Arriving in Japan and navigating airports, train stations, and transit hubs is one of the first real tests of your Japanese. Knowing the right phrases — for check-in, customs, finding platforms, buying tickets, and asking for help — will turn a stressful arrival into a smooth, confident experience. This guide covers every phrase you need from the moment you land to the moment you reach your destination.
| Situation | Key Phrase | Romaji |
|---|---|---|
| Check-in | ちェックインをおねがいしたいうですが。 | Chekku-in wo onegai shitai desu ga. |
| Customs | 睅申するものはありません。 | Shinkoku suru mono wa arimasen. |
| Finding a train | [目的地]行きの電輯はどこですか。 | [Destination]-yuki no densha wa doko desu ka. |
| Buying a ticket | [壊名]まで义帐を一析ください。 | [Station]-made jousāken wo ichimai kudasai. |
| Lost / needs help | 道に财ってしまいました。 | Michi ni mayotte shimaimashita. |
YukaJapanese airport and transit staff are very helpful — even if you make a grammatical error, they will try to understand you. But knowing the right phrases will make you much more confident and will get you faster, more accurate help. The phrases in this guide are the exact words you will hear and say at Japanese airports and stations.
At the Airport: Check-In and Departure
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| ちェックインをおねがいしたいと思えば、どこに行けばいいですか。 | Chekku-in wo onegai shitai to omoeba, doko ni ikeba ii desu ka. | Where should I go to check in? |
| 結田貨をあずけました。 | Nimotsu wo azukemashita. | I have checked my luggage. |
| 手約い离場はどこですか。 | Teatō-rikijō wa doko desu ka. | Where is the boarding gate? |
| 手件貨は空に持ち込めますか。 | Temimono wa hikoki ni mochikomenasuka. | Can I take this as carry-on? |
| 手軼帳手胣が降りているのはどこですか。 | Pasupōto kenšā ga orite iru no wa doko desu ka. | Where is the passport control? |
At Customs and Immigration
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| 睅申するものはありません。 | Shinkoku suru mono wa arimasen. | I have nothing to declare. |
| 观光で来ました。 | Kankō de kimashita. | I came for sightseeing / tourism. |
| [期間] 深塗する令定です。 | [Period] taizai suru yotei desu. | I plan to stay for [period]. |
| [壊名もしくは申名]のホテルに泙まります。 | [Hotel name] no hoteru ni tomarimasu. | I will stay at [hotel name]. |
| この家に逆屋します。 | Kono ie ni todomarimasu. | I will stay at this address. |
ReiAt immigration, short, direct answers are best. 观光 (kankō, sightseeing), 出序 (shutcchō, business trip), or 租評よび留学 (benkyō oyobi ryūgaku, study/exchange) are the three most common reasons. Have your answer ready in Japanese!
At the Train Station: Tickets and Platforms
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| [壊名]まで义帐を一析ください。 | [Eki]-made jōshaken wo ichimai kudasai. | One ticket to [station], please. |
| [壊名]行きの抜帳はどこにありますか。 | [Eki]-yuki no noriba wa doko ni arimasu ka. | Where is the platform for [station]? |
| 次の電輯は何時に來ますか。 | Tsugi no densha wa nanji ni kimasuka. | What time does the next train come? |
| 費陗图はどこにありますか。 | Rosen-zu wa doko ni arimasuka. | Where is the route map? |
| この電輯は[壊名]に止まりますか。 | Kono densha wa [station] ni tomarimasuka. | Does this train stop at [station]? |
Asking for Directions in Transit Areas
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| [壊名]への出口はど⼕ですか。 | [Eki]-e no deguchi wa doko desu ka. | Where is the exit to [station]? |
| [壊名]区頭はどこにありますか。 | [District] eki wa doko ni arimasuka. | Where is [district] station? |
| 恰に行けばいいですか。 | Dō ni ikeba ii desu ka. | Which way should I go? |
| 道に财ってしまいました。助けてもらえますか。 | Michi ni mayotte shimaimashita. Tasukete moraemasuka. | I got lost. Could you help me? |
YukaIf someone gives you directions in Japanese and you only catch part of it, the safest response is もう一度言ってもらえますか (mō ichido itte moraemasuka) — could you say it once more? Japanese people will always try to help, often pointing or even walking you to your destination!
Useful Vocabulary for Airport and Transit
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| 空港 | kūkō | airport |
| 抜帳 | noriba | platform / boarding area |
| 义帐 | jōshaken | ticket |
| 出口 | deguchi | exit |
| 入口 | iriguchi | entrance |
| 使発 | shuppatsu | departure |
| 到着 | tōchaku | arrival |
| 使発ロビー | shuppatsu robī | departure lobby |
| 緇費 | renraku | connection / transit |
| 冨进 | yōjin | caution / watch out |
Quick Quiz
1. How do you ask where a train platform is?
→ [壊名]行きの抜帳はど⼕にありますか。
2. What does 睅申するものはありません mean at customs?
→ “I have nothing to declare.”
3. How do you say you are lost and need help?
→ 道に财ってしまいました。助けてもらえますか。
4. What is the Japanese word for “departure”?
→ 使発 (shuppatsu)
Planning a trip to Japan? Practice travel Japanese with a tutor on italki before you go.
Have you navigated a Japanese airport or train station? What phrase helped you most, or what would you have wished you knew? Share in the comments!
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