BootsnAll Travel Community

How is easy is Japan to get round and stay in for a week for a non-Japanese speaking person.
I'm worried that I'm going to have trouble with signs, underground, choice of food, etc.
Planning on 3 days in Tokyo then the bullet train to Kyoto for 4 days then a flight from Osaka (round about October time).

Ive just got back from spending a year in Japan, and I would have to say its one of the easiest places to navigate for a non - Japanese speaker. There are English signs galore, especially in the tourist hubs like TOkyo and Kyoto. There will be English speaking tourist guides at the big stations in both cities, who are volunteers, and easy to find. Just look for the tourist information centres. The Shinkansen has English announcements both on and off the train, and you can buy your tickets either from a machine that has English or a person who will know enough English to help you. (Though I would recommend getting a rail pass before you arrive.. it will save you a lot of money!) In terms of food, there is an abundance of western food if thats what you are looking for. Otherwise there's a number of cheaper family style restaurants that have pictures on the menu that you can point to. Seriously you will be surprised at the amount of English menues, signs and speakers that will help you! Just make the tourist information centre your first stop when you get off the train, they will give you walking tour guides, english metro maps, anything you want! You will absolutely love it!

Gorbichof is right on. Japan is an amazing country!! We spent 6 days there and wish it was 6 months. Yes, get your rail pass before you go to save big bucks. The food?!!? eat it all!! Even the 7-11 has good cheap tasty healthy fast food (not nasty stuff like back home).
I was almost disappointed at how easy it is to get around on the trains and subways--very user friendly. The Japanese are the most friendly, helpful people we have met in our travels.

You will have a great time--just dive right in.

How many tarines can I get before it is worth getting the railpass?
I was only thinking of using the underground a bit and then getting the train from Tokyo to Kyoto...
and then Kyoto to Osaka for the plane flight out.

With your itinerary I'd skip the rail pass and buy the tickets separately. I'd also take an overnight bus from Kyoto to Tokyo (book in advance) instead of the train. Not only will it save you over 8000 yen but it will save you a nights accommodation as well.

Approximate prices from last year:

7 day rail pass: 28,300
Tokyo to Kyoto by train one way: 13,220
Tokyo to Kyoto one way by bus: 4,500
Kyoto to Osaka by train (non-bullet): 540

I was there a little under 2 months. No issues getting around and I speak very little Japanese.

All Japanese have to take English in school. Most aren't very confident speaking it, but seem to be better at reading it.

I've gone into restaurants and neither myself or the cook could understand each other, but we managed.

Hi

My wife and I found it to be quite easy as most signs were in English and Japanese. So we took the trains, subways, went out to eat etc and of course we did run into a couple of misunderstandings but nothing major. Here is my trip report with pictures http://gardkarlsen.com/japan_tokyo.htm . I hope that it can give you an idea of what to expect :-)