30 Essential Japanese Travel Phrases to Know When Visiting Japan

Are you travelling to Japan but have no grasp of the local language? Worry not! Here are some essential phrases and words to make travel a little easier and break the language barrier. 

First Published: 2020-07-10
Updated: 2024-09-02

Table of Contents

1. Learn Some Japanese to Make Your Travels Easier
2. Basic Greetings and Answering in Japanese 
3. Japanese Travel Phrases #1: Restaurants and Orders
4. Japanese Travel Phrases #2: Shopping 
5. Japanese Travel Phrases #3: Hotel 
6. Japanese Travel Phrases #4: Public Transportation and Directions
7. Japanese Travel Phrases #5: Asking for Help in Japanese

Learn Some Japanese to Make Your Travels Easier

Visiting Japan but can’t speak the local language? Learning a few key phrases can dramatically improve your experience in Japan. Not only will it help you navigate daily interactions more smoothly, but locals will appreciate your effort to speak their language, even if it’s just a little bit.

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Basic Greetings and Answering in Japanese 

Here are some simple Japanese phrases and words to know. These are helpful for making simple greetings, showing politeness, and answering simple questions. 

1. Hello - こんにちは (Konnichiwa)

A standard daytime greeting. 

2. Goodbye - さようなら (Sayonara) 

A common farewell phrase.

3. Good Morning - おはようございます (Ohayou gozaimasu)

A polite way to greet someone in the morning.

4. Good Evening - こんばんは (Konbanwa)

A greeting for evening and nights. 

5. Thank You - ありがとうございます (Arigatou gozaimasu) 

A polite expression of gratitude.

6. Excuse Me / I’m Sorry - すみません (Sumimasen)

An expression to catch someone’s attention or to apologise. For example, say “Sumimasen” when trying to get through a crowd, when trying to catch a waiter’s attention, or when accidentally knocking into someone on the streets. 

7. Yes - はい (Hai) 

A simple word of affirmation.

8. No - いいえ (Iie) 

A simple word of negation.

Japanese Travel Phrases #1: Restaurants and Orders

“Irrashaimase (いらっしゃいませ)” is a common greeting meaning “Welcome!” that you hear when entering restaurants and shops in Japan. 

You may be asked how many people will be dining when you enter with the phrase, “何名様ですか？(Nan mei-sama desuka?)” Use your fingers to indicate how many people, or answer: One (一人, Hitori), Two (二人, Futari), Three (三人, Sannin), Four (四人, Yonnin). 

Below are useful Japanese travel phrases when dining at restaurants and cafes in Japan. 

9. Menu, please. - メニューをお願いします (Menyu- o onegaishimasu)

A phrase used to ask for the menu. 

10. This, please. - これをください (Kore o kudasai)

A phrase used to order an item from the menu. Simply point and say the phrase. Indicate how many you wish to order with: One (一つ, Hitotsu), Two (二つ, Futatsu), Three (三つ, Mittsu), Four (四つ, Yotsu), and so on. Example: “One of this, please.” - これを一つください (Kore o hitotsu kudasai)

You can also use this phrase to order or ask for things - 〇〇をください (〇〇 o kudasai). Example: “Water, please.” - 水をください (Mizu o kudasai)

11. What do you recommend? - おすすめは何ですか？ (Osusume wa nan desu ka?)

When you are not sure what to order, use this phrase to ask the server for their recommendation. 

12. Bill, please. - お会計お願いします (Okaikei onegaishimasu)

Use this phrase when you are ready to pay after finishing your meal at a restaurant. In Japan, there are establishments that bring the bill to your table for payment, while others require you to pay at the register on your way out or when ordering. Keep in mind that tipping is not practised in Japan. 

13. What is this? - これは何ですか？(Kore wa nan desuka?)

Use this phrase to inquire about a dish and what it contains. It is especially useful if you want to avoid food allergens. 

14. Is there 〇〇 in this dish? - 〇〇は入っていますか？(〇〇 wa haitte imasuka?)

Another useful phrase to check what a dish contains and to help avoid food allergens. 

Other Useful Japanese Vocabulary for Restaurants and Ordering

• Water - 水 (Mizu)
• Tea - お茶 (Ocha)
• Coffee - コーヒー (Ko-hi-)
• Sugar - 砂糖 (Satou)
• Milk - ミルク (Miruku)
• Chopsticks - お箸 (Ohashi)
• Spoon - スプーン (Su-pun)
• Fork - フォーク (Fo-ku)
• Knife - ナイフ (Naifu)
• Rice - ごはん (Gohan)
• Bread - パン (Pan)
• Meat - 肉 (Niku) 
• Chicken - 鶏肉 (Toriniku), チキン (Chikin)
• Beef - 牛肉 (Gyuuniku), ビーフ (Bi-fu)
• Pork - 豚肉 (Butaniku), ポーク (Po-ku)
• Vegetable - 野菜 (Yasai)
• Large Serving - 大盛 (Oomori)
• Lesser Serving - 少なめ (Sukuname)
• Small Serving - 小盛 (Komori)

Japanese Travel Phrases #2: Shopping 

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

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

16. 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. 

