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Travel guides 35
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Video Guide
Sold Out Online? How Same-Day Tickets (当日券) Work in Japan
If a Japanese attraction is sold out online, can I still buy a ticket at the door?
Video Guide
Is It Rude to Eat While Walking in Japan? The Rule and Where It's Banned
Is it rude to eat while walking in Japan?
Video Guide
How to Call a Waiter in Japan: The Button, the Word, and the Rules
How do I get a waiter's attention in a Japanese restaurant?
Video Guide
Train Suspended in Japan? How Furikae Yusou Gets You Moving Again
If my train line is suspended in Japan, can I ride another company's train on the ticket I already have?
Video Guide
Are Prices in Japan Tax Included? How to Read a Japanese Price Tag
Is the price on a Japanese price tag the amount I actually pay at the register?
Video Guide
What Number Do You Call in an Emergency in Japan? 110 vs 119
What number do you call in an emergency in Japan, and what do you say when someone picks up?
Video Guide
How to Go to a Japanese Fireworks Festival (Hanabi Taikai)
How do you go to a Japanese fireworks festival as a tourist?
Video Guide
Local, Rapid, or Express: Which Japanese Train Should You Take?
What is the difference between local, rapid and express trains in Japan, and which one should you board?
Video Guide
What Time Is the Last Train in Japan? Times, Cities and What to Do If You Miss It
What time is the last train in Japan, and what do you do if you miss it?
Video Guide
Which ATMs in Japan Accept Foreign Cards? Where to Withdraw Yen
Which ATMs in Japan accept foreign cards, and where can you withdraw yen?
Video Guide
Do Japanese Trains Stop During a Typhoon? How to Check and What to Ask
Do Japanese trains stop during a typhoon, and how do you check whether yours is running?
Video Guide
Traveling in Japan During Obon: What to Expect in Mid-August
Should you travel in Japan during Obon in mid-August?
Video Guide
How to Send Your Luggage in Japan with Takkyubin
How do you send your luggage ahead in Japan instead of dragging it on the train?
Video Guide
How to Pay on a Bus in Japan (Front or Back Door, IC Card, and the Ticket)
How do you pay when you ride a local bus in Japan?
Video Guide
Which Side Do You Stand On? Japan's Escalator Rule (Tokyo vs Osaka)
Which side do you stand on an escalator in Japan?
Video Guide
How Conveyor-Belt Sushi Works in Japan (A First-Timer's Guide)
How does conveyor-belt sushi work in Japan?
How To
How to Use a Ramen Ticket Machine in Japan (Step by Step)
How do you order using a ramen ticket vending machine in Japan?
Video Guide
Do You Take Your Shoes Off in Japan? When, Where, and How to Do It Right
When and where do you take your shoes off in Japan?
Video GuideJapanese Train Etiquette: The Rules Tourists Break Most
What are the etiquette rules on Japanese trains?
Video Guide
Heatstroke in Japan: What to Do and How to Ask for Help
What should you do if you get heatstroke in Japan, and how do you ask for help in Japanese?
Video Guide
Do You Tip in Japan? Why It Can Backfire and What to Say Instead
Do you tip in Japan, and what should you do instead?
Video Guide
Reserved or Unreserved Shinkansen Seat? What to Choose and How to Ask
Do you need a reserved seat on the Shinkansen, or can you use an unreserved car?
Video Guide
Can You Pay by Card in Japan? What Travelers Need to Know About Cash
Can you pay by credit card in Japan, or do you still need cash?
Video Guide
Onsen Etiquette in Japan: The Rules Every First-Timer Should Know
What are the etiquette rules for using a Japanese onsen?
Video Guide
How to Pray at a Japanese Shrine (Two Bows, Two Claps, One Bow)
How do you pray at a Japanese shrine?
Video Guide
Can You Go to an Onsen With Tattoos? What Travelers Should Know
Can you go to a Japanese onsen or public bath if you have tattoos?
Video Guide
The 3 Japanese Words Every Traveler Should Learn Before Japan
What are the most useful Japanese words for tourists?
Video Guide
What Does "Sumimasen" Mean? The One Word That Does Everything in Japan
What does sumimasen mean and how do you use it in Japan?
Video Guide
How to Ask for Directions in Japanese (The One Phrase That Saves You)
How do you ask where something is in Japanese?
