🌸 Spring is just around the corner, bringing one of the best times to visit Japan! With cherry blossoms in full bloom and pleasant weather perfect for exploring, many travelers are gearing up for their Japan adventure. While English is spoken in some places, knowing a few key Japanese phrases can make your trip much smoother.
This guide covers the essential Japanese phrases for ordering food, asking for directions, making purchases, and more—complete with pronunciation guides!
Want to capture your Japan memories with a professional photographer? Check out our guided photography tours in Kyoto!
🗣️ Single Words for Quick Communication
Pro tip: Practice saying these words and phrases QUICKLY for the most authentic sounding accent. Speaking each syllable slowly is a sure fire way to confuse whoever you’re talking to (English is the same way! Enunciating TOO much and too slowly can be really strange).
If you forget full sentences, these key words can still help you get by!
- Yes – Hai (はい) – hai
- No – Iie (いいえ) – ee-eh
- Please – Onegaishimasu (お願いします) – oh-neh-gai-shee-mahs
- Thank you – Arigatou gozaimasu (ありがとうございます) – ah-ree-gah-toh goh-zai-mah-soo *You can shorten this to simply “arigatou” for something more casual or easier to say
- Excuse me / Sorry – Sumimasen (すみません) – soo-mee-mah-sen
- (To be) okay – Daijoubu (大丈夫) – dai-joh-boo
- Water – Mizu (水) – mee-zoo
- Bathroom – Toire (トイレ) – toh-ee-reh
- Train station – Eki (駅) – eh-kee
- Hotel – Hoteru (ホテル) – hoh-teh-roo
- Entrance – Iriguchi (入口) – ee-ree-goo-chee
- Exit – Deguchi (出口) – deh-goo-chee
- Taxi – Takushii (タクシー) – tah-koo-shee
- Delicious – Oishii (美味しい) – oh-ee-shee
- Help! – Tasukete! (助けて！) – tah-soo-keh-teh!
🍣 Ordering at a Restaurant
- Excuse me (to get attention)
➜ Sumimasen (すみません) – soo-mee-mah-sen - I would like [dish].
➜ [Dish] o kudasai (～をください) – [dish] oh koo-dah-sai - Do you have an English menu?
➜ Eigo no menyuu wa arimasu ka? (英語のメニューはありますか？) – ay-go no men-yuu wah ah-ree-mah-soo kah? - Check, please.
➜ Okaikei onegaishimasu. (お会計お願いします) – oh-kai-kay oh-neh-gai-shee-mahs
🚶 Asking for Directions
- Where is [place]?
➜ [Place] wa doko desu ka? (～はどこですか？) – [place] wah doh-koh dess kah? - How do I get to [place]?
➜ [Place] e wa dou ikeba ii desu ka? (～へはどう行けばいいですか？) – [place] eh wah doh oo ee-keh-bah ee dess kah? - Is it near?
➜ Chikai desu ka? (近いですか？) – chee-kai dess kah? - Is there a train station nearby?
➜ Chikaku ni eki wa arimasu ka? (近くに駅はありますか？) – chee-kah-koo nee eh-kee wah ah-ree-mah-soo kah?
🏬 Shopping and Making Purchases
- How much is this?
➜ Kore wa ikura desu ka? (これはいくらですか？) – koh-reh wah ee-koo-rah dess kah? - Do you accept credit cards?
➜ Kurejitto kaado wa tsukaemasu ka? (クレジットカードは使えますか？) – koo-reh-jit-toh kah-doh wah tsu-kah-eh-mah-soo kah? - Can I try this on? (for clothes)
➜ Shichaku dekimasu ka? (試着できますか？) – shee-chah-koo deh-kee-mah-soo kah? - I’ll take this one.
➜ Kore o kudasai. (これをください) – koh-reh oh koo-dah-sai
🆘 Asking for Help
- Help!
➜ Tasukete! (助けて！) – tah-soo-keh-teh! - I don’t understand.
➜ Wakarimasen. (分かりません) – wah-kah-ree-mah-sen - Do you speak English?
➜ Eigo o hanasemasu ka? (英語を話せますか？) – ay-go oh hah-nah-seh-mah-soo kah? - Call the police!
➜ Keisatsu o yonde kudasai! (警察を呼んでください！) – kay-sah-tsu oh yohn-deh koo-dah-sai!
🏨 Hotel Check-in
- I have a reservation.
➜ Yoyaku shiteimasu. (予約しています) – yoh-yah-koo sh-teh-ee-mah-soo - What time is check-out?
➜ Chekkuauto wa nanji desu ka? (チェックアウトは何時ですか？) – chek-koo-ah-oo-toh wah nahn-jee dess kah? - Can I leave my luggage here?
➜ Koko ni nimotsu o azukemasu ka? (ここに荷物を預けますか？) – koh-koh nee nee-mo-tsu oh ah-zoo-keh-mah-soo kah?
✨ Final Tips
✔️ Bowing is a common way to show respect in Japan. A slight bow when thanking someone is appreciated.
✔️ Japanese people often speak politely. Adding “onegaishimasu” (お願いします) makes requests sound more polite.
✔️ If you’re lost, showing an address on your phone can be more effective than trying to pronounce it.
By learning these essential phrases, you’ll navigate Japan with more confidence and enjoy a stress-free travel experience!
📸 Want more travel tips and stunning Japan content? Subscribe to our PiQtour Japan YouTube page!
🔍 Relevant Keyphrases
Basic Japanese phrases for travelers, Japanese survival phrases, how to order food in Japan, asking for directions in Japanese, essential Japanese travel phrases, Japanese shopping phrases, Japanese emergency phrases, Japan tourist language guide
