[hide][/hide]If (you can't read a menu card){
if the photo of the stuff is on the menu card, you can point at it.
If there is no photo on the menu card you maybe be annoyed. If the restaurant you visited have well-trained waiters, they will be help your choice with pleasure. Many restaurants have well-trained waiters and some doesn't have them.
}

If you visit some hotel restaurant or classy restaurant, the restaurant maybe have a English menu.

Many restaurants have a menu card with photo, some doesn't have it.

What foods do you want to eat?
Milaneze doria(Saizeriya /299 yen)?
Gyunabe-don(Yoshinoya /280 yen)?
Mcdonalds 100 yen hamburger?
Various kinds of rice balls(a convenience store /100~~200 yen)?
Various kinds of ramen?
Tempra?

If you want to eat low price food of Japan, you had better search about good restaurants before visit Japan.
If you want to eat classy food, the staff of the classy restaurant will help you.

Important thing in the end, most Japanese can't speak English. Sometimes you can make conversation by means of writing in English,if you have a note and a pen.

About exploring parts in the city.
Tourist spot...No problem. Walk where you want in comfort and no one will be surprised.
A shopping street...I think you will walk in comfort,too. It is not strange that travelers walk shopping streets in Tokyo.
Residential area near a railway station or a highway...I think you will not be annoyed by curious eyes.
Quiet residential area in a suburb...Sometimes I,Japanese get all the eyes on me in quiet residential area. Foreigner will get so,too.
Tokyo is a international metropolitan. I think your travel in Tokyo will be in comfort. I hope so.