Translation App for Getting Around

Hi! I’m planning on coming to Japan as an English teacher and wondering if some expats can give me advice on getting around. It’s been awhile since my last Japanese course but I do want to learn as much as I can while I’m there. What advice can you give me on getting around? What apps do you use when you need something translated real quick? Do I need to worry about any of them getting me in trouble with politeness or subtext?

DeepL is about as good as it gets… and it is far from perfect. You don’t need to worry about politeness since anyone who sees you relying on a translation app will understand that mistakes cannot be avoided.

Honestly I recommend just knuckling down and working on your own Japanese instead. A solid foundation of basic grammar, a few thousand words, and the ability to use a dictionary (which is far superior to a translation app) can take you very, very far.