This is tough (if not impossible) to get used to their alphabet for short trip needs! Though a few signs are extremely useful when traveling in Japan and they are not too difficult to memorize.

Japanese	Translation	Note
	Airport
	Bar
	Closed	Easy to remember: it looks like a door with closed curtains in the middle
	Open	Easy to remember: it looks like a door with opened curtains in the middle
	Entrance
	Exit
	Hospital
	Hotel
	Men	Easy to differentiate with female because it is bulky and square instead of elegant
	Women	Easy to differentiate with men because it is elegant instead of bulky and square
	Restaurant
	Taxi
	Train Station
	Vacant / Free