Free · Travel Phrase Guide
The 60 phrases
that actually matter in Japan.
Not a textbook list. The phrases real travellers use, in the situations they actually encounter — written by Mie with the cultural context that makes them land right.
Greetings & Basics
| Japanese | Reading | English | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| こんにちは | Konnichiwa | Hello | Daytime greeting — polite and universal. Don't over-bow; a slight nod is fine. |
| ありがとうございます | Arigatō gozaimasu | Thank you (formal) | The full form for shops, restaurants, any service. ありがとう alone is casual — save it for friends. |
| すみません | Sumimasen | Excuse me / Sorry | The most versatile phrase in Japan. Gets attention, apologises, and expresses gratitude all at once. |
| わかりません | Wakarimasen | I don't understand | Honest and disarming. Japanese people respect the admission — it invites patience, not frustration. |
| 英語を話せますか？ | Eigo wo hanasemasu ka? | Do you speak English? | Always polite to ask in Japanese first. Even if they don't, the effort is noted and appreciated. |
Restaurants & Food
| Japanese | Reading | English | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| いただきます | Itadakimasu | Let's eat (ritual) | Said before eating — always. It expresses gratitude to everyone involved in the meal's creation. |
| これをください | Kore wo kudasai | This one, please | Point at the menu. Works in any restaurant. Clean and polite — not rude at all to point in this context. |
| おすすめは何ですか？ | Osusume wa nan desu ka? | What do you recommend? | Opens a real conversation. Staff love this question — it shows you're engaged, not just ordering. |
| おいしい | Oishii | Delicious | Say it audibly. Make eye contact. The reaction from any restaurant owner is worth every lesson. |
| お会計をお願いします | Okaikei wo onegaishimasu | The bill, please | Bills are rarely left on the table automatically. This is the right way to ask — never wave your hand. |
Getting Around
| Japanese | Reading | English | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| 〇〇はどこですか？ | 〇〇 wa doko desu ka? | Where is [place]? | Replace 〇〇 with the place name. Point at a map if needed. People will help. |
| この電車は〇〇に止まりますか？ | Kono densha wa 〇〇 ni tomarimasu ka? | Does this train stop at [place]? | Essential on complex train networks. Ask before boarding if you're not sure. |
| もう一度ゆっくり言ってください | Mō ichido yukkuri itte kudasai | Please say that again, slowly | The most useful phrase in Japan after すみません. No one will judge you for asking. |
| 右 / 左 / 真っすぐ | Migi / Hidari / Massugu | Right / Left / Straight ahead | The direction vocabulary you'll need when someone answers your 〇〇はどこですか question. |
Get the full 60-phrase guide as a PDF
All 60 phrases, beautifully laid out and print-ready — organised by situation, with cultural notes on each. Free.
Phrases get you started.
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