Video Guide
What to Actually Say in a Japanese Convenience Store (Konbini)
What Japanese do you need at a convenience store (konbini)?
Video Guide
How to Say You Have a Food Allergy in Japanese (and Eat Safely)
How do you tell a restaurant about a food allergy in Japanese?
Video Guide
How to Shop Tax-Free in Japan (and Save 10%)
How do you shop tax-free in Japan as a tourist?
Comparison
Kōfuku vs Duolingo for Travel Japanese: Which Is Better Before a Trip?
Is Kōfuku or Duolingo better for learning travel Japanese?
Alternative
Best Alternatives to Rosetta Stone for Tourists Learning Japanese
What are the best alternatives to Rosetta Stone for tourists learning Japanese?
Use Case
Japanese for Foodies Visiting Osaka: The Phrases You'll Actually Use
What Japanese phrases do I need to eat well in Osaka?
Videos by topic 270
All videos →accommodation
See all accommodation →
Common Mistake
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Intermediate
▶
Someone in Japan Calls You Over. The English Word Coming Sends You the Wrong Way.
ima ikimasu · I'm coming right now.
Survival
▶
If a Japanese Staffer Says THIS Word, Freeze
dame desu · No - not allowed.
Survival
▶
I'm OK → The Most Useful Phrase in Japan
daijōbu desu · I'm okay / no thanks
count-along
See all count-along →
cultural-explainer
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Intermediate
▶
The Fireworks Start at Seven. That Riverbank Was Claimed at Noon.
basho-tori · claiming a spot in advance
Survival
▶
That Little Dish You Never Ordered in Japan Isn't Free
otoshi · the small dish that arrives automatically, and the charge that comes with it
Survival
▶
Everyone Stops at This Stone Basin Before the Shrine. Nobody Tells You What to Do.
chouzuya · the purification basin at the entrance to a shrine
Intermediate
▶
That Sign Is Not Saying Please Be Careful. Japanese Has a Way of Saying No Without the Word No.
tabearuki wa go-enryo kudasai · Please refrain from eating while walking.
cultural-nuance
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Cultural Shock
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Survival
▶
It Is 36 Degrees and She Just Threw a Bucket of Water at the Pavement. She Is Not Cleaning.
uchimizu · sprinkling water to cool the street
Beginner
▶
The Konbini Cashier Asks You One Word. Freeze No More.
atatamemasu ka? · Shall I heat it up?
Survival
▶
Your Japanese Host Keeps Refilling Your Plate. Say This or It Never Stops.
onaka ippai desu · I'm full, thank you
Beginner
▶
A Typhoon's Coming and Your Train Might Stop. Ask the Station This.
densha, ugoitemasu ka? · Are the trains running?
cultural_wedge
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Cultural Wedge
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Intermediate
▶
Mid August a Japanese River Fills With Lanterns. Each One Is Somebody Going Home.
tourou nagashi · Floating lantern ceremony
A Phone Is Sitting Alone on a Table in Tokyo. It Is Not Lost. It Is a Fence.
seki, totteru n desu · Sorry, this seat's taken
Survival
▶
A Stranger Just Sat Down at Your Table in Tokyo. The Staff Put Them There.
aiseki · sharing a table with a stranger
Survival
▶
The One Word That Makes You Instantly Polite in Japan
dōzo · Here you go. / Go ahead.
culture-curiosity
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culture-explainer
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culture-key-phrase
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Deep Dive
See all Deep Dive →directions
See all directions →
Etiquette
See all Etiquette →
Survival
▶
You Bought the Festival Food. Now Do Not Take a Single Step.
tabearuki kinshi · no eating while walking
Survival
▶
Don't Wear These Out of the Bathroom in Japan
toire no surippa · the toilet slippers
Survival
▶
Need a Bathroom in Japan? Say THIS — Not 'Toilet Doko'
Toire, o-kari shite mo ii desu ka? · May I use your restroom?
Intermediate
▶
Japan's Rainy-Season Rule Tourists Always Miss
Kasa, koko de ii desu ka? · Is it okay to leave my umbrella here?
Etiquette & Culture
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etiquette-phrase
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Etiquette Wedge
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Everyday Connection
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Beginner
▶
Made a Friend in Japan? This Is How You Swap Contacts (Not Instagram)
LINE kōkan shimasen ka? · Want to swap LINE?
