PhrasePort๐ฏ๐ต Japanese phrases
Japanese Phrases for Travel: 40+ Essentials, Signs and Manners
You can travel in Japan without speaking Japanese. Stations have English signs, and many hotels and big attractions have staff who speak some English. But in small restaurants, local shops and rural towns, a few phrases in Japanese make everything easier, and they are always appreciated. This guide gives you more than forty of them, with audio, grouped by what you will actually be doing.
- HelloใใใซใกใฏKonnichiwaThe daytime hello. Morning and evening have their own greetings.
- Thank youใใใใจใใใใใพใArigatou gozaimasuPolite and safe everywhere.
- Excuse meใใฟใพใใSumimasenGet attention, say sorry or squeeze past someone.
- I'm sorryใใใใชใใGomen nasai
- Do you speak English?่ฑ่ชใ่ฉฑใใพใใEigo o hanasemasu kaAsk after you say "Sumimasen".
- I don't understandใใใใพใใWakarimasen
- I would like......ใใใ ใใ... o kudasaiSay what you want, then "o kudasai".
- The bill, pleaseใไผ่จใใ้กใใใพใOkaikei o onegai shimasu
- Where is the bathroom?ใใคใฌใฏใฉใใงใใToire wa doko desu kaToire is the everyday word for toilet.
- How much does this cost?ใใใฏใใใใงใใKore wa ikura desu kaSay it while pointing at the item.
Each of these has its own guide: hello, ordering food, the bathroom and prices.
Greetings and politeness
Japanese is a polite language, and a few small words show respect. A slight nod as you speak is enough. Read our full guide on how to say hello in Japanese.
- Good morningใใฏใใใใใใพใOhayou gozaimasu
- Good eveningใใใฐใใฏKonbanwa
- Nice to meet youใฏใใใพใใฆHajimemashite
- Pleaseใ้กใใใพใOnegai shimasuUsed when asking for something.
- YesใฏใHai
When you do not understand
Japanese people are often shy about speaking English but will try to help. Say โSumimasenโ first, then one of these.
- Can you speak slowly, please?ใใฃใใ่ฉฑใใฆใใใใพใใYukkuri hanashite moraemasu kaSlows the conversation down for everyone.
- Pardon?ใใไธๅบฆ่จใฃใฆใใใ ใใพใใ๏ผMou ichido itte itadakemasu ka?
- I don't speak the languageๆฅๆฌ่ชใ่ฉฑใใพใใNihongo o hanasemasenMeaning "I do not speak Japanese".
Getting around: trains, taxis and directions
Japanโs trains are on time and a big part of any trip. Most trains stop running around midnight, so check when the last one leaves. You can pay on most trains and buses with a travel IC card such as Suica or Pasmo.
On trains and buses, people keep quiet. Do not talk on your phone, and keep your voice low.
- Where is the train station?้ง ใฏใฉใใงใใEki wa doko desu ka
- One ticket, pleaseๅ็ฌฆใไธๆใใ ใใKippu o ichimai kudasai
- What's the next stop?ๆฌกใฏใฉใใซๆญขใพใใพใใ๏ผTsugi wa doko ni tomarimasu ka?Useful on a local train with a map.
- Do I need to change trains?ไนใๆใใฏๅฟ ่ฆใงใใ๏ผNorikae wa hitsuyou desu ka?
- What time is the last train?ๆ็ต้ป่ปใฏไฝๆใงใใ๏ผSaishuu densha wa nanji desu ka?Important. Trains stop around midnight.
- How do I top up my card?ใซใผใใซใใฃใผใธใใใซใฏใฉใใใใฐใใใงใใ๏ผKaado ni chaaji suru ni wa dou sureba ii desu ka?For a Suica or Pasmo card.
- I would like a taxiใฟใฏใทใผใใ้กใใใพใTakushii o onegai shimasu
- Turn leftๅทฆใซๆฒใใฃใฆใใ ใใHidari ni magatte kudasaiThe words you will hear when someone gives you directions.
- Turn rightๅณใซๆฒใใฃใฆใใ ใใMigi ni magatte kudasaiHidari is left, migi is right.
- Go straightใพใฃใใ่กใฃใฆใใ ใใMassugu itte kudasaiMassugu means straight ahead.
- Can you show me on the map?ๅฐๅณใง่ฆใใฆใใใใพใใChizu de misete moraemasu ka
- I am lost้ใซ่ฟทใใพใใMichi ni mayoimashita
Eating and drinking
Restaurants in Japan have their own habits, from ticket machines to paying at the register. Read the full guide on how to order food in Japanese.
