NIHONGO SHOWER · TRAVEL TOOL

Travel Survival Japanese

旅行用りょこうようサバイバル日本語にほんご

Find the Japanese you need right now — at the station, restaurant, hotel, and more.

SHOW + POINT + SHORT JAPANESE
You don’t need a perfect sentence.

This page focuses on short, practical Japanese that travelers can use with context, gestures, or pointing. It is a survival tool — not a complete guide to Japanese conversation.

FURIGANA Show readings above kanji.
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01

ESSENTIALS

Useful almost anywhere.

QUICK TIP Start with すみません。 (Sumimasen.) when you need someone’s attention.
SURVIVAL PICKS
Sumimasen.
Excuse me. / Sorry.
Arigatou gozaimasu.
Thank you.
Hai, onegaishimasu.
Yes, please.
Wakarimasen.
I don’t understand.
Eigo ga hanasemasu ka?
Do you speak English?
Mou ichido onegaishimasu.
One more time, please.
Yukkuri onegaishimasu.
Slowly, please.
+ MORE USEFULWhen you have a little more room
Iie, daijoubu desu.
No, thank you. / I’m okay.
Wakarimashita.
Got it. / I understand.
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🚆
02

TRAIN & STATION

Find the station, train, platform, or exit you need.

QUICK TIP Show the station or line name on your phone while you ask.
SURVIVAL PICKS
〇〇 eki wa doko desu ka?
Where is 〇〇 Station?
EXAMPLE東京とうきょう駅えきはどこですか?Toukyou-eki wa doko desu ka?
Kono densha, 〇〇 ni ikimasu ka?
Does this train go to 〇〇?
EXAMPLEこの電車でんしゃ、新宿しんじゅくに行いきますか?Kono densha, Shinjuku ni ikimasu ka?
Deguchi wa doko desu ka?
Where is the exit?
EXAMPLEA1出口でぐちはどこですか?A1 deguchi wa doko desu ka?
Nanbansen desu ka?
Which platform is it?
EXAMPLE山手線やまのてせんは何番線なんばんせんですか?Yamanote-sen wa nanbansen desu ka?
+ MORE USEFULUseful in specific situations
Wasuremono o shimashita.
I left something behind.
Koin rokkaa wa doko desu ka?
Where are the coin lockers?
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📍
03

DIRECTIONS & TAXI

Find a place or tell a taxi driver where you want to go.

QUICK TIP Show the place on your map. Pointing makes short Japanese much easier to understand.
FINDING A PLACE
Toire wa doko desu ka?
Where is the restroom?
〇〇 wa doko desu ka?
Where is 〇〇?
EXAMPLE浅草寺せんそうじはどこですか?Sensou-ji wa doko desu ka?
〇〇 ni ikitai desu.
I want to go to 〇〇.
EXAMPLE浅草寺せんそうじに行いきたいです。Sensou-ji ni ikitai desu.
TAKING A TAXI
〇〇 made onegaishimasu.
To 〇〇, please.
EXAMPLE東京とうきょう駅えきまでお願ねがいします。Toukyou-eki made onegaishimasu.
Koko de onegaishimasu.
Please stop here.
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🍜
04

RESTAURANT

Get seated, order, and pay with short Japanese.

QUICK TIP Point to the menu item and say これ、お願ねがいします。 (Kore, onegaishimasu.)
SURVIVAL PICKS
Kore, onegaishimasu.
This one, please.
Koohii, hitotsu onegaishimasu.
One coffee, please.
PATTERN 〇〇、ひとつお願ねがいします。 〇〇, hitotsu onegaishimasu. One 〇〇, please.
Eigo no menyuu wa arimasu ka?
Do you have an English menu?
Okaikei, onegaishimasu.
The bill, please.
Kaado de onegaishimasu.
By card, please.
Hitori desu. / Futari desu. / Sannin desu.
One / two / three people.
👂 YOU MAY HEARWhat staff may say to you
Nanmei-sama desu ka?How many people?
→ 一人ひとりです。 / 二人ふたりです。 / 三人さんにんです。Hitori desu. / Futari desu. / Sannin desu.
Irasshaimase.Welcome.
→ No reply is needed. A small nod or smile is fine, and you can also say こんにちは。Konnichiwa.
+ MORE USEFULNice to know
Osusume wa nan desu ka?
What do you recommend?
Gochisousama deshita.
Thank you for the meal.
⚠️ FOOD ALLERGIES
〇〇 arerugii ga arimasu.
I have a 〇〇 allergy.