Beginner
▶
Say This Before a Japanese Friend's Big Day (It's Not Good Luck)
ganbatte · you've got this / do your best
Intermediate
▶
The Word You Say Leaving a Japanese Restaurant (Not Arigatō)
gochisōsama deshita · thanks for the meal
Beginner
▶
Your Reset Button When Japanese Comes Back Too Fast
yukkuri onegai shimasu · slowly, please
Food + Language
See all Food + Language →
Beginner
▶
The Noodles Are Sliding Down a Bamboo Pipe. Nobody Told You the Rules.
kore, dō yatte tabemasu ka · How do I eat this?
Beginner
▶
Can You Read This Izakaya Menu?
yakitori · grilled chicken skewers
Intermediate
▶
What to Order at a Japanese Summer Festival
takoyaki kudasai · Takoyaki, please
Intermediate
▶
How to Order Gyōza Like You Belong There
gyōza wo onegaishimasu · Gyōza, please
greetings
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health
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Immersive
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Survival
▶
The Konbini Screen Just Lit Up With Four Kanji. It's Asking How Old You Are.
nenrei kakunin · age check
Survival
▶
Two Kanji in Japan Mean Absolutely Not. Learn to Spot Them.
kinshi · Prohibited, forbidden
Survival
▶
The Two Kanji That Mean You're Not Getting In
manseki · Full, no seats
Intermediate
▶
Rain Ruining Your Japan Trip? June Is Secretly Its Prettiest Month
ajisai · hydrangea
Interactive
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listening-drill
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Listening Recognition
See all Listening Recognition →
Survival
▶
The Ramen Cook Just Added an Egg You Did Not Order. One Word Tells You If It Is Free.
kore, saabisu desu · This one is on the house.
Survival
▶
The Fireworks Ended. Now Staff Are Blocking the Station Entrance on Purpose.
nyuujou kisei · entry restriction: the station is letting people in in waves
Survival
▶
Your Food Lands on the Counter and the Staff Apologizes to You. Nobody Did Anything Wrong.
omatase shimashita · Sorry to keep you waiting.
Survival
▶
Every Shop in Japan Shouts This at You. You Are Not Supposed to Answer.
irasshaimase · welcome in (said by shop staff)
listening-rescue
See all listening-rescue →mini-dialogue
See all mini-dialogue →Japanese Hotels Ask Every Foreign Guest for the Same Thing. It Is Not Your Booking.
pasupōto o onegai shimasu · Your passport, please
Beginner
▶
A Stranger in Japan Will Ask You One Question. Most Tourists Just Smile and Nod.
sugoku tanoshii desu · I'm having a great time.
Beginner
▶
"Sorry, We Are Full." In Japan That Is Not the End of the Conversation.
kyanseru-machi wa dekimasu ka? · Can I go on the cancellation waiting list?
Beginner
▶
Your Ryokan Is a Two Thousand Yen Taxi From the Station. It Also Runs a Free Van.
sougei basu wa arimasu ka? · Is there a shuttle bus?
Mini-Lesson
See all Mini-Lesson →
Beginner
▶
That Ryokan Costs Forty Thousand Yen a Night. You Can Use Its Hot Spring for About a Thousand.
higaeri nyuuyoku, dekimasu ka? · Can I use the bath just for the day?
Survival
▶
Japan Runs on Machines That Won't Explain Themselves. This Sentence Makes a Human Appear.
tsukaikata o oshiete kudasai · Please show me how to use this.
Beginner
▶
Summer Killed Your Appetite but Not the Rice Bowl. One Word Fixes It.
gohan sukuname de onegai shimasu · smaller rice portion, please
Beginner
▶
Vegetarian in Japan? The Phrase That Keeps Meat Off Your Plate
niku wa taberaremasen · I can't eat meat.
mini-scenario
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Survival
▶
You Wave. You Cough. Nobody Comes. There Is a Button Right Next to Your Hand.
yobidashi botan · call button
Beginner
▶
You Land at Nine. Check In Is at Three. Here Is the Sentence, and the Answer You Will Actually Get.
hayame ni chekku-in dekimasu ka · Can I check in early?
