How difficult is traveling Japan with ZERO Japanese?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 22 เม.ย. 2023
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Last interviewee
/ @sprouht
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I bought it! Excited to use it in my next trip!
Im japanese working in shibuya public park. There are so many people from abroad who doesnt speak Japanese. They often says it is hard to find English speaker in Tokyo. It is fun to watch their relieved faces when I talk to them with english. Even my poor english.
Your English isn't bad at all. It reads very casually
Your English is great! It's good to know there are Japanese people who are willing to communicate in English.
Oh I bet you are like a lifesaver for them! Going to another country without speaking the language is always a challenge. And though it´s part of travelling and exciting it is also a relief to find someone who understands you.
Your English casual, take it easy.
Talk about having a shitty park job. I worked for japanese special defense force.
that last guy had the most based takes. actually super useful, informative, and genuine. the real pros and cons of japan. Thank you Takashii! 🙏
Isn't he a TH-camr too? He looks familiar.
“I don’t look like everybody in the country”
“There’s not that much to do here that isn’t related to food”
“No one speaks English here”
Erm where do I start?
@@smallworldlifters I find it interesting the term "based" is used today in English: "What does based mean? Based is a slang term that originally meant to be addicted to crack cocaine (or acting like you were), but was reclaimed by rapper Lil B for being yourself and not caring what others think of you-to carry yourself with swagger"
I think it is a term without nuance and over-egging attitude. For example I think the last person interviewed said some useful things but his take on "there's not much to do here that isn't related to food" sounded like a personal opinion and not a factual statement to me...
With that said, his other statement about how the Japanese have high standards eg tidy streets and be a safe place to be etc was absolutely accurate and how welcome that is to experience.
@@MeshRoun I think hes from Sprouht just found it.
@@smallworldlifters agreed those were strong generalizations, could have stated that better, it’s not accurate making statements like that for sure, I felt he was excited to share his experience and maybe that led to such broad statements without thinking
Takashii, asking "the difference between living here with no japanese, and travelling here with no japanese"
Is a really, good, intricate question, that many people wouldn't really ask. Nice man!
You can pull it off in the PHilippines as EVERYONE speaks, reads and writes English as the second language. I know dudes who have been there 40 years and barely know Tagalog. In Japan, it's gonna be harder but achievable because the J public are polite.
I'm astonished someone admitted to living in a country and did not speak any of the language.
The polish guy definitely gets it. Great take on traveling / communication / respect.
His English is perfect.
The Canadian?
@@JoannaEve second interview, he says he’s from Poland.
@@LarsAndersen-ig9yt A lot of Poles live in the UK, we've had a sort of link since WW2 when a lot of Poles escaped the Nazis to the UK. Some even flew in the Battle of Britain alongside British pilots. There's a "Polish war memorial" in London that commemorates their sacrifices during the war
@@rych7852 Thanks for info.
Love the polish guy, he has a really cool mindset and vibe. Also, Polish brothers strong! 🇵🇱
Yep, though it too. It's great to see people going out there and representing our nation properly🇵🇱.
I'm also learning Japanese now as I'm planning to travel to Japan in a year or two. I want to learn as much about the culture as I can before I get there. I love how thoughtful Japanese people are and how interesting their culture is.
@@jak-zg1225 watch lots of Godzilla ‼️
I was so happy and proud of him. :D
I´m from poland too.
I recently travelled to Japan and found it very easy getting around without being able to speak the language. Translation apps on the phone camera helped a lot, but even then, a lot of the locals spoke English very well to communicate, which was very much appreciated. That said, I always felt somewhat guilty that people had to speak a foreign language in their own country, so I always tried to pick up small phrases I could use so as not to seem arrogant or rude (hello, thank you, etc).
It's a very beautiful country and the people are so nice.
I bet you travelled mostly in cities like Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka or any other large city. English is decently prevalent.
Try going to a more remote town and doing anything.
@@FoxenPiano How many people travel to remote parts of the country? This is like someone saying the public transport is really good and you replying with "I bet you were were in Tokyo, Osaka, or Kyoto. Try going to a more remote town and getting around". 99% of travellers will be visiting the big cities
@@JiveTrkey 100% agree! I too just visited and had a similar experience as to what you described! A great country to visit - I really appreciated your original comment and response to the silly comment!