For serious allergies, do not rely on spoken Japanese alone. Show a clear allergy card or written information as well.

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🛍️
05

SHOPPING & CONVENIENCE STORE

Ask the price, pay, and handle common checkout questions.

QUICK TIP You can point to the item when you use これ (kore) — “this”.
SURVIVAL PICKS
Kore wa ikura desu ka?
How much is this?
Kore, onegaishimasu.
This one, please.
Kurejitto kaado wa tsukaemasu ka?
Can I use a credit card?
Kaado de onegaishimasu.
By card, please.
Menzei dekimasu ka?
Can I get tax-free shopping?
👂 YOU MAY HEARAt the register
Fukuro wa goriyou desu ka?Would you like a bag?
→ はい、お願ねがいします。 / いいえ、大丈夫だいじょうぶです。Hai, onegaishimasu. / Iie, daijoubu desu.
Obentou, atatamemasu ka?Would you like this heated?
→ はい、お願ねがいします。 / いいえ、大丈夫だいじょうぶです。Hai, onegaishimasu. / Iie, daijoubu desu.
Pointo kaado wa omochi desu ka?Do you have a point card?
→ いいえ、大丈夫だいじょうぶです。Iie, daijoubu desu.
+ MORE USEFULFor specific shops
Apple Pay de onegaishimasu.
Apple Pay, please.
Shichaku shite mo ii desu ka?
Can I try this on?
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🛏️
06

HOTEL

Check in, check out, and ask for the basics.

QUICK TIP For luggage, show your bag and use the short phrase below.
SURVIVAL PICKS
Yoyaku shiteimasu. 〇〇 desu.
I have a reservation. My name is 〇〇.
Chekkuin, onegaishimasu.
Check-in, please.
Chekkuauto, onegaishimasu.
Check-out, please.
Wi-Fi wa arimasu ka?
Do you have Wi-Fi?
Nimotsu, onegaishimasu.
My luggage, please.
+ MORE USEFULLess common
Aite iru heya wa arimasu ka?
Do you have any rooms available?
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📷
07

PHOTOS & SIGHTSEEING

Ask for a photo or check whether photography is okay.

QUICK TIP Hand over your phone while saying 写真しゃしん、お願ねがいします。 (Shashin, onegaishimasu.)
SURVIVAL PICKS
Shashin, onegaishimasu.
A photo, please.
Shashin o totte mo ii desu ka?
May I take a photo?
👂 YOU MAY HEARSomeone may offer to help
Shashin, torimashou ka?Would you like me to take a photo?
→ お願ねがいします。Onegaishimasu.
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🆘
08

HELP & EMERGENCY

Short phrases for when something is wrong.

QUICK TIP Point to the painful area and say ここが痛いたいです。 (Koko ga itai desu.)
SURVIVAL PICKS
Tasukete kudasai.
Please help me.
Guai ga warui desu.
I feel sick. / I don’t feel well.
ALSO USEFUL 調子ちょうしが悪わるいです。 Choushi ga warui desu. I’m not feeling well.
Koko ga itai desu.
It hurts here.
Byouin wa doko desu ka?
Where is the hospital?
Kyuukyuusha o yonde kudasai.
Please call an ambulance.
Pasupooto o nakushimashita.
I lost my passport.
+ MORE USEFULHealth
WHERE DOES IT HURT?
Atama ga itai desu.My head hurts.
Onaka ga itai desu.My stomach hurts.
Nodo ga itai desu.My throat hurts.
Ashi ga itai desu.My leg / foot hurts.
Taionkei wa arimasu ka?
Do you have a thermometer?
Yakkyoku wa doko desu ka?
Where is the pharmacy?
110
POLICEPolice emergency
119
AMBULANCE & FIREMedical or fire emergency
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