Basic Japanese for Travel: Trains, Tickets, Hotels

Travel: trains, tickets and hotels

Station names on signs appear in kanji, hiragana and romaji, and announcements on major lines are in Japanese and English.

Short answer: travel in Japan runs on trains, and a handful of station words go a long way: 切符 (ticket), 改札 (ticket gates), 〜番線 (platform number) and 乗り換え (changing trains). To ask how to get somewhere, say place + まで + どうやって行きますか. In hotels, staff speak polite keigo; you need only your name, 予約 (reservation) and a few set phrases.

Ways to travel

Use で (by) after the transport: 電車で行きます, “I go by train”.

At the station

Signs and announcements use these again and again.

Word	Meaning	Where you see it
eki	station	everywhere
kippu	ticket	machines, office
kaisatsu	ticket gates	entry and exit
~bansen	platform ~	3番線 sanbansen
norikae	change trains	transfer signs
kakueki teisha	stopping service	train boards
kaisoku	rapid service	train boards
shiteiseki	reserved seat	shinkansen

Buying a ticket

Most people use ticket machines or an IC card (Suica, ICOCA), but a ticket office conversation follows this pattern.

Customer

京都きょうとKyōtoKyotoまでmadeto大人おとなotonaadult二枚にまいnimaitwo (tickets)お願いしますおねがいしますonegai shimasuplease

Kyōto made otona nimai onegai shimasu. · “Two adult tickets to Kyoto, please.”Tickets are flat, so 枚.

Staff

指定席していせきshiteisekireserved seatsでdeasよろしいですかyoroshii desu kais it all right?

Shiteiseki de yoroshii desu ka. · “Reserved seats, is that right?”よろしい is the keigo form of いい.

Customer

はいhaiyes窓側まどがわmadogawawindow sideがga(subject)いいですii desuis good

Hai, madogawa ga ii desu. · “Yes, a window seat, please.”通路側 tsūrogawa is the aisle side.

Staff

十時じゅうじjū-jiten o’clock発はつhatsudeparting十四番線じゅうよんばんせんjūyon-bansenplatform 14ですdesuis

Jū-ji hatsu, jūyon-bansen desu. · “The 10:00 departure, platform 14.”発 after a time means “departing at”.

Asking how to get there

まで means “as far as”; どうやって means “how, by what means”.

空港くうこうkūkōairportまでmadeas far asどうやってdō yattehow行きますかいきますかikimasu kago?

Kūkō made dō yatte ikimasu ka.“How do I get to the airport?”Why: まで + どうやって: the standard question.

どのdonowhich電車でんしゃdenshatrainにni(onto)乗ればのればnorebaif I rideいいですかii desu kais good?

Dono densha ni noreba ii desu ka.“Which train should I take?”Why: You ride “onto” a train: 電車に乗る.

次つぎtsuginextのno’s駅えきekistationでdeat降りますおりますorimasuget off

Tsugi no eki de orimasu.“I’m getting off at the next station.”Why: 降りる (get off) takes で or を for the station.

At the hotel

From check-in to check-out.

At the airport

From check-in to arrivals.

When things go wrong

Phrases for delays, lost items and getting lost.

電車でんしゃdenshatrainがga(subject)遅れていますおくれていますokurete imasuis delayed

Densha ga okurete imasu.“The train is delayed.”Why: 遅れる + ている: a current state.

財布さいふsaifuwalletをo(object)なくしましたnakushimashitalost

Saifu o nakushimashita.“I’ve lost my wallet.”Why: Go to a 交番 (police box); Japan returns lost property remarkably often.

道みちmichiwayにniin迷いましたまよいましたmayoimashitagot lost

Michi ni mayoimashita.“I’m lost.”Why: 道に迷う: lose your way.

Staying at a ryokan

A ryokan (旅館) is a traditional inn with tatami rooms, futons, a bath and dinner included.

Check yourself

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

Where is the station?
Show answer
Eki wa doko desu ka.
One ticket to Kyoto, please.
Show answer
Kyōto made ichimai onegai shimasu.枚: the counter for tickets.
Which platform?
Show answer
Nanbansen desu ka.
I have a reservation.
Show answer
Yoyaku shite imasu.
I’m lost.
Show answer
Michi ni mayoimashita.
What time does the train leave?
Show answer
Densha wa nan-ji ni demasu ka.

Signs to recognise

Short kanji signs worth recognising on sight.