Giving Directions in Japanese

Picture this: you’re standing at a busy intersection in Kyoto, phone battery at 3%, and Google Maps just crashed. A local woman walks by. You know she knows where the temple is — but do you know how to ask? And more importantly, can you understand her answer?

Asking for directions is one of the most practical Japanese skills a traveler or learner can build. The good news is that the core phrases are short, polite, and highly reusable. This guide walks you through everything you need: how to ask, how to understand the answer, key vocabulary for streets and stations, and exactly what to say when you’re completely lost.

📍 At a Glance: Essential Direction Phrases

Japanese	Reading	Meaning
〜はどこですか？	〜はどこですか？	where is ~?
〜に行きたいんですが	〜にいきたいんですが	I’d like to go to ~
〜への行き方を教えてください	〜へのいきかたをおしえてください	Please tell me how to get to ~
まっすぐ行ってください	まっすぐいってください	Go straight ahead
右に曲がってください	みぎにまがってください	Turn right
左に曲がってください	ひだりにまがってください	Turn left
〜の前です	〜のまえです	It’s in front of ~
もう一度言ってください	もういちどいってください	Please say that again
書いてもらえますか？	かいてもらえますか？	Could you write it down?
迷子になりました	まいごになりました	I’m lost

1. How to Ask for Directions

The first step is getting someone’s attention politely. In Japan, すみません（すみません） — “Excuse me” — is your best friend. It works in any public situation and signals that you’re about to ask something respectfully. After that, choose one of these three core question patterns depending on how much you want to say:

Pattern 1: 〜はどこですか？ — The Simple Ask

[Place] + は + どこ + ですか？

This is the most beginner-friendly structure. Just drop in the place name and you’re done.

Japanese	Reading	English
駅はどこですか？	えきはどこですか？	where is the station?
トイレはどこですか？	トイレはどこですか？	where is the restroom?
金閣寺はどこですか？	きんかくじはどこですか？	where is Kinkaku-ji?
バス停はどこですか？	バスていはどこですか？	where is the bus stop?

Pattern 2: 〜に行きたいんですが — The Softer Ask

[Place] + に + 行きたいんですが

This pattern is slightly more conversational and polite. The trailing 〜んですが（んですが） softens the request — literally “I want to go to ~, but…” — leaving it open for the listener to help. Japanese speakers use this constantly, and it sounds much more natural than bluntly asking where is it?

Japanese	Reading	English
銀閣寺に行きたいんですが	ぎんかくじにいきたいんですが	I’d like to go to Ginkaku-ji…
このホテルに行きたいんですが	このホテルにいきたいんですが	I’d like to get to this hotel…
渋谷駅に行きたいんですが	しぶやえきにいきたいんですが	I’d like to go to Shibuya Station…

Pattern 3: 〜への行き方を教えてください — The Full Request

[Place] + への + 行き方（いきかた）を + 教えてください（おしえてください）

This literally means “Please teach me the way to ~.” It’s a complete, polite request that signals you’re ready for a full set of directions. Use this when you have time to listen and write things down.

Japanese	Reading	English
清水寺への行き方を教えてください	きよみずでらへのいきかたをおしえてください	Please tell me how to get to Kiyomizu-dera.
空港への行き方を教えてください	くうこうへのいきかたをおしえてください	Please tell me how to get to the airport.

Tip: If you’re carrying a map or have a hotel card with the address, hold it out and say ここに行きたいんですが（ここにいきたいんですが） — “I’d like to get here.” Pointing at an address removes all language barriers.

2. Directional Words and Movement Verbs

Once someone starts giving you directions, you’ll hear a combination of directional words and movement verbs strung together. Learn these building blocks and even fast-spoken directions become decipherable.

Core Directional Words

Japanese	Reading	Meaning
右（みぎ）	みぎ	right
左（ひだり）	ひだり	left
まっすぐ	まっすぐ	straight ahead
前（まえ）	まえ	in front / ahead
後ろ（うしろ）	うしろ	behind / back
北（きた）	きた	north
南（みなみ）	みなみ	south
東（ひがし）	ひがし	east
西（にし）	にし	west
角（かど）	かど	corner
交差点（こうさてん）	こうさてん	intersection / crossroads
信号（しんごう）	しんごう	traffic light

Key Movement Verbs for Directions

These verbs appear constantly in directions. They are usually given in the て-form (te-form) to chain actions together — for example, “go straight, then turn right.”

