Essential Japanese Travel Phrases
Airports, taxis, hotels, asking for directions — these 25 Japanese travel phrases cover the situations every traveler runs into. Each phrase comes with romanization, a sounds-like pronunciation hint and example sentences you can use word for word.
Survival basics
Five phrases that carry you from the arrivals gate to your first bowl of ramen. Open with すみません and doors open with it.
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こんにちは konnichiwa Hello
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すみません sumimasen Excuse me
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ありがとう arigatou Thank you
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すみません、えきはどこですか。 sumimasen, eki wa doko desu ka Excuse me, where is the station?
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これはいくらですか。 kore wa ikura desu ka How much is this?
Getting around
Trains, buses and taxis — Japan's transport is famously punctual, and these phrases plug you straight into it.
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えき eki Train station
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でんしゃ densha Train
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バス basu Bus
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タクシー takushii Taxi
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このバスはえきにいきますか kono basu wa eki ni ikimasu ka Does this bus go to the station?
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タクシーをよんでください takushii o yonde kudasai Please call a taxi
Don't touch the taxi door
Japanese taxi doors are automatic — the driver opens and closes the rear door with a lever. Reach for the handle and you'll fight the mechanism; just stand back and let it swing.
Tickets and trains
From the ticket window to the platform. Rail is the best way around Japan — these phrases keep you moving through it.
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きっぷ kippu Ticket
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かたみちきっぷをください katamichi kippu o kudasai A one-way ticket, please
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おうふくきっぷをください oufuku kippu o kudasai A round-trip ticket, please
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つぎのでんしゃはなんじですか tsugi no densha wa nanji desu ka What time is the next train?
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どこでのりかえたらいいですか doko de norikaetara ii desu ka Where should I transfer?
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ホーム hōmu Platform
Train etiquette
Queue at the door markings painted on the platform, let passengers off first, and keep your phone on silent — Japanese trains are strikingly quiet, and phone calls on board are a genuine faux pas.
Flights, passports and luggage
The airport phrases that matter — including the sentence you'll hear before you say a word of Japanese.
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くうこう kuukou Airport
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パスポートをみせてください pasupōto o misete kudasai Please show your passport
You'll hear this at immigration — now you'll recognize it.
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にもつはどこですか nimotsu wa doko desu ka Where is my luggage?
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ひこうきがおくれている hikouki ga okurete iru The plane is delayed
At the hotel
Check in, get the key, ask about checkout — the full hotel loop in four phrases.
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ホテルをよやくした hoteru o yoyaku shita I booked a hotel
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チェックインしたいのですが chekkuin shitai no desu ga I'd like to check in
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へやのかぎをください heya no kagi o kudasai Please give me the room key
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チェックアウトはなんじですか chekkuauto wa nanji desu ka What time is check-out?
In real life: buying a train ticket
かたみちきっぷをください katamichi kippu o kudasai
A one-way ticket, please.
つぎのでんしゃはなんじですか tsugi no densha wa nanji desu ka
What time is the next train?
さんばんホームからしゅっぱつします san-ban hōmu kara shuppatsu shimasu
It departs from Platform 3.
ありがとう arigatou
Thank you!
Test yourself
Tap the meaning of each Japanese phrase — answers reveal instantly.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to speak Japanese to travel there?
You can get by with translation apps, but a handful of spoken phrases changes how people respond to you. Locals warm up fast when you greet, thank and ask in Japanese — and the phrases above cover exactly those moments.
How do I pronounce these Japanese phrases?
Every phrase comes with romanization — the phrase spelled out in Latin letters. Read it out loud slowly, then work up to the rhythm of the full phrase. Native speakers care far more about confidence and context than perfect pronunciation.
What is the best way to memorize these phrases?
Little and often beats cramming. Review a handful of phrases a day, say them out loud, and revisit them tomorrow. The Pretalk app turns lists like this one into bite-size lessons with spaced review, so the phrases actually stick.
More Japanese phrases
Travel phrases in other languages
Practice Japanese on the go
Turn these phrases into real conversations. Learn Japanese in five-minute lessons with Pretalk — free on iOS and Android.
