Hello,

I'm considering going to Japan for 10 days. I don't speak or read Japanese.

Should i go (like is it manageable solo, and speaking no Japanese)?

And what are some good itineraries (Tokyo and Kyoto are already on my list)?

Thanks.

Chris

It is very manageable. The first time I went, I was 20, solo, female and spoke absolutely no Japanese. Had no problems at all!

Keep in mind that japanese will always say "no" when you say, "do you speak English". Just ask your question is simple words (Tokyo train? Time? Platform numbah?) and 8 times out of 10, they'll answer you. Writing down your question helps too. Many Japanese are better at writing thtan speaking.

Train and directional signs are almost always in Roman letters.

For 10 days, I'd fly into Tokyo for 3 days, gp tp Kamakura for a day, then spend the night in Yokohama. Head to Kyoto for 4 days. You might squeeze in a trip to Hiroshima or Takayama in the mountains.

Fly home out of Osaka or Nagoya to save train fare back to Tokyo.

I do it all the time. In fact I feel quite guilty that for the many times I have visited Japan in the last few years I am still reliant on the ol' bumbling through technique.

Good itineraries for a first time traveller? This is what I have said for an earlier query: the three C's- Tokyo for cutting-edge Japan, Kyoto for cultural Japan and Osaka for culinary Japan.

Do street signs, restaurants, stores and attractions have signs in roman letters too or just japanese?

thank you

no Japanese, no problem.

HappyMom, Actually most street signs in Tokyo are in Japanese and English. I would estimate that over 50% of the signage above a Japanese business establishment is in English. Even the huge signs on the big buildings. As I travel all over Japan that is one of the things that sticks out for me.

Sydney, I like and agree with your three c's

Aloha!

No need to stay in Osaka -- it's 20 minutes by (fast) train from Kyoto.

Most restaurants in large cities have pictures of what you're going to eat or roman letters. If you eat at the department stores or major train stations, you'll definitely have no problem figuring out what's for lunch.

Lcuy's itinerary is missing Nikko. I don't know that you need to stay in Yokohama -- just another check-in/check-out. Split 40/60 Tokyo/Kyoto for your nights.

You can do it, no problem. A good guidebook tells you the words you need to know. I traveled with my son, 10 at the time. He enjoyed figuring out the pictographs that tell you how much to pay on the Tokyo subway. It would be good to have an idea of Japanese pronunciation, however, because we did have some trouble getting taxi drivers to understand where we wanted to go. Hearton Hotel becomes Hotel HARton in Kyoto. Please add Nara to your travels, with its giant Buddha, vintage Hotel Nara, and rapacious miniature deer!

I wrote about going solo to Japan based on the experiences of my friend Bob, who has been to the country 10 times.
Here are two links to information-packed blog posts:

http://bit.ly/jHVuP
http://bit.ly/4hITHy

Good luck and enjoy!

boldlygosolo.com

Wow, thank you all for the feedback, ideas and reassurance here. I have traveled to several places solo, and while it has it's downsides I'm able to pull it off.

What about food menus? Are most not in English as I've heard? and if so, how did you all navigate and deal with that?

Thanks again. My brother said fodors forums are awesome and I can see now he was right.

Almost all restaurants have plastic models of their menu items out front, and the price will be noted. When the server comes to your table, motion for them to follow you, (or say mitte kudasai, prononced <i>meet tay koo dah sigh</i then point at the dish you want.

Also many menus, esp in 'family' type restaurants like Denny's or Jonathan's or local equivalents, are fully illustrated with colour photos, so you only need to point at items you require. Or typically in more fast-food type places you order everything at a vending machine with picture illustrations, though description is usually only in Japanese.
It will be more challenging in small noodle places etc where there is only a written list on the wall or on the menu with no replicas on display. If stuck, just point discreetly to what others are eating and hope you like it!

<<What about food menus? Are most not in English as I've heard? and if so, how did you all navigate and deal with that?>>

Huh? Didn't I say: <b>Most restaurants in large cities have pictures of what you're going to eat or roman letters. If you eat at the department stores or major train stations, you'll definitely have no problem figuring out what's for lunch.</b>

The major train stations (Shinjuku, Shinagawa, Tokyo, Shibuya, Kyoto, Osaka, Shin-Osaka) will have tons of restaurants and good ones, many in department stores. And you can always point and gesture. You're a barbarian anyway, so the Japanese will forgive you as they did me.

sorry bigRuss I see your special note on this on now. My bad.

Thanks again for all the info. Sounds manageable and like a bit of adventure as I will want to try smaller places and do my best to stay away from tourist or western food places, but i'm sure I will break down perhaps 1 time a day or hopefully less and go the easy path.