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A customer of mine who had traveled to Japan asked me why the Japanese don’t speak English.
He probably thinks the Japanese are a superior people with a high-quality education.
I am very flattered by this misunderstanding. But unfortunately his perception and the reality are different.
It is estimated that only around 10% of Japanese people speak English.
In larger cities such as Tokyo and Osaka, the proportion is much higher, but in rural areas, English-speaking Japanese are very rare.
While some people can communicate with a translation app, others refuse to do so.
Japanese learn English in junior and senior high school.
Some children go to an English tutoring school when they are in elementary school.
However, many Japanese do not speak English.
So my client asked me why the Japanese don’t speak English.
Japanese people only speak Japanese on a daily basis and therefore do not feel obliged .
There is no situation where a foreign language has to be spoken.
I think that’s the reason why the Japanese don’t speak English.
If there were books that could only be read in English and movies that could only be watched in English, the Japanese would speak English better.
But conveniently, various things of interest to Japanese people have been translated into Japanese.
This may be inconvenient for foreign travelers.
Even in hospitals, English is often not spoken.
Doctors read medical articles in English. They understand English, but many cannot communicate well in English.
It is therefore advisable to check whether interpreting services are included in the travel insurance.
It is advisable to learn basic Japanese before entering Japan.
In particular, it is useful to learn the Japanese words you will need in an emergency.
Japan is a country prone to natural disasters. Initial information will naturally be provided in Japanese.
Obtaining information in English takes more time.
Many Japanese do not speak English, so it depends on luck whether someone can translate for you.
My small travel agency can also offer simple Japanese courses before the trip via ZOOM or Skype.
In addition, the concierge service provides advice in emergencies.
One of my hobbies is visiting museums. When I travel abroad, I always visit the museums in the cities there.
It is very satisfying for me to see real paintings and sculptures that can only be seen there.
Maybe many of you have the same interest as me, so I would like to give you some tips about the museums in Tokyo.
There are a lot of information sources available about the National Museum in Ueno and other famous big museums.
Therefore, I would like to introduce some smaller museums in Tokyo. There may be little information about them.
〇Matsuoka Museum of Art
https://www.matsuoka-museum.jp/english/
This is a small museum that focuses its exhibitions on the collections of Japanese industrialists. I particularly like the collection of Buddhist statues.
〇Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum
https://www.teien-art-museum.ne.jp/en/
The museum was once built as the private residence of the imperial Asakamiya family.
Today it is managed by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, including the beautiful Japanese garden.
There is a very nice restaurant at the entrance to the museum, which is also recommended.
〇Seikado Bunko Art Museum
https://www.seikado.or.jp/english/
The museum was founded by the former presidents of the famous Japanese corporation Mitsubishi.
The museum used to be located in a suburb of Tokyo, but has recently moved to a new location near Tokyo Station.
Here you will find national treasures. The collection is impressive, not only from Japan but from all over the East.
〇Mitsui Memorial Museum
https://www.mitsui-museum.jp/english/english.html
The Mitsui Group is another well-known Japanese corporate group. This museum has a collection that was acquired by the Mitsui family.
If you are interested in Japanese art, you will love it.
〇Sumida Hokusai Museum
https://hokusai-museum.jp/?lang=en
If you are interested in Ukiyo-e, this museum is for you.
Visitors can view the works of the great ukiyo-e artist Hokusai.
The building, which is the work of Kazuyo Sejima, is modern and unique.
There are also other small museums in Tokyo. Our concierge service can give you recommendations depending on your preferences. In addition, it is also possible to find out about exhibitions.
https://kaguyareisebuero.com/concierge/
Have you ever heard of the Ghibli animated film “Kiki’s Little Delivery Service”?
It is the story of a cute little witch, Kiki, who is trained to become a big witch by working for a delivery service.
This delivery service is called “Takkyubin” in Japan.
“Takkyubin” is a registered brand name of Yamato Transport, a well-known Japanese shipping company, and Ghibli received permission from this company to use the name.
Yamato Transport not only allowed this, but also supported this wonderful animated film as a sponsor.
Yamato Transport’s trademark is a black cat. It is also a black cat that Kiki is traveling with, which is a nice coincidence.
Yamato Transport is the best-known delivery service in Japan, but there are also others.
Parcels can be sent from convenience stores and other Takkyubin counters.
If you send a parcel from Tokyo to Osaka, for example, it usually arrives the next day.
However, due to a shortage of drivers, this has become more difficult. Nevertheless, parcels can still be delivered the next day.
However, it can take longer on Hokkaido, Okinawa and remote islands.
Travelers can also use Takkyubin.
Not every hotel offers them, but you can often use a takkyubin from reception. Of course, they also take care of travelers’ luggage.
It is also possible to pick up a package or suitcase at the hotel using Takkyubin. The hotel employee then collects the luggage on behalf of the customer.
However, you must contact the hotel in advance to send and receive your luggage.
To avoid the risk of terrorist attacks, unannounced checked baggage may be returned.
In addition, the guest list is checked, so luggage checked in under the wrong name may not be accepted.
Therefore, please ask the hotel receptionist to contact the recipient.
Unfortunately, there is no reception desk in private apartments,
Takkubin is not available as there is no one to receive the luggage.
There is therefore a possibility that your valuable luggage will be lost.
If you use the Takkyubin service skillfully, you no longer have to carry luggage when traveling.
Below is the homepage of Yamato Transport for tourists.
Yamato Transportation
https://www.global-yamato.com/en/hands-free-travel/
My travel concierge service will be happy to answer any questions you may have about using Takkyubin.
I’ve been a tech enthusiast for a long time. From the days of dial-up connections, I’ve been carrying around small computers all over the world. Do any of you remember a device called a “modem coupler”?
Nowadays, with the development of Wi-Fi, things have become incredibly convenient. Moreover, you can easily connect to the internet using just a smartphone, without the need for a computer. Thinking back to the days of struggling with dial-up connections, it feels like a dream.
By the way, what do you do when you travel abroad? Do you rely on each mobile carrier’s roaming services or swap out SIM cards to use your smartphone in foreign countries?
Recently, something called “eSIM” has emerged. While you still switch out SIM cards, it’s done online, and there’s no need to physically replace the tiny SIM card inside your smartphone. Everything is done on your smartphone. However, since it’s still a relatively new technology, eSIM-compatible devices are limited. Nevertheless, more and more devices are becoming compatible, so if you’ve recently upgraded your smartphone, why not check it out? Your next trip could be even more comfortable.
Here’s a link for more information about eSIM:
You can get a small discount through this link.
Also, before making a purchase, be sure to confirm that your smartphone is eSIM compatible.
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