Verb	Reading	Meaning	て-form
曲がる	まがる	to turn	曲がって
渡る	わたる	to cross (a street/bridge)	渡って
過ぎる	すぎる	to pass / go past	過ぎて
進む	すすむ	to go forward / proceed	進んで
戻る	もどる	to go back / return	戻って
行く	いく	to go	行って
歩く	あるく	to walk	歩いて

How te-form chaining works in directions: [Verb て-form] + [next action] — “do this, then do that.” For example: まっすぐ行って、右に曲がってください（まっすぐいって、みぎにまがってください） — “Go straight and then turn right.” You’ll hear this pattern in almost every set of directions.

Common Direction Sentences

Japanese	Reading	English
まっすぐ行ってください	まっすぐいってください	Please go straight ahead
右に曲がってください	みぎにまがってください	Please turn right
左に曲がってください	ひだりにまがってください	Please turn left
橋を渡ってください	はしをわたってください	Please cross the bridge
交差点を渡ってください	こうさてんをわたってください	Please cross the intersection
コンビニを過ぎてください	コンビニをすぎてください	Please pass the convenience store
少し戻ってください	すこしもどってください	Please go back a little
〜まで歩いてください	〜まであるいてください	Please walk as far as ~

3. Using Landmarks and Reference Points

Japanese directions rarely use compass bearings or street names the way Western directions do. Instead, landmarks are the backbone of navigation. Convenience stores (コンビニ), traffic lights (信号), and distinctive buildings are all fair game. Here are the key patterns:

Landmark Reference Patterns

Pattern	Reading	Meaning
〜の前で	〜のまえで	in front of ~ / at the front of ~
〜の角で	〜のかどで	at the corner of ~
〜の隣に	〜のとなりに	next to ~
〜の向かいに	〜のむかいに	across from ~ / opposite ~
〜を過ぎたら	〜をすぎたら	after you pass ~
〜が見えたら	〜がみえたら	when you can see ~
〜の手前に	〜のてまえに	just before ~ / this side of ~

Real-world example directions using these patterns:

Japanese	Reading	English
コンビニの角で右に曲がってください	コンビニのかどでみぎにまがってください	Turn right at the convenience store corner
信号を渡ってまっすぐ行くと左手に見えます	しんごうをわたってまっすぐいくとひだりてにみえます	Cross at the traffic light, go straight, and you’ll see it on your left
郵便局を過ぎたら、すぐ右側にあります	ゆうびんきょくをすぎたら、すぐみぎがわにあります	After you pass the post office, it’s immediately on your right
公園の向かいにあります	こうえんのむかいにあります	It’s across from the park

Cultural note: Japan’s cities grew organically and many streets have no official names. Even Japanese people navigate primarily by landmark — so when a local says “the place next to the red vending machine,” they’re not being vague. That’s just how it works here.

4. Navigating Train Stations

Japan’s train stations — especially major hubs like Shinjuku, Osaka, and Nagoya — can feel like underground cities. Knowing the right vocabulary for exits, platforms, and train lines will save you enormous time and stress.

Essential Station Vocabulary

Japanese	Reading	Meaning
〜番線（ばんせん）	〜ばんせん	Platform number ~ (e.g., 3番線 = Platform 3)
〜出口（でぐち）	〜でぐち	Exit ~ (e.g., 北口 = North Exit)
〜方面（ほうめん）	〜ほうめん	Direction of ~ / bound for ~ (e.g., 渋谷方面)
改札口（かいさつぐち）	かいさつぐち	ticket gate / fare gate
乗り換え（のりかえ）	のりかえ	transfer / change trains
終点（しゅうてん）	しゅうてん	last stop / terminus
各駅停車（かくえきていしゃ）	かくえきていしゃ	local train (stops at every station)
急行（きゅうこう）	きゅうこう	express train
特急（とっきゅう）	とっきゅう	limited express train

Useful Station Questions

Japanese	Reading	English
〜方面はどちらですか？	〜ほうめんはどちらですか？	Which way is the ~ direction?
〜番線はどこですか？	〜ばんせんはどこですか？	where is platform ~?
北口はどちらですか？	きたぐちはどちらですか？	Which way is the North Exit?
〜行きの電車は何番線ですか？	〜ゆきのでんしゃはなんばんせんですか？	Which platform is the train to ~ on?
この電車は〜に止まりますか？	このでんしゃは〜にとまりますか？	Does this train stop at ~?
〜まで何駅ですか？	〜までなんえきですか？	How many stops to ~?