@@JiveTrkey
LOL At least I'm in some kind of 1% (even if it's not a "Top 1%")
Yeah I too was grateful that many people were able to speak English in Tokyo and Osaka. I also felt guilty about not knowing much Japanese, especially in their country. I watched another video by Takashi and a local said he wish foreigners would put effort into using Japanese, no matter how broken
Daammmnn mic drop from that last guy! Such incredible words, I totally agree, learn about and respect the culture and the people of the land you're visiting, don't try to impose your own ways of life onto others, and don't expect them to adjust to you. Actually, these are wise words for life in general, not just when visiting a different place. Amazing video as always, thank you so much Takashii!
Asian female don’t like black men
Yeah that’s BS 😂 people don’t do it in the US and many other countries don’t. 😂
Isn't that called common sense? I didn't find anything the last guy said illuminating or life changing.
@@atomixfang I guess you can call it common sense, but many people don't think about it that way, so it's cool to see someone who actually does.
I appreciate Japan for what it is naturally, but I'm tired of these naive people who talk about its inhabitants as if they are absolute angels. I once met an arrogant Japanese girl who asked me to stop watching these videos, but I go where I want. she told me that reading my negative comments saddened her but I was telling the truth about her culture. what if we speak their language badly? she refused to admit that her compatriots have many cultural faults! these people have a problem with ego and hypocrisy.
I stayed in Osaka for 3 months as soon as Japan opened its borders back in October. I lived in a guesthouse in the middle of the city and every day went out walking, exploring either the neighborhood or taking the metro to explore others.
Over 90 days I walked hundreds of kilometers all around the city, took the metro almost every day, took the train to Kyoto and Nara a few times, ordered something to be delivered in the mail, ordered food, asked for directions, made purchases, and had conversations with people - all without speaking a word of Japanese.
I can't think of anything that I would consider inconvenient. Obviously you have to approach it as, this is another country and you don't speak its language, so any issues were entirely my own and not anything that I would hold against the country or its infrastructure for not being suited for my exact needs or anything like that.
For example, the fact that it took me a few times to figure out the metro and train systems wasn't because of a language barrier but more so that I'm from a small town and don't have a lot of experience with public transportation. The ticket machines are actually extremely convenient and easy to use and only once was I ever at a total loss - which was quickly resolved by motioning to an attendant for help and saying the station I needed to go to.
There were multiple times where locals would stop me and attempt to ask if I was lost or if I needed directions, usually when I was far away from any normal tourist area. Although they didn't speak English I could tell they were expressing concern and trying to offer help and with a few gestures I could communicate that I was okay, just walking around taking pictures.
Not speaking the language is absolutely not a reason to not visit somewhere. Don't let it stop you. Obviously the more you can communicate with people, the more information and opportunities will be available to you, but even without any Japanese, I was able to fully enjoy living in Japan for 3 months.
The only Japanese I "spoke" was "thank you", "are you okay", and a few variations of "hello".
The couple bowing at the end is very cool to see since they're so respectful!
Takashii, since the olympics, Japan has become known for producing world class skateboarders, both men and women. Would you consider doing any interviews with skateboarders in Japan? It would be really great to hear from them about what it is like to be a skateboarder in Japan, how they are perceived, comparisons with the west etc. Thanks!
Asian female don’t like black men
That would be awesome
Yeah japanese are the best skateboarders rn
Wow, I felt so moved to see that Polish guy! 私もポランド人です。1年間日本語を学んでします。私にはらいねん日本にいくというゆめがあります❤
日本人です
あなたが、日本語を学ぼうとしてくれるだけでうれしいです
がんばってくださいね
わたしも、えいごがはなせるようにがんばります^_^
10:02 this is an incredibly useful tip and its my first time hearing someone mention this is Takashi's videos. A must if you want to visit Japan.
Whilst I agree with his takes on adapting to a culture and how Japanese respect others around them, I disagree with littering in your own country because the mindset is different. Don't litter and even though I'm not as nice as Japanese and pick up after people, I absolutely pick up after myself and recycle properly.
recycling is a scam
@Yo momma recycling is good it's single use plastics that are a scam. Better for there to be no trash than recycled trash. Worse in a landfill or on the street
I think that because there are no trash cans in Japan, people don't litter. The mindset is don't drop whatever you have or are carrying. Share the road and don't clutter it. But when you live in a place with trashcans in public spaces, you assume someone will come along and take out the trash, and it's an easy mental step to think if there are people paid to take out the trash (and your taxes are paying their salaries), then they can also stop to pickup your trash as well (cups, wrappers, cigarette butts, etc).
