It's Okay Even If You Can't Speak English! How to Fully Enjoy Traveling Abroad

My first solo trip abroad was to China.

At that time, I couldn't speak Chinese, let alone English properly.
Yet, ever since then, I have been completely hooked on traveling abroad.

Last year, I also traveled to South Korea for the first time in a while.

I have the impression that there are more places where English is understood than before, but there were often times when English was not understood in local areas.
I don't know any Korean at all, but I enjoyed it in many ways despite not knowing the language.

Here is the episode from that time.

If you have never traveled abroad, or have only been a few times, and lack confidence in English, the language barrier is a very significant source of anxiety.
It might be the number one reason for hesitating to travel abroad.

Certainly, once I became able to converse in English, traveling became much more enjoyable than when I couldn't.

But it's okay even if you can't speak English or the local language.
Today, based on my own real experiences, I will share tips on how to fully enjoy traveling abroad safely and with peace of mind.

To everyone hesitating to travel abroad due to language issues.
Please rest assured. You can fully enjoy traveling abroad!

How to enjoy traveling abroad even if you can't speak English

・I want to experience foreign cultures as safely as possible and refresh my mind
・I want to have a little adventure and enjoy the challenge of being in an unknown land
・I want to try everything I can in an unfamiliar place and have an exciting trip

And so on, everyone has their own style of enjoying travel.
From here on, I will explain in order of lowest degree of adventure, let's go!

Participate in a Japanese-language tour

You can participate in a tour with Japanese guidance and ask for basic support.
If you join a tour with a travel agency tour conductor, you can have your local activities supported by a guide who understands Japanese, so your language anxiety will be resolved all at once.
Also, even for plans where local activities are free, you can receive guidance in Japanese for airport-hotel transfers and some optional tours.

Choose a destination where Japanese is understood

There are actually quite a few countries where Japanese is understood, such as countries that have had deep and profound exchanges with Japan for a long time, or countries where Japanese people frequently travel.
The countries I have actually traveled to where Japanese is understood are as follows.

　Guam
　Bali
　South Korea
　Taiwan

In these countries, Japanese is understood with a high probability at spots, shops, duty-free shops, and restaurants visited by tourists.
Of course, there are cases where Japanese is not understood in local places, but if you mainly visit standard spots, you won't have much trouble with the language.
All of these are standard destinations for overseas travel from Japan, and they are easy to visit even if you are anxious about the language.

Hire a Japanese-speaking guide

If you are traveling on a free plan or making individual arrangements, there are also ways to book optional tours with a Japanese-speaking guide, or charter a sightseeing taxi with a Japanese-speaking guide or driver.
It is reassuring because you can charter it for half a day or a full day and have them guide you to the places you want to go.

Translation apps

You have to be prepared for the cost of tours with tour conductors or taxi charters.
For those who want to manage without spending money, there are translation apps.
You can use the voice recognition/read-aloud function of Google Translate on your smartphone, and nowadays there are also rental translation devices.

It takes a little bit of effort, but since you can communicate in the local language, it is recommended for those who want to act on their own without relying on a guide.

Memorize the minimum necessary words in advance

For challengers who say they won't even rely on a translation device!
This is also a method I used in combination as insurance when I went to Chinese-speaking regions or South Korea.

Anticipate situations where you will frequently need to communicate, such as dining, shopping, finding locations, or asking for directions, and memorize only the bare minimum words needed.

For example, something like this:
・Numbers (often used when ordering food or shopping)
・Demonstratives (this, that, these, those)
・Greetings (thank you, hello, goodbye, etc.)
・Yes, no
・Where is xx? (for xx, just write it on paper or show a map or website of the place you want to go on your smartphone; it's even better if it's written in the local language)
・Check, please (a must if you are eating at a local restaurant! It saves you from fumbling when it's time to pay)

Even if you aren't speaking in full sentences, you can usually make yourself understood by stringing words together to express your intent.

Example) When ordering at a restaurant
　*Point to each item on the menu while repeating
　Japanese: Kore hitotsu
　English: This one.
　Korean: Igeot hana
　Chinese: Zhe yige

[Important] For when an emergency occurs and you are truly stuck

If everything goes well, you can just wing it, or at worst, use body language! That's fine. However, if you suddenly fall ill or encounter an unexpected problem and need to rely on someone, it will be difficult if you don't speak the language.
In preparation for such cases, make sure to have emergency contact information secured.

If you are on a tour with a tour conductor, consult with them first.

If you are on a package tour, be sure to check with your travel agency or the tour organizer to confirm if there is a help line for emergencies, as well as the contact information and how to reach them.

If you are traveling independently, staying at a hotel with staff who can speak your language means you have someone to rely on in a pinch.

Furthermore, check in advance for public facilities like hospitals or consulates where they speak your language. If you are worried about the language barrier, it is reassuring to know where you can go to ask for help in your own language if something happens.

Even if you can't speak English or the local language, you'll manage somehow. Now, let's go on a trip!

As I have written here, even if you are anxious about the language, if you take solid precautions in advance, you can fully enjoy foreign cultures while traveling.

Sometimes you might make mistakes, but usually, things work out.
Taking precautions for emergencies is important.
However, don't think too rigidly; if you have a minor mishap, just accept it as a travel memory with an easygoing attitude, and your trip will be much more enjoyable.

How about it?
Don't you feel like trying to go on an overseas trip?

Even if you can't speak English, once you actually go abroad, you might find yourself captivated by how fun it is!