- Do you have a menu in English?่ฑ่ชใฎใกใใฅใผใฏใใใพใใEigo no menyuu wa arimasu ka
- I am vegetarian็งใฏใใธใฟใชใขใณใงใWatashi wa bejitarian desu
- Water, pleaseใๆฐดใใใ ใใOmizu o kudasai
Shopping and money
Prices are fixed, so there is no bargaining. Cash is still very common. Seven Bank ATMs (in 7-Eleven) and Japan Post ATMs are the usual choices for foreign cards, but not every card works, so check with your bank. See how to read prices in our guide to how much is it in Japanese.
- Can I pay by card?ใซใผใใงๆใใพใใKaado de haraemasu ka
- Tax-free procedure, please. Here is my passport.ๅ ็จๆ็ถใใใ้กใใใพใใใในใใผใใงใใMenzei tetsuzuki o onegai shimasu. Pasupooto desu.Japan changed its tourist tax-free system in November 2026. See our price guide.
- Where is the nearest ATM?ไธ็ช่ฟใATMใฏใฉใใงใใIchiban chikai Ee tii emu wa doko desu ka
Hotels
- I have a reservationไบ็ดใใฆใใพใYoyaku shite imasu
- I would like to check inใใงใใฏใคใณใใใใงใChekku in shitai desu
- The Wi-Fi password, pleaseWi-Fiใฎใในใฏใผใใใใ ใใWaifai no pasuwaado o kudasai
- Can I store my luggage after checkout?ใใงใใฏใขใฆใๅพใ่ท็ฉใ้ ใใฃใฆใใใใพใใ๏ผChekkuautogo, nimotsu o azukatte moraemasu ka?Very useful if your flight is later than check-out.
Emergencies
In an emergency, call 110 for the police or 119 for an ambulance or the fire service. Both are free and work across Japan. If you can, say the phrase out loud or show it on your phone.
- Help!ๅฉใใฆ๏ผTasukete!
- This is an emergencyใใใฏ็ทๆฅไบๆ ใงใKore wa kinkyuu jitai desu
- Call the police่ญฆๅฏใๅผใใงใใ ใใKeisatsu o yonde kudasai
- Call an ambulanceๆๆฅ่ปใๅผใใงใใ ใใKyuukyuusha o yonde kudasai
- I need a doctorๅป่ ใๅฟ ่ฆใงใIsha ga hitsuyou desu
- Is there an English-speaking doctor?่ฑ่ชใ่ฉฑใใๅปๅธซใฏใใพใใ๏ผEigo o hanaseru ishi wa imasu ka?Useful at a hospital or clinic.
- My wallet was stolen่ฒกๅธใ็ใพใใพใใSaifu o nusumaremashita
- My passport is lost/stolenใในใใผใใใชใใใพใใPasupooto o nakushimashitaMeans "I lost my passport". If it was stolen, say "Pasupooto o nusumaremashita".
Signs worth recognizing
Big cities have signs in English as well, but smaller places often do not. These are a few characters that will help you everywhere. You will not hear them, so these have no audio. Just learn to spot them.
- ExitๅบๅฃDeguchi
- Entranceๅ ฅๅฃIriguchi
- Station้งEki
- Open for businessๅถๆฅญไธญEigyouchuuA sign on a shop or restaurant door.
- Preparing (closed for now)ๆบๅไธญJunbichuuMeans the restaurant is not open yet. Come back later.
- No smoking็ฆ็ Kinโen
- Men / Women็ท / ๅฅณOtoko / OnnaSee our guide to toilets for more.
Manners that help you fit in
Phrases are only half of it. A few habits will help you more than perfect grammar.
- No tipping. The price you see is the price you pay.
- Shoes off. You take them off at many inns, homes and some restaurants. Look for a step up and a row of slippers.
- Quiet on public transport. No phone calls, and a low voice.
- Carry cash and a bag for your trash. Public bins are rare, so people take their rubbish with them.
- Queue. People line up in an orderly way for trains, shops and lifts.
Where to go next
Questions travelers ask
Do I need to speak Japanese to travel in Japan?
No. Big cities have English signs on trains and in stations, and many hotels and tourist sites have English-speaking staff. But smaller restaurants, shops and towns often do not. A few polite phrases make a real difference, and people appreciate the effort.
What is the single most useful Japanese phrase for a traveler?
The word "Sumimasen". It means excuse me, sorry and thank you, and you can use it to get attention, apologize or squeeze past someone. After that, learn "Arigatou gozaimasu" (thank you) and "Kore o kudasai" (This one, please).
How do I call for help in Japan?
The emergency number for the police is 110, and for an ambulance or the fire service it is 119. Both are free and work across Japan. You can say "Tasukete!" (Help!) to people nearby, and "Kyuukyuusha o yonde kudasai" (Please call an ambulance).
Is it rude to speak English in Japan?
No. Many Japanese people understand written English better than spoken English, so they may be shy but will try to help. Starting with "Sumimasen" and a smile, and then asking "Eigo o hanasemasu ka?" (Do you speak English?), is polite.
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