I have never heard someone admit they would for sure litter intentionally. Much to unpack.
Right? Imagine having to go to another country to not liter, meaning he has no care for his home
His whole message was try to understand rather than judge. I think you guys missed the point. While littering is a shameful thing to do, we all make bad choices sometimes. Being able to admit that shows strength and growth.
I was surprised by that too, but impressed he was so honest. When I met my former husband in Mexico, he too, was a street litterer and I called him out on it. It's about respect for others, the place you want to live and for those that have to pick up after you.
Going to Japan in june and i studied the basics in japanese language in order to communicate a little bit with local citizens, it is so fun to speak and understand such a nice language 🙂I think japanese people appreciate it when you at least try to talk to them in japanese, like i would appreciate it when foreigners talk to me in german, its such a nice gesture in my point of view 🙂
Me too! June 19-30! How exciting!
@@Xyber7 I’ll be there June as well 🤣. What are you all using to learn some basics?
@@Domilomi duolingo, watching purely japanese shoes and movies with subtitles, viewing TH-cam videos on how to pronounce things accurately
Yup me as well
@@Xyber7 ok I’ve been doing a little Duolingo but I’ll try the others since I’m not making as much progress as I would like
I studied Japanese for over 4 years before finally going to Japan (I would have gone sooner but because of covid, I had to wait. I basically went as soon as Japan reopened to tourists again), and thanks to that, I could have conversations in Japanese and was able to have some incredible experiences and could meet a lot of people as well. It definitely helps to learn the language if you want to have better experiences there. So if you want to go to Japan, do yourself a favor and learn Japanese. It takes like a week to fully memorize hiragana and katakana, and from there, you can start learning words and grammar.
Well yeah but it takes weeks/months before you can read texts in hiragana and katakana fluently. You're learning a completely different alphabet after all :D
@@HHcz but once you learn hiragana and katakana, you can start reading things, you just need to learn what those things mean 😆
I still kind of struggle trying to read the hiragana and katakana, so I moved on trying to read whole words, and being able to use context clues allows me to figure the characters I forgot how to read. For example, I often forget ね, only when I see a word like ねこ can I remember it. It all depends on the way you learn to be honest.
How do so many people just go to Japan ⁉️ do they know someone there⁉️
You don't need to learn Japanese. I go every month and really only know very basics, "hello, goodbye, thank you."
Google translate is your friend. Of course learning the language is incredibly helpful, but don't let that stop you.
The last guy is soooo right! Being here the past 6 weeks, it has been very eye opening! You definitely feel a sense of respect, not only for other people, but also where you are. I'm not a big litterer back home, but here, you are more conscience of it and by being more conscience of it, you are more respectful about it. Every place I have been to, and I mean every place, there is no trash on the street and everything looks beautiful. You WANT to keep it beautiful and you don't want to litter! Be respectful :)
I love the guy from Montreal 🔥... and the couple from LA, too, especially when they politely bowed at the end, perhaps a little too deeply, but it showed their good hearts!
This was so cool the people you interviewed were excellent and a great insight in to Japan and traveling around it. More of this please.
たかしいさん！ Thank you so much for all your videos. I am visiting in Japan in May, your videos helped me to prepare a lot! ありがとうございます! Hope I will run into you there!
I really enjoyed this video, and especially appreciated the last interviewee’s advice. Very informative and useful!
This video is a treasure! Thank you so much Takashii! I appreciate your channel so much! 🙏🏻
I am Japanese, but nowadays automatic translation apps are readily available on smartphones, and foreign tourists are unlikely to experience any inconvenience. Of course, if they are staying for a long time or emigrating, foreigners will need to learn Japanese seriously, but it is not easy because many Japanese people struggle to even learn English. Some foreigners believe that wherever they live in Japan, they only speak English and do not need to speak Japanese in order to maintain their pride, identity and identity.
Prepping for my first trip to Japan. Thanks for the insight into people’s experience!
I love that I will go to Japan really soon and as always, it is as if Takashii-san already knew the questions I have and just goes ahead and ask people in Japan about them
Useful and amazing as always man, thank you!!