Exit tip: Japanese stations often have many exits and the wrong one can put you 500 meters in the wrong direction. Always check the exit number or name before heading up the stairs. Signs use kanji like 東口（ひがしぐち） — East Exit, 西口（にしぐち） — West Exit, 南口（みなみぐち） — South Exit, 北口（きたぐち） — North Exit.

5. Real Dialogue: Directions in Action

Let’s see these phrases working together in three realistic scenarios.

Dialogue 1: Asking Directions to a Temple

Yuka is a tourist in Kyoto. She stops a local (Rei) on the street near Gion.

Dialogue 2: Navigating a Train Station

Yuka is at Shinjuku Station and needs to find the right platform.

Dialogue 3: Getting Lost and Asking for Help Again

Yuka followed the directions but still ended up in the wrong place. She asks again.

6. Understanding Directions at Native Speed

You asked perfectly. The local answered helpfully. And then they spoke at full native speed and you caught maybe three words. Sound familiar? Here’s what to listen for when your brain is scrambling to keep up.

Key Chunks to Listen For

What you hear	What it signals
まっすぐ…	Go straight (keep walking)
…で右に / …で左に	Turn right / left at [that place]
…を渡って…	Cross [something], then…
…を過ぎたら…	After you pass [something]…
…が見えます / …が見えてきます	You will see [it] / it will come into view
〜分ぐらい	About ~ minutes [walking distance]
〜番線	Platform number ~ [at a station]
〜出口	Exit ~ / the ~ exit
すぐそこ	Right there / very close
遠いです	It’s far [consider taking a bus or taxi]

Survival Phrases When You’re Losing the Thread

Japanese	Reading	Use it when…
もう一度言ってください	もういちどいってください	You need them to repeat
ゆっくり話してもらえますか？	ゆっくりはなしてもらえますか？	They’re speaking too fast
書いてもらえますか？	かいてもらえますか？	Written directions are easier
地図を見せてもらえますか？	ちずをみせてもらえますか？	You want them to point on a map
わかりました	わかりました	You understood (confirm and move on)
すみません、英語を話せますか？	すみません、えいごをはなせますか？	Last resort: do you speak English?

Strategy tip: When you don’t understand, don’t nod and walk away hoping you’ll figure it out. It’s far better to say もう一度言ってください（もういちどいってください） — “Please say that again” — or ask them to write it down. Japanese people are generally patient and will appreciate the effort.

7. Common Mistakes When Giving and Receiving Directions

A few pitfalls catch even intermediate learners off guard. Here are the most common ones and how to avoid them.

Mistake 1: Confusing 右（みぎ）and 左（ひだり）Under Pressure

This sounds simple, but in the moment — turning to face someone, map in hand, stress rising — right and left can swap. A reliable trick: 左（ひだり）looks a bit like the letter L when you trace the strokes mentally. Drill this word specifically so it becomes automatic. When in doubt, pause and repeat back: 右ですか？左ですか？（みぎですか？ひだりですか？） — “Is it right? Or left?” — so they can confirm.

Mistake 2: Saying に行きたいです Instead of に行きたいんですが

〜に行きたいです（〜にいきたいです） is grammatically correct but sounds like a statement rather than a request for help. Adding 〜んですが（んですが） at the end softens it into an implicit question and signals that you’re expecting a response. Japanese speakers will understand both, but the second version sounds much more natural in conversation.

Mistake 3: Treating すぐ as “far”

すぐ means “soon” or “right away” — as in the destination is very close. すぐそこです means “it’s right there.” Don’t be misled into thinking a long walk is ahead. If a local says すぐそこですよ, you should already be able to see or nearly see the place.

Mistake 4: Using 〜の後ろ When You Mean 〜の向かい

後ろ（うしろ） means “behind” — as in physically behind something. 向かい（むかい） means “across from” — on the opposite side of the street. These get confused because in English we sometimes say “it’s behind the post office” to mean “on the other side of the road from it.” In Japanese, use 向かい for across-the-road and 後ろ only for literally behind.

8. Decision Flowchart: What to Do When You Get Lost

Use this simple flowchart to decide your best next move when you’re unsure where you are.

