Travel Vocabulary for Japan
Whether you’re planning a trip to Japan or want to talk about travel in Japanese class, this article gives you the vocabulary and reading practice you need. Travel contexts are ideal for Japanese learners because they combine directions, numbers, time, and social phrases.
Core Travel Vocabulary
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| りょこう | ryokou | travel / trip |
| みやげ | miyage | souvenir |
| きっぷ / チケット | kippu / chiketto | ticket |
| ホテル | hoteru | hotel |
| りょかん | ryokan | traditional Japanese inn |
| かんこう | kankou | sightseeing |
| ぱすぽーと | pasupooto | passport |
| めんぜいてん | menzeiden | duty-free shop |
| チェックイン | chekku-in | check-in |
| チェックアウト | chekku-auto | check-out |
Reading: Planning a Weekend Trip
らいしゅうの どようびと にちようびに きょうとへ りょこうします。しんかんせんで とうきょうから やく にじかん です。ホテルは えきの ちかくに よやくしました。いちにちめは きんかくじと あらしやまを みてまわります。ふつかめは にしきいちばで かいものを して、めんぜいてんで おみやげを かいます。
(Next Saturday and Sunday, I’ll travel to Kyoto. It’s about 2 hours from Tokyo by Shinkansen. I’ve booked a hotel near the station. On the first day, I’ll tour Kinkakuji and Arashiyama. On the second day, I’ll shop at Nishiki Market and buy souvenirs at the duty-free shop.)
Dialogue: Hotel Check-In
フロント： いらっしゃいませ。ごよやくの おなまえを おねがいします。
(Irasshaimase. Goyoyaku no onamae wo onegai shimasu.) — Welcome. May I have the name on the reservation?
きゃく： たなかです。
(Tanaka desu.) — It’s Tanaka.
フロント： たなかさまですね。シングルを いっぱく でございます。チェックアウトは あしたの じゅういちじまでです。
(Tanaka-sama desu ne. Shinguru wo ippaku de gozaimasu. Chekku-auto wa ashita no juuichi-ji made desu.) — Mr./Ms. Tanaka. That’s a single room for one night. Check-out is tomorrow by 11am.
Common Travel Questions
| Question | Japanese | Romaji |
|---|---|---|
| Where is the nearest station? | いちばん ちかい えきは どこですか | Ichiban chikai eki wa doko desu ka |
| Can I get a map? | ちずを もらえますか | Chizu wo moraemasu ka |
| Is there free Wi-Fi? | フリー Wi-Fi は ありますか | Furii waifai wa arimasu ka |
| What time is breakfast? | ちょうしょくは なんじですか | Choushoku wa nanji desu ka |
Yuka & Rei Read a Travel Guide Entry
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.
YukaRei, I read a travel guide about Kyoto in Japanese and saw the word けいだい everywhere. What is it?
Reiけいだい = the grounds or precinct of a shrine or temple. Very common in Kyoto travel texts. If you see じんじゃのけいだい or おてらのけいだい, it means the sacred grounds of the shrine/temple. You’ll find it in almost any Kansai travel guide.
YukaAnd for booking — what vocabulary do I need to read a hotel booking page in Japanese?
ReiKey booking vocabulary: よやく (reservation), チェックイン/アウト (check-in/out), まんしつ (fully booked), きゅうしつ (closed for holiday), しょくじつき (meals included). When you see まんしつ, don’t even try — fully booked means fully booked!
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.
- きょうとにはたくさんのかんこうきゃくがきます。
Many tourists come to Kyoto. - このりょかんはしょくじつきで、ひとりにまんえんです。
This inn is 10,000 yen per person including meals. - さくらのきせつにはまんしつになることがおおい。
During cherry blossom season it’s often fully booked. - じんじゃのけいだいにはさくらがたくさんあります。
There are many cherry trees in the shrine grounds. - よやくをとりけしたいのですが。
I’d like to cancel my reservation.
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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