When visiting Japan, it can be a mistake to expect the locals to be able to speak English. Lobby staff at major hotels, especially in Tokyo and Kyoto will, plus at ski resorts, but elsewhere might be pushing your luck. To get by, use of a phrase book can be helpful, and to improve the chances of success with this some understanding of the Japanese language can be worthwhile. As with any language, a few handy phrases can be quite easily memorised. For those willing to take on something of a linguistic challenge, being able to count can be pretty useful, especially when dealing with money. … [Read more...]