I want to say that I am visiting a place (= Japan) for the first time.

The sentences that I am thinking of are:

  1. これは私に日本中を始まるです。
  2. 私が日本を始まるです。

Which one sounds more correct? I am only one year into Japanese but I'm trying
to learn as much as possible.
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2015-11-19T14:54:36.827
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2016-02-07T13:53:34.310
2016-02-07T13:53:34.310
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grammar word-choice
Saying it's my first time in (a place)
Unfortunately, neither of those is correct, but you're on the right track.
What you're looking for is [初]{はじ}めて instead of 始まる.

>   * 日本（に・は・には）初めてです.
>
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2015-11-19T16:57:29.057
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2015-11-20T17:20:06.663
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answer
I think you can say...

[日本]{にほん}は[初]{はじ}めてです。  
(Lit. As for Japan, this is (my) first time.)

OR

日本には初めて[来]{き}ました。  
(Lit. To Japan, I came for the first time.)

OR

日本に[来]{く}るのは(これが)初めてです。  
日本に[来]{き}たのは(これが)初めてです。  
(This is the first time I've been in Japan.)
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2015-11-20T06:38:55.653
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2015-11-20T07:26:53.537
2015-11-20T07:26:53.537
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