European Citizen in Japan, how to apply?

Hello, I am doing a Working Holidays here in Japan until mid January and I would like to go to China for a couple of days. I'm a French citizen, I don't speak Chinese and my Japanese is far from perfect, I'm looking on internet to have more information and I don't know how I could apply. Some people are saying that I can't go to the Embassy and I have to go at a private travel company, others say I couldn't but now I can, or that the process is even easy... So how is the situation right now? Is it possible to communicate, even a little bit, in English? Would it be impossible for me to apply as I'm not in my country or it's not a problem? I'm a little bit confused.. Thank you for your help!