17. Do you take credit card? - カードは使えますか？” (Kado wa tsukaemasuka?) 

Use this phrase to inquire whether credit card payment is allowed.

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

Use this phrase when wanting a different size. For a bigger size, say “もっと大きいのはありますか? (Motto ookiino wa arimasuka?), which translates to “Do you have a bigger one?” or for a smaller size, say “もっと小さいのはありますか? (Motto chiisaino wa arimasuka?), which translates to “Do you have a smaller one?” 

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

Use this phrase when looking for an item in a different colour. To ask for a specific colour say, “〇〇はありますか？” (〇〇 wa arimasuka?), which means “Do you have this in [colour]?”

Here are the Japanese translations for different colours.

• 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)

Japanese Travel Phrases #3: Hotel 

These are commonly used phrases at hotels and accommodation services in Japan. 

20. Check-in, please. - チェックインをお願いします (Chekkuin o onegaishimasu) 

A standard phrase for checking-in. If you have a reservation, continue to inform them what name your reservation is under with, “[Name] の予約をしています。([Name] no yoyaku o shiteimasu)”. 

21. Do you have [item]? - 〇〇はありますか？ (〇〇 wa arimasuka?)

A useful phrase for asking if a certain item is available at the hotel, for example internet service, a room safe, an ATM machine, an iron, etc. Example: “Do you have WiFi?” - WiFiはありますか？ (WiFi wa arimasuka?)

22. What time is breakfast? - 朝食は何時ですか？ (Choushoku wa nanji desu ka?)

A common question to ask at hotels is what time breakfast is at. 

23. Can you hold my luggage? - 荷物を預かってもらえますか？ (Nimotsu o azukatte moraemasu ka?)

Many hotels and accommodation services in Japan have luggage holding services where you can leave your bags with them before checking-in or after checking-out. Use this phrase to inquire whether the service is being offered. If not, you can still make use of coin locker services around the city. 

Japanese Travel Phrases #4: Public Transportation and Directions

Public transportation options in Japan include trains, subways, buses, and taxis. These phrases may come in handy. 

24. To [destination], please. - 〇〇までお願いします。(〇〇 made onegaishimasu.)

When using a taxi, use this phrase to indicate what your destination is. If you have the address, show it to the driver and say, “ここまでお願いします。 (Koko made onegaishimasu)”, which translates to, “To here, please.”

25. Does this train go to Tokyo? - この電車は東京に行きますか？(Kono densha wa Toukyo ni ikimasu ka?)

Useful phrase for confirming your train route. Switch train (電車, densha) with bus (バス, Basu) to inquire about the bus route, and switch Tokyo to any other destination you are heading towards. 

26. How do I get to [destination]? - 〇〇へはどうやって行きますか？(〇〇 e wa douyatte ikimasuka?)

This phrase will help you ask for directions. Example: “How do I get to the bookstore?” - 本屋へはどうやって行きますか？(Honya e wa dou yatte ikimasu ka?)

27. Where is the [destination]? - 〇〇はどこですか？(〇〇 wa doko desuka?)

Another useful phrase for asking directions. Example: “Where is the toilet?” - トイレはどこですか？(Toire wa doko desuka?)

Other Useful Japanese Vocabulary for Public Transportation and Directions

• Bullet Train - 新幹線 (Shinkansen)
• Subway - 地下鉄 (Chikatetsu)
• Train Line - 〇線 ( - Sen)
• Train Station - 駅 (Eki)
• Bus Stop - バス停 (Basutei)
• Entrance - 入口 (Iriguchi)
• Exit - 出口 (Deguchi)
• Left - 左 (Hidari)
• Right - 右 (Migi)
• Straight - まっすぐ (Massugu)
• Behind - 裏 (Ura)
• Opposite - 向こう (Mukou)
• Ticket - 切符 (Kippu)

Japanese Travel Phrases #5: Asking for Help in Japanese

28. Please help me. - 助けてください (Tasukete kudasai)

A phrase used in urgent situations or emergencies. 

29. Please assist me. - お手伝ってください。(Otetsuddate kudasai)

A more common phrase for requesting help or assistance that are not emergencies. 

30. Excuse me, may I have a moment please? - すみません、ちょっといいですか？(Sumimasen, chotto ii desu ka?)

A polite way to get someone’s attention for assistance in a non-urgent situation. 

To Close

Travelling to a foreign country that practises a foreign language that you are not familiar with may be intimidating but can also be fun. You do not have to completely learn the language but knowing a few useful phrases and words will ease your travel worries.