If you have plans to visit Japan – be it this year or next – why not start equipping yourself with the language, cultural knowledge and practical tips to help you get the most out of your trip?
Learning some basic Japanese before traveling to Japan can be incredibly helpful and enhance your overall travel experience. While many people in urban areas of Japan, especially those involved in tourism, might have some level of English proficiency, knowing even a few key phrases and words in Japanese can make a significant difference in your interactions and navigation. We understand you might be busy juggling between planning a perfect trip, work and all other stuff happening at the same time, so we have specially designed this Travel Survival Japanese crash course for you where you can learn the basic you need to get around in Japan and make a wonderful trip! What’s more? Our travel survival course is completely free. You can learn at your own pace, on the go or whenever you have time for it.
In this Japanese language survival course, you will learn the most essential phrases and vocabulary to navigate common situations while traveling in Japan. It’s been broken down into 5 most important categories you will find useful which is greetings, arrival, dining, shopping and getting around. Let’s get started!
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Greetings
The Japanese are known to be the most polite and courteous people in the world, and put great value into societal manners and etiquette in the way they live their lives. Let’s learn the basic greetings so you can impress the locals and get around more easily.
🇬🇧Hi or Good afternoon
🇯🇵 Konnichiwa こんにちは
🇬🇧Good evening
🇯🇵 Konbanwa こんばんは
🇬🇧See you later
🇯🇵Sayonara さようなら/ またね Matane
🇬🇧Thank you very much
🇯🇵arigatō gozaimasu ありがとうございます
🇬🇧Yes
🇯🇵Hai はい
🇬🇧No
🇯🇵iie いいえ
🇬🇧Excuse me/ Sorry
🇯🇵Sumimasen すみません
Dining
🇬🇧Excuse me
🇯🇵sumimasen すみません
🇬🇧Please give me this
🇯🇵Kore Kudasai これください
🇬🇧What do you recommend?
🇯🇵Osusume wa arimasuka? おすすめはありますか？
Generations after generations, Japanese are taught to clap their hands together and say “Itadakimasu!” before savouring the delicious food in front of them. “Itadakimasu” can be translated directly into “I humbly receive, thank you”. Japanese learn from a very young age the expression to show appreciation for the food and people who prepare it
🇬🇧Thank you for the food.
🇯🇵いただきます Itadakimasu
🇬🇧Thank you for the wonderful meal.
🇯🇵ごちそうさまでした Gochisousamadeshita
🇬🇧Can I get the bill please?
🇯🇵お会計をお願いします? Okaikei wo onegai shimasu?
Shopping
Japan is a shopping paradise, from megastores, malls, arcades, supermarkets and even humble 7-Elevens, you can shop till you drop. Every big city has a number of shopping districts. It will be very useful to know a few Japanese phrases and make your shopping experience a smooth one!
🇬🇧How much is this?
🇯🇵Kore wa ikuradesuka これはいくらですか？
🇬🇧I would like to buy this.
🇯🇵Kore Kudasai/ onegaishimasuこれを ください/おねがいします
🇬🇧By card/ by cash, please
🇯🇵kaado de onegaishimasu/ gennkinn de onegaishimasu. カードでおねがいします。げんきんでおねがいします。
Asking for something in a store while shopping in Japan can be a daunting experience for visitors. If you’re looking for something specific and you have a picture on your phone, it will save you a lot of time and be less stressful so let’s learn the key phrases to ask for something in a store.
🇬🇧Do you have ____?
🇯🇵 ___wa arimasuka? ＿はありますか？
🇬🇧Can I try it on?
🇯🇵Shichaku shitemo iidesuka? 試着しても良いですか？
Getting around
For some travelers, one of the biggest concerns about not speaking the language is the prospect of getting around the country and navigating the trains. Japan has an incredibly efficient and easy to use transport network, however, if you are getting a little lost there, here are some key Japanese words and phrases to help you on your way.
🇬🇧How can I get to ___?
🇯🇵niwa douyattara ikemasuka? にはどうやったら行けますか？
🇬🇧turn left/ turn right
🇯🇵hidari ni magaru/ migini magaru 左に曲がる/右に曲がる
🇬🇧left /right
🇯🇵hidari/ migi ひだり/ みぎ
🇬🇧 Straight
🇯🇵 Massugu まっすぐ
You may find it difficult in getting around by public transport because some of the names of the station are in Japanese and the information could be confusing. If you have difficulties to find the way to reach a place, people are really kind and they are going to help you. Here are some useful phrase, vocabularies you can use to ask for help
🇬🇧where is ___?
🇯🇵 ____ wa doko desuka?
🇬🇧bathroom
🇯🇵toire トイレ
🇬🇧train station
🇯🇵eki 駅 えき
🇬🇧bus stop
🇯🇵basutei バス停 ばすてい
Arriving
When you arrive at the airport, you may be overwhelming with the new environment and people speaking a different language you don’t understand. Here are the basic Japanese to help you with a smooth beginning from start.
- How do I get to the city center?
- 都心へ行くにはどうすればいいですか？ (Toshin e iku ni wa dou sureba ii desu ka?)
- Where is the train station?
- 駅はどこですか？ (Eki wa doko desu ka?)
- How much is the train ticket?
- 電車の切符はいくらですか？ (Densha no kippu wa ikura desu ka?)
If you can master the above, you will be able to get around with the bare minimal. However, what if the local talk to you back in Japanese? Most of the people start panicking. Don’t worry! We got you covered. Take a look on our in depth Travel Survival Japanese courses which is designed to help you with speaking and having basic conversation with the locals. We are here to help you make the most of your trip start by learning crash Japanese!