Beginner
▶
A Hand Reaches for Your Plate in Japan. You Are Not Finished.
mada tabete imasu · I'm still eating.
Survival
▶
Twenty Five Thousand Steps a Day in Thirty Six Degrees. Your Feet Give Out Before Your Japanese Does.
bansoukou · adhesive bandage / plaster
Money & Banking
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one-phrase-survival
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one-word-hero
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onsen
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order-by-copying
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ordering
See all ordering →
Order Like a Local
See all Order Like a Local →
Beginner
▶
The Ramen Shop Asks How You Want Your Noodles. Say Nothing and You Get the Boring Answer.
katame de onegai shimasu · Firm, please
Survival
▶
The Counter Asks You One Word Before Your Food Is Rung Up. Say This or the Sides Never Come.
setto de · The set, please.
Survival
▶
The Cheapest Good Lunch in Japan Is Not on the Menu. It Is on a Board by the Door.
higawari · the daily set: today's changing lunch
Survival
▶
Free Water in Japan Is Served HOT. Here's How to Ask for It.
oyu wo kudasai · hot water, please
phrase-drill
See all phrase-drill →
Beginner
▶
Two Snacks, One Cashier, No Clue. Ask Which One Everyone Buys.
docchi ga ninki desu ka? · Which one is more popular?
Survival
▶
You Know 'Wakarimasen'. Here's the One Word That Means the Opposite.
wakarimashita · Got it / understood
Survival
▶
Winding Mountain Roads in Japan? Ask for This Before You Board.
yoidome wa arimasu ka? · Do you have motion-sickness pills?
Beginner
▶
The Ramen Line Wraps the Block. Ten Minutes or an Hour? Ask This.
dono kurai machimasu ka? · how long is the wait?
phrase_of_the_day
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Phrase of the Day
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politeness-nuance
See all politeness-nuance →
Pop Culture
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Pronunciation
See all Pronunciation →
reaction-word
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recognition-drill
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role-play
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Beginner
▶
First 10 Seconds at a Japanese Hotel Desk? Say This.
chekku-in onegai shimasu · Check-in, please
Beginner
▶
Last Train's Gone in Tokyo? Ask the Front Desk This.
takushii o yonde kudasai · Please call a taxi
Beginner
▶
35C at a Japanese Beer Garden? This Is the Only Phrase You Need.
nama biiru kudasai · A draft beer, please
Survival
▶
How to Tell a Japanese Taxi 'Stop Here'
koko de tomete kudasai · please stop here
Safety Phrase
See all Safety Phrase →
Scenario
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Beginner
▶
You Can Smell the Festival Food but Can't Find It. Say This.
yatai wa doko desu ka? · Where are the food stalls?
Beginner
▶
Sunburned in Kyoto? The One Phrase That Finds You Sunscreen.
hiyakedome wa arimasu ka? · Do you have sunscreen?
Beginner
▶
Free Refills in Japan? Only If You Know This Word
okawari kudasai · another serving / a refill, please
Seasonal Food
See all Seasonal Food →
seasonal-ritual
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shopping
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Beginner
▶
That Free Sample Tray in a Japanese Food Hall? Ask Before You Reach.
shishoku dekimasu ka? · Can I try a sample?
Beginner
▶
Japan's Summer Mosquitoes Are Ruthless. Learn This Drugstore Phrase.
mushiyoke wa arimasu ka? · Do you have bug spray?
Survival
▶
Buying Omiyage in Japan? Ask This at the Register.
rappingu dekimasu ka? · Can you gift-wrap it?
sign-decode
See all sign-decode →
Survival
▶
The Ticket Gate Just Shut on You in Japan. The Screen Is Telling You Why.
zangaku busoku · not enough balance left
Survival
▶
It Is Thirty Six Degrees and the Locals Are Walking Straight Past the Coolest Car on the Train.
jakureibōsha · the mildly air-conditioned car
Survival
▶
Japan Cancelled Tomorrow's Trains. It Is Sunny Outside and the Notice Is Already Up.
keikaku unkyū · planned suspension of service
Survival
▶
You Walked Twenty Five Minutes in the Heat. The Card on That Door Says Closed Every Tuesday.
teikyūbi · regular weekly closing day
sign_decode
See all sign_decode →
single-phrase
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single-word-reveal
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situational
See all situational →Riding the Subway All Day in Japan? Say This at the Window and Stop Paying Per Ride.
