22 Useful Japanese Phrases for Tourists

Japan has a global reputation for being visitor-friendly. Of course, the country welcomes people from across the globe, and many businesses and individuals work hard to greet and support international visitors in the English language.

That said, if you want to make meaningful connections and show thanks or respect in the Land of the Rising Sun, travelling with some key basic Japanese phrases memorized will make your trip even more incredible.

It’s certainly not essential to know Japanese when visiting Japan. However, if you’re into cultural experiences, unforgettable cuisine, outdoor adventure, or getting off the path to support sustainable local economies, knowing some fun, simple Japanese is guaranteed to take you farther on your journey.

Read more for useful phrases on basic etiquette, directional and travel-related situations, hotels and accommodation, dining and shopping, and emergency and health to help you develop memorable moments or relationships with the people you encounter in Japan. Ganbatte! (Good luck!)

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Part 1: Japanese Phrases for Tourists – Basic Conversation and Etiquette 

Let’s start with the basics. For tourists to Japan, it’s useful to know that Japanese often functions simply, and one-word or short questions and answers aren’t really rude. When in doubt, using the words you know can help smooth out a situation or make sure your effort is recognized.

Note: For the following Japanese words and phrases, I show (1) romaji (the use of the Latin/Roman alphabet to write Japanese words), (2) how the word sounds in English, (3) hiragana; then (4) kanji.

1. Ohayo gozaimasu (oh-high-oh go-zai-mass) おはようございます / お早う御座います

“Good morning” – literally “How early it is…” A commonplace and lovely way to start the day, it’s perfectly acceptable when shortened to simply “Ohayo!” which sounds like “oh-ha-yo”

2. Konnichiwa (kohn-knee-chee-wa) こんにちは / 今日は

“Good afternoon”—literally “This day is…” is a perfectly suitable greeting when saying hello at a storefront or smiling at a passerby. Smiling and saying hello is a great way to break the ice and show you’re friendly and trying to connect with Japanese people during your visit.

3. Konbanwa (konh-ban-wa) こんばんは / 今晩は

“Good evening” – literally “This evening is…” Acceptable anytime after 6 PM, or when it’s dark out. A proper “Konbanwa” with a deep bow is a great way to ingratiate yourself with your host(s) and show that you’re embracing Japanese cultural norms on your visit, too.

4. Onegai shimasu (Oh-neh-gai she-mass) おねがいします / お願いします

“Please” or “I would be indebted” – literally “I wish of thee.” Another old-school Japanese phrase that is very commonplace and crucial to know. For example, after getting a taxi and stating your destination, you can simply say “Onegai shimasu” to convey your respectful request.

5. Daijoubu desu (Dai-joe-boo dess) だいじょうぶです / 大丈夫です

“I’m okay” – literally “I’m all good.” One Japanese catch-all phrase that’s useful in almost any situation when you want to communicate that things are okay. Use “daijobu” when you’re feeling fine, someone accidentally bumps into you, to indicate if the taxi has stopped at the right place, or to tell the wait staff that you don’t need another water refill.

6. Hai / iie (hai / ee-ye) はい / いいえ

“Yes” and “no”, respectively. “Hai” is the most common and easy way to say “yes” in any situation, while “iie” means no in general. To say “yes” you may also say “un!” which is essentially a guttural indication of agreement, and “no” can be said as “iya” which is closer to an indication of disagreement or dislike, although softened to be casually acceptable. (Depending on the level of emphasis!)

7. Sumimasen (soo-me-mah-sen) すみません / 済みません

“Excuse me” – literally “This shall not pass.” Japanese formalities often have archaic roots. Use sumimasen when you bump into someone accidentally or want to ask a question.

8. Gomennasai (go-men-nah-sai) ごめんなさい / 御免なさい

“I’m sorry” – literally “Please grant me forgiveness.” Reserved for more apologetic situations, but also fine for daily usage when sorry if the phrase strikes you as easy to say. “Gomen” is a perfectly acceptable shortened version.

9. Wakarimasen (wah-kah-lee-mah-sen) わかりません / 分かりません

“I don’t understand” – this one explains itself. However, being able to express that you’re at a loss is always better than simply being stuck. Communicating that you don’t understand will prompt the person or people you’re interacting with to assist you or make communication possible another way.

10. Domo arigato gozaimasu (Doe-mo ah-lee-gah-toe go-zai-moss) どうもありがとうございます / どうも有難う御座います

“Thank you” – literally “It’s tough for me to accept [such graciousness].” The standard and fully formal way to offer thanks in Japanese. It’s perfectly acceptable to shorten in a number of ways: Simply “Domo” being the shortest and easiest, yet a touch informal, and “Arigato” by itself serving as a perfect way to say thanks. Note that the “Ari” is perhaps best pronounced “ah-lee” as the L and R sounds in Japanese are combined into one, and ultimately closer to L than a hard R.

11. Eigo ha dekimasu ka? (Eigo wa de-kee mass ka?) えいごはできますか？ / 英語は出来ますか？

“Do you speak English?” – certainly a phrase worth learning. Thanks to Japan’s global popularity as a travel destination, English language support is more common than ever before, but don’t let that deter you from trying your best to speak some basic Japanese to make your visit even more special.

Part 2: Japanese Phrases for Directions and Travel 

Getting around Japan’s 47 prefectures, including rail, bus, ferry and walking networks, is generally understandable and enjoyable due to ample signage and logical layouts. That said, when in a pinch, knowing some basic Japanese phrases will help you get you to where you want to go.

