Useful Travel Japanese Phrases

While language barrier has never been an issue for me during my trips to Japan in the past 15 years, I found it fun to be able to speak a few phrases to test out my foreign language skills during my travel. Having some survival Japanese phrases handy could make your trip more pleasant when people around you can not or unwilling to speak English (or any other foreign language) I also felt that Tokyo has become more English speaking friendly along with the foreign tourism surge in the past ten years.

Just point and order when you see plastic food models in front of the restaurants

I have listed phrases that are useful and essential for new travelers to Japan.

Do they speak English?

Certain areas in Tokyo are known to have higher number of English speakers from North America, Europe and Australia, while other areas are known to have large numbers of residents from mainland China and South Korea who speak both Japanese and their native languages.

Shinjuku, Tokyo. English