Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Riding the rails
Programs: Japan Forum, Skyteam Elite Plus, BW Diamond Select, HHonors Gold, NWA, DL, NH
Posts: 1,936
I certainly do not think you'll have much of a language issue especially when booking from Narita Airport to Tokyo and then Tokyo to Kyoto, heavily traveled routes by many visitors. Trains stations have Japanese and English signs, and train annoucments on the Shinkansen and Narita Express are billingual as well.
I hope you have a nice trip, and please report back.