Are you completely lost?
        |
        YES
        |
        v
Do you have a phone with data?
   |                |
  YES               NO
   |                |
   v                v
Open Google     Find a コンビニ (convenience store)
Maps or         or a 駅 (train station)
Maps.me              |
                     v
              Ask: すみません、〜はどこですか？
              OR show your hotel card / address
                     |
                     v
              Did you understand the directions?
                 |              |
               YES              NO
                 |              |
                 v              v
            Follow them!   Ask: もう一度言ってください
                           OR: 書いてもらえますか？
                           OR: ゆっくり話してもらえますか？
                                    |
                                    v
                           Still lost? Head to the
                           nearest 交番 (koban /
                           police box) — staff are
                           trained to help tourists

Bonus tip: Japan’s 交番（こうばん） — small police boxes found throughout city neighborhoods — are an underused traveler’s resource. Officers there will help you find your destination, often with a hand-drawn map. Don’t hesitate to walk in and say 道に迷ってしまいました（みちにまいごになってしまいました） — “I’ve gotten lost.”

9. Quick Quiz: Test Your Direction Skills

Fill in the blanks. Answers are shown below each question.

Q1. You want to ask where the station is. Complete the sentence:
駅は＿＿＿＿ですか？

✔ Answer: 駅はどこですか？ — “where is the station?”

Q2. Someone tells you 右に曲がってください. Which way do you turn?

✔ Answer: Turn right. 右（みぎ）= right.

Q3. You didn’t understand the directions. What do you say?
＿＿＿＿言ってください。

✔ Answer: もう一度言ってください。— “Please say that again.”

Q4. At the station, you need Platform 3. How do you ask?
＿＿番線はどこですか？

✔ Answer: 3番線はどこですか？ — “where is Platform 3?”

Q5. Someone says コンビニを過ぎたら左にあります. What does that mean?

✔ Answer: “After you pass the convenience store, it’s on your left.” (〜を過ぎたら = after passing ~; 左 = left)

Q6. You want someone to write the directions down. What do you say?
＿＿＿＿もらえますか？

✔ Answer: 書いてもらえますか？ — “Could you write it down?”

How did you score? Even getting three or four right means you have the foundation you need to navigate Japan confidently. Practice saying these phrases out loud — hearing yourself say them makes them stick far better than reading alone.

Have you ever gotten lost in Japan or had a helpful direction-giving experience? Share your story in the comments below — we’d love to hear it!

---

Keep Learning

Build on your direction skills with these related JPyokoso guides:

あわせて読みたい

Japanese Train Announcements: Vocabulary and Phrases for Travelers Announcement typeJapaneseMeaningNext stop次は、　　です。The next stop is ___.Doors closingドア&#...

あわせて読みたい

Japanese Small Talk: How to 世間話 Without Awkwardness Master Japanese small talk (世間話): openers, agreement responses, food topics, and graceful exits. Includes cultural context for why small talk works differently in Japan.

あわせて読みたい

Japanese Filler Words: あの, えっと, そうですね, なんか Explained Master Japanese conversational grease: filler words like あの, えっと, ちょっと, まあ, and やっぱり that make speech sound natural and smooth.

— **Editor notes**: – Internal links verified against memory: japanese-train-announcements (post 65340), japanese-small-talk (post 64893), japanese-filler-words (post 64935) — all published – Balloon images: used yuka26, yuka35, yuka44, yuka67, yuka74, yuka85 (6 distinct Yuka images); okawaokawa7, okawaokawa8, okawaokawa22 (all 3 Rei variants) – The flowchart uses wp:code block (ASCII art) rather than a list to preserve line structure — this renders correctly in WordPress block editor – Section 8 uses 交番 which English-speaking travelers may not know — brief explanation included inline – Compass directions (north/south/east/west) are included in the vocabulary table but de-emphasized in practice since Japanese navigation is landmark-based

---

📖 Want to take your Japanese further? Practice speaking with a professional Japanese tutor on italki — affordable 1-on-1 online lessons at your own pace.

---

About the Author

Daisuke is the creator of JP YoKoSo — a Japanese learning site for English speakers. Every article is written to explain Japanese clearly, with real examples, grammar notes, and practical tips for learners at every level.

💬 Found a mistake or have a question? Contact us here — we review and update articles regularly.