With airfares so low, now seems like a good time to visit Japan. However, the language barrier seems almost insurmountable for solo travel. Can someone suggest an English-language tour company that they have had good experiences with in Japan?

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Middle_Seat

Was just in Japan, the language barrier is not a problem whatsoever.

While true that many Japanese do not speak English. It is VERY easy to get around w/only a few Japanese words as I did.

If you are curious which to know, just email me, I'll be happy to help you out w/words or any travel ideas.

The language barrier isn't too bad. Many places have English available, and at minimum a transliteration is shown. You won't have difficulty getting around on trains and buses. The major tourist attractions will also likely have English pamphlets.

The only real problem will be if you choose a non-touristy restaurant, but nearly all Japanese restaurants have plastic food displays in the window (this is NOT a sign of a bad restaurant) and if you're desperate you can always point.

I also found the book "New Japan Solo" an indispensable guide when I travelled solo through Japan. Despite it's quirky hand-drawn maps, the guide is amazingly thorough, for example describing an exact bus route (including intermediate stops!). Also, it displays the Japanese characters as well -- useful if you need to show someone or pattern-match a sign.

I'd also strongly recommend the Japan Rail Pass, which you must buy before you get there. It gets you on nearly all trains (including bullet trains, except the very fastest), and you'd be more likely to get out of the cities and see some lesser sights.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by flightrisk:
I'd also strongly recommend the Japan Rail Pass, which you must buy before you get there.</font>

Agreed!

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">It gets you on nearly all trains </font>

ONLY JR line trains, but they have the largest network in Japan. The pass also allows free travel on various JR line ferries (such as to Miyajima Island)

[This message has been edited by Sweet Willie (edited 01-09-2002).]

I am also planning to visit Japan (Tokyo, Kyoto, Nara, a Hot spring location etc...) I am concerning about the language too.

Please teach me few "must know" Japanese words, and travel ideas.

How much is a one week train pass? Looks like this pass is not good for fast bullet trian, so is it still a good deal?

Even the exchange rate is quite good, but I still need to watch for my wallet, any suggestion on Hotel, and good/fun local food will be great too.

Thanks for your help in advance!

The JR train pass is good on all bullet trains, except the 'Nozomi', which is the fastest train running between Tokyo and Fukuoka. This only matters between Osaka and Fukuoka, the time difference being negligible elsewhere. It is still good on all the other trains on this line (Hikari Railstar, Hikari, and Kodama), which are plenty fast.

On the runs south of Tokyo, look for Hikari bullet trains. The Kodama is a local train. The Hikari Railstar only runs between Osaka and Fukuoka, is as fast as a Nozomi, but only has 2nd class (2-2 across instead of the 2-3 on older trains); however it is always very crowded. If you get a first class pass, you often have the entire car to yourself on a normal Hikari south of Osaka http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/smile.gif

The Rail Pass is an unbelievable deal. It will have paid for itself after one Tokyo-Kyoto roundtrip. Get it validated upon arrival in Narita and you can take the NEX airport train for free, plus the JR trains in Tokyo, a nice bonus.

If your travel is limited to a specific area, there also are JR train passes covering only Kyushu, and West Japan (from somewhere around Nagoya to Kyushu, I think)

Here is a good general site about travel in Japan:
http://www.japan-guide.com/


[This message has been edited by monahos (edited 01-09-2002).]

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Lap:
Please teach me few "must know" Japanese words, and travel ideas.</font>

The only words I felt I needed to know were:
taxi (Takushi), Bullet Train (Shinkansen) you can also say Shinkansen and taxi driver's will take you to the station where the bullet train stops, station (eki), thank you (arrigato). I also carried the bullet train time table along (which you can get at a Japan tourist office) and would point to the train I wanted, the time and destination.

Have your hotel concierge write down the hotel where you are staying and it's address in Japanese, that way taxi drivers or people who want to help you, know exactly where you need to go. I would also do this for restaurants or not well know places I wanted to visit.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">How much is a one week train pass? Looks like this pass is not good for fast bullet trian, so is it still a good deal?</font>

as monahos states, it is a great deal and the difference between the Nozumi and "regular" bullet train is nominal IMO. here is the railpass website for pricing info http://www.japanrail.com/3_passes/

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">any suggestion on local food will be great too.</font>

Most department stores have cheap food court areas where the food is very good and cheap.
Many restaurants have plastic displays of the food they serve, so you don't even need a menu, just take the waiter out and point to what you want. Also, if in Kyoto don't miss the commerant fishing, see my report

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum81/HTML/002378.html



[This message has been edited by Sweet Willie (edited 01-11-2002).]

I highly recommend a GPS for getting back to your hotel. You can not read the street signs and even the local people can not give you directions because many of the streets do not have names. Carrying a GPS has given me the freedom to wander Tokyo or the rest of Japan and get back to my hotel in time for dinner.

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Luke in Silicon Valley
AA Platinum, HHonors Gold
Virgin Silver
Could you tell me what room I am in, again.....

I am going to Tokyo next Tuesday for the first time. I have heard credit cards are not widely accepted and to bring plenty of cash. Is this true? What is the ATM availibility in the city?

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">
The only words I felt I needed to know were:
taxi (Takushi), Bullet Train (Shinkansen) you can also say Shinkansen and taxi driver's will take you to the station where the bullet train stops, station (eki), thank you (arrigato)...</font>

It seems like "bathroom" and "where is?" could come in handy from time to time. http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/smile.gif

Actually, the fact that numbers are written the same as in English (1, 2, 3...) will make Japanese easier to deal with than Arabic.

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Middle_Seat

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by cgrille:
I am going to Tokyo next Tuesday for the first time. I have heard credit cards are not widely accepted and to bring plenty of cash. Is this true? What is the ATM availibility in the city?</font>

Used my CC all over Japan, never really a problem except at some of the smaller shops/restaurants, but that was rare.

ATM's IMO were all over and each one I used
worked w/my visa and amex.

Sorry we did not get a chance to speak much at the Chicago area get together, would have loved to hear about where you plan on going.
Have fun!

Thanks for the feedback Sweet Willie. Although unrelated to this thread, is there some big Chicago gathering in May? I saw some reference to it on another thread.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by cgrille:
Thanks for the feedback Sweet Willie. Although unrelated to this thread, is there some big Chicago gathering in May? I saw some reference to it on another thread.</font>

Hope so, which FT forum? Pop me an email if you would.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Middle_Seat:
Actually, the fact that numbers are written the same as in English (1, 2, 3...) will make Japanese easier to deal with than Arabic.</font>

This is not totally true. Particularly at old-fashioned areas (Kyoto comes to mind), or high-class establishments, you will see the numbers displayed in the traditional kanji. It may not hurt to know these numbers, but it's probably not essential. (Of course, if you know the kanji numbers, you will realize too that important streets in Kyoto are named 2nd St., 3rd St. instead of random sounding names like Nijo-dori, Sanjo-dori, etc.)

I'm not sure about your comparison to Arabic either; the numbers we use are called "Arabic numerals"!

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">I'm not sure about your comparison to Arabic either; the numbers we use are called "Arabic numerals"!</font>

The numerals that you see written in Egypt (and presumably other Arabic nations as well, although I haven't visited any others) do not look at all like our numerals. I believe that we use "Modern Western Arabic" numerals and folks in Arabic nations use "Modern Eastern Arabic" numerals. You can see a comparison at http://www.islamicity.com/mosque/ihame/Ref6.htm

And for a weirdly-logical explanation for why our numerals might look the way they do, see the "counting the angles" graphics in http://www.orthohelp.com/number.htm

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Middle_Seat