I travelled in 2018 and found it super easy to get around and even knowing basic phrases helped to talk to locals, but everyone is so accommodating its a nice experience
I got lost in Tokyo once. I had only ever studied Japanese many years earlier for a short time so I had extremely limited vocabulary. I found that finding someone who spoke English for ME was actually surprisingly hard - everyone I tried to ask for directions did not speak English or spoke so little English that it was not of much help - they TRIED to help, most people in Japan are very helpful and nice, but there was definitely a communication barrier. What ended up being helpful was that because I CAN read and speak Chinese to some degree - I've studied Chinese for over a decade - because some of the signs had characters which were the same as in Chinese, I could read some of the characters on some of the signs, so THAT was helpful. Usually I like to study a language for months before I go to a new country but in this case I was only there for a short time so there was not a lot of reason to invest so much time in learning it just to be there a couple days. I still plan to learn more Japanese EVENTUALLY but at that time, I only knew how to say simple things in Japanese like "my name is ____", "I am from )(insert country)", "thank you", "where is ____" - but I couldn't understand any of the replies so at best I could rather poorly point at a map and ask "where is this?" - and they would say things I didn't understand and point. At the end of the day if you have a smart phone with you and google translate it wouldn't be such a big issue - but I did not at this time since my phone battery had died and I didn't have a way to charge it and was going to miss my flight so I was in a hurry anyway.
So, it CAN be challenging to be in Japan without any Japanese language skills, in my experience. You can MANAGE to get by with difficulty with a translation app - if your battery holds out - but it's not going to be that easy even then, and going back and forth with a translation app is both embarrassing and pretty inconvenient and slow. If someone is going to spend any real time there, do yourself a favor: do some hard-core studying before you get there for at least 6 months, 3+ hours a day. You'll be glad you did. Going to CHINA for the first time was a TOTALLY different experience since I had already learned a pretty good amount of Mandarin for years before I ever went there - but Japan was harder.
How would you say the experience would be like in China for non-mandarin/Cantonese speaking ppl??
The advice to go to a place without english menu's can be a double-edge sword. You might find some really good places, but the restaurants with english menu's do it in the knowledge they'll get tourists in so you'll more likely find someone that speaks english. As much as cultural embrace is a good thing for both sides a lot of places adapt to tourism to make it easier for tourists to enjoy the place rather than having to worry so much. Vacations are not meant to be stressful after all. Language barriers should not cause anyone trouble or be seen as a negative, but both sides have to embrace that communication can be difficult and just remember to be kind and nice to each other, eventually you'll reach an understanding.
Your videos are really helpful and informative! Thank you! I am someone who'll visit Japan as a tourist on November and will probably start living there after two years.
Great video Takashii! I'm going to Japan for the first time ever in two months and have been watching all of your videos. VERY HELPFUL! I'll be looking out for you in Tokyo :)
I hate people that litter! I love how respectful Japanese people are to the environment! ❤️😁
People DEF litter in japan too. Less so than other countries but I still see a lot. The bigger thing is that people volunteer to clean it up more.
@@krissydiggs I know they’re not perfect. But at least they don’t litter as much as people in America do.
So this guy would litter if he was back in Canada...what a tool..
It's really nice that you got to interview people from many different places. I'm from Montreal, Canada and I can't wait to visit Japan next year! ^.^
I really enjoy your interviews.
Takashi san, I love your videos! They're so entertaining and informative. Also, I really like your English.
I was just in Japan for a week for a vacation. I love the hospitality, mannerisms, politeness are top notch! And not to mention, it’s super safe! People are very quiet and conservative. its super difficult not to speak the language, thank god for google translate haha. It’s definitely lonely without knowing the language. We wake up early around 7ish 8am and restaurants open late around 11am. There’s pros n cons everywhere. Now that I’m back to America, I’m so cautious everywhere I go. The robberies, the shooting, the ghettoness etc..urggggg
Yes, breakfast is a bit of a problem. Once I flew to Japan from the east coast of the US and I would wake up at 3-4 am and was hungry and needed coffee. I would advise people flying in from the US to choose a hotel near a McDonald's and some convenience stores with freshly brewed coffee.
Exact same experience here! I'd love to move to Japan but I'd want to be pretty fluent first so I could be better at fitting in (if that is a thing that could ever happen).
I completely agree with you. I visited Japan some years ago and my impression matches yours "word for word": "The hospitality, mannerisms, politeness," of the Japanese. It started immediately when my late-night flight got into the airport and I picked a bus into central Tokyo: Half-asleep and completely bemused about where I was going, nonetheless, the conductor and baggage handler bundled me out at my stop with my luggage all on their own initiative!
