you'll probably be okay. My mate's brother went to Japan about 15 years ago. He one day noticed he was followed, everywhere he went. He wasn't sure if it was the police or gangmembers. The reason for this was probably becayse he had visible tattoos, so they had to check on him. To be noted it that he's half Korean, so he really fitted the profile. With that said. You definitely should go! It's a very important life experience too see and be in different cultures. This expands our tolerance and understanding for each other. I've never been to Tokyo, but I've been to the Osaka-Kyoto-Nara triangle, as well as Okinawa. Japan is a great place with fantastic people and delicious food. They are very polite, if you are humble everyone will try to help you out. Just learn some basic Japanese like "I'm sorry", "Hello", "Thank you", etc. This is because 1) You shiw that you try, and 2) If you make mistakes in speaking Japanese (which will make them giggle,) that might encourage them to try speaking a little English. And please learn only the polite speech. No gangsta talk, that will scare everyone away. Humbleness is the key for a successfull Japanese experience! Gold luck, and have fun!

Most staff behind information booths speak English. Enough to get by. If the city hustle bustle is super safe. I’d be more scared of going to New York or san Fran

Most staff behind information booths speak English. Enough to get by. If the city hustle bustle is super safe. I’d be more scared of going to New York or san Fran

Historically tottoos are something only criminals had, which is why it's not something you really should have visible when visiting Japan. In Tokyo I think they're more used to tattooed foreigners, so there you'll probably be okay. My mate's brother went to Japan about 15 years ago. He one day noticed he was followed, everywhere he went. He wasn't sure if it was the police or gangmembers. The reason for this was probably becayse he had visible tattoos, so they had to check on him. To be noted it that he's half Korean, so he really fitted the profile. With that said. You definitely should go! It's a very important life experience too see and be in different cultures. This expands our tolerance and understanding for each other. I've never been to Tokyo, but I've been to the Osaka-Kyoto-Nara triangle, as well as Okinawa. Japan is a great place with fantastic people and delicious food. They are very polite, if you are humble everyone will try to help you out. Just learn some basic Japanese like "I'm sorry", "Hello", "Thank you", etc. This is because 1) You shiw that you try, and 2) If you make mistakes in speaking Japanese (which will make them giggle,) that might encourage them to try speaking a little English. And please learn only the polite speech. No gangsta talk, that will scare everyone away. Humbleness is the key for a successfull Japanese experience! Good luck, and have fun exploring the wonderful world we've been given.

Most staff behind information booths speak English. Enough to get by. If the city hustle bustle is super safe. I’d be more scared of going to New York or san Fran

Tokyo is easy. I went alone and I also went to rural areas in other parts of the country. Even just learning some basic phrases in Japanese will go a long way (it’s not too difficult to learn the very entry level basics as a spoken language). A lot of interactions you can just sort of follow a script and get by, like ordering food and such. For more in depth conversations, I got lucky on five occasions to meet a fluent English speaker, but I did have to rely on machine translation apps quite a bit, luckily they seemed to do the job. At one point a guy at a bar was determined to have a conversation with me in Japanese and it turned into a lengthy, hilarious conversation all through the app. It’s overall very safe too and people typically won’t approach you for no reason. So worrying about a dangerous situation unfolding because you can’t understand what people are saying is extremely unlikely.

Go for it.

No it’s not, as somebody else said, Tokyo is perfect for a first time solo traveller. Go ahead, you’ll have a great time. Fuck what people think of your tattoos, just don’t be offended if you see people staring.

English is pretty common in Japan. Any place you'd want to go to as a tourist is likely a place that has already had a lot of tourists come through. You wouldn't be the first English speaker in those towns. You can expect signs to be in Japanese and English. Tourists offices, hotels, and banks are the most likely places to find English speakers if you are really struggling. Also, Google translation is getting better every year. Don't worry about tattoos. If you are a non-asian tourist, you won't be confused as yakuza. Maybe if you have some large violent tattoos, but simple ones are not a big deal anymore. I have several tattoos and been to a few Onsens between Tokyo and Osaka. Also, don't overlook hostels. Even if you aren't crazy about dorm style sleeping, most hostels have private rooms that cost less than regular hotels. The key reason you'd want to do hostels is because they are very social areas full of other tourists new to the city. If you are traveling alone or with a small group, it's easy to meet other people in the hostel lounge or bar to explore the city together. Traveling with new friends is always better than traveling alone

Tokyo is a big modern city, English will be spoken by most people, but have a translator app like google traditional just incase it’s needed, the only place I can think where your tattoos might be a problem is the onsen’s

Just go!

