Welcome to Japan!

So, you’re in Japan and you’re ready to go have an amazing time. Here is some basic Japanese for travellers like you to help you on your way!

Greetings

Hello – konnichiwa こんにちは

Heya – ya-ho やっほう

Good morning (polite) – ohayo go-zigh-mas おはようございます

Good morning (casual) – ohayo おはよう

Good evening – konbanwa こんばんは

Goodnight (polite) – oyasumina-sigh おやすみなさい

Goodnight (casual) – oyasumi おやすみ

Goodbye – sayonara さようなら (note that this is basically only used in cases where you are not going to see the person ever again, so I have barely ever used it).

Bye/See you next time – jah ne じゃあね (I more often use this to say goodbye)

See you later – mata ne またね

See you soon – mata ato de ne またあとでね (usually used when you are meeting up with someone later that day)

Being Polite

Please – oh-ne-guy-shee-mas おねがいします

Thank you (polite) – arigato go-zigh-mas ありがとうございます

Thank you (casual) – arigato ありがとう

Excuse me – sumimasen すみません (also used to call over a waiter/waitress to order)

Sorry – sumimasen すみません (used in light cases, such as bumping into someone)

Sorry (polite) – gomenna-sighごめんなさい (used when you really want to apologise)

Sorry (casual) – gomen ごめん

Getting Directions

Where is ～? – ～ wa doko deska? ～はどこですか

Where is the toilet? – toire wa doko deska? トイレはどこですか

Where is the station? – ekee wa doko deska? えきはどこですか

Where is the cat cafe? – neko cafe wa doko deska? ねこカフェはどこですか

Is it close? – chick-eye deska? ちかいですか

Is it far? – toe-ee deska? とおいですか

I want to go to ～ – ～ nee eeky-tie des ～にいきたいです

I want to go to Shinjuku – Shinjuku nee eeky-tie des 新宿にいきたいです

Right – migee みぎ 右

Left – hidaree ひだり 左

Go straight – massugu まっすぐ

Where am I? – koko wa doko deska? ここはどこですか

Ordering Food

I would like this, please (said while pointing) – kore oh kuda-sigh これをください

Without any ～ please – ～ nuki de oh-ne-guy-shee-mas ～ぬきでおねがいします

Without any tomatoes, please – tomato nuki de oh-ne-guy-shee-mas トマトぬきでおねがいします (tomato is pronounced the British way in Japan)

Without any added ～ please – ～ nashi de oh-ne-guy-shee-mas ～なしでおねがいします

Without cream on top, please – cuream nashi de oh-ne-guy-shee-mas クリームなしでおねがいします

The bill, please – oh ka-ee-ke oh-ne-guy-shee-mas おかいけおねがいします

Change (money) – oh tsuree おつり

At The Hotel

I have a booking – yoyaku oh shee-mashta よやくをしました

I’d like to check in, please – checku in oh-ne-guy-shee-mas チェックインおねがいします

My name is Bob Hans – nama-eh wa Hans Bob des なまえはハンズボブです

My booking number is ～ – yoyaku bango wa ～ よやくばんごうは～

1 – itchy いち

2 – nee に

3 – san さん

4 – yon よん

5 – go ご

6 – rocku ろく

7 – nana なな

8 – hatchy はち

9 – kyu きゅう

10 – jew じゅう

Can I pay by cash? – genkin de oh-ne-guy-shee-mas げんきんでおねがいします

Can I pay by card? – cardo de oh-ne-guy-shee-mas カードでおねがいします

What time is breakfast from? – asa gohan wa nanjee kara deska? あさごはん は なんじ から ですか

I’d like to check out, please – checku out-o oh-ne-guy-shee-mas チェックアウトおねがいします

Related Post: When Is the Best Time to Visit Japan?

Bon Voyage!

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Hope this basic Japanese for travellers like yourself helped a bit! Have fun on your travels!

Love Jade xxx