道の聞き方: 日本語で道を尋ねる方法

2026年4月24日

Whether you're lost in Tokyo or trying to find the nearest convenience store, knowing how to ask for directions in Japanese is a survival skill. This guide gives you every phrase you need — from stopping a stranger politely to understanding the answer they give.

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At a Glance: Direction Asking Essentials

English	Japanese	Romaji
Excuse me, where is…?	すみません、〜はどこですか。	Sumimasen, ~ wa doko desu ka.
How do I get to…?	〜にはどう行けばいいですか。	~ ni wa dou ikeba ii desu ka.
Please show me on this map.	地図で指していただけますか。	Chizu de sashite itadakemasu ka.
How far is it?	どれくらい遠いですか。	Dore kurai tooi desu ka.
Is it walkable?	歩いて行けますか。	Aruite ikemasu ka.

Yuka

In Japan people are usually very helpful when you ask for directions! Learning just a few phrases will take you a long way.

How to Politely Stop Someone and Ask

The first step is getting someone's attention without being rude. Always start with:

すみません。(Sumimasen.) — Excuse me. / I'm sorry to bother you.

This single word signals that you need help and that you're being polite about it. Follow it immediately with your question.

Japanese	Romaji	English
すみません、駅はどこですか。	Sumimasen, eki wa doko desu ka.	Excuse me, where is the train station?
すみません、コンビニはこの辺りにありますか。	Sumimasen, konbini wa kono atari ni arimasu ka.	Excuse me, is there a convenience store around here?
すみません、この住所を探しているんですが。	Sumimasen, kono juusho wo sagashite iru n desu ga.	Excuse me, I'm looking for this address.

Asking 「Where Is…?」: The Core Pattern

The basic question pattern is: [Place] wa doko desu ka? (〜はどこですか。)

Japanese	Romaji	English
駅はどこですか。	Eki wa doko desu ka.	Where is the station?
トイレはどこですか。	Toire wa doko desu ka.	Where is the toilet?
一番近いコンビニはどこですか。	Ichiban chikai konbini wa doko desu ka.	Where is the nearest convenience store?
このビルはどこですか。	Kono biru wa doko desu ka.	Where is this building?
はくぶつの乗り場はどこですか。	Hakubutsu no noriba wa doko desu ka.	Where is the bus stop?

Rei

What if I have an address or a map on my phone? Can I just show it to someone?

Yuka

Absolutely! Just say この場所へ行きたいんですが… (Kono basho e ikitain desu ga…) — I want to go to this place… — and show your phone. Works every time!

Understanding Direction Answers

When a Japanese person gives you directions, they'll use these key words. Learn to listen for them:

Japanese	Romaji	English
まっすぐ	massugu	straight ahead
右に曲がる	migi ni magaru	turn right
左に曲がる	hidari ni magaru	turn left
信号を渡る	shingou wo wataru	cross at the traffic light
橋を渡る	hashi wo wataru	cross the bridge
ここを左に曲がる	koko wo hidari ni magaru	turn left here
山手線の次の角	yamanote-sen no tsugi no kado	next corner by the Yamanote Line
徒歩５分くらい	toho go-fun kurai	about 5 minutes on foot

Useful Follow-Up Questions

If you didn't understand, or need more detail, use these:

Japanese	Romaji	English
もう一度言っていただけますか。	Mou ichido itte itadakemasu ka.	Could you say that once more?
ゆっくり言っていただけますか。	Yukkuri itte itadakemasu ka.	Could you say it more slowly?
地図で指していただけますか。	Chizu de sashite itadakemasu ka.	Could you point to it on the map?
歩いていけますか。	Aruite ikemasu ka.	Can I walk there?
どの電車に乗ればいいですか。	Dono densha ni noreba ii desu ka.	Which train should I take?

Full Conversation Example: Finding the Station

Speaker	Japanese	English
You	すみません、渋谷駅はどこですか。	Excuse me, where is Shibuya Station?
Local	ああ、まっすぐ行って、信号を渡って左に曲がれば見えますよ。	Ah, go straight, cross at the light, and turn left — you can't miss it.
You	徒歩でどれくらいかかりますか。	How long does it take on foot?
Local	山手線で徇歩５分かな。	Maybe about 5 minutes.
You	ありがとうございます。	Thank you very much.

Common Mistakes When Asking Directions

Mistake	What Happens	Fix	Cause
Forgetting sumimasen opener	Launching straight into the question	Always start with すみません to avoid seeming abrupt	Cultural norm
Using どこ vs. どこら	Both mean ‘where’ but どこら is more formal/polite	どこ is fine; どちら is for directions from a choice	Nuance confusion
Not confirming understanding	Nodding even when you didn't follow	Say すみません、もう一度… to ask for a repeat	Politeness backfire