Greetings! Welcome to #WeekendCoffeeShare, thank you for meeting me on this Saturday. We are in Tokyo for the weekend, so let’s go explore and find something to drink.
It’s only been a few days in Tokyo and already, I can’t describe how much I want to go home at this moment. I’m tired, more exhausted than I’ve been in the last few months. The weather is hot and humid like one is constantly being baked in an oven. I feel like I’ve sweat more in the last few days than I’ve sweat the whole year at home. The heat is sapping away all my interest and energy to do any sort of exploration and sightseeing, even in the evenings. Oh, and did I mention hardly anyone speak nor understand a lick of English.
Ordering food has been the hardest because unless we can order by machine, I had to order for both mom and her friend. I have such a time comprehending what the server is saying when his voice is muffled by the mask he’s wearing. After that will probably be buying groceries at the local convenient store. Japan is probably the only country when I can’t get away with smiling and a wave of my hand. It’s the only country where you’re probably toast if you don’t know the language, no matter how many times I’ve been told I don’t need to learn Japanese.
The answer is Yes, I do need to learn Japanese to travel to Japan. Outside of the people who work for the Tourist Information can understand English, other places and people, you can forget it. No one can really offer real help unless you speak Japanese.
Tomorrow will be our final day in Tokyo. On Monday, we are moving to the next leg of the trip to Kawaguchiko, which will be about 10-degrees cooler. Hopefully that’s better despite the humidity. The most difficult thing, however, will be the language. I have a feeling there will be less people who can comprehend English as I move away from Tokyo.
We visited Meiji Jingu yesterday. When I saw the forest, an image of my past hikes floated across my mind – of the coolness among the trees. No such luck. Sweat continued pouring down my face and every part of my body as we walked among the trees. There was no cool breeze and no cool air. The heat and humidity remained relented. One thing I’ll tell you, though, the temple was sure beautiful.
#weekendcoffeeshare is hosted by Natalie of Natalie the Explorer. I appreciate you stopping by. Until next we chat. 🙂
This is Another Story 
Sorry your experience of Japan is turning out to be so stressful. We sure had a different experience when we lived there for two years. I’m sure you’ll be glad to be back home. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m starting to think if it’s because I look Asian. I visited a drug store today and the clerk thought I could read Chinese.
LikeLike
That could be part of the problem, they expect you to just know the language.
Sounds like they must be having a heatwave there like we’ve had in the states.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, it sure looks like it. I checked the weather and it looks like it will cool down after Autumn solstice. 🤞
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hopefully things will get better
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ordering the wrong food might turn into a easy treat
LikeLiked by 1 person
Actually, it’s not an easy treat when I don’t know what it is and have a super picky mother. It’s her food, so…
LikeLiked by 1 person
I understand Japanese to be one of the hardest languages to learn, with very little in the way of sentence construction relating to English. The ordering of Subject, Verb, adjectives, tenses, etc. don’t relate at all to the way English is. Good Luck, and maybe get a small phrase book with translations. Good Luck!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is indeed one of the hardest languages to learn. I am usually pretty quick but even I cannot grasp it’s grammar sometimes. English is by far the easiest language.
LikeLike
Oh my goodness! That weather! Hope it cools down for you at your next destination.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hope so, too. It’s been absolutely unbearable.
LikeLike
Hope all goes well.Anita
LikeLiked by 2 people
Hi YingLan,
Sorry about the humidity. I was indoors most of my time there and it wasn’t as hot. I was lucky for most of the trip as I was with a young couple who were ex-pats and working there. They helped me a lot by ordering food for me so I rarely had to communicate with the non-english speakers who could not understand even the few words I knew in Japanese.
I’m still so glad I went and would like to go back some day.
Travel safe.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Gary,
Ah I see, you had a guide.
there are a lot of people outside. A majority of people seem to spend a lot of time indoor, at least that’s where it’s most crowded.
I think I would be more relaxed if I don’t have my mom standing next to me giving me requests and pissy looks. I went shopping on my own the first day and did fine.
LikeLike
So very beautiful.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you.
LikeLike
I’m sorry it has been harder than expected. I can’t imagine trying to communicate in Japanese! I hope the rest of your trip is more pleasant.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve become more comfortable to ask for directions but unfortunately, I have no clue what people are saying in response.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I experienced the same thing in Mexico. When I figured out what I wanted to say in Spanish, the listener would think I knew more Spanish than I did.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hope the rest of your trip goes well. When we visited Italy and Switzerland, there were only a handful of times we encountered people who spoke no english. So we didn’t really get to try out anything we had learned. We did use google translate a few times.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I feel I should stick to European countries in the future.
LikeLike
Hopefully it cools down in Japan. I heard Hokkaido has pretty nice autumns.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You should’ve seen my mom’s face when I mentioned I want to visit Hokkaido. I don’t know what her problem is with Hokkaido. It’s a beautiful place. I’ll have to go there in my own one day.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Is it hard to travel there?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I don’t think so. I think the reason is my mom doesn’t see a reason to visit.
LikeLike