Learn some basic Japanese people. You can type it in Romanji.

I can see how it is annoying with the language barrier but when I first moved to Japan I didn't speak any at all and I got by...mostly through pointing, saying what little (horrible) Japanese I knew, and being patient.

Also, many Japanese (Mainlanders) speak decent English, but are too shy/embarrassed to try talking to you. Be nice or paticent and you will be surprised. It's not like you need to have a long complicated conversation.