How to Order Food in Japan- No Language Skills Required!

In the exciting world of international travel, people often express concerns over their ability to order food in foreign languages. Travel guides are stuffed with common food terms to enable rushed, pre-order translation, and often travellers opt for touristy restaurants simply because they offer menus in English.

But what a shame it is to miss out on the world's delicious restaurants! More often than not, the only way travellers can find and order good, off-the-beaten-track food is to travel with a local or guide who can do the ordering for them. This need not necessarily be the case- especially in Japan.

Many Japanese restaurants display plastic replicas of dishes they offer in their front windows.  This is a lovely practice as it allows illiterate foreigners to see what they might actually order- plus that plastic food simply looks cool!

There is another reason why these plastic food displays are wonderful- they allow you to order food with absolutely no language skills.

Even if you are in a completely remote area of Japan and nobody speaks a word of English, you can still order exactly what you want by...

1. Photographing the plastic display meal that you would like to order
2. Showing the waiter or waitress that photo on the screen of your digital camera so try know what you want

I have rarely had to resort to this measure in Japan as so many restaurants have English menus and so many people speak English.  With regard to being a language-less foreigner in Japan, you really have nothing to worry about.  Simply be patient, be polite, and have fun.

That said, it is nice to know you have the ordering-via-food-photography option!  I hope it might be of use to you someday.  Happy ordering!