Essential Japanese Phrases for Travel (2026): What You Actually Need

Essential Japanese phrases for travel — the ones that will actually help you in Japan. You don't need fluency. You need maybe thirty words. These will help you get around, show respect, and make your trip noticeably easier.

Learn these before you go. Japanese people genuinely appreciate any attempt.

The Most Important Words

Sumimasen (すみません) — excuse me / sorry / excuse me to get attention

This is the single most useful word in Japan. Use it to: get a waiter's attention, apologize for bumping into someone, ask someone to move, say "coming through." It functions like "pardon," "excuse me," and "sorry" all at once. Learn this word above all others.

Arigatou gozaimasu (ありがとうございます) — thank you (formal)

The full, polite thank you. Use this with shopkeepers, restaurant staff, hotel staff, anyone providing a service. The shorter "arigatou" works with friends; "arigatou gozaimasu" is always safe.

Irasshaimase (いらっしゃいませ) — welcome (said to customers)

You'll hear this constantly when entering any shop, restaurant, or convenience store — shouted by all staff at once. You don't need to respond. A slight nod is fine. It's not directed at you personally; it's a ritual greeting.

Greetings

Getting Around

Doko desu ka? (どこですか？) — Where is [place]? Say the place name, then "doko desu ka?" — "___ wa doko desu ka?" (Where is ___?)

[Station name] made onegai shimasu (まで お願いします) — To [station], please Use in taxis. Say the destination plus "made onegai shimasu."

Koko de ii desu (ここで いいです) — Here is fine Tell a taxi to stop here.

Chotto matte kudasai (ちょっと 待って ください) — Please wait a moment

Eki wa doko desu ka? (駅は どこですか？) — Where is the train station?

Hidari (左) — Left. Migi (右) — Right. Massugu (まっすぐ) — Straight ahead.

Restaurants and Food

Sumimasen — to get the waiter's attention (point and say this, or hold up your hand)

Kore wo hitotsu (これを ひとつ) — One of this, please (point at what you want)

Kore wo kudasai (これを ください) — This one please

Ikura desu ka? (いくらですか？) — How much is it?

Oishii desu (おいしいです) — It's delicious (say this after eating something good — it will be appreciated)

Okaikei onegai shimasu (おかいけい お願いします) — The bill, please

Nani ga osusume desu ka? (なにが おすすめですか？) — What do you recommend?

[Food] arimasu ka? (ありますか？) — Do you have [food]?

Bejitarian desu (ベジタリアンです) — I am vegetarian

Niku nashi de onegai shimasu (にく なしで お願いします) — Without meat, please

Arerugii ga arimasu (アレルギーがあります) — I have an allergy

When the phrases run out

Allergies are the one case where a phrase alone is not enough, because you need to be understood exactly rather than approximately. Point your phone's camera at the menu and let it translate, or show the staff the translated sentence on screen. The same trick handles handwritten daily specials, which are the menus that defeat everybody.

That needs mobile data, and it is the reason most visitors end up wanting a connection rather than relying on café WiFi. A travel eSIM is the cheapest way to have one, and you install it at home before you fly.

Shopping

Ikura desu ka? — How much?

Yasuku narimasu ka? (やすく なりますか？) — Can you make it cheaper? (only appropriate at markets)

Kore wo misete kudasai (これを みせて ください) — Please show me this

Chotto chiisai desu / Chotto ookii desu — A little small / A little big

Kore wo kudasai — I'll take this

Kurejitto kaado wa tsukaemasu ka? (クレジットカードは つかえますか？) — Can I use a credit card?

Emergencies and Help

Tasukete! (たすけて！) — Help!

Byouin wa doko desu ka? (びょういんは どこですか？) — Where is the hospital?

Eigo ga hanasemasu ka? (えいごが はなせますか？) — Can you speak English?

Wakarimasen (わかりません) — I don't understand

Mou ichido itte kudasai (もう いちど いって ください) — Please say that again

Yukkuri hanashite kudasai (ゆっくり はなして ください) — Please speak slowly

Yes, No, and Useful Filler

"Chotto..." followed by a trailing voice is a polite Japanese way of saying "no" or "that's difficult" without confrontation. If someone says "chotto..." when you ask for something, take it as a no.

Numbers

For holding up fingers: Japanese often count differently (closing fingers from the open hand rather than opening from a fist). The Western version is universally understood.

Pronunciation Guide

Japanese vowels are consistent:

• A = "ah" (as in "father")
• I = "ee" (as in "feet")
• U = "oo" (as in "moon") — often de-voiced and nearly silent
• E = "eh" (as in "get")
• O = "oh" (as in "go")

Consonants are mostly similar to English. The R sound is between English R and L.

Pitch matters in Japanese (it's a pitch-accent language), but foreign visitors are not expected to get this right. Pronounce the vowels clearly and you'll be understood.

FAQ

How do I say hello in Japanese? Konnichiwa (こんにちは) means hello or good afternoon. Ohayou gozaimasu (おはようございます) is good morning. Konbanwa (こんばんは) is good evening. Konnichiwa is the general greeting that works in most situations.

How do I say thank you in Japanese? Arigatou gozaimasu (ありがとうございます) is the formal thank you. Arigatou (ありがとう) is the casual version. Doumo (どうも) is an even shorter version, used casually. In shops and restaurants, arigatou gozaimasu is appropriate.

Is it rude to speak English in Japan? No. Many people working in hotels, stations and tourist areas speak some English, though often less than visitors expect. The courtesy is to try a few Japanese words first — greetings, thank you, excuse me — before switching to English. This shows respect and is universally appreciated.

Do I need to learn hiragana/katakana/kanji? Not for a short trip. Station signs and most tourist infrastructure have English or romanized versions, though many small restaurants' menus are in Japanese only; a translation app's camera mode covers those. Learning hiragana (46 characters) takes about a week of study and allows you to read the phonetic alphabet — useful but not required.

What are the most important Japanese words to know? In order: sumimasen (excuse me), arigatou gozaimasu (thank you), hai (yes), iie (no), and ikura desu ka (how much?). These five will get you through most basic interactions.