Common Japanese Phrases for Tourists with PDF Download

For many first-time travellers, one question often creates hesitation: “How will I communicate in Japan?” English, Arabic, Hindi, Malayalam, and other international languages are not commonly spoken everywhere in Japan, especially outside major tourist areas. This can make simple things like asking for directions, ordering food, finding a train platform, shopping, or explaining dietary preferences feel challenging.

Download the Japanese travel phrases PDF at the end of this article

 

That’s why learning a few basic Japanese phrases can make your trip much easier, smoother, and more enjoyable. So, if you are still trying to understand the difference between “Konnichiwa” and “Konbanwa,” this beginner-friendly guide will help you speak with more confidence during your Japan trip.

ALSO SEE – Trip to Japan from India-How to Plan?(Updated Guide with Costs and Tips)

Basic Japanese Phrases for Tourists to learn and remember

Let’s look at the usual Japanese words and sentences that will help you enjoy the tour:

Common Japanese Phrases for Tourists

Learn these common Japanese phrases for tourists to greet locals, ask directions, order food, shop confidently, and handle emergencies easily.

English	Japanese	Pronunciation
Excuse me / Sorry	すみません	Sumimasen
I don’t understand Japanese	日本語が分かりません	Nihongo ga wakarimasen
Do you speak English?	英語を話せますか？	Eigo o hanasemasu ka?
Where is the toilet?	トイレはどこですか？	Toire wa doko desu ka?
How much is this?	これはいくらですか？	Kore wa ikura desu ka?
Can I pay by card?	カードで払えますか？	Kādo de haraemasu ka?
Please give me this	これをください	Kore o kudasai
I am vegetarian	ベジタリアンです	Bejitarian desu
Does this contain fish stock?	魚のだしが入っていますか？	Sakana no dashi ga haitte imasu ka?
Please call the police	警察を呼んでください	Keisatsu o yonde kudasai

Japanese Phrases for Greetings

Use these Japanese phrases for greetings to politely start conversations, thank locals, say goodbye, and feel more confident while travelling in Japan.

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English	Japanese	Pronunciation
Hello	こんにちは	Konnichiwa
Good morning	おはようございます	Ohayō gozaimasu
Good evening	こんばんは	Konbanwa
Goodbye	さようなら	Sayonara
Thank you	ありがとうございます	Arigatou gozaimasu
Please go ahead / Here you go	どうぞ	Dōzo
Excuse me / Sorry	すみません	Sumimasen
Please	お願いします	Onegaishimasu
Nice to meet you	はじめまして	Hajimemashite
See you again	また会いましょう	Mata aimashou
Good night	おやすみなさい	Oyasuminasai

Shopping Phrases in Japanese

Use these shopping phrases in Japanese to ask prices, request sizes or colours, check payment options, bargain politely, and shop confidently during your Japan trip.

English	Japanese	Pronunciation
How much is this?	これはいくらですか？	Kore wa ikura desu ka?
Can I pay by card?	カードで払えますか？	Kādo de haraemasu ka?
Can I pay by cash?	現金で払えますか？	Genkin de haraemasu ka?
Please give me this	これをください	Kore o kudasai
Do you have this?	これはありますか？	Kore wa arimasu ka?
Is there a discount?	割引はありますか？	Waribiki wa arimasu ka?
I am just looking	見ているだけです	Mite iru dake desu
Can I get a receipt?	レシートをください	Reshīto o kudasai
Do you have another size?	他のサイズはありますか？	Hoka no saizu wa arimasu ka?
Do you have another colour?	他の色はありますか？	Hoka no iro wa arimasu ka?

Japanese Phrases to use in Hotels

Use these Japanese phrases to use in hotels to confirm your booking, check in easily, ask for Wi-Fi details, store luggage, and communicate basic requests with hotel staff during your stay in Japan.

English	Japanese	Pronunciation
I have a reservation	予約しています	Yoyaku shite imasu
I want to check in	チェックインしたいです	Chekku-in shitai desu
What is the Wi-Fi password?	Wi-Fiのパスワードは何ですか？	Wai-fai no pasuwādo wa nan desu ka?
Can I leave my luggage here?	荷物を預けてもいいですか？	Nimotsu o azukete mo ii desu ka?
What time is check-out?	チェックアウトは何時ですか？	Chekku-auto wa nanji desu ka?

