26 Useful Japanese Shopping Phrases When Going “Kaimono”

When shopping in Japan, knowing a few essential phrases can make a huge difference in your experience. Whether you're browsing the aisles of a bustling department store, searching for a unique item in a local boutique, or navigating payment at the cashier, having the right words at your disposal will help you communicate effectively and confidently. 

Table of Contents

1. What is “Kaimono”? 
2. Where to Go Shopping in Japan
3. Japanese Shopping Phrases #1: Finding an Item
4. Japanese Shopping Phrases #2: Trying-on an Item
5. Japanese Shopping Phrases #3: Cashier and Payment
6. Japanese Shopping Phrases #4: Returns

What is “Kaimono”? 

買い物 (Kaimono) means “shopping” or “purchased goods” in Japanese. It is derived from the verb 買う (Kau) meaning “to buy” and the noun 物 (Mono) meaning “thing”. Another word you may have heard is ショッピング (Shoppingu), which is a loanword from English and a casual expression.

• 「週末に買い物をします。」
  Shuumatsu ni kaimono wo shimasu..
  - I am going shopping this weekend..

• 「お母さんは買い物に行きました。」
  Okaasan wa kaimono ni ikimashita.
  - Mom went shopping.

• 「私は買い物が好きです。」
  Watashi wa kaimono ga suki desu.
  - I like shopping. 

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Where to Go Shopping in Japan

There are many shopping options in Japan, whether it is for groceries and daily necessities, or fun shopping for clothes and gifts. Knowing the type of store can help you better understand where to go based on your shopping needs.

• デパート (Depa-to) or 百貨店 (Hyakkaten) - Department Store
• 駅ビル (Eki Biru) or ターミナルビル (Ta-minaru Biru) - Department-store-like buildings attached to train stations
• アウトレットモール (Autoretto Mo-ru) - Outlet Mall or Factory Outlet Mall
• ショッピングモール (Shoppingu Mo-ru) - Shopping Mall
• 家電量販店 (Kadenryohanten) - Home Appliance Store
• 道の駅 (Michi no Eki) - Roadside Stops selling local specialties and souvenirs
• 商店街 (Shoutengai) - Shopping Street
• スーパーマーケット (Su-pa- Ma-ketto) or スーパー(Su-pa-) - Supermarket
• ドラッグストア (Doraggu Sutoa) - Drugstore
• コンビニエンスストア (Konbiniensu Sutoa) or コンビニ (Konbini) - Convenience Store
• 100均 (Hyakkin) - 100 Yen Shop
• 雑貨屋 (Zakkaya) or ライフスタイルショップ (Raifu Sutairu Shoppu) - Generals Goods or Lifestyle Store

For more information about what type of goods and services can be found at each of these shopping facilities, check out these articles:

• Shopping in Japan: Where to Go and Tokyo Recommendations
• Grocery Shopping in Japan, Visiting the Different Stores in Japan for Daily Necessities Shopping

Japanese Shopping Phrases #1: Finding an Item

These phrases will help you locate items while browsing stores or asking staff for assistance.

1. I am looking for (item). - ▲を探しています。(▲ wo sagashite imasu.)

Use this phrase to ask a shop attendant for help in finding a particular item. 

2. May I help you? / Are you looking for something? - 何かお探しですか? (Nani ka osagashi desuka?)

A shop attendant may take the initiative and offer to help you find something. You can answer with, “Do you have (item)? - ▲はありますか？(▲ wa arimasuka?)” Or if you have a photo of the item, you can show it to the shop attendant and say…

3. Where can I find this? - これはどこにありますか？ (Kore wa doko ni arimasu ka?)

The easiest way to find a specific item is showing a photo of the item to the shop attendant. 

4. I will show you the way. - ご案内いたします。(Goannai itashimasu.)

This phrase is used by shop attendants as they lead you to your desired item. If the shop attendant needs to check their system for stock availability, they may say “Please wait while I check. - 少々お待ちください。確認します。(Shoushou omachi kudasai. Kakunin shimasu.)”.

5. Sorry but this item is sold out. - 申し訳ございませんが、この商品は売り切れてしまいました。(Moushiwake gozaimasen ga, kono shouhin wa urikirete shimaimashita.)

Unfortunately, if you hear this phrase, that means the item you are looking for is sold out. 

6. Are there other colours? - 違う色はありますか？(Chigau iro wa arimasu ka?)

Looking for a specific colour? Just replace “Chigau iro” with the colour you are looking for. Here are some examples of colours in Japanese:

• White - 白 (Shiro)
• Black - 黒 (Kuro)
• Red - 赤 (Aka)
• Blue - 青 (Ao)
• Green - 緑 (Midori)
• Yellow - 黄色 (Kiiro)
• Orange - オレンジ (Orenji)
• Pink - ピンク (Pinku)
• Purple - 紫 (Murasaki)
• Brown - 茶色 (Chaiiro)

7. Are there other sizes? - 違うサイズはありますか？(Chigau saizu wa arimasu ka?)

Use this phrase to ask if other sizes are available. If you know your size, replace “Chigau” with the size you are looking for - X, XL, M, S. 

8. How much is it? - いくらですか？ (Ikura desu ka?)

Important phrase to know for asking the price of an item. 