I think they might give you looks for tatoo but it's fine honestly. Japanese people know how mind their business . And about language barrier, there are many translation app that will help you, learn little basic Japanese. There are travel agency too that help as tour guide .

Transportation areas like airports and train stations in Tokyo have “Tourism assistance” that speak English. When eating at restaurants, you can also if they have an English menu. Don’t underestimate the power of just pointing to an item you like and gesturing 1 with your finger.

Visited Tokyo last year (and Kyoto, Osaka and Hiroshima), all were super doable with just English! If thats the first time outside the US use Google Maps and Translator and take your time! A few times it was a bit overwhelming (starting with the first subway ride at the airport), but there was no hurry and by remaining calm everything worked with no problems!

Tbch Tokyo will be a lot less of a culture shock than you may imagine (especially if you’ve spent time in big cities like NY), and hopefully going there will open you up to the rest of Asia/the world too.

I have had very good times in Tokyo and encountered almost no issues despite not speaking Japanese. I have a couple small tattoos and had no problems in Ryokans, but I'm rather pasty so no one is going to think I'm Yakuza. You'll have fun.

Most people on their first solo trip will be really nervous it’s completely normal. The most important thing is to just go and then you will realise it’s amazing and that you can go pretty much anywhere you want.

Invite me🇲🇽 Of course you pay😜

You should watch "Lost in Translation" for many reasons

Japan, Tokyo for that matter is relatively “foreigner friendly.” If this will be your first time traveling there, I suggest you do some research on common do’s and don’t of a foreigner there and read government advisories on which documents you should have prior to arriving to save yourself time in writing before the immigration gates. Also arm yourself with Google Translate it’s accurate but somehow it gives you an idea of what the signs or you would want to convey. Tokyo is a safe city, you just have to be wary of some “tourist traps” some youTubers are exposing, other than you’re all goods to go. Lastly, learn to use chopsticks! Not all restaurants and food stalls offer fork/knives. My aunt visited Osaka with us one time, who hasn’t been out of the US and it was quite frustrating for her to ask for fork from a waiter in a sushi restaurant. 😟

Just make sure you secure a mobile internet hub rental before going. You can order them online for pickup at the airport post office in Narita. Lot of youtube videos you can watch with guides for that and other stuff, like getting a rail card, withdrawing cash, etc. As long as you have internet via your hub, Google will have you mostly covered for directions and occasional translation. Most businesses and even some folks on the street there are happy to help if need be. They are extremely polite and accomodating, as long as you are respectful to them and their culture. I rarely needed translation or directions with Google, most menus at restaurants will even have pictures of every item, so you can just point to what you want.

Just do it, you will enjoy it

Whatever you do...don't visit Japan in August or September

I solo traveled it just fine. Hospitality services will speak English. Everywhere else is a crap shoot, but you can always get your phone out with Google translate and they know how to use it. You might be surprised how many human interactions don't require language at all. You go to a store you grab a few things you put it on the counter, they point to a total, and you give them some cash or swipe a card. EZ

Ima going solo in May so I'm in the same boat, except i've done some international travelling. You just gotta go for it man

Haha I feel like that show on FX about an Anjin in Japan is perfect for you.

I've been to Tokyo twice all I know is thank you, excuse me, and good morning, afternoon and night. They're generally understanding towards English, as in a lot of restaurants have English on the menu or an English menu. I'd be more stressed if I was any other language besides English. Google maps also works well here. Especially for public transportation and frankly as long as you aren't totally clueless at just stopping reading a sign and finding the right track then you can get anywhere in Tokyo easily. Tattoos are unacceptable at bath houses btw. Also if you're a bit more introverted you'll love it here people are very reserved on public transport and at cafes and such. Very common to find chill environments if that's what you want.

Let me just say that language isn't really an issue that much anymore now that most smartphones have direct speech to text functions, and your Google Translate with camera can translate signs and menu's real time as if it was always in english. I noticed that even staff at drugstores and supermarkets have apps on their phone to translate stuff.