Season names in Japanese

Learn the season names in Japanese to talk about weather, travel plans, festivals, and the best time to visit Japan. These simple words help tourists understand local conversations, seasonal menus, cherry blossom updates, autumn foliage guides, and travel recommendations while exploring Japan during spring, summer, fall, or winter.

ALSO SEE – What is Cherry Blossom Festival in Japan?-When and where to celebrate

English	Japanese	Pronunciation
Spring	春	Haru
Summer	夏	Natsu
Fall / Autumn	秋	Aki
Winter	冬	Fuyu

Japanese Phrases for Food

Use these Japanese phrases for food to order meals, ask for water, understand basic menu items, describe taste, and enjoy dining in Japan with more confidence.

English	Japanese	Pronunciation
Rice / Meal	ご飯	Gohan
Bread	パン	Pan
Water	水	Mizu
Tea	お茶	Ocha
Coffee	コーヒー	Kōhī
Fish	魚	Sakana
Meat	肉	Niku
Vegetables	野菜	Yasai
Delicious	おいしい	Oishii

Dietary Conversations  useful  for Strict Vegetarians from India

For strict vegetarians from India, learning a few dietary Japanese phrases can make dining in Japan much easier and safer. Many Japanese dishes may look vegetarian but can contain fish stock, meat broth, bonito flakes, or seafood-based seasoning. So, it is important to clearly explain what you can and cannot eat before ordering.

These phrases help you ask restaurant staff whether a dish contains meat, fish, beef, pork, dashi, or other non-vegetarian ingredients. They also help you confidently request simple vegetarian options like rice, vegetables, cheese, or eggs, depending on your food preferences.

English	Japanese	Pronunciation
I am a strict vegetarian. Therefore, I do not eat any meat, fish or fish products. Please make sure that my food does not include any of these items.	私は厳格なベジタリアンです。肉、魚、魚製品は一切食べません。これらが料理に含まれていないことを確認してください。	Watashi wa genkaku na bejitarian desu. Niku, sakana, sakana seihin wa issai tabemasen. Korera ga ryōri ni fukumarete inai koto o kakunin shite kudasai.
I cannot eat meat, fish, beef, pork or any products related to them.	肉、魚、牛肉、豚肉、またはそれらに関連する食品は一切食べられません。	Niku, sakana, gyūniku, butaniku, mata wa sorera ni kanren suru shokuhin wa issai taberaremasen.
I can eat vegetables, rice, cheese, and eggs.	野菜、ご飯、チーズ、卵は食べられます。	Yasai, gohan, chīzu, tamago wa taberaremasu.
I cannot eat dashi or dried bonito fish flakes.	だし汁やかつお節は食べられません。	Dashijiru ya katsuobushi wa taberaremasen.
Does this meal contain meat, fish, beef, pork or any products related to them?	この食事には、肉、魚、牛肉、豚肉、またはそれらに関連する食品が含まれていますか？	Kono shokuji ni wa, niku, sakana, gyūniku, butaniku, mata wa sorera ni kanren suru shokuhin ga fukumarete imasu ka?
Does this meal contain meat stock or fish stock?	この料理には、肉のだし、または魚のだしが入っていますか？	Kono ryōri ni wa, niku no dashi, mata wa sakana no dashi ga haitte imasu ka?

Travel words in Japanese

Use these travel words in Japanese to ask for directions, find stations or bus stops, request help, and move around Japan more confidently during your trip.

 

English	Japanese	Pronunciation
To do	する	Suru
To go	行く	Iku
To come	来る	Kuru
I want to go to the train station	駅に行きたいです	Eki ni ikitai desu
Where is the bus stop?	バス停はどこですか？	Basutei wa doko desu ka?
Where is the train station?	駅はどこですか？	Eki wa doko desu ka?
How do I buy a ticket?	切符はどうやって買いますか？	Kippu wa dō yatte kaimasu ka?
Please take me to this address	この住所までお願いします	Kono jūsho made onegaishimasu

Numbers in Japanese

Learn numbers in Japanese to ask prices, understand train platforms, read menus, count items, shop easily, and manage everyday travel situations confidently.

