How Much Japanese Should I Know Before Going to Japan? – JLPT TUTOR (2024)

Japanese is the official language of Japan. This language is widely spoken in all areas of the country as well as in other parts of the world where there is a large population of Japanese. Due to the difference in the writing system of the Japanese language and many other languages such as English, many people usually have fears about traveling to Japan.

If you are planning to travel to Japan and thinking of learning the Japanese language, you may want to understand the amount of Japanese that you need to know before going to the country. Well, you don’t need to know any specific amount of Japanese. In fact, you may not need to speak Japanese at all if you are traveling to Japan. Also, you can start learning Japanese when you get to the country. However, this depends on where you are going to in Japan and what you are going there to do.

Your destination can affect the level of Japanese you need

If your stay in Japan will only be in major urban places such as Tokyo, Kawasaki, Kyoto, Osaka, Yokohama, and Nagoya, you may not need any knowledge of Japanese when going to Japan. Most buses, restaurants, street signs, subways, train stations, and many public places have English/Romaji translations/signs for people that don’t understand Japanese. Hence, you can find your way around these cities without knowing Japanese before going to Japan.

In addition, a lot of the people in these big cities have some understanding of English, so you may be able to communicate with them. This is especially true among young people as most of them have learned English. As a result of this, you can use the English language to complete most transactions that you need to do in Japan. However, you may need to speak slowly.

However, if you are traveling to one of the rural areas in Japan, you may have a hard time doing a lot of things. This is because most individuals in these places have little or no knowledge of the English language. Also, their public places may not have English/Romaji translations. Therefore, you will have to depend on getting some help from the locals. Since you don’t understand the Japanese language and the locals may not understand English, speaking to the locals will be quite difficult. Resultantly, you are advised to learn the basics of the Japanese language before going to Japan if you are staying in a small town or remote area.

Your purpose for going to Japan can affect the level of Japanese you need

Since Japan is a well-known country with a fascinating culture, a great economy, and a first-rate educational system, there are several reasons for going to the country. While some are going to the country to experience its traditions as tourists, others are going there to school or even live and work. These different purposes can determine the level of the Japanese language that you need.

• Visit for a short period

If you are visiting Japan for a short period, you don’t need much knowledge of the Japanese language. You can visit the country and enjoy your stay without speaking any Japanese. Most touristic centers already cater to the needs of tourists by ensuring that English/Romaji translations for most instructions/directions. Therefore, you can move around and enjoy the attractions without understanding Japanese.

Even if you want to learn Japanese, you should focus on a few words and phrases that will be required for day-to-day activities. Learn the words you can use to ask questions related to directions, transportations, shopping, eating out, as well as buying things.

• Work/school

For anyone that wants to work or school in Japan, you are likely going to stay in the country for a long period. So, your situation is quite different from someone visiting Japan for a short period. As a consequence of this, you will need more knowledge of Japanese.

It is worthwhile to note that you can school or work in Japan without understanding Japan. Many schools offer some programs in English; hence, you don’t need to know any amount of Japanese to take such programs. Also, you can teach English in one of the English language schools. Most of these centers are private-owned and prefer teachers that don’t understand Japan to maintain an English-only learning environment for their students.

However, only a few high-paying jobs are available for anyone that doesn’t speak Japanese. Therefore, if you want to get a high-paying job in Japan, it is important for you to starting Japanese now. Learn as much as possible because most jobs require a particular level of Japanese before employing you. For instance, if you are a medical expert, one of the requirements to practice in Japan is having the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) N1, which is the highest level of the test. This means that your knowledge of Japanese is expected to be close to that of a native speaker to get some jobs.

• Live without working or schooling

If you only want to go to Japan to live without studying or working, you don’t need much knowledge of Japanese. You only need to understand the basics that you can use for paying your utilities, reading basic information, registering for any services, and doing other fundamental adult responsibilities.

However, many local governments and organizations are making it easy for people that cannot speak Japanese. Consequently, you will likely find English translations that can help you to do many things that you need in Japan. Besides, you can rely on Google Translate and other related apps to find translations of Japanese words.

Nonetheless, you may have a hard time making friends and building social circles if you don’t understand much Japanese.

Overall, there is no specific amount of Japanese that you need before going to Japan. If you are visiting for a few days or weeks, learn enough Japanese to ask for directions, say “thank you” and do other basic things. However, if you plan to work in the country and build your social circles, you will need to have a good understanding of the language. Notably, you can start learning Japanese when you get there.