12. XXXX ha doko desu ka? (XXXX wa do-ko dess ka?) XXXXはどこですか？ / XXXXは何処ですか？

“Where is XXXX?” – The most common example is when finding the restroom, or “toire” in Japanese. (From the French, “toilet.”) “Toire ha doko desu ka?”

If the entire phrase doesn’t come to mind immediately, it’s acceptable to use “doko?” alone as a question.

Using a phrase from Part 1, if you’re looking for the restroom, try, “Sumimasen. Toire, doko?” This limits your phrase to three words, and should help you find your way.

13. XXXX ni ikimasu ka? (XXXX ni ee-kee mass ka?) XXXXにいきますか？ / XXXXに行きますか？

“Will this train / bus / ferry go to XXXX?” Even for seasoned travellers to Japan or people that live in the country, sometimes it’s not immediately clear whether the mode of transportation you want to use will go the right direction.

For example, if you’re headed to Tachikawa in Western Tokyo, but are unsure if the Chuo Line orange train you took is headed in the right direction, you can ask “Tachikawa ni ikimasu ka?” 

Part 3: Japanese Phrases for Hotels & Accommodation

Here are some helpful phrases for when you’re staying in accommodation in Japan.

14. XXXX ha nan ji desu ka? (XXXX wa nan gee dess ka?) XXXXはなんじですか？ / XXXXは何時ですか？

“What time is XXXX?” – for example, “check-out” and “check-in” are English loan words in Japanese, with quite similar pronunciations. For this reason, it’s easy enough to say, “Check-out / check-in wa nan ji desu ka?” when inquiring at a hotel front desk.

15. XXXX wo itadakemasu ka? (XXXX o ee-tah-dah-keh-mass ka?” XXXXをいただけますか？ / XXXXを頂けますか？

“May I have a / another XXXX?” – an easy and polite phrase to use when you’d like to request something from the hotel front desk. If you sleep with more than one pillow, or “makura,” you may ask, “Makura wo itadakemasu ka?” to make sure you’re comfortable.

Part 4: Japanese Phrases for Dining and Shopping

Here are some phrases to get you started when you’re ordering food, at a restaurant or shopping. We also have a separate article with 25 Japanese phrases for restaurants and dining.

16. Osusume wa nan desu ka? (Oh-sue-sue-meh wa nan dess ka?) おすすめはなんですか？ / お勧めは何ですか？

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“What is your recommendation?” – a supremely useful catch-all phrase that can help in a pinch at any establishment. Whether you’re at an izakaya gastropub or a Japanese steak house, asking for the house recommendation can certainly be helpful.

To take it a step further, say “Osusume wo kudasai” – “I’ll have the recommended item, please” to ask for and order the house recommendation.

17. XXXX ha haitte imasu ka? (XXXX wa hai-teh ee-mass ka?) XXXXははっていますか？ / XXXXは入っていますか？

“Does this item include XXXX?” – a key phrase for anyone with allergies or dietary restrictions. If you’re unsure if a drink you ordered contains alcohol, the ubiquitous “sake” (sah-keh, not “saki”) is also a catch-all for alcohol in general. “Sake wa haitte imasu ka?” can help if you’re not sure your Oolong tea didn’t come with a shot of shochu.

18. “Kanpai!” (kan-pai!) かんぱい / 乾杯

“Cheers!” – literally “Make your glass dry!” Speaking of sake – Japan has a long tradition of enjoying fine tipple, and if you partake, knowing this phrase will lead to many rounds of lifting your glass with the locals. As an interesting and cute aside, it’s perfectly acceptable to raise your glass to cheers even if your beverage is non-alcoholic or water. This means that kids get in on the action, too!

19. XXXX ha ikura desu ka? (XXXX wa ee-kuu-ra dess ka?) XXXXはいくらですか？

“How much does XXXX cost?” – certainly a useful phrase to know, especially if you’re at a flea market or antique shop where prices aren’t immediately apparent. Like many Japanese phrases, the subject can be dropped if it’s been made obvious, so if you point at something you’re interested in, you can simply say, “Ikura?” (How much?) in a pinch.

20. Gochisousama deshita (Go-chee-so-sah-ma deh-she-ta) ご馳走様でした

“Thank you for the meal” – literally “What delicacies were bestowed upon me.” Like other quintessential Japanese formal phrases, this one has interesting origins in traditional culture and the respectful act of giving and receiving.

Use this phrase at a restaurant to show your thanks for a sumptuous dinner or lunch, and also if you have the chance to dine in a Japanese person’s home – they’ll be appreciative of your effort to show how grateful you are. Japanese cuisine is supreme, and showing thanks is a must!

Part 5: Japanese Phrases for Emergency & Health Situations

Here are a couple of useful phrases for getting help in an emergency or addressing a health concern.

21. Tasukete kudasai (tass-keh-teh kuu-da-sai) たすけてください / 助けて下さい

“Please help me” – A good phrase to know when you’re facing a difficult situation. “Tasukete” means “help” and “kudasai” means “please.” This phrase is easily shortened to just “tasukete!” in a pinch. Also note the “su” in “tasu” is best shortened to a “tass” sound without really pronouncing the “u.”

22. XXXX arerugi desu (XXXX ah-leh-loo-gee dess) XXXXアレルギーです。

“I have an XXXX allergy.” The key here is pronouncing allergy, which is rendered in its form as an English loan word as “ah-leh-loo-gee.” While allergies and dietary information are more prevalent in Japan today than previous eras, make sure to know this phrase if you have a specific allergy that needs to be recognized.

Final Thoughts

I hope you learned something today. Whether you’re coming to Japan for the first time or have a few trips under your belt, taking the time to memorize some simple, useful Japanese phrases will make your trip more meaningful! Ganbatte!

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