If you just want to learn a phrase or two, you can probably get by with romanji. You're missing out though - it's really handy to be able to read hirigana and katakana in Japan, even with a small vocabulary. (Restaurant signs & menus for example)
If you're serious about learning Japanese, I found it really helpful to learn hirigana and katakana right off the bat. Pronunciation is much easier. You'll be thinking in Japanese syllables instead of trying to shut off the part of your brain that's been reading English for decades.
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