Japanese Travel Phrases: 50 Essential Phrases for Tourists
The essential Japanese phrases you need for a real trip — organized by situation, with Japanese script, romaji, and English.
The most useful Japanese travel phrases are the ones that solve real tourist situations fast: asking where something is, checking into a hotel, buying tickets, ordering food, paying, and getting help in an emergency. This page gives you 50 essential Japanese travel phrases with Japanese text, romaji, and English so you can use them immediately in Japan without needing full fluency.
This page covers: airport and customs phrases · hotel and accommodation vocabulary · train, bus, and taxi phrases · shopping and price negotiation · emergency and help phrases · 5 common tourist mistakes
Written by YoruLearn Editorial Team · Last reviewed:
Your first encounter with Japanese will likely be at the airport. These phrases cover arrival, immigration, baggage claim, and finding your way out.
Japanese
Romaji
English
パスポートを見せてください。
pasupōto o misete kudasai.
Please show your passport.
観光です。
kankō desu.
I am here for sightseeing / tourism.
一週間滞在します。
isshūkan taizai shimasu.
I will stay for one week.
ホテルに泊まります。
hoteru ni tomarimasu.
I am staying at a hotel.
申告するものはありません。
shinkoku suru mono wa arimasen.
I have nothing to declare.
荷物はどこで受け取れますか？
nimotsu wa doko de uketoremasu ka?
Where do I collect my luggage?
両替はどこですか？
ryōgae wa doko desu ka?
Where is the currency exchange?
タクシー乗り場はどこですか？
takushī noriba wa doko desu ka?
Where is the taxi stand?
電車で市内へ行けますか？
densha de shinai e ikemasu ka?
Can I take the train to the city?
〜行きのバスはありますか？
~ yuki no basu wa arimasu ka?
Is there a bus going to ~?
IC card tip: At major Japanese airports you can buy a Suica or ICOCA card — a rechargeable transit card that works on nearly all trains, buses, and even many convenience stores. Say Suicaカードをください (Suica kādo o kudasai) at the station kiosk.
Hotel & Accommodation Phrases (ホテル・宿泊)
Whether you are staying in a Western-style hotel, a ryokan (traditional inn), or a guesthouse, these phrases will help you check in, make requests, and check out smoothly.
Japanese
Romaji
English
チェックインをお願いします。
chekku-in o onegai shimasu.
Check-in, please.
予約した〜です。
yoyaku shita ~ desu.
I have a reservation — my name is ~.
シングルルームをお願いします。
shinguru rūmu o onegai shimasu.
A single room, please.
ダブルルームはありますか？
daburu rūmu wa arimasu ka?
Do you have a double room?
何時までにチェックアウトですか？
nanji made ni chekku-auto desu ka?
What time is check-out?
Wi-Fiのパスワードを教えてください。
Wi-Fi no pasuwādo o oshiete kudasai.
Could you tell me the Wi-Fi password?
タオルをもっと持ってきてください。
taoru o motto motte kite kudasai.
Please bring more towels.
エアコンが動きません。
eakon ga ugokimasen.
The air conditioner is not working.
荷物を預かってもらえますか？
nimotsu o azukatte moraemasu ka?
Can you hold my luggage?
チェックアウトをお願いします。
chekku-auto o onegai shimasu.
Check-out, please.
近くにおすすめのレストランはありますか？
chikaku ni osusume no resutoran wa arimasu ka?
Is there a recommended restaurant nearby?
Ryokan note: In a traditional Japanese inn (旅館 ryokan), you often wear 浴衣 yukata (a light cotton robe) around the inn. Dinner and breakfast are usually included. The phrase 夕食は何時ですか (yūshoku wa nanji desu ka — "What time is dinner?") will be useful.
Transport Phrases — Trains, Buses & Taxis (交通)
Japan has one of the world's best public transport systems. The train network can seem complex at first, but with a few key phrases you can navigate it confidently.
Japanese
Romaji
English
〜まで一枚ください。
~ made ichimai kudasai.
One ticket to ~, please.
〜駅はどこですか？
~ eki wa doko desu ka?
Where is ~ station?
〜行きの電車はどれですか？
~ yuki no densha wa dore desu ka?
Which train goes to ~?
次の電車は何時ですか？
tsugi no densha wa nanji desu ka?
What time is the next train?
乗り換えはどこですか？
norikae wa doko desu ka?
Where do I transfer?
終電は何時ですか？
shūden wa nanji desu ka?
What time is the last train?
〜まで行ってください。
~ made itte kudasai.
Please take me to ~ (taxi).
ここで止めてください。
koko de tomete kudasai.
Please stop here (taxi).
このバスは〜に止まりますか？
kono basu wa ~ ni tomarimasu ka?
Does this bus stop at ~?
道に迷いました。
michi ni mayoimashita.
I am lost.
〜はどの方向ですか？
~ wa dono hōkō desu ka?
Which direction is ~?
Train etiquette: Japanese trains are extremely quiet — keep phone calls to a minimum, switch your phone to silent, and avoid talking loudly. Priority seats (優先席 yūsen seki) near the doors are reserved for elderly, pregnant, and disabled passengers.
Shopping Phrases (買い物)
Shopping in Japan — from department stores to street markets — is a delight. These phrases help you ask about products, sizes, prices, and payments.
Japanese
Romaji
English
〜はありますか？
~ wa arimasu ka?
Do you have ~?
これをください。
kore o kudasai.
I'll take this one, please.
いくらですか？
ikura desu ka?
How much is it?
試着してもいいですか？
shichaku shite mo ii desu ka?
May I try this on?
別のサイズはありますか？
betsu no saizu wa arimasu ka?
