I don't speak a word of the language and have never been to Asia.

Useful phrase's: ohayo gozaimasu (pronounced ohio guzaymas) (means Good Morning)
Chotomatte kudasai (means Wait a moment please)
Kudasai (means Please)
Konichiwa (means Hello/ or good afternoon)
Sayonara (means good bye)
Konbanwa (means Good Evening)
Oyasuminasai (means Good Night)
Arigato (Thank You) Arigato Gozaimasu (Thank You *Proper*)
Watashiwa Marsha des (I am Marsha) Female
Bokuwa Kevin des ( I am Kevin) Male
Gomenasai ( I am sorry)
Eigo wa hanasemasuka (English can you speak) (can you speak english)( pronounced A Ego wa hana se mas uka)

Don't tip. They consider it an insult. A lot of Japanese people know a little english. Don't talk stupid to them, just talk slow. You have to try some Gyoza. Don't be afraid to try things. Food, and places to go. Have fun, and learn a little bit of the language. Good luck!!

Try Mitarashi dango.

http://kamekichi.cocolog-nifty.com/sake_to_ryouri/images/mitarasi.jpg

If someone offers you Getimono, politlely decline. (it's basically dare-eating for sport, and is not the same thing as sushi, which is awesome). Unless of course, you like eating things that look at you while you are doing it.

go here: http://www.learn-japanese.info/

Bring me back a souvenir. ^_^

Gifu-shi! A lovely place, Gifu. I'm sure you'll find much that will interest and astonish you.

Advice: especially if you're female, take as many pairs of shoes as you can. Be certain that that are not perfectly new, or you will be charged duty...which is breathtakingly high. Why the focus on shoes...? Because Japanese feet may be as long as ours, but they are VERY much wider; the standard width is EE, as opposed to our M. I swear I am not making this up. I spent a good deal of my time in Japan trying to get shoes to fit me properly.

Good luck to you!