Are you looking forward to your long-awaited trip to Japan? Unfortunately, excitement comes with a bit of tension, too. You may be concerned about the inconveniences that may arise as a result of language differences. Don’t worry because we got you! The basic Japanese phrases for travelers that we will cover below will help you enjoy your trip to Japan stress-free.
Let’s look at some basic terms that will help you navigate Japan and overcome any challenges you may encounter as a tourist. Are you interested? 始めましょう！
Basic Japanese Phrases For Travelers
In every interaction, a greeting is a sign of courtesy and respect. Japanese people appreciate the efforts of foreigners to communicate in their language. So, when you take the time to greet the locals in Japanese, you can open the door to their hearts that might otherwise remain closed.
| Japanese | Romaji | English | Sound |
| おはようございます | Ohayō gozaimasu | Good morning | |
| こんにちは | Kon’nichiwa | Hello | |
| こんばんは | Konbanwa | Good evening | |
| ありがとうございます | Arigatō gozaimasu | Thank you | |
| すみません | Sumimasen | Excuse me | |
| お願いします | Onegaishimasu | Please | |
| 大丈夫です | Daijōbudesu | It’s fine/ok | |
| さようなら | Sayōnara | Goodbye | |
Key Japanese Phrases And Vocabulary For The Airport
日本へようこそ！ (Welcome to Japan). If you arrive in a big city like Tokyo, it is almost certain that the signs will be translated into English, but what if they are not? You need to know what your next steps are going to be. Are you staying in the city? or do you have to take another flight? Are you going to pick up your bags? Perhaps you need to change money.
Let’s check out some words and phrases you might need to navigate and successfully exit a Japanese airport.
| Japanese | Romaji | English | Sound |
| 空港 | Kūkō | Airport | |
| 手伝って頂けますか？ | Tetsudatte itadakemasu ka? | Can you help me? | |
| すみません、 質問があります。 | Sumimasen; shitsumon ga arimasu. | Excuse me; I have a question. | |
| 少し時間はありますか？ | Sukoshi jikan wa arimasu ka? | Do you have some time? | |
| 出かける/出かける | Dekakeru/ dekakeru | Go out / go out | |
| 到着 | Tōchaku | Arrival | |
| 搭乗時間 | Tōjō jikan | Boarding time | |
| 出発時間 | Shuppatsu jikan | Departure time | |
| 到着時刻 | Tōchaku jikoku | Arrival time | |
| チケット | Chiketto | Ticket | |
| 搭乗券 | Tōjō-ken | Boarding pass | |
| パスポート | Pasupōto | Passport | |
| スーツケース | Sūtsukēsu | Suitcase | |
| 機内持ち込み手荷物 | Kinai mochikomi tenimotsu | Carry-on baggage | |
| 受託手荷物 | Jutaku tenimotsu | Checked baggage | |
| 両替所 | Ryougaejo | Currency exchange | |
| 税関 | Zeikan | Customs | |
| 総合案内所 | Desksougou annaijo | Information desk | |
Japanese Phrases To Ask For Directions
やった! (Yay!) You are already out of the airport. Now you need to know how you will get to your destination. If this is your first time in Japan, you may find the transportation system confusing. So it would be helpful to ask Japanese people how to get to X place. Now we will look at some essential phrases for asking directions in Japanese.
| Japanese | Romaji | English | Sound |
| すみません、英語は話せますか？ | Sumimasen, eigo wa hanasemasu ka? | Excuse me, do you speak English? | |
| 道に迷いました。 | Michinimayoimashita. | I’m lost. | |
| 駅はどこですか？ | Eki wa Doko desu ka? | Where is the train station? | |
| もう一度お願いできますか？ | Mōichido onegai dekimasu ka? | Could you repeat that please? | |
| _____にどうやって行けばいいですか？ | _____ ni dou yatte ikeba īdesu ka? | How can I get to _____? | |
| タクシーはどこで乗れますか? | Takushī wa doko de noremasu ka? | Where can we get a taxi? | |
| もっとゆっくり話してもらえますか？ | Motto yukkuri hanashite moraemasu ka? | Could you please speak more slowly? | |
| まっすぐ進みます | Massugu susumimasu | Go straight | |
| 右/左に曲がります | Migi/ hidari ni magarimasu | Turn right/left | |
| 前に | Mae ni | In front | |
| の隣に | No tonari ni | Next to | |
Ordering Food In Japanese
What is a trip without food? And if you are in Japan, chances are you want to enjoy as many Japanese delicacies as possible. In a previous article, we covered all the details you need to know about ordering food in Japanese. So this time, we’ll look at a simple formula that will get you all you need in a Japanese restaurant.
(Dish/drink + quantity + please)
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
| ________を_____お願いします。 | _______ wo _____onegaishimasu | Can I have one _________, please? |
| スープを三つお願いします。 | Sūpu wo mittsu onegaishimasu. | I would like three soups, please. |
| ハイボールを二つとオレンジジュース一つお願いします。 | Haibōru wo futatsu to orenjijūsu hitotsu onegaishimasu. | I’d like two highballs and orange juice, please. |
| パエリヤを一つお願いします。 | Paeriya wo hitotsu onegaishimasu. | A paella, please. |
| すみません、お会計をお願いします。 | Sumimasen, o kaikei wo onegaishimasu. | Excuse me! The check, please. |
| ごちそうさまでした。 | Gochisousama deshita. | Thanks for the meal. |
Phrases To Buy Gifts In Japanese
In Japan, it is customary to bring おみやげ(Omiyage- souvenirs) after a trip. It is a way to show others you thought of them during your vacation. The souvenir culture is so ingrained in Japanese culture that you can find stores that offer you the region’s specialty prepared to be gifted.
If you want to buy gifts for your loved ones, the following phrases will allow you to shop おみやげ and have them ready to hand out as soon as you meet your family or friends.
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
| ______を探しています | ____wo sagashite imasu | I’m looking for______ |
| いくらですか？ | Ikuradesu ka? | How much is it? |
| クレジットカードは使えますか? | Kurejittokādo wa tsukaemasu ka? | Can I use a credit card? |
| ギフトラッピングはできますか？ | Gifutorappingu wa dekimasu ka? | Can you do gift wrapping? |
| 袋に入れたほうがいいですか？ | Fukuro ni ireta hō ga īdesu ka? | Should I put it in my bag? |
| ありがとうございました。 | Arigatōgozaimashita. | Thank you very much. |
Enjoy Japan With Ling!
To enjoy your vacation in Japan to the fullest, you must understand the Japanese language. And what better way to learn than having fun? Ling offers you an interactive learning experience that will keep you wanting more. By signing up for a free account, you’ll have access to engaging activities (such as games and puzzles) that will help you intuitively learn and practice Japanese vocabulary.
Don’t have much time? No problem! Ling also has bite-size lessons you can complete anywhere in 15 minutes. You can also combine your Ling lessons with our weekly blogs, where you will learn vocabulary, grammar, and everything you need to speak Japanese fluently.
So to put it simply, Ling will put the Japanese language at your fingertips! What are you waiting for? You can download it for free from the App Store or Play Store and start to level up your Japanese today!
