Frequently Asked Questions
We have listed FAQs on this page that are hopefully helpful to you. If you have any other questions, please feel free to contact us!
Reservation Etiquette
Q. HOW FAR IN ADVANCE SHOULD I MAKE A DINNER/HOTEL RESERVATION?
A. Please seek assistance as soon as possible. For example, Japan has different holidays from yours. Sometimes the hotel you are planning to stay might be fully booked even if you ask us to book a room a month in advance. Please make sure you have at least 72 hours prior to your possible hotel stay / 24 hours for a dinner reservation.
Q. I TOTALLY FORGOT TO MAKE A DINNER RESERVATION FOR TONIGHT. CAN YOU STILL HELP ME WITH THIS?
A. If it is within our business hours and we are available, we will do our best to serve you quickly. However, please understand there is a chance either that the restaurant is fully booked or that we are unable to fulfill your request due to the short-fuse request.
Q. MY SON IS SICK TODAY AND I CANNOT MAKE IT TO MY HAIR SALON APPOINTMENT. WHAT SHOULD I DO?
A. Please always remember to call us at 080-4277-2016 or message us via email or Facebook. If we made your appointment with the salon, we cancel/reschedule it for free. It is very important to respect a Japanese custom to always call when you have to cancel. Please do not be a "no-show." Explore Translation would like to make sure local businesses have ZERO no-show from our clients because it is about faith and trust between us.
Specialized Requests
Q. I AM LOOKING FOR A SPECIFIC SERVICE IN TOWN. DO YOU CHARGE FOR LOOKING IT UP FOR US?
A. Yes, we do. We charge $5 for every 15 minutes we spend doing research for you. (Regular request)
Q. WE WANT TO HAVE A BANQUET DINNER FOR OUR SPORT TEAM OUT IN TOWN. WHICH BANQUET HALL SUITS OUR NEEDS BEST?
A. This type of unique request may take a couple of days to do research. The cost starts at $20 depending on how much research is required.
Q. WE WANT TO BUY A CAR AT A LOCAL CAR DEALERSHIP, BUT THEY DO NOT SPEAK ENGLISH. CAN WE USE EXPLORE TRANSLATION TO MAKE THE TITLE CHANGE/CAR REGISTRATION PROCESS SMOOTH AND EASY?
A. Of course! Let us talk to the store and help you make the process smoother and easier when it comes to changing the title and registering your car on base. Please make a phone call appointment with us first if possible. Check our price for a phone call interpretation service here.
Childcare
Q. I'M NEW TO THE AREA. HOW DO I GET MY CHILD SIGNED UP FOR A JAPANESE DAYCARE?
A. You usually have to register your child at your local city hall first.
Q. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HOIKUEN AND YOCHIEN?
A hoikuen is a daycare where teachers watch kids for their parents because both parents work. They play with toys, sing songs, and draw or do some easy arts & crafts. Your children usually have to be 6 months or older to be eligible. They are usually open Monday-Saturday and serve a nutritional school lunch every day.
Yochien is more of a place where kids go to learn music classes, language and how to draw, we would call it more educational. Both parents do not need to work to be eligible for yochien services. The minimum age is 3 years old to attend. Lunches may not be provided on certain days of the week, but this is conditional based on the Yochien provider you go to. Many yochien providers have school buses as well, and most children return home between 2:00 and 3:00 in the afternoon.
Q. MY CHILD'S YOCHIEN PROVIDES REPORTS ABOUT OUR CHILD, BUT IT'S ALL IN JAPANESE. DOES EXPLORE TRANSLATION COVER THIS?
A. Yes! In fact, upon after translating any correspondence from the yochien/hoikuen, we can help provide a response that you want to dictate as well. Please see our pricing list here.
Translator Team Members
Q. HOW WILL I KNOW WHICH TRANSLATOR IS THE BEST FIT FOR ME?
A. We offer a brief biography on our translator team here. Still undecided? We will review your request and based on your needs, Explore Translation can use our experienced judgement to place you with the best translator.
Q. A SPECIFIC TRANSLATOR HELPED ME, AND MY EXPERIENCE WAS SO GOOD/BAD THAT I EITHER WANT TO STICK WITH THEM OR CHANGE UPON REQUEST. CAN I CONTACT MY TRANSLATOR DIRECTLY?
A. Unfortunately, to protect our translators' privacy, we ask all inquiries go through the Explore Translation site first. If no specific recommendation is made on the translator, our executive team will appoint a translator based upon the skillset necessary or availability of translators.
On-site requests
Q. WHEN WOULD YOU RECOMMEND TO HAVE A TRANSLATOR ON-SITE?
A. Whenever you want to feel comfortable/confident, you can have us be there with you, but from our experience, you would want us to accompany to your doctor's appointments (including your initial appointment(s) for laser hair removal at a dermatology clinic), a yochien tour or parent-teacher conference, etc.