73+ Essential Japanese travel phrases for travelers visiting Japan (+ Free pdf)

Going to Japan and thinking you might struggle to order food or ask for directions? Knowing just a few basic Japanese words and phrases will make your trip much smoother!

I’ve been to Japan and in this guide, I’ll share essential Japanese travel phrases for tourists. And I’ve also included FREE Japan travel phrases cheat sheet you can find below.

Planning your TRIP TO Japan?
Below are some of my top Japan travel resources.

BEST PLACES TO STAY in JAPAN:
• Be like a bee for Nine hours (my favourite capsule hotel)
• Yiyi Tokyo Disney minpaku (house close to Tokyo Disneyland)
• Fujikawaguchiko Onsen Konanso (onsen and Mt. Fuji view!)
• Kiraku Kyoto Honmachi (the best Ryokan in Kyoto with a private onsen)
• Miyajima guest house (perfect place to stay close to Itsukushima shrine)
• Guest house Pongyi (sleep in old kimono shop!)
• Yudanaka Yasuragi (small traditional Japanese ryokan)

TOP EXPERIENCES in and around JAPAN:
• Drive a Go-Cart on Tokyo streets (super fun Super Mario for a day!)
• The ABSOLUTE BEST museum ever (TeamLab is MUST VISIT!)
• Rent a Kimono (… when in Rome Kyoto …)
• Fushimi Inari Walking Tour (Nice way to learn about Torii Gates)
• Hiroshima and Miyajima (perfect day tour!)
• Food tasting in little Kyoto (come hungry!)
• Shirakawa go Village (see traditional Japan)
• Tea ceremony (experience the art of drinking tea)

Looking for the best way to GET TO JAPAN:
• Find best flight fares to Japan
• Having a Japan Rail Pass is the best way to travel around Japan

Japan is one of the most sought-after and visited countries in Asia, known for its fascinating blend of tradition and modernity, breathtaking landscapes, and delicious cuisine. Especially popular is in Spring at sakura or in Autumn for fall foliage.  

Some Japanese people speak English, but it is not as common as you would think. Thus for traveling in Japan, you will need to know some useful Japanese words and phrases. Knowing them will also show respect to the locals.

This Japanese language guide will answer your question “What are some common phrases i need to learn before my trip to Japan?” Inside you can find transportation-related phrases, phrases to use when ordering food in Japanese restaurant, and simple phrases that will help you navigate through Tokyo, Kyoto, or Osaka.
 
Now, learn basic Japanese for travel, download your Japanese phrases cheat sheet, and bring it with you to Japan!

essential Japanese words and phrases

KEY TAKEAWAYS

● Learn must-know Japan language words and simple Japanese phrases you’ll likely need for ordering food, asking for directions, and greeting locals.

● Find Japanese pronunciation so you don’t need to worry about saying useful words and phrases.

● Download basic Japanese travel phrases pdf for easy access on your Japan trip!

Where is Japanese spoken?

Did you know that over 125 million people speak Japanese?

Japanese is the official language of Japan. You will mostly hear it in Nippon, but due to globalization and the popularity of Japanese culture, Japanese is studied and spoken by learners in many countries worldwide.

There are Japanese-speaking communities in countries around the world, particularly in the United States, Brazil, Canada, Australia, and the Philippines.

If you wish to learn basic Japanese phrases for tourists, you can do so by using apps like Duolingo or Rosetta Stone. If your Japan itinerary is longer than 2 weeks, maybe sign up for a language course or go on a language exchange. But if you don’t have time, just download Japanese basic words pdf in this blog post.

Japanese language basics: alphabet and pronunciation

Before you start learning useful phrases, you have to familiarize yourself with the basics of the Japanese language.

The Japanese writing system consists of three alphabets: Hiragana, Katakana, and Kanji.

Hiragana and Katakana are native to Japan. They both use 46 characters, each representing one syllable and a specific phonetic sound. Hiragana is used for traditional Japanese words and Katakana for words borrowed from foreign languages.

Kanji is a writing system borrowed from China, where each ideogram stands for a certain meaning and can have multiple pronunciations. 

Now, don’t get scared! Japanese alphabet has fewer letters than English alphabet, 21 in total. It uses the same sounds that you use in the English language. Each character represents a specific sound, and once you grasp the sounds, you will be able to read and pronounce Japanese fluently and with ease.  

Below you will find a guide for Hiragana and Katakana symbols and a similar sound in English language.

Essential Japanese travel phrases

Basic Japanese phrases for travelers

Basic Japanese phrases for conversation that showcase politeness and cultural respect, encouraging positive interactions with locals and are a base for every communication. Those are basic phrases to know when visiting Japan.

Useful Japanese phrases for greetings and introductions

Japanese words and phrases for greetings lay the foundation for any interaction, allowing you to initiate conversations and make a positive first impression. They are easy Japanese words to learn.

Japanese travel phrases for directions and getting around

Phrases and words in Japanese when asking for directions will enable you to navigate train stations, unfamiliar streets and find your way around.

Useful phrases in Japanese for ordering food and drinks

Japanese language phrases for ordering meals, asking for recommendations, and specifying dietary preferences ensure enjoyable dining experiences and help you explore local cuisines.

Basic phrases in Japanese for shopping

Japanese basics terms for inquiring about prices, negotiating, and Japan tourist phrases for asking for sizes or colors are handy when exploring markets and boutiques.

Useful Japanese hotel phrases

Japanese language words and hotel phrases you will need when checking in a hotel, asking for towels, fixing air conditioning, enquiring what time is breakfast, and what is included in your room rate.

Important Japanese phrases and Japanese travel terms in case of emergencies

Here you will find helpful Japanese travel terms in case of emergencies, natural disasters, or if you will be needing assistance in difficult or dangerous situations.

Beyond tourist Japanese phrases

If you’re like me and really love learning a few phrases in new languages, expand your study beyond the essential travel phrases. I always learn how to say please and thank you, never visit a country without knowing the local word for “coffee” and never leave without knowing how to say;

Best language App for traveling abroad

Learning a language is a long process. If you think you won’t have time to learn basic Japanese phrases, or if the situations come your way when above mentioned Japanese travel phrases won’t be enough, use Google Translate. This is my favorite language app, that I use on (almost) every trip.

Google Translate

Price: Free
Language: 200+ languages
Download: iOS | Android | Website

Google Translate is the most popular language travel app that can be used everywhere. I personally use it on all my travels, when going to Tanzania to learn what some Swahili words mean, when in Mexico to help with my not-the-best Spanish, when in Italy, in Japan and other places.

I’m sure you are familiar with the language app already. The most obvious feature is it will help you translate the destination language into your own one. But the absolute best feature is that it can translate the text using ‘camera translation’.

All you have to do is open the app, point your camera toward the text in a foreign language and Google Translate will do the rest. Perfect for menus! It also translates text from the photos on your camera roll. And it also works offline, when you download the language pair on your phone.

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➤ Read more Japan travel guides

Did you enjoy this guide with common japanese words, common japanese phrases for tourists and basic japanese phrases with pronunciation.

Don’t forget you can download basic words in japanese language cheat sheet.

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