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 the questions. 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:
Pronouncing 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 ii desu ka?
How do I get to the train station? (formal)
駅にはどうやっていくの
えき に は どう やって いくの
Eki ni wa dō yatte ikuno?
How do I get to the train station? (casual)
駅は何処ですか
えき は どこ ですか
Eki wa doko desuka?
Do you know where the train station is? (formal)
駅は何処
えき は どこ
Eki wa doko?
Do you know where the train station is? (casual)
Another more complete way of asking for directions is by saying…
すみません、駅へ行く方法を教えて下さい
すみません、 駅 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! Could you please tell me where the train station is? (formal)
Here’s a list of some places you might like to go to and places you may pass on the way to getting there.
観光案内所
かんこう あんない じょ
Kankō annai jo
The travel information center
道 / 通り
みち / とおり
Michi / Tōri
The street
商店街
ショッピング センター / しょうてんがい
Shoppingu sentā / Shōtengai
The shopping centre
博物館
はくぶつかん
Hakubutsu kan
The museum
交番
こうばん
Kōban
The police station
病院
びょういん
Byōin
The hospital
公園
こうえん
Kōen
The park
市役所
しやくしょ
Shiyakusho
The city hall
公衆トイレ
こうしゅう トイレ
Kōshū toire
The public restrooms
街の中心 / 中心街
まち の ちゅうしん / ちゅうしん がい
Machi no chūshin / Chūshin gai
The town center
郊外
こうがい
Kōgai
The suburb
ビア ガーデン
ビア ガーデン
Bia gāden
The beer garden
記念物
きねん ぶつ
Kinen butsu
The monument
居酒屋
バー / いざかや
Bā / Izakaya
The bar
Here are some words and phrases you might get to hear when asking for directions…
左
ひだり
Hidari
Left
右
みぎ
Migi
Right
左へ
ひだり へ
Hidari-e
To the left
右へ
みぎ へ
Migi-e
To 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
To the west
北へ
きた へ
Kita-e
To the north
南へ
みなみ へ
Minami-e
To the south
東へ
ひがし へ
Higashi-e
To the east
角を曲がって
かど を まがって
Kado o magatte
Around 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.
The next street to the left.
次の通りを右へ
つぎ の とおり を みぎ へ
Tsugi no tōri o migi-e.
The next street to the right.
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.
角
かど
Kado
The corner
橋
はし
Hashi
The bridge
前に
まえ に
Mae ni
In front of
隣に
となり に
Tonari ni
Next to
When someone gives you directions, they’ll tell you that you need to take such-and-such street; turn left, and then follow another street…
取る
とる
Toru…
Take…
渡る
わたる
Wataru…
Cross...
辿る
たどる
Tadoru…
Follow...
行く
いく
Iku...
Go...
Now, you might want to know whether it is far or not…
遠いですか
とおい です か
Tōi desu ka?
Is it very far?
遠いです
とおい です
Tōi desu.
It's far.
遠くないです
とおく ない です
Tōku nai desu.
It's not far.
近いですか
ちかい です か
Chikai desu ka?
Is it close by?
近いです
ちかい です
Chikai desu.
It's close by.
近くないです
ちかく ない です
Chikaku nai desu.
It's not close by.
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 Japanese.
- This lesson is all about describing your face in Japanese.
- Wanting to talk about your family in Japanese?
Soredewa mata!
Sayaka Matsuura: Rocket Japanese
Make It Stick With Rocket Reinforcement
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