[Sophie]

If I - for some totally weird and crazy reason - had been unable to go to USA, Japan would've been my next choice.
I LOVE their culture and I think their language sounds really great - and their alphabet (i.e. kanas) are so beautiful!

I'm thinking of going for 6 weeks or so after I get back home from USA and have taken my first year of gymnasium (11th class in USA). But my problem is, that I'm unsure if I should go when I don't know any Japanese beforehand.
Of course I know the basic greetings, how to introduce myself (name) and a few basics words (yes, no, thanks, wait, mum, dad etc.) I'm just afraid that I will end up as kind of a loner, since I've heard that Japanese teens are not very skilled in the English language - and with me not knowing any Japanese, that'll mean pretty much zero communication and socializing.
Or what? Do you think I should go for it anyway, even though I don't know the language?

[AyJay]

I think you should, it might be difficult but it would kind of force you to learn and speak the language.
It's true only a very small percent of Japanese people speak English, but I'd still go for it.
And from what my Japanese teacher says, Japanese people are generally alittle more sympathetic to foreigners.