A silly question, do you speak Japanese?
Hi, Andy
That’s not a silly question at all. Feel free to ask as many as you need.
My Japanese proficiency is very limited. I have learned enough to tell people about myself and about my trip, where I’m going and where I’m from. Simple things. I can ask directions, although I don’t always understand the answer. I can order food and ferry tickets My grammar is probably painful for people to hear, but I usually get my point across. When that failed, there was Google translate.
Or do enough people in Japan speak English?
The level of English speakers in Japan varied. Usually in the larger cities that have a tourist base most people in the service industry either could speak a little bit of English, or were very familiar with using Google translate. In the hinterlands the amount of English dropped to almost zero. Again, store staff were comfortable with Translate apps. The only time there was a real communication problem, though, would be with the older folks that wanted to talk to me, who could not speak any English and were also uncomfortable with talking to a phone to use Google translate.
Many restaurants have picture menus and english menus, and you can just point to what you want. When there was neither, I would use the phone to translate, then order in Japanese. A lot of restaurants have a menu board and a ticket machine to order. i would usually just ask the person beside me in line which button corresponded to the picture. Everyone was always happy to assist.
I would say anyone who learns a few basic phrases like good morning, please, thank you, and most importantly, I'm sorry I don't speak/read Japanese, do you speak English? will not have any problem
Did you have prior knowledge about your route or was it all new to you?
Two of the places I visited, Aso and Goto, as well as Fukuoka, where I started and ended the trip, I had been to last September. The rest of it was all new to me. I had sketched out a rough route, using Google and Komoot, before I left.