Languages Used in Japan

The main language used in Japan is Japanese.

Because education through higher education can be completed entirely in Japanese, it’s not uncommon, even for people in respected positions, to speak only Japanese.

Although English is taught throughout compulsory and higher education, most people rarely have opportunities to use it in daily life, so their skills often remain undeveloped. This reflects Japan’s unique path of development, but also highlights one of its challenges in adapting to globalization.

When you want to speak to someone in English while traveling in Japan, it’s best to start in Japanese and then use a translation app or device.

Features of Japanese

One major difference from English is that Japanese often omits the subject. There are also multiple words for both first- and second-person (“I” and “you”), giving the language a very wide expressive range.

Another feature is the clear difference between language used among close friends and language used with strangers or in formal settings.

Polite language is called keigo or teineigo, and it’s standard to use it when speaking with staff or ordinary citizens while traveling.

Examples of Polite Expressions

• Excuse me: すみません (Sumimasen)
• Thank you: ありがとうございます (Arigato gozaimasu)
• Good morning: おはようございます (Ohayo gozaimasu)
• Good night: おやすみなさい (Oyasumi nasai) or お疲れ様です* (Otsukare sama desu)
  *This roughly means “good job”.

As you can see, it’s common to add ～ます (masu) or ～です (desu) at the end of words.

Writing Systems Used in Japanese

Japanese combines multiple writing systems. The main types are:

• ひらがな (Hiragana)
• カタカナ (Katakana)
• 漢字 (Kanji)

Rather than using just one, standard writing mixes all of them in a single sentence.

For children, sentences are sometimes written using only hiragana. It’s the first writing system that Japanese children learn, and also the one that many non-native learners start with when studying Japanese. If you want to learn Japanese, this is the perfect place to begin.

Japanese can also be written using the Roman alphabet, a system known as rōmaji. While it’s not commonly used among native Japanese speakers when writing to each other, most people who have completed compulsory education can read it without difficulty.

Signage for English Speakers

On major transportation lines and at larger public facilities, you may see signage in languages other than Japanese.

However, detailed explanations are rare; most information is minimal and to the point.

Common Languages Seen:

• English
• Chinese
• Korean

At large facilities or locations that actively serve international visitors, you may see an even wider range of languages such as Portuguese or French.

Is It Okay to Speak to Japanese People in English?

As a rule, it’s not recommended to suddenly address passersby in English.

Only a minority of Japanese people are fluent and comfortable communicating in English. As noted above, most people have limited opportunities to interact with English speakers and aren’t used to speaking English.

That said, in city centers the proportion of English speakers is higher, and even in rural areas, tourist spots with many international visitors often have staff who are good at English.

How to Approach Someone

If you can’t resolve something on your own and need to ask nearby people for help:

Start with a polite “すみません (Sumimasen)”, then try to communicate using a translation app.

If you begin speaking English out of the blue, people may not notice you’re addressing them—or they might be startled and step away.

The word “Sumimasen” can be used in similar situations to “Excuse me” in English.