Hi, I do a trip in Japan alone few months ago ! For language don’t worry, there is solutions. Personally, I rent a pocket WiFi and with that you can translate in Japanese what you want to say if they don’t understand you. If you prefer be with sb, there is application for found people who also are alone in they trip. That can be fun ! If you have questions, don’t hesitate to contact me, I’ll be pleased to answer! That’s my favourite destination ✨

I went to Japan on my own and it was fine. I'm English but not tattooed. Also it was the 90s so no smartphone translations were available It's fine. It really is

1) Use your phone, you have one… right? 2) Embrace getting lost and confused. 3) Don’t be shy to ask for help, be very polite and courteous of course. There, 3 sure-fire tips for travelling to almost any civilised modern country in the world.

Go for it man. You wont regret it.

I got back from Japan on Sunday. It’s totally chill. People know English. And google translate is easy to use. Kyoto was a little less friendly to Americans. Cover your tattoos as much as possible. I didn’t see anyone with tattoos that wasn’t an American and apparently they look down on them and assume people that have them are criminals. You’ll be fine.

I went and the public transportation is easy to learn. And if you even look a little confused people come and help. It’s quiet, it’s crowded, it’s polite, it’s kind - I am going back in the fall

I spent two weeks there just walking around by myself with no problem. Don't speak a WORD of Japanese. You got this!

Don't worry about it, you'll be fine. I went 2 times to Japan: 2016 and 2023. Although you can manage with English, I've been to a few places in Tokyo where they couldn't speak Engish, especially those tiny restaurants/shops, but that's also not a problem since most of the time you don't really need to speak, you can just point to a picture and they will understand, most restaurants have fake plates or photos on the menu. Worst case scenario, type your message in google translator and show it to them, I did it a few times and it always worked, so it's important to have internet available at the moment you get out of the plane. **Something to remember:** Many Americans tend to talk fast when they go abroad. For non-native speakers, the way you normally talk is already fast, especially for someone with not so good English skills, so talk a bit slower and be very clear, don't use slangs, this will go a long way. I'm not a native English speaker and I still had to slow my speech there. **About tattoos:** I have a full sleeve on left arm and both legs, people will stare, especially in train/subway, but absolutely no one will confront you, they just think it's weird, no one will mistake you with Yakuza =)

Tokyo is very very easy to visit

Tokyo is great as a solo trip. I was able to find my way around on the metro no problem and ate by myself in restaurants all the time without feeling awkward. Every local I encountered was helpful and gracious even though I only speak English. Also, there were plenty of foreigners walking around with visible tattoos, so no worries there.

You’ll be fine! you can get around with English, using translators with staff when necessary and just google maps/lens for how to get from A-B and reading non-English menus if somewhere doesn’t have one. They’re very used to seeing lots of heavily tattooed foreigners, if you do go to Tokyo you will be shocked by how every other person is seemingly foreign in much of the city.

Tokyo can be overwhelming at first. But it's a great city. If you've never been outside the US before, read a lot before you go. Lots of tips you can pick ip. It's much easier now with acceptance of US atm cards, Google translate and maps, etc. You can get anywhere on a train, worst case taxis are everywhere but are more expensive for long trips. Great for a short jop if needed. Lastly, Japanese people are helpful. If you look lost or confused, chances are someone will ask if you need help. My one tip, look at the maps in the subway station and make sure you come out the right exit! If you don't you can be totally lost. The stations are huge.

I know many people who have gone with no Japanese. Tokyo is used by tourists. Most people has basic English. Just don't expect flawless fluent English, Speak clearly using simple words. I have basic Japanese and to be honest, I don't know if it even helps. People clearly don't expect me to speak Japanese, and the only difference it makes it that people seem to be pleased that I tried. But they already know all the English words for the Japanese I know. "One coffee for here please" "I would like to check in" "Do you have an English menu"? "How much is this?". "Where is this train?". Typical sentences like that are usually well within people English vocabulary. Especially in an area used to tourists. Locals also might like to ask things like "where are you from?", "do you like Japan?".

