gryffron wrote:The Japanese speak NO English. Not a word. Even in the touristy places. And you can't read the road signs, instructions or directions. I think it would be very hard to go there without either a guide or a working knowledge of Japanese.
Hugely enjoyed it. The Japanese are aliens. I have been all over the world and people are more or less the same. But not the Japanese. They are well weird. They're so polite and nice, 99% of the time, then they do something utterly crazy that blows your mind. Visit a pachinko parlour. What freaked me out most was an everyday supermarket, which seemed to have a full blown rave going on in the isles. Deafening music, flashing lights, women stuffing samples of octopus tentacles at you. woah! It was just so unexpected on a quiet Tuesday afternoon.
Oh, and the Japanese don't walk. Anywhere. The nakasendo way is beautifully maintained and hundreds of miles long. We passed one group of 4 Japanese hikers in the entire fortnight. Gryff
Just some personal observations IME /
Pls do not take them as 'contradictions/corrections' or similar, it is just my 2c.
Most JPnese speak no English, same as most English speak no JPnese. A difference is some of the latter go to study abroad and/or work for Western MNCs [Multi-national Companies] where English is going to be required. But they are in the small minority, and outside of Tokyo and away from international hotel front-desks are probably going to be hard to find. Looking on at a passing crowd you wouldn't have a clue who is which; but something that struck me on a trip there a few years ago was the willingness of locals to come and offer support to a confused looking visitor has really changed from when I lived there in the early/mid 90s. Back in the 90s they'd have been too shy, afraid to say the wrong thing > confuse you > embarrass you, these days they seem to have got more confident.
Road signs, at least in Tokyo,
are bilingual - Google/Image on 'Tokyo sign road name' and you will see. Getting lost is still very easy once off the larger roads as addresses are split into blocks that are ultimately numbered in chronological order of the address/building being built rather than precise/consecutive physical street location. I used to find getting to the approximate area pretty simple, but finding the actual building within a say 100M radius often a
lot harder. For the same reason restaurants/bars/hotels and other such destinations often have simplified cartographic pictograms of their location vs other landmarks to assist navigation. Example:
http://www.fnetravel.com/english/tokyo/ ... nt-map.jpgThe JPnese are unusually similar to us in several ways for Asians as they share the perspective of an island-nation, though they have opened up to the world a lot more recently. [They certainly generally greatly admire what they know of our culture IME].
Yes, the JPnese are different, a product of their historically closed society, and inherent sense of social order. But IME if you can manage to navigate that, which a visitor can, you will have a most enjoyable time. Also keep in mind they'll regard you by default as a know-nothing foreigner, so their own social expectations will not apply to you. IME they're more likely to vicariously enjoy seeing you break their rules, than take you to task for not knowing nor observing them. In short, don't worry about 'doing something wrong/silly' - you'll be fine, they expect it anyway.
Most JPnese are 'ordered' most of the time, but almost all of them have a time when they can throw out the rule-book and they have license to let loose. Friday night after work in cities being an example, groups of workmates otherwise responsible/sober have license, almost a tribal expectation, to go and get absolutely smashed. That's all about corporate-bonding and is very common IME. They tend to get drunk quickly [the 'Asian gene' vs alcohol] so expect to see glowing red faces, and at throwing out time suited men prostrate asleep on the pavement. It's harmless to the visitor though, stepping over such bodies going home on a Friday night was typical, but I
never saw
any unrest or violence. So yes their 'off-duty streak' can seem pretty mad, contrary, but it is always well within defined acceptable limits.
IME hiking is popular in Japan, just IME they get 10 days holiday a year so little chance to pursue it. Just look at the crowds hiking on Mj. Fuji in season to see them out and about en masse.