ichinichi jōshaken o kudasai · A one-day pass, please
Survival
▶
Your Shinkansen Ticket Is Actually Two Tickets. The Gate Wants Both.
tokkyūken · limited express ticket (the second ticket)
Survival
▶
Online Says Sold Out. A Window at the Entrance Is Still Selling Tickets for Today.
toujitsuken · a same-day ticket, sold at the window on the day
Beginner
▶
The Phone in Your Karaoke Room Rings. Nobody Told You It Was a Countdown.
enchō dekimasu ka? · Can I extend?
situational-phrase
See all situational-phrase →
situation-rescue
See all situation-rescue →You Missed the Last Train in Tokyo. There Is a Door That Costs Two Thousand Yen.
naito pakku arimasu ka? · Do you have a night pack?
Beginner
▶
You Fell Asleep on a Japanese Train and Woke Up Somewhere Else. Say This at the Gate.
norisugoshimashita · I missed my stop.
Beginner
▶
Your Flight Just Got Cancelled by a Typhoon. Check Out Is in Forty Minutes.
mou ippaku dekimasu ka? · Can I stay one more night?
Survival
▶
One Short Line Makes Japanese Staff Slow Down and Walk You Through It. Say It Before You Panic.
koko, hajimete nan desu · It's my first time here.
social-greeting
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Survival Phrase
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Survival
▶
In Japan the Cashier Might Not Hand You the Receipt. Here's How to Ask.
reshīto kudasai · A receipt, please
Survival
▶
Hurt Yourself in Japan? The One Word the Doctor Needs to Hear
itai · it hurts / ouch
Beginner
▶
Tokyo Taxi Feels Like a Sauna? The Polite Way to Ask for AC.
eakon o tsukete kudasai · Please turn on the AC.
Survival
▶
Out Late in Tokyo? Miss This Train and You're Stuck Till Dawn
shūden wa nanji desu ka? · What time is the last train?
Survival Phrases
See all Survival Phrases →
Survival
▶
You Will Speak Japanese Before You Leave the Airport. One Word Is Enough.
kankō desu · Sightseeing. (my purpose of visit)
Survival
▶
911 Won't Work in Japan - the One Phrase That Will
keisatsu o yonde kudasai · Please call the police.
Survival
▶
Cashier Moving Too Quick? The Polite Way to Say 'Hold On a Second' in Japan
chotto matte kudasai · wait a moment, please
Survival
▶
The Greeting You'll Say 20 Times a Day in Japan (It Changes by the Hour)
konnichiwa · hello / good day
Technology
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Transportation
See all Transportation →
Travel Basics
See all Travel Basics →
Beginner
▶
The Kyoto Bus Has Not Moved in Ten Minutes. Everyone Overtaking It Is on a Bicycle.
jitensha o karitai desu · I'd like to rent a bicycle.
Beginner
▶
35C at a Japanese Festival? This 3-Word Order Saves You
kakigōri kudasai · Shaved ice, please.
Beginner
▶
Wrong Dish at Your Table in Japan? Fix It Without Being Rude
chigaimasu · That's not right.
Beginner
▶
How to Ask 'How Much Is It?' at Any Shop in Japan
ikura desu ka? · how much is it?
Travel Hack
See all Travel Hack →
Beginner
▶
Skip the Pricey Fuji Tours — Take This Train
Fuji Kaiyū · the Fuji Excursion (direct limited express to Mt Fuji)
Intermediate
▶
How to Order Hot Snacks at the Konbini Counter
kore, kudasai · this one, please
Intermediate
▶
Japan's Luggage Hack: Travel Hands-Free
nimotsu o okuritai desu · I'd like to send my luggage
Phrase posters 43
All posters →
Cheering Someone On in Japanese
Encourage a friend the Japanese way 🇯🇵
Today, Tomorrow, Yesterday in Japanese
The 12 time words you will use every day 🇯🇵
At the Izakaya in Japanese
Order like a regular at a Japanese pub 🇯🇵
Making Plans in Japanese
Invite, agree, politely bail 📅🇯🇵
Money and Prices in Japanese
Pay with confidence 💴🇯🇵
At the Ramen Shop in Japanese
Order like a regular 🍜🇯🇵
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