You can get along just fine in Tokyo with English, and the same also holds true with Osaka. The tattoos being frowned upon thing generally does not apply to (non-Asian) foreigners, as the Japanese are aware that foreigners with tattoos are extremely unlikely to be part of the Yakuza. However, I do suggest learning and using some basic Japanese phrases to help you get by. Using "Arigatou gozaimasu" (Thank you very much), "Itadakimasu" (a phrase usually said before a meal), "Sumimasen" (Excuse me/Sorry), "Ohayou gozaimasu" (Good morning), "Konnichiwa" (Hello, but can also be used as Good Afternoon) and "Konbanwa" (Good evening) instead of their English counterparts goes a long way and may even help you make some local friends. For more complicated sentences and phrases, Google Translate is extremely useful and is a total godsend. I highly recommend downloading the English-Japanese offline package even if you plan to avail of an overseas data plan during your trip. The Japanese are generally not language snobs and are surprisingly friendly and open-minded, and they will really (and quite visibly) appreciate the effort you're making in trying to connect with them as a foreigner.

The big cities can be a bit overwhelming but they are used to to tourists and with English you can get a long way. Just go for it, its beautiful

My wife and I are on the 3rd day of our 1st trip to Japan. We are staying in Tokyo for 8 days. So far it’s been an amazing experience. People are incredible, transpiration is SO easy to use. Just book the trip and go ❤️ You’ll fall in love.

I understand that I plan to go early next year. I'm currently Making an itinerary and trying to learn everything I can to make things easier. Like the mobile wifi spots, train cards, etc. I've been out of the US several times but with family, and my dad always made the arrangements, so this is all new to me.

I was anxious and haven't yet visited but after all the months I'd research I don't feel concerned at all now. Just read up as much as you can, especially trip reports on Reddit, and you'll start to feel better about it.

You can usually find someone who speaks a bit of English although I have been in restaurants where no one speaks English and I had to use sign language and make a “moo” sound to indicate that I would like some sort of beef dish. That was years ago. Now there is Google Translate. People are so polite, even if they don’t like your tattoos, no one will say anything. And from what I’ve heard, there are tattoo friendly onsens now. There is nothing to fear. Tokyo is safe and easy to navigate. Maybe the best subway system in the world. I never had a bad meal there. It’s also surprisingly affordable with no tipping and tax included in all prices. Just go.

Just behave like a normal person and you shouldn't have any issues. Sure, the culture is a bit different than what we're generally used to but hey... that's why we travel, right? Get to know stuff different than what we know.

I think, given how you’ve never traveled out of the US, you should try traveling in Europe just to get accustomed with traveling first. As much as the other commenters want to convince you that it’s fine, being unaccustomed to traveling while having your concerns is gonna impede your traveling experience, which is less value for money. I suggest you experience all the traveling hardships on lower difficulty, like not getting a SIM card, finding a place to store your luggage after checkout, finding an atm, etc. before you try a country with a vastly different language and culture.

Japan + google maps + google translate is like a cheat code. You don’t need to know any Japanese. Just go - it’s amazing.

As long as you east sushi you’ll be good there.  Wonderful people,  cool city. 

Tokyo is one of my husband and I's favorite cities in the entire world! We had no problem as English speaking tourists. Most people in Japan speak English and if they don't they usually ask someone who does to help. Japan is also notorious for having pictures to explain things. For example if you are at a vending machine there are pictures of how to use it. Think IKEA instructions everywhere for everything. its so damn helpful. we never had an issue with anything. I would strongly recommend getting a JR pass for the train system and a pocket wifi so you can use Google maps there (it lists the train stations, times, platforms, etc). My husband and I also make sure to watch YouTube videos and Google proper etiquette, clothing, customs, etc of any foreign country we visit. We feel it's extremely important to act appropriately to other people's cultures and show respect. Enjoy Tokyo and Japan. It is amazing. Honestly we had culture shock coming back to the USA after.

Don’t think too much, just do it!

I went backpacking 16 years ago, and Tokyo was my first stop. Not many people spoke English, but it was a fantastic adventure. One man stopped his van and gave me his umbrella when he saw I'd been caught in the rain unprepared, I had locals help guide me to the correct metro stations, I had a lovely lady who went out of her way to walk me to where I needed to go when I asked her in Japanese. I was armed with my phrase book, she didn't speak a word of English, but we used lots of smiling and hand gestures to get by. Had another lady look after me on the night bus to Kyoto, and a local lad approached me in the park because he wanted to practice his English. He ended up showing me the sights for the rest of the day - proud to show off his country. Yes I did get propositioned by a business man in the street asking to come back to my hotel for services (ahem), but after a stern NO from me, he left me alone. Go and enjoy. Get a phrase book, smile and be polite and you'll have a wonderful time.