Go into Japan, just went on a two week vacation there, no regrets.
No Japanese, no problem (as long as you stay in tokyo).
It's an amazing place, clean, friendly... amazing.
Just use your common sense navigating the subway and you'll do fine. Don't be afraid to ask for directions as most of the staff at the information booths speak english.

Don't want to get flamed here but I was way more impressed with the cars than with the bikes (I'm kind of more of a car nerd than a bike nerd even though I commute by bike). I saw bentleys and mercedes and ferraris gallore. Not allot of fixed gears but definately more than here in Saskatchewan.