Living in Osaka Without Speaking Japanese: Everyday Survival Tips for Foreign Residents

Moving to Osaka is an exciting experience, but for many foreigners there is one concern that comes up before almost anything else: “Can I actually live in Japan if I don’t speak Japanese?”

The short answer is yes. While learning some Japanese will definitely make life easier and more enjoyable, it is entirely possible to settle into Osaka with limited Japanese, especially if you prepare yourself with a few useful tools and habits.

Your Smartphone Will Be Your Best Friend

Translation apps have made living in Japan much easier for international residents. Google Translate and similar apps can translate signs, menus and documents using your phone's camera. They can also help you communicate when visiting a shop, restaurant, post office or other service.

It is still worth learning a few basic phrases such as sumimasen (excuse me), arigatou gozaimasu (thank you), and onegaishimasu (please). Even a small effort to speak Japanese is usually appreciated.

Don't Be Afraid of Japanese Supermarkets

Your first trip to a Japanese supermarket can be confusing. Labels may be entirely in Japanese, package sizes may be different from what you're accustomed to, and figuring out exactly what you're buying isn't always obvious.

Give yourself some time. Camera translation is extremely helpful, and after a few visits you'll quickly learn where everything is.

One bonus of living in Osaka is the enormous selection of supermarkets, convenience stores and specialty shops. You may even discover that grocery shopping becomes one of the more interesting parts of living in Japan.

Restaurants Are Easier Than You Think

Osaka is famous for food, so don't let the language barrier stop you from exploring.

Many restaurants have menus with photographs, ticket vending machines, tablets or English-language options. Pointing at a menu item is also completely normal when communication gets difficult.

Smaller neighborhood restaurants can sometimes be the most rewarding. You may not understand everything being said, but good food and friendly service can bridge a surprisingly large language gap.

Trains Become Surprisingly Simple

Osaka's railway and subway network can look overwhelming when you first arrive. Within a few weeks, however, you'll probably wonder how you ever worried about it.

Major stations generally have English signage, and smartphone navigation makes finding the correct train and platform much easier. An ICOCA card also makes everyday travel convenient because you can simply tap in and out rather than buying individual tickets for every journey.

Don't Worry About Making Mistakes

One of the biggest lessons for foreigners living in Japan is that you don't have to understand everything immediately.

You will occasionally get on the wrong train, misunderstand a notice, buy the wrong product or have an awkward conversation. That's part of living abroad.

Osaka can be a particularly comfortable place to overcome that initial nervousness. People are often approachable and willing to help, even when neither person speaks the other's language very well.

Make Osaka Feel Like Home

The best way to adjust is simply to get out and experience your neighborhood. Find your local supermarket, coffee shop, park, train station and favorite restaurant. Learn a little Japanese at a time and don't worry about being perfect.

Before long, the unfamiliar things begin to feel normal — and Osaka starts feeling less like a foreign city and more like home.

At Apollo Properties Osaka, we have been helping international residents find comfortable furnished accommodation in Osaka for many years. Whether you're coming to Japan for work, study or a new adventure, having a foreigner-friendly place to live can make those first few months considerably easier.