Great TR so far! During the past 26 months my family and I have spent three months in Japan (me working half of the time) and have really fallen in love with the country. (Not just because of the toilet seats, also the food is marvelous. )

However, I'd recommend Japan also for those without a local guide. Almost all street signs are also in English, as are the different signs, boards etc. in train stations, trains and so on. The metro/train map of Tokyo looks like a giant spaghetti bowl, but the system is actually remarkably easy to navigate once you get the hang of it.