Thank you to the Japanese for your high standards and may they long last.
@@goyam2981r have a good hotel. They usually have water heater and comes with a drawer filled with tea and coffee kits
And not to mention, I love that they have emergency buttons inside the public bathrooms and hotels. I remembered I accidentally pressed the emergency button instead of the FLUSH button and the security rushed in the bathroom! Omg I was so embarrassed 🫣🫢 🤣
Love the commentary about respect from the last guy!!! ❤❤
These videos are a great idea. Good job.
Excellent advice and perspective from Canadian guy appreciate it
Thanks Takashii, great vid - learning Japanese as we speak but good to know that I'll be able to get by with limited knowledge
Excellent interviews! Nice work Takashii sir
This was super helpful to watch! I plan to open an anime centered business this year here in America and want to visit Japan for products. This video was very informative, thank you!
We went to Japan November 2022, even in hotels no one spoke English. The Japanese people were very kind and tried to help us when we had a question. Used google translate.
the feeling of being understood in japanese is def an unreal moment. its cool.
Wow, thanks a Lot. The Life Hack with the translater is Awesome!!!!!!!
I love your videos! It would be really cool to see you talk to exchange students and see what its like visiting Japan as a student
I enjoy your interviews. My Japanese was very weak on my first trip, but I found most of the people helpful. I would love to vacation in the countryside next year. That last interview was informative.
Oh, you gotta learn more Japanese then. People in the countryside can't even speak English.
Maybe you can interview travel agents or the people who sell tickets for train/plane/ferry. Ask them what advice they have for travelers. 😊
I just watched a 8 month year old video of you and now this one and i have to say, your english improved a lot! I like the videos!
Greetings from germany and have a nice day!
Love Takashi. Appreciate your videos
I definitely agree as a new japanese language student. Definitely learn basics before coming here (or just meet Takashii😉)
Currently living in Okinawa! It's easy to get by in some restaurants because they have a menu at the counter and you can point to the pictures. But as it's a different culture, you also have to learn that as you go along. For example, calling the waiter over or knowing where to sit when waiting to be seated. I thought I knew Japanese culture well, but you will always find something new. That's why japanese is so useful when you get stuck and need help.
Awesome mate! I saw you interviewing the couple from LA as I was in that area then and they were pretty easy spots! I've been visiting Japan for twenty years. Also for three years I lived near beautiful Yufuin in Oita. The English in that place is much better than when I arrived! Last time I went was during Rugby World Cup just before the pandemic hit! My friends visiting Japan for the first time had so much fun! I was hoping to get to the Olympics but sadly no. I think it's super easy for a tourist now with all the apps but maybe not as fun as a result! I have traveled a lot - 98 countries so far! The type 2 fun where you are way out of your comfort zone is fire!
wish that video was longer, i love listening to those people from allover the world
Kon'nichiwa Takashi,
I really enjoyed this video you made about a day ago. Thanks for interviewing these tourists who do not speak Japanese and their experience in the Greater Tokyo Area. Keep up the great work and videos.
Dōzo okiwotsukete, yoi isshūkan o osugoshi kudasai. Sayonara
It’s pretty hard to go to restaurants without English menus. It’s not just that it’s hard for you, it’s also hard for the staff and locals as well. We stuck to the more touristy spots just because it’s easier to experience. I would only go off to the more local spots if I was comfortable with my Japanese.
Perfect timing for this video, I'm a week away from a month long trip around most of Japan with only ve~ry basic japanese. Sounds like i'll (probably) be fine !
I love your videos! Keep them coming ❤
I've been to Osaka, Kyoto and Tokyo, on separate trips and didn't have any issues getting around, finding restaurants, understanding the subway system, how buses work and so on. I was also travelling around in Kyushu (Fukuoka, Kumamoto and more), with my main stay being in Kagoshima and had zero problems. Everything is pretty much self-explanatory. And if you indeed need help, everyone will help you the best they can. I loved every trip to Japan I did in the past.
I’m leaving for Japan in 20 hours and I’m looking forward to it, and I have been picking up some basic Japanese here and there
Good luck!
@@danielantony1882 Thank you!
How was it?
@@meteturhan3505 it was easy. Just as long you pick up a bit Japanese it’s helpful. And plus I had a translator on my phone
Thanks for another insightful video. I'd be interested in seeing other accessibility videos, such as the perspective of navigating in Japan as a deaf or blind person.