Japanese Shopping Phrases #2: Trying-on Clothes

Trying-on is important when clothes and shoes shopping to get a good fit. 

9. Can I try it on? - 試着できますか？(Shichaku dekimasuka?)

When shopping for clothes, use this phrase to inquire whether trying on is allowed. In some cases, such as pop-up shops and closing down sales, the shop may now allow try-ons but these are rare cases.

10. Where is the fitting room? - 試着室はどこですか？ (Shichakushitsu wa doko desuka?)

Can’t find the fitting room? Use this phrase to inquire. 

11. I would like to try this on. - これを試してみたいです。 (Kore o tameshite mitai desu.)

An alternative phrase to ask for try-ons.

12. How many clothes are you trying? - ご試着は何点ですか？(Goshichaku wa nan ten desuka?)

A typical phrase asked when using the fitting room. Most fitting rooms limit the amount of clothes per fitting, so attendants will inquire about how many you are trying on. Use your fingers to indicate how many you are trying on, or reply with “▲点です。(▲ ten desu.)” ▲ for the number of items you are trying. 

13. Please use a face cover. - フェイスカバーのご利用をお願いいたします。(Feisu Kaba- no goriyou wo onegai itashimasu.)

In many clothing stores in Japan, it is common to be asked to wear a face cover when trying on clothes, especially tops, to keep makeup from transferring onto the garments.

14. Do you have a larger size? - もう少し大きいサイズはありますか？ (Mou sukoshi ookii saizu wa arimasu ka?)

Need a bigger or smaller size? You can ask the fitting room’s attendant to bring it to you. 

15. Do you have a smaller size? - もう少し小さいサイズはありますか？ (Mou sukoshi chiisai saizu wa arimasu ka?)

This phrase is for requesting a smaller size. 

Japanese Shopping Phrases #3: Cashier and Payment

Once you've decided on your purchase, these phrases will help you complete the transaction at the cashier.

16. I’ll take this. - これにします。(Kore ni shimasu.)

Whether you are leaving the fitting room or selecting something over the counter, use this phrase to let the shop attendant know you have made your decision to buy. 

17. There is a charge for bags, will you be using one? - 袋は有料ですが、ご利用になりますか？(Fukuro wa yuuryou desuga, goriyou ni narimasu ka?)

Many shops charge a fee for bags these days, this is a typical phrase heard at the cashier when they are bagging a purchase for you. 

18. May I hand it over as it is? - このままのお渡しでよろしいでしょうか？(Kono mama no owatashi de yoroshii deshou ka?)

If you say “It’s alright. - 大丈夫です。(Daijobu desu.)” to decline a bag, shop attendants will usually follow up with this phrase. Just answer with “はい (Hai)” and receive your purchase.

19. Is this for self-use? - ご自宅用ですか？(Gojitakuyou desu ka?)

This question is indirectly asking whether you would like your purchase gift-wrapped. If you say “Yes. - はい (Hai)”, then they will just bag it up for you to take home. If you say “It is a present. - プレゼントです。(Purezento desu.)”, then you will be offered a selection of gift-wrap options (free or paid). 

20. Can I have this gift-wrapped? - プレゼント用にしてもらえますか？(Purezentoyouo ni shite morae masu ka?)

Or, you could simply straight up ask for it to be gift wrapped. 

21. How would you like to pay? - お支払い方法はどうされますか？(Oshiharai houhou wa dou sare masu ka?)

Answer with “▲です。(▲ desu.)” ▲ indicating your preference.

Payment options in Japan may include:

• 現金 (Genkin) - Cash
• クレジットカード (Kurejitto Ka-do) - Credit Card
• デビットカード (Debitto Ka-do) - Debit Card
• 電子マネー (Denshi Mane-) - Digital Money 
• ポイント (Pointo) - Points
• PayPay 
• Suica, PASMO, etc. - IC transportation cards 

Japanese Shopping Phrases #4: Returns

In case you need to return or exchange an item, these phrases will come in handy. 

22. Can I return this? - 返品できますか？(Henpin dekimasu ka?)

If for some reason you need to return an item, use this phrase. 

23. Can I get a refund? - 返金してもらえますか？ (Henkin shite moraemasu ka?)

An alternative phrase to the above.

24. Can I exchange this? - 交換できますか？(Koukan dekimasu ka?)

If you want to exchange an item, perhaps because the size is wrong or it is damaged, use this phrase. 

25. I have the receipt. - レシートを持っています。(Reshi-to wo motte imasu.)

A receipt is required as proof of purchase when returning or exchanging items. Refunds and return policies are usually written on the receipt. 

26. What’s wrong? - どうされましたか？(Dou sare mashita ka?)

You will probably be asked the reason for returning or exchanging the item, here are some example answers:

• It is dirty. - 汚れが付いています。(Yogore ga tsuite imasu.)
• The size is not right. - サイズが合わないです。(Saizu ga awanai desu.)
• It is different from what I imagined. - イメージと違います。(Ime-ji to chigaimasu.)
• I received the wrong item. - 違う商品をもらいました。(Chigau shouhin wo moraimashita.)

Whether your reason is accepted and the exchange/refund processed depends on the store’s policy. 

To Close

These essential shopping phrases will help you navigate Japan’s stores with ease, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable shopping experience! Also, check out our essential travel phrases, essential restaurant phrases and essential hotel stay phrases articles.