Learn the Basics of Japanese Before Your Vacation...
Here are some websites offering free Japanese courses so you can learn essential Japanese before your stay:
Here are some websites offering free Japanese courses so you can learn essential Japanese before your stay:
- https://osaka.chez.com/cours.htm
- https://www.lejapon.org
- https://pages.infinit.net/aikibudo
- https://www.ici-japon.com/cours_japonais/
- https://www.crapulescorp.net/japonais/index.php5
- https://www.nhk.or.jp/lesson/french/
- https://pagesperso-orange.fr/apprenons/liste.htm
- https://home.worldcom.ch/~mrufenac/nihongo/nihongo.html
- https://www.escale-japon.com
- https://www.sebu.org/apprendre_japonais/
- https://www.commecadujapon.com
- https://www.forumjapon.com/nihongo/
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Frequently asked questions
No, speaking Japanese is not mandatory for traveling in Japon. Major cities like Tokyo and Kyoto are well-equipped for tourists with English signage. However, knowing a few basics (greetings, numbers, polite phrases) greatly facilitates interactions and is highly appreciated by locals.
The essential phrases are: 'Sumimasen' (excuse me), 'Arigatou gozaimasu' (thank you very much), 'Ikura desu ka ?' (how much does it cost?), 'Toire wa doko desu ka ?' (where is the restroom?) and 'Eigo ga hanasemasu ka ?' (do you speak English?). Learning these few expressions is enough to get by in daily situations.
To acquire the basics needed for a tourist trip, 4 to 8 weeks of regular practice (15 to 30 minutes per day) allows you to learn greetings, essential vocabulary, and a few key phrases. Focusing on practical vocabulary rather than writing is the most effective strategy for travelers.
Several free applications are very effective for beginners: Duolingo offers a structured and fun learning path, Anki helps you memorize vocabulary through flashcards, HelloTalk allows you to practice with native speakers, and NHK World provides Japanese lessons that are entirely free.
For a tourist trip, it's more useful to focus on speaking and understanding a few words written in hiragana and katakana. Recognizing katakana particularly helps you decipher many English loanwords on menus and signs. Learning kanji is not a priority for a short stay.
