Moving to Japan is exciting, but if you’re not fluent in Japanese, it can also feel overwhelming. Even basic daily tasks like buying groceries, ordering food, or reading signs can become mini-challenges.

The good news? You don’t need to be fluent to thrive. You just need some practical tools, survival phrases, and tips to navigate cultural nuances. Here’s everything I wish I knew as a beginner learning Japanese while living in Japan.

Start with Survival Japanese: Phrases You’ll Actually Use

You don’t need to write essays or understand anime without subtitles. Start with phrases that will get you through daily life:

⦾すみません (Sumimasen) – Excuse me / Sorry

⦾ありがとうございます (Arigatou gozaimasu) – Thank you

⦾おはようございます (ohayo gozaimasu) – Good Morning

⦾これください (Kore kudasai) – I’ll take this, please

⦾いくらですか？ (Ikura desu ka?) – How much is it?

⦾どこですか？ (Doko desu ka?) – Where is it?

⦾トイレはどこですか？ (Toire wa doko desu ka?) – Where is the bathroom?

⦾英語をせますか？ (Eigo wo hanasemasu ka?) – Do you speak English?

⦾大丈夫です (Daijoubu desu) – It’s okay / I’m good

⦾分かりません (Wakarimasen) – I don’t understand

⦾日本語を勉強しています (Nihongo wo benkyou shiteimasu) – I’m studying Japanese

⦾ちょっといいですか？ (Chotto ii desu ka?) – Got a minute?

💬 Pro tip: Practice these phrases aloud daily. Even simple pronunciation effort can make a huge difference. Google Translate’s voice feature is perfect for practice.

Understand How Japanese People Approach Foreigners

Some people may avoid talking to you simply because they assume you only speak English, not because they’re unfriendly. Many Japanese are excited to practice English, but they might feel shy if they haven’t spoken it in a while or if they rarely get the opportunity. 

Approach with even a little Japanese, like “すみません” (Sumimasen / Excuse me) or “ちょっといいですか？” (Chotto ii desu ka? / Do you have a minute?), and people will often open up. Showing effort and respect goes a long way.

Cultural Nuance Can Carry More Weight Than Fluency

Japanese culture has a lot of subtle rules that are just as important as speaking the language:

⦾ Indirect communication: Being too direct can come off as rude

⦾ Body language: Bowing, eye contact, and tone all carry meaning

⦾ Politeness ≠ friendliness: Effort matters more than perfection

⦾ Observation is key: Watch coworkers, friends, and strangers to understand context

Being mixed (Black and Japanese), I often faced questions like:

“Hibari? But you don’t look Japanese.”

“Who gave you that name?”

Learning Japanese gave me tools to participate and belong, even when people didn’t know how to “categorize” me.

Learn How to Read Signs, Menus, and Labels

You don’t need to learn all 3,000+ kanji, believe me. Recognizing key signs makes life far easier. Here are some that you’ll see often and you’ll want to learn: 

⦾出口 (Deguchi) – Exit

⦾入口 (Iriguchi) – Entrance

⦾非常口 (Hijouguchi) – Emergency exit

⦾お手洗い (Otearai) – Restroom

⦾閉店 (Heiten) – Closed

⦾鶏肉 (Toriniku) – Chicken

⦾牛乳 (Gyuunyuu) – Milk

⦾危険 (Kiken) – Danger

Even recognizing patterns, like 口 meaning mouth/entrance/exit, helps you read faster and feel confident.

Common Adjectives You’ll Use Every Day

Knowing and using adjectives gets you far in Japan. And throughout your journey of learning Japanese, you’ll come to see that if you start using some of these around Japanese people, it’ll give them the impression that you actually know some Japanese, and they will be impressed. Here are some that will help so much, I promise:

⦾可愛い (Kawaii) – Cute

⦾すごい (Sugoi) – Amazing

⦾大きい (Ookii) – Big

⦾小さい (Chiisai) – Small

⦾暑い (Atsui) – Hot (weather)

⦾寒い (Samui) – Cold (weather)

⦾美味しい (Oishii) – Delicious

⦾きれい (Kirei) – Pretty / Clean

⦾楽しい (Tanoshii) – Fun / Enjoyable

⦾面白い (Omoshiroi) – Interesting / Funny

⦾早い (Hayai) – Fast / Early

⦾遅い (Osoi) – Slow / Late

💡 Here’s an example of one in a sentence:

このラーメンは美味しいです！(Kono ramen wa oishii desu! / This ramen is delicious!)

BUT you can also just comment on something without putting it into a complete sentence like this:

When it’s cold outside, say, “寒い！”（Samui! / It’s cold!) 

