tbh i like barely know jp i only took one class in college and can really only understand it at a toddler level (being on twitter helped a bit)......i dont think u need to know it as most places have signage in multiple languages (like en/kr/cn) esp if ur going in touristy areas o_O google translate is ur best friend and most of the times i was too nervous to talk so i just point LOL as for scheduling like i did discuss with my friend about the trip at least a year in advance but we didnt book tickets until like 6 months before and i think hotel was 2 months in advance and anything that needed a reservation was between 1 month-1 week it really depended on the popularity of the attraction tho so i had to research those.....in terms of like general prep i dont think i did much except be hella frugal in the months before the trip fkw0rk30wkr