Do you have a different size?
少し安くなりますか？
sukoshi yasuku narimasu ka?
Can you give me a small discount?
カードで払えますか？
kādo de haraemasu ka?
Can I pay by card?
現金のみです。
genkin nomi desu.
Cash only.
免税手続きはできますか？
menzei tetsuzuki wa dekimasu ka?
Can I do the tax-free procedure?
ギフト包装をお願いします。
gifuto hōsō o onegai shimasu.
Gift wrapping, please.
レシートをください。
reshīto o kudasai.
A receipt, please.
Tax-free tip: Foreign visitors in Japan can shop tax-free (免税 menzei) at participating stores on purchases over a certain amount. You will need your passport. Look for the TAX FREE sign in store windows.
Emergency & Help Phrases (緊急・助け)
Emergencies are rare but knowing these phrases could be critical. Japan's emergency services are excellent — the key is being able to communicate your situation quickly.
Japanese
Romaji
English
助けてください！
tasukete kudasai!
Please help me!
警察を呼んでください。
keisatsu o yonde kudasai.
Please call the police.
救急車を呼んでください。
kyūkyūsha o yonde kudasai.
Please call an ambulance.
病院はどこですか？
byōin wa doko desu ka?
Where is the hospital?
薬局はどこですか？
yakkyoku wa doko desu ka?
Where is the pharmacy?
財布を盗まれました。
saifu o nusumaremashita.
My wallet was stolen.
パスポートをなくしました。
pasupōto o nakushimashita.
I lost my passport.
気分が悪いです。
kibun ga warui desu.
I feel unwell / sick.
アレルギーがあります。
arerugī ga arimasu.
I have an allergy.
英語が話せる人はいますか？
eigo ga hanaseru hito wa imasu ka?
Is there someone who can speak English?
大使館に連絡してください。
taishikan ni renraku shite kudasai.
Please contact the embassy.
Emergency numbers in Japan: Police: 110. Ambulance & Fire: 119. Japan Tourism Agency emergency hotline (English available): 050-3816-2787.
5 Common Mistakes Tourists Make
Using すみません (sumimasen) only to apologize. Sumimasen is also the standard way to get someone's attention — like saying "Excuse me" to a waiter or to ask someone on the street for help. Many tourists bow and stand waiting to be noticed when a clear すみません would immediately work.
Forgetting the destination particle に (ni) or まで (made) when asking about transport.渋谷へ行きたいです (Shibuya e ikitai desu — I want to go to Shibuya) requires the direction particle へ or に. Dropping it makes the sentence grammatically incomplete.
Expecting haggling to work in shops. Price negotiation (値切る negiru) is not standard practice in Japanese retail stores. The phrase 少し安くなりますか (can you discount it a little?) is only appropriate at flea markets, antique stalls, and some electronics stores. In regular shops it will cause awkwardness.
Not carrying cash. While major cities are increasingly card-friendly, many smaller restaurants, temples, local buses, and traditional shops are cash-only (現金のみ genkin nomi). Always carry some yen in cash, especially outside of Tokyo and Osaka.
Mispronouncing place names from romaji. Japanese romaji pronunciation differs from English. Tokyo is to-kyo (not "Toh-kee-oh"). Kyoto is kyo-to. Osaka is o-sa-ka with equal stress on all syllables. The vowels a, i, u, e, o are always pronounced the same way in Japanese regardless of surrounding letters.
FAQ
What are the most important Japanese phrases for tourists?
The most essential: すみません (sumimasen — excuse me / sorry), ありがとうございます (arigatō gozaimasu — thank you), ～はどこですか (~ wa doko desu ka — where is ~?), いくらですか (ikura desu ka — how much?), and 助けてください (tasukete kudasai — please help me). These five phrases cover the majority of tourist situations.
How do you ask for directions in Japanese?
The core phrase is ～はどこですか (~ wa doko desu ka) — "Where is ~?" For example: 駅はどこですか (eki wa doko desu ka) — "Where is the train station?" People will often gesture rather than give verbal directions, so watch for pointing.
How do you buy a train ticket in Japan?
Most station machines have an English option — look for 英語 on the screen. For IC cards (Suica, Pasmo) you can tap and go. At the ticket window say ～まで一枚ください (~ made ichimai kudasai) — "One ticket to ~, please."
What should I say in a Japanese emergency?
Key phrases: 助けてください (tasukete kudasai — help me), 警察を呼んでください (keisatsu o yonde kudasai — call the police), 救急車を呼んでください (kyūkyūsha o yonde kudasai — call an ambulance). Emergency numbers: police 110, ambulance/fire 119.
How do you say "Do you have a room available?" in Japanese?
Say: 空き部屋はありますか (aki heya wa arimasu ka) — "Do you have a room available?" For check-in with a reservation: 予約した～です (yoyaku shita ~ desu) — "I have a reservation, my name is ~."
Is English widely spoken in Japan?
English signage and announcements are common in major cities and on trains. Outside of tourist hotspots, staff may have limited English. Knowing even basic Japanese phrases is very much appreciated and makes a real practical difference, especially for directions and emergencies.
Knowing a phrase on paper is not the same as being able to produce it when you need it. YoruLearn's fill-in-the-blank exercises and spaced-repetition flashcards drill travel vocabulary in context — so チェックインをお願いします and 救急車を呼んでください become automatic, not something you have to think about mid-situation. Adaptive review focuses extra attention on the phrases you find hardest to recall.
These are practical phrase examples, not legal, medical, transport, or emergency instructions. Before travelling, verify current emergency contacts, entry requirements, and local guidance from official travel sources.