If the food is tasty, say, “美味しい！” (Oishii! / Delicious!) 

If you’re impressed by something, say, “すごい！” (Sugoi! / Amazing!)

Speak, Make Mistakes, and Connect

It’s tempting to wait until you feel “ready,” but learning Japanese in Japan is all about practice and effort.

• Order food in Japanese
• Ask locals for directions
• Read train signs out loud

Asking “一緒に食べますか？” (Issho ni tabemasu ka? / “Wanna eat together?”) can be the beginning of a friendships. Or in my case, it was usually, “ワンちゃん触ってもいいですか？” (Wanchan sawatte mo ii desu ka? / “Can I pet your dog?”) that would begin a conversation on my walk back home from work.

💬 Pro tip: I got into the habit of shadowing train announcements during my commute. I quietly repeated them under my breath and eventually understood everything, including “次は〇〇です” (Tsugi wa ___ desu / “Next stop is ___”). 

It may seem insignificant to some, but that feeling of comprehension was one of my biggest and earliest wins…I was SO proud of myself!

Apps That Actually Help with Learning Japanese

Don’t overwhelm yourself with 10 apps. Start simple:

Google Translate  – I bet you’ve already used this, but if you haven’t yet, it’s simple to use and also allows you (or others) to speak into the microphone to translate verbal speech. Oh, and you can also take a picture of something and translate the text. 

Imiwa? – Offline Japanese-English dictionary (search by kanji, radicals, romaji)

Netflix – Kids’ shows or anime help with slower, natural Japanese. Starting off, I recommend watching in Japanese with English subtitles. Then once you’ve improved your listening skills and learned to read and write hiragana and katakana, I challenge you to watch in Japanese with Japanese subtitles. I liked to use this for recognizing Japanese characters and it helped me become a faster reader.

YouTube – Search “Japanese for daily life” or “Japanese phrases for ________”

Other Avenues to Explore If You’re Really Serious About Learning Japanese

1. Get a Japanese Language Tutor

Finding a fluent Japanese tutor can really accelerate your learning, especially if they have experience in Japanese linguistics or teaching the language. You can meet a tutor in person, take classes at a local community college, or find one online through platforms like Preply or iTalki. Speaking with someone gives you live feedback on pronunciation, helps you understand how words work together, and provides guidance on sentence structure.

Remember, a tutor can help explain context and perfect your pronunciation, but learning vocabulary mostly happens outside the lessons.

2. Find a Language Partner

Connecting with native speakers is hands-down one of the best ways to practice Japanese. Language exchanges, or tandem learning, are all about two people teaching each other their native languages. Having a language partner lets you pick up new vocabulary, get real-time corrections, and practice conversation in a low-pressure way.

Finding a Japanese study buddy was such a game changer for me. I still remember random moments at a café with a friend (shout out to Nobu!) who spoke little English. We’d try to explain a vocab word or grammar point to one another, and half the time it got hilariously lost in translation…but somehow, I always came out of it actually knowing how to use that word in real life. Moments like that felt huge! 

Meetup is a great resource to find like-minded people also trying to improve their language skills. And also just to find other people who enjoy the same things you do, like sports or art. 

3. Consider a Japanese Language School

I never personally went to one, but in hindsight, I really wish I had. Japanese language schools offer structured lessons with experienced teachers, which can be especially helpful if you’re starting from zero or want to accelerate your learning. Classes often focus on a mix of reading, writing, listening, and speaking, and you get the chance to practice in a supportive environment with other students who are at your level.

Some highly rated schools include:

JaLS – Known for small class sizes and immersive teaching methods.

Meiji Academy – Offers flexible programs for short-term or long-term learners.

KCP International – Popular for conversational Japanese and cultural activities.

Benefits of attending a language school:

Consistency: Having scheduled classes keeps your study routine on track.

Immersive learning: Schools often integrate cultural lessons alongside language instruction, which helps you understand the nuance behind phrases and etiquette.

Opportunities to meet locals: Many schools organize events, excursions, or language exchange activities, helping you make connections outside the classroom.

Even if you don’t stay long-term, spending a few weeks at a Japanese language school can give you a foundation of grammar, vocabulary, and confidence that’s hard to replicate on your own.

You Belong, Even When You Don’t Feel Fluent 💛

I hope this guide to learning Japanese while living in Japan provided you with some insight into how you can immerse yourself in the culture a bit, while also learning Japanese. Learning Japanese while living in Japan can be humbling, but every small effort builds connection. Speak, listen, observe, and laugh at mistakes.

You’re not just learning a language—you’re learning to live in a new culture. And that’s a skill that lasts a lifetime.