We are going to travel there in October, and found the comment about the businesses opening later in the morning helpful! I've visited Seoul, and found the same thing! Businesses opening up so late in the morning is odd, considering that people must have to go to work much earlier...
Love your videos , when I travelled to Japan ( Tokyo ) I only spoke enough Japanese to get by ( how to order food / drinks and greetings ect. ) I found it very easy to travel around and live everyday life , I made it a point to try and only speak Japanese so I could practice while there. Everyone was very supportive and always told me my Japanese was good or getting better if I saw them more than once ( restaurant or arcade staff ) the only difficulty I encountered was some Japanese people would want to practice speaking English to me, which wasn't really a problem I would always help them practice English just difficult for me to switch constantly while trying to strengthen my Japanese. I would say any one , regardless of how much Japanese you know or can understand can easily visit Japan and absolutely should visit Japan! Japan is such a beautiful country and rich in culture and history I can't wait to visit again
Canadian boy spoke so nicely. Repped us well buddy 👍
Please. That guy was shameful in his idiocy.
Will be visiting Japan in march and Takashi is now officially a part of my visit I hope to see 😂 love your Chanel 💕💕💕
im coming to Japan in August and really enjoy your videos a lot and they are very informative and would love to meet you
Hi Takashi, I'm in Tokyo for the first time in Japan, really love the air quality and vibrant diversified city. Really like the parks and small shops, I'm trying to say more things in Japanese but I agree it's better I learn more to engage with people better. Very conformable place overall. Will definitely visit again!
I just came back from Japan for a short trip. I didn’t find it difficult to go around with my basic phrases knowledge (thank you, hello, good evening). When I needed to communicate with a Japanese person, I would whip out my Google translate app, type in my question or statement and show it to them. They would in turn bring out their Line app and translate what they wanted to say into English. It was a lifesaver. Going around on trains was not a problem at all because they do show the English words for the stations. There were, of course, some things I couldn’t/didn’t do like boat rides that only had Japanese guides.
Bless you takashii for being able to maintain professionalism with people. I’m afraid to visit Japan bc I don’t know the language. But your video has taught me that I am at least 50% smarter than the foreigners that visit and that maybe I should reconsider
Yo Takashi! Im going to Japan in 2 weeks, and I just wanted to say thanks for your videos.
I'm going early May 2024 with my brother for 15 days. I've started learning as much as I can with basics, but I'm so poor with pronunciation and it's hard to spot. One tip I found online said to record yourself saying the phrases, that way you can listen to how the local says it, replay how you say it and spot where you're going wrong. It's a slow process (and very cringe at first) but I'm hoping it'll help me once there. I cannot wait to see Japan.
貴方の旅行が楽しい物になる事を祈ります。そして、日本語を話せない事を決して恐れないでください。きっと貴方が困った時に手を差し伸べてくれる日本人がいます。気軽に英語で助けを求めて下さい😊例え英語を話せなくても必死に貴方を助けようとしてくれるはずです。
Fun to see a fellow montrealer with an intelligent take on thing
日本語ができなったら全然違うな経験になっちまってる
Love your content as always!
Great video as always Takashii. I like that the guy at the end decide not to litter...
Once, in eastern Hokkaido, I was driving with my wife on a rural road with no people and no buildings in sight, literary middle of nowhere, but somehow there was a traffic light. As it went yellow I drove past it but not before it had turned red. Since there was no traffic anywhere I thought it was safe to do so anyway. Suddenly a patrol car appeared behind me (God knows where it was hiding). I pulled over. A police gentleman first came and spoke in Japanese and when he saw that we could not understand him he went back and a lady officer came with very good English command and told me I had driven past the red light. Then she inquired about our travels and what did we already see in the island. She then told me that since I was driving within speed limit she would let me go with a warning. She was very polite and correct.
Traveling in Japan with zero Japanese is perfectly doable. With tons of guide books and websites, and perhaps a few friends with prior experience, to advise you on what to see, how to get there and what will it cost, and with google translate I traveled from Ishigaki island in the south to Abashiri in the north (and whatever lay in-between) without any big trouble, even in rural areas.
Yes, it will not be easy to make acquaintances or have elaborate conversations, but you will sometimes will find very good English speakers outside big cities.
One such accidental meeting with an English speaker is how we ended up in 2018 being the only foreigners to participate in the Hachioji annual Hojo clan samurai parade, with full armor being loaned to us.
