10 Essential Travel Japanese Phrases with Examples and Audio

When traveling in Japan, memorising some useful Japanese phrases is incredibly meaningful. Unfortunately, English proficiency is very limited among the Japanese, and depending solely on English can pose challenges in travel. In this article, we have carefully selected essential travel Japanese phrases for foreign visitors. Applying these 10 phrases will undoubtedly enhance your Japan journey, ensuring it becomes more fulfilling and enjoyable.

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Basic Greetings

Before learning phrases for travel, let’s start with fundamental greetings! “Hello”, “thank you”, and “goodbye” are basic greetings in any country. While greetings may not be as emphasised in Japan as in some Western countries, they undoubtedly contribute to smooth conversations and creating a pleasant atmosphere.

Konnichiwa! (Hello!)

Arigato (Thank you)

Sayonara (Goodbye / See you)

Sumimasen (Excuse me / Sorry)

Requesting Something

1. ～ kudasai (～ please)

Usage

When you want something. Insert the name of the desired item in place of “～”.
If you don’t know the Japanese name of what you want, just point it out and say “Kore” (This).

Examples

• Mizu, kudasai. (Water, please.)

• Kore, kudasai. (This one, please.)

2. Onegai shimasu (Please / Yes, please)

Usage

1. You can use it without adding a direct object. For example, if asked, “Would you like some water?” responding with “Onegai shimasu” conveys the meaning of “Yes, please.”
2. It can be used in exactly the same way as “～ kudasai.” In this case, “～ onegai shimasu” gives a more polite impression compared to “～ kudasai.”

Examples

• Onegai shimasu. (Yes, please.)

• Mizu, onegai shimasu. (Water, please.)

3. Tasukete! / Tasukete kudasai! (Help! / Please help!)

Usage

In emergencies or when you need assistance. “Tasukete!” alone is sufficient in situations where it’s clear what kind of help you need. If it’s unclear, add details using phrases like “Where is ～?” as explained later.

Examples

• Tasukete! (Help!)

• Tasukete kudasai! (Please help!)

4. Koko ni (～ de) kaite kudasai (Please write here in ～. )

Usage

When you want someone to write their response in a specified place like on your notebook.
Replace “～” with a language you want the response in.

Examples

• Koko ni kaite kudasai. (Please write here.)

• Koko ni eigo de kaite kudasai. (Please write in English here.)

Posing Questions

5. ～ wa doko desuka? (Where is ～?)

Usage

Insert the specific word for a location in place of “～,” such as “Toire” for toilet or “Eki” for a station.

Examples

• Tokyo eki wa doko desuka? (Where is Tokyo station?)

• Toire wa doko desuka? (Where is the toilet?)

6. ～ ga hanase masuka? (Do you speak ～?)

Usage

Insert the language you want to ask about in place of “～.” Refer to the previous table for the name of languages.

Examples

• Eigo ga hanase masuka? (Do you speak English?)

7. Ikura desuka? (How much?)

Usage

When you want to know the price of something, use this phrase by pointing at the item or add the name of the item before the phrase.

Examples

• Kore, ikura desuka? (How much is this?)

8. Kono ～ wa ～ ni iki masuka? (Is this ～ goes to ～?)

Usage

You can use this phrase when inquiring about the destination of transportation, such as trains or buses. Place the mode of transportation, like ‘train’ or ‘bus,’ in the first blank, and the destination in the second blank.

Examples

• Kono densha wa Tokyo eki ni iki masuka? (Does this train go to Tokyo station?)

• Kono bas wa Shinjuku ni iki masuka? (Does this bus go to Shinjuku?)

Other useful phases

9. Wakarimasen. (I don’t understand.)

Usage

Use when you don’t understand what someone is saying. You can also add details about what you don’t understand before the phrase. Furthermore, it can be connected to phrases mentioned earlier, such as ‘koko ni kaite kudasai‘ or ‘Eigo ga hanase masuka?'”

Examples

• Sumimasen, wakarimasen. (Sorry, I don’t understand.)

• Nihongo, wakarimasen. (I don’t understand Japanese.)

10. Matte kudasai. (Please wait.)

Usage

Used when you want someone to stop an action or wait in a particular place. You can add time words like “Sukoshi (a bit)” or “Gofun (Five minutes)” before the phrase.

Examples

• Sukoshi matte kudasai. (Please wait a bit.)

• Gofun matte kudasai. (Please wait for five minutes.)

Combining the phrases

By combining these phrases, you can engage in various small conversations in different scenarios.

Ordering at a Restaurant

1. Eigo menu onegai simasu. (English menu please.)
2. Gofun matte kudasai. Arigato! (Wait for five minutes please. Thank you!)
3. OK, kore kudasai. (OK, this one please.)
4. Toire wa doko desuka? (Where is the toilet?)

Asking for Directions

1. Sumimasen, eigo ga hanase masuka? (Excuse me, do you speak English?)
2. No? Mmm, OK, Shibuya eki wa doko desuka? (No? Mmm, OK, where is Shibuya station?)
3. Wakarimasen. Koko ni kaite kudasai. (I don’t understand. Please write here.)
4. Arigato. Sayonara. (Thank you. Goodbye.)

Shopping

1. Konnichiwa! (Hello!)
2. Kore wa ikura desuka? (How much is this?)
3. Koko ni kaite kudasai. (Please write here.)
4. OK, kore, kudasai. (OK, I’ll take it.)

Congratulations, you are now a master of Japanese travel phrases!
Enjoy your time in Japan using these phrases.