English	Japanese	Pronunciation
1	一	Ichi
2	二	Ni
3	三	San
4	四	Shi / Yon
5	五	Go
6	六	Roku
7	七	Shichi / Nana
8	八	Hachi
9	九	Ku / Kyū
10	十	Jū
100	百	Hyaku
500	五百	Go-hyaku
1000	千	Sen

Emergency words in Japanese

Learn these emergency words in Japanese to ask for help, call an ambulance, find a doctor, visit a pharmacy, or explain that you are lost, sick, or injured. These phrases can be extremely useful for tourists during unexpected situations and help you communicate quickly when urgent assistance is needed.

English	Japanese	Pronunciation
Please help me	助けてください	Tasukete kudasai
Call an ambulance	救急車を呼んでください	Kyūkyūsha o yonde kudasai
I am lost	道に迷いました	Michi ni mayoimashita
I need a doctor	医者が必要です	Isha ga hitsuyō desu
I feel sick	気分が悪いです	Kibun ga warui desu
I am injured	けがをしました	Kega o shimashita
Where is the pharmacy?	薬局はどこですか？	Yakkyoku wa doko desu ka?

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How to Learn Basic Japanese Phrases for Tourists Before Your Trip?

Learning Japanese can do good for your upcoming travel. But how do you become fluent in a short time? Here are a few knowledge assets that can definitely be your guide:

• • • Language Applications

New-age applications like Duolingo and LingoDeer can help beginners understand the key phrases and practice their conversations confidently. There’s always a test and score card at the end so you can assess yourself.

• • • Talkpal

Talkpal is an  AI learning platform helps you practise your dialects and listening skills with the help of an AI tutor. It offers personalised feedback, interactive modes, and pronunciation correction so you can improve significantly until your travel begins.

• • • Flashcards

If you want, you can play the flashcard game with your travel partner so you both can work on your Japanese before the trip. They work on your recall memory and help with long-term retention.

• • • Conversation Platforms

Platforms like Tandem and HelloTalk help you improve fluency through 1:1 conversation. You can engage in a conversation with native speakers and try to adapt their pronunciation better.
If you are planning a trip to Japan and confused about whether you’ll be able to communicate, know that a quick learning session can help immensely. Practice, especially the main words, regularly, and you’ll develop a habit by the time your plane lands. And the perk? You’ll add one more language to your repertoire and eventually become fluent.

Why  learn Basic Japanese Phrases for Tourists?

If you want to make the most of your trip to Japan, it is imperative that you learn at least a few basic phrases (if not proficient). It will help you interact and convey your messages to the locals there. Otherwise, you’ll just be depending on “Siri” to talk to anyone for you.

Here is why learning is the right thing to do:

• • • Explore Confidently

How would you ask the local guides the way to the tourist attractions? To make sure you reach the right place, communication is inevitable. It will make your conversations at train stations and hotels much easier.

• • • Create Connections

If you are at a new place, you’d want to explore the cultural aspects of it. And when the stay is long, you want to make friends and interact with other people apart from your travel partner. Being at least at a beginner level can help you connect with the locals.

• • • Place Orders/Requests

Ordering your desired food at a restaurant or cafe can get better if you know the right words. You can easily read menus and order confidently. No more unpleasant dining experiences.

• • • Improve Safety

In emergencies, you must know how to seek help, and that is difficult if you don’t know the right words to say.

FAQs About Japanese Phrases for Tourists

Do tourists need to know Japanese in Japan?

Tourists do not need to be fluent in Japanese, but learning a few basic phrases can make travel, dining, shopping and emergencies much easier.

What are the most useful Japanese phrases for tourists?

Some of the most useful Japanese phrases for tourists are Sumimasen, Arigatou gozaimasu, Eigo o hanasemasu ka?, Toire wa doko desu ka?, Kore wa ikura desu ka?, and Tasukete kudasai.

How do you say hello in Japanese?

You can say Konnichiwa, which means hello or good afternoon.

How do you say thank you in Japanese?

You can say Arigatou gozaimasu, which means thank you in a polite way.

What Japanese phrase should vegetarians use in Japan?

Vegetarian travellers can say Bejitarian desu, which means “I am vegetarian.” Strict vegetarians should also ask whether the food contains dashi, fish stock or bonito flakes.

 

Download Japanese Travel Phrases PDF

Learning a few Japanese phrases before your trip can make your travel experience smoother, safer, and more enjoyable. You do not need to become fluent, but knowing basic words for greetings, food, shopping, hotels, directions, and emergencies can help you communicate with confidence and enjoy Japan without hesitation.