I visited Japan for the first time just before the pandemic hit. It was just a week, but I still made a point of learning a few survival phrases beforehand. anything necessary to ask for a way/location, things necessary to order at a restaurant, and a few basic politeness phrases. it's always good to be able to say your thank yous, sorrys and excuse mes. I also was able to read hiragana and katakana, because way back when in uni i still had the motivation to really learn japanese properly, until life got in the way a bit.
We only visited Tokyo and Kyoto and as far as the tourism experience go we didn't face any problems whatsoever. Japanese people are terribly patient, polite, and helpful (if they can). People really try to accommodate you as far as it's in their power.
That being said, it is a fact that very few people speak English at all and ever fewer people speak it well. And tbh, why should they? If you're a normal Japanese person living in Japan and not planning to leave it, why should you learn another language just for the random tourist you might encounter. So it can and did happen a handful of times that a person we tried to approach for help somehow hastily excused themself to quickly spirit themselves out of sight never to be seen again lol.
don't take it personally though. for some people it's a situation that really puts them on the spot in two ways, for one to not being able to help despite wanting to, and feeling like in a back to school test situation, because that's when - if at all - most Japanese people still were in contact with any English. Imagine someone approaching you out of the blue on the street to quiz you about your weakest subject from way back in school. it's the stuff of nightmares, so I could relate to our handful of 'escapees' ;)
anyway, bottom line being, as long as you stick to touristy centers, you don't necessarily have to worry if you don't speak any Japanese, but your experience will definitely be a lot smoother and more exciting if you at least know a little bit. As anywhere in the world, to really get an authentic and deep understanding into a culture, learning a language of the land properly is a must. But I promise you, you'll have a ball even if you only come as a tourist. sometimes it's fine just being a tourist.
It's always good to learn at least a little bit of the language and culture of the country you're visiting. My first travel to Japan was in 2020. I could speak a little but just the very basics. Locals do appreciate when you try and speak Japanese.
My company decided to moved me to Tokyo ( with less than a month notice!), and as soon as I arrived here in Tokyo, I knew right away that I absolutely MUST learned the language, otherwise I would not be able to survived !
Good luck!. I hope you're doing well.
@@danielantony1882 Thank you. Now I've been living here in Tokyo for almost a decade. Time flies !😊
@@azabujuban-hito8085 Check out some Kansai regions in the future. They're pretty cool.
@@danielantony1882 I did. But I prefer the Chubu region tho. That's why I bought a summer house in the countryside of Nagano's.
Omg what a shock you must've had, how are you now? You survived 😮
Thank you Takashii San for providing us with very informative and interesting content. I agree with the last person you interviewed wholeheartedly and that is to adopt the values and principles of the place you are in and learning some Japanese will definitely help you more than not knowing any at all.
Your English has gotten a lot better since the first few videos I saw. Great work!
Love your vids , very insightful
My daughter is going to Tokyo for school in May & I love watching this channel to get pointers. I’m going to set her up so it helps me too!
The last guy was super helpful and well spoken. Thank you!
Your videos are very cool man, i am from Brazil and i love the videos that you interview people of my country! I like to know about japan and japanese people, your videos are perfect for that!
Title: traveling with ZERO Japanese
Polish Guy: Studied Japanese for 2 years
I've studiedJapanese on and off for 10 years... I still would consider myself at "Zero" compared to others.
@@SASchofield52I've studied Mandarin chinese for 5 years, I can say I barely know anything.
I’m in Japan for the first time with 0 Japanese vocabulary. And I’ve had 0 problems interacting with people ordering food and traveling the transportation systems. I show a lot of respect to all of the people as well. Great fun and super friendly
What parts of Japan are you visiting?
@@chocolateicecream3150 we went to Shinjuku, Akihabara Tokyo and shibuya
Harder in Kyoto.
The "learn as much as I can to make them feel more comfortable" line resonates with me; I'm going in October, and that's my main reason for attempting to learn as much as I can, that one big reason, but a few others:
1. I just want my experience to be as authentic as possible; I don't want people trying to dumb things down for me because they see me as a gaijin; I want to be able to converse and be treated as a normal citizen. I know I am NOT a citizen, but I mean moreso to not be treated any differently. I know my Japanese won't get nearly to that level that quick, but just to get as close as possible.
2. I want to be able to connect with people. I'm very socially anxious here in the US, but I really do want to connect with people. I feel being in Japan would be a "blank slate" of sorts, where my mind would potentially be free of pre-conceived notions of how I normally act. Being able to converse in an entirely different language and culture seems like it would help me get over that roadblock in a way.
