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Japanese · Everyday topics · A1 to A2

City and directions: まっすぐ行って、右

Short answer: Japanese directions are built from a few words: まっすぐ (straight on), 右 (right), 左 (left), 曲がる (turn) and landmarks like 信号 (traffic lights) and 角 (corner). Steps are linked with the て form: まっすぐ行って、二つ目の信号を右に曲がってください, “go straight, then turn right at the second lights”. Most Japanese streets have no names, so people navigate by landmarks.

交差点 · kōsaten · crossing信号 shingō · traffic light駅eki · station銀行ginkō · bankコンビニkonbini · konbini交番kōban · police boxまっすぐ行って、右に曲がる
Addresses in Japan number blocks, not streets, so directions use landmarks: the konbini, the bank, the second set of lights.

Places in town

A 交番 is a small neighbourhood police box, the place to ask for directions.

Direction words

Turning takes を for the corner or lights and に for the direction: 角を右に曲がる.

Asking the way

Start with すみません, then the place + はどこですか.

すみませんsumimasenexcuse me郵便局ゆうびんきょくyūbinkyokupost officeはwa(topic)どこdokowhereですかdesu kais?
Sumimasen, yūbinkyoku wa doko desu ka.“Excuse me, where is the post office?”Why: The simplest form.
このkonothis近くちかくchikakuvicinityにniinコンビニkonbinikonbiniはwa(topic)ありますかarimasu kais there?
Kono chikaku ni konbini wa arimasu ka.“Is there a convenience store near here?”Why: この近くに: “in this neighbourhood”.

Understanding directions

A typical answer, step by step.

Local
まっすぐmassugustraight行っていってittego andくださいkudasaiplease
Massugu itte kudasai. · “Go straight on.”て form + ください.
Local
二つ目ふたつめfutatsumesecondのno(link)信号しんごうshingōlightsをo(at)右みぎmigirightにnito曲がってまがってmagatteturn and
Futatsume no shingō o migi ni magatte… · “Turn right at the second lights…”〜目 makes an ordinal: 二つ目, the second.
Local
銀行ぎんこうginkōbankのno’s隣となりtonarinext toですdesuis
Ginkō no tonari desu. · “It’s next to the bank.”A landmark finishes the directions.
You
ありがとうございますarigatō gozaimasuthank you
Arigatō gozaimasu. · “Thank you.”Repeat the key step back to check: 二つ目の信号を右ですね.

Reading a Japanese address

Addresses run from largest to smallest: prefecture, city, district, block number, building number.

Distance and how long it takes

Distances are usually given as walking time.

駅えきekistationからkarafrom歩いてあるいてaruiteon foot十分じゅっぷんjuppun10 minutesですdesuis
Eki kara aruite juppun desu.“It’s 10 minutes on foot from the station.”Why: The usual way to give a distance.
ここkokohereからkarafrom遠いとおいtōifarですかdesu kais it?
Koko kara tōi desu ka.“Is it far from here?”Why:
すぐsugurightそこsokothereですdesuisよyo(telling you)
Sugu soko desu yo.“It’s just there.”Why: すぐそこ: very close.

Map and sign words

Words on station maps and street signs.

Check yourself

Say each one in Japanese, then open the answer to check and hear it.

  1. Go straight on.
    Show answer
    Massugu itte kudasai.
  2. Turn right at the lights.
    Show answer
    Shingō o migi ni magatte kudasai.
  3. It’s next to the bank.
    Show answer
    Ginkō no tonari desu.
  4. Is it far from here?
    Show answer
    Koko kara tōi desu ka.
  5. Is there a konbini near here?
    Show answer
    Kono chikaku ni konbini wa arimasu ka.
  6. 10 minutes on foot
    Show answer
    aruite juppun

Next to, opposite, in front of

Position words with の locate a place by a landmark.

In front of
Next to
Opposite
Behind

Related guides

Next guideTravelStations, trains and tickets.Next guideThe て formLinking steps in directions.Next guideNouns and のPosition words.Next guideCounters二つ目: the second one.