Japanese Announcement Listening Practice: Stations, Airports, and Stores

Public Announcements in Japanese

Japan’s public spaces broadcast announcements constantly — train stations, airports, department stores, and amusement parks. These announcements use formal, set-phrase Japanese. Once you learn the patterns, they become very predictable and easy to decode.

Station Announcements

Announcement 1 (train approaching):

まもなく、にばんせんに とっきゅうれっしゃが とおります。あぶないですので、しろいせんの うちがわに おさがりください。

(An express train will be passing through Track 2 shortly. For your safety, please step back behind the white line.)

Announcement 2 (delay):

ちゅうおうせんは、じんしんじこの えいきょうにより、ただいま やく じゅっぷんの おくれが でております。ごめいわくを おかけしております。

(The Chuo Line is currently experiencing a delay of approximately 10 minutes due to a personal injury incident. We apologize for the inconvenience.)

Department Store Announcements

Closing time announcement:

いつも まるまるデパートを ごりよういただきまして、まことに ありがとうございます。まもなく へいてんじかんと なります。ほんじつの えいぎょうは ごじゅっぷんご、はちじを もちまして しゅうりょうと なります。

(Thank you for always using Marumaru Department Store. We will be closing shortly. Today’s business will conclude at 8:00, in 10 minutes.)

Key Announcement Vocabulary

Practice: What Did the Announcement Say?

1. In Announcement 1, which track is the express passing through?
2. In Announcement 2, how many minutes is the delay?
3. In the department store announcement, what time does the store close?

Answers: 1. Track 2 / 2. About 10 minutes / 3. 8:00pm

Yuka & Rei Decode Train Announcements

Reading and listening get better when you also reflect and discuss. Here is how Yuka and Rei unpack the key ideas from this topic — notice the questions Yuka asks, because they’re probably the same ones you had.

Yuka

Rei, I was on the Yamanote Line and there was an announcement I couldn’t understand. All I caught was つぎのえきは. What usually follows?

Rei

つぎのえきは〜です。〜、〜 — The next station is ~. ~, ~. The station name is repeated twice, then the exits/transfer lines. After the station name, listen for のりかえのかたは — for those transferring — which tells you which train you can connect to.

Yuka

Any other key announcement phrases I should know?

Rei

まもなく〜ばんせんに〜がまいります — Train ~ will shortly arrive on platform ~. あしもとにご注意ください — please mind the gap/your step. ドアがしまります — the doors are closing. Knowing these three makes station announcements suddenly comprehensible.

5 Practice Sentences — Read These Aloud

These sentences use core vocabulary from this article. Read each one aloud at least three times to lock in the sound pattern.

1. つぎのえきはしんじゅく、しんじゅくです。
   The next station is Shinjuku, Shinjuku.
2. まもなくドアがしまります。ご注意ください。
   The doors will close shortly. Please be careful.
3. この電車は急行です。各駅には止まりません。
   This train is an express. It does not stop at all stations.
4. あしもとにご注意ください。
   Please mind your step.
5. ご乗車ありがとうございます。
   Thank you for riding with us.

Your Turn! Leave Your Answer in the Comments

Reading and listening improve fastest when you also produce. Try writing 2–3 sentences summarising what you read, or create your own short text on the same topic using vocabulary from this article.

Post it in the comments — other learners will read it and it helps everyone. Log in to save your comment history and join the Top Commenters ranking in the sidebar!

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