3. Relates to #2 above: I have always heard that Japanese people love it when tourists are able to speak even a little bit of Japanese, so I would love to make somebody's day by surprising them a bit if I were able to have a brief conversation with them, even at a very basic level.
Thank you!❤
3 Weeks in Japan from Sendai(and Matsushima and Yamadera) to Tottori(and Iwami) to Nagoya(Gamagori) to Osaka(and Nara) to Kyoto to Tokyo all by myself and zero Japanese and it was AWESOME!
I ended up picking up a bit of Japanese along the way. I will go back again it was a dream come true for me!
NICE Video bro!
Awesome THUMBNAIL🤘🏽😂🤘🏽
Haha I still gotta learn it from you
Aaaaaah I will be there in March next year! I can't wait😭❤️❤️
Thats another wonderful youtuber sprouht
Holy shit, god bless that last guy! I wish more people were like him. It's so sad that basic respect is something so rare nowadays. As an imigrant myself I totally get everything he said.
Asian female don’t like black men
Basic respect really isnt rarer today than it was say 100 years ago. You just have the internet to make you more aware of douchebags.
Right, but it threw me off when he said, "If I was in my own country I would maybe consider littering here." Really? I wouldn't ever even think of littering anywhere, no matter what country I was in. I haven't littered since 1974 and I can remember the exact time and place that I last did. From that moment on, I vowed to never litter anywhere else ever again - and I haven't done it since.
He's a Canadian, most of em are raised better than American's. There are always outliers though.
The Canadian's views of japan makes me happy to be Canadian- what a insightful set of answers from that interviewee.
I'd love to hear you explain your thoughts more back to the people you interview, I want to see their reactions to your thoughts on what they said! Could be super cool!
I’m visiting Japan in January 2024. I have relatives in Japan who I’ll be staying with but I’ll be by myself in Tokyo for approximately 5 days. This video was very helpful preparing me of what to expect as someone who doesn’t speak Japanese.
Hopefully google translate will make it a lot easier for me😅 to communicate when/if I need too
I saw somewhere to take screenshots of places/locations you might need help with and show the person helping you
Exactly why I'm trying to learn Japanese, we are planning to travel to Japan in 10 years from now. Yeah 10 years is far away but I want to be able to communicate well with the locals and really experience the culture. It's a fun challenge to learn a language that has a complete different alphabet... We could say Alphabets cause there's 3 to learn, Kanji, katakana and Hiragana. Not going to be easy but it's worth it.
We have a lot to learn from Japanese people and also Japanese have some to learn from foreigners.
There's no such thing as perfection, the goal of life is to grow and learn more every day to be better.
The guy from Poland, really resonates with me, I have been studying Japanese for my travel for months before. It’s just great to have the basics, everyone is so kind to you. Great video 😊
My husband and I were in Tokyo for 2 weeks in 2016. We don’t speak any Japanese and didn’t have any issues. Google translate works great for translating signs and instructions, ect.
And how many conversations did you have at bars etc. with japanese people? With how many do you still keep contact on social media sometimes?
??? I didn’t go to japan to meet people and make friends. I went for a vacation. The question is how difficult is it to travel Japan with no English. I answered it. It’s not difficult at all.
@@netogrof And what about restaurants ? Did you stay in Tokyo or have you been to cities where it was harder to communicate
@@guerric we stayed in an air bnb in Tokyo so we had our own little house to ourselves. We only went outside of Tokyo once to Saitama for the train museum and it was fine. Most restaurants have an English menu, have pictures, or the hyper realistic fake food displays you can point to. If not, google translate worked great on menus. We even managed to exchange some cold medicine in a store using only google translate. Japanese people could easily tell we were foreigners and just spoke to us in English 🤷🏼♀️ it wasn’t weird or awkward. Most would just come up to us and offer help if we looked confused. I think people stress about it more than you need to. So go and have a good time. It was the most relaxed I’ve ever felt being in Japan.
Ive been in Japan since almost three months now and I just know a few words in Japanese however what really helped me to understand what Japanese people wanna say is their body language.. Japanese body language is very clear and its incredible how less words you need to understand each other and they are so kind and helpful.
That last guy is also a famous blogger/youtuber/tiktokker who talks about overcoming shyness and interviewing other people, older people to get life advice. I love yalls content.