For Travellers
Japan beyond
the phrasebook.
The difference between a tourist and a traveller is the ability to talk. Learn the Japanese that gets you beyond the well-trodden path — into conversations, kitchens, and corners of Japan that most visitors never reach.
What you'll be able to do
Real moments, made possible.
These aren't textbook scenarios. They're the moments that actually happen — and that change a trip.
Order from a handwritten menu
Read the specials board, ask what the recommendation is, and know what you're eating before it arrives.
Ask a local for directions
Not just ask — understand the answer. Navigate by ear, not just by Google Maps.
Find the off-menu table
The restaurant that doesn't take reservations online. The izakaya where the owner says something and you laugh.
Connect with the people
Even a little Japanese changes how people treat you. Not as a tourist to be managed — as a guest who made the effort.
Take the train without stress
Read the boards, ask for help, accept it gracefully, and get where you're going with time to spare.
Get un-lost gracefully
Ask someone to repeat it slower. Smile. Try again. Come away with a story instead of a frustration.
A timeline for travel prep
What 5, 10, and 20 lessons gets you.
Confident in the basics
Greetings, ordering, shopping, transport basics, numbers, and the kana — enough to feel at home in the everyday moments.
Into real conversation
Tell people about yourself, ask questions and understand the answer, navigate most city interactions without friction.
Beyond the surface
Explore local neighbourhoods, follow recommendations from shopkeepers, join conversations at the dinner table, read signs and menus independently.
Free resource
Start before your first lesson.
The Tabiji Travel Phrase Guide — the 100 phrases that actually matter, in Japanese, romaji, and cultural context.
Questions
- Yes. Even five lessons give you a strong foundation in greetings, ordering food, and navigating transport. We focus entirely on the practical moments you will actually experience.
- A textbook is not required. We focus on speaking, listening, and reading the things you will see in Japan. Sometimes we recommend a book, when it suits your situation well. Otherwise, just bring your curiosity.
- Five lessons cover travel basics like greetings, ordering, shopping, transport, numbers, and the kana. Ten lessons move into real conversation. We cover how to tell people about yourself, ask questions, and understand the answers.
Your next trip to Japan is different.
One lesson changes the way you travel. Start with the most risk-free fifty minutes in language learning.
Book Your First Lesson — $55 →旅路 — Tabiji, the journey.