Directions in Japanese
Ready to master directions in Japanese? After this free audio lesson you’ll be armed with the Japanese words and phrases you’ll need to find your way around Japan.
I wish it were as simple as learning the word for 'where' in Japanese and a few Japanese road signs, but there’s a little more to it than that! As you may have already guessed, understanding the directions you are given can be more challenging than asking for the directions. But have no fear – just listen to the Japanese pronunciation in the audio and practice saying the Japanese words and phrases aloud, as you imagine yourself strolling around Tokyo or Kyoto!
Resources for further reading:
- The Top Ten Hacks to Fast-tracking Your Japanese
- The Best Japanese Learning sSftware: What You Need to Know
Asking For Directions in Japanese
Practice Your Pronunciation With Rocket Record
Rocket Record lets you perfect your Japanese pronunciation. Just listen to the native speaker audio and then use the microphone icon to record yourself. Once you’re done, you’ll get a score out of 100 on your pronunciation and can listen to your own audio playback. (Use a headset mic for best results.) Problems? Click here!
駅はどう行けばいいですか？
えき は どう いけば いい です か？
Eki wa dō ikeba ī desu ka?
How do (I) get to the train station?
駅にはどうやって行くの？
えき に は どう やって いく の？
Eki ni wa dō yatte iku no?
How do (I) get to the train station?
駅はどこですか？
えき は どこ です か？
Eki wa doko desu ka?
Where is the train station?
駅はどこ？
えき は どこ？
Eki wa doko?
Where (is) the train station?
すみません、駅へ行く方法を教えて下さい。
すみません、 えき へ いく ほうほう を おしえて ください。
Sumimasen, eki e iku hōhō o oshiete kudasai.
Excuse me, please tell (me) how to get to the train station.
Locations of Interest
Here are the words for some places you might like to visit on your travels:
観光案内所
かんこう あんないじょ
kankō annaijo
tourist information center
道
みち
michi
road / path
通り
とおり
tōri
street
商店街
しょうてんがい
shōtengai
shopping street
博物館
はくぶつかん
hakubutsukan
museum
交番
こうばん
kōban
police box
病院
びょういん
byōin
hospital
公園
こうえん
kōen
park
市役所
しやくしょ
shiyakusho
city call
公衆トイレ
こうしゅう トイレ
kōshū toire
public restroom
中心街
ちゅうしんがい
chūshingai
town center
郊外
こうがい
kōgai
suburb
ビアガーデン
ビア ガーデン
bia-gāden
beer garden
記念物
きねんぶつ
kinenbutsu
memorial
居酒屋
いざかや
izakaya
izakaya / Japanese bar
バー
バー
bā
bar
Receiving Directions
Here are some words and phrases you will likely hear when receiving directions.
左
ひだり
hidari
left
右
みぎ
migi
right
左へ
ひだり へ
hidari e
toward the left
右へ
みぎ へ
migi e
toward the right
真っ直ぐ
まっすぐ
massugu
straight
終わりに
おわり に
owari ni
at the end (of)
始めに
はじめ に
hajime ni
at the beginning (of)
西へ
にし へ
nishi e
toward the west
北へ
きた へ
kita e
toward the north
南へ
みなみ へ
minami e
toward the south
東へ
ひがし へ
higashi e
toward the east
角
かど
kado
corner
角を曲がって
かど を まがって
kado o magatte
turn the corner
次の通りを左へ。
つぎ の とおり を ひだり へ。
Tsugi no tōri o hidari e.
(Turn) left (at) the next street.
次の通りを右へ。
つぎ の とおり を みぎ へ。
Tsugi no tōri o migi e.
(Turn) right (at) the next street.
次の次の通り
つぎ の つぎ の とおり
tsugi no tsugi no tōri
the street after the next
橋
はし
hashi
bridge
前に
まえ に
mae ni
in front (of)
隣に
となり に
tonari ni
next to
If you're receiving directions, you'll need to know some direction verbs, like "to go" and "to cross." Let's take a look at how to say these and some other direction-related verbs.
取る
とる
toru
to take
渡る
わたる
wataru
to cross (a bridge or road)
辿る
たどる
tadoru
to follow (a road)
行く
いく
iku
to go
Far or Near
Last but not least, here are some phrases you can use to talk about how near or far you are from your destination:
遠いですか？
とおい です か？
Tōi desu ka?
Is (it) far?
遠いです。
とおい です。
Tōi desu.
(It) is far.
遠くないです。
とおくない です。
Tōkunai desu.
(It) is not far.
近いですか？
ちかい です か？
Chikai desu ka?
Is (it) close?
近いです。
ちかい です。
Chikai desu.
(It) is close.
近くないです。
ちかくない です。
Chikakunai desu.
(It) is not close.
Well done, you have just finished today’s lesson. I hope you enjoyed it.
Here are a few recommended Japanese lessons to try next:
- Talking about your emotions in Japanese is a great way to connect with your Japanese friends. Learn how to talk about your feelings in this lesson.
- This lesson is all about describing your face in Japanese.
- Wanting to talk about your family in Japanese? This is the lesson for you!
それ で は また！ (Sore de wa mata!) "Well then, until next time!"
Sayaka Matsuura: Rocket Japanese
Make It Stick With Rocket Reinforcement
Reinforce your learning from this lesson with the Rocket Reinforcement activities!