[Gaberdeen]

First off, 16 and 17 is very young to go galavanting off to a country you have never been before.

Secondly, Japanese people don't generally speak english all that well - so unless your fluent in nihongo - I can pretty much support your parents rationale for refusing to let you go on your own.

Thirdly, I admire your tenacity and apparent passion for wanting to visit Japan. I wish i'd done it as a teeneger years before I first went but the reality is I wasn't ready for it until I was secure in both my finances & in my career. Unless your a millionaire heir/ess - I'd consider what i want to do with my life before spending a fortune on a spontaneous visit to Japan.

What is your hurry? Japan will still be there in a few years time.