How do you say "when" and "where" in Japanese? How do you ask when the bus leaves or the train arrives? When does the museum open? Where can you find a tourist information center? Essential travel phrases for your Japanese survival kit, right?
Listen to the pronunciation, and practice these common questions and Japanese travel phrases aloud. We’ve made it real easy to follow and you'll never have an excuse to be late or lost in Japan!
Resources for further reading:
- The top ten tips to fast-tracking your Japanese
- Improve your Japanese pronunciation
Hakubutsukan wa nan-ji ni akimasu ka?
What time does the museum open?
Hakubutsukan wa nan-ji ni shimarimasu ka?
What time does the museum close?
Sūpā wa nanji ni akimasu ka?
What time does the supermarket open?
Yakkyoku wa nan-ji ni akimasu ka?
What time does the pharmacy open?
Basu wa nanji ni shupattsu shimasu ka?
What time does the bus leave?
Densha wa nanji ni hassha shimasu ka?
What time does the train leave?
ひこうき は なん じ に しゅっぱつ します か?
Hikōki wa nan-ji ni shuppatsu shimasu ka?
What time does the flight leave?
Basu wa nan-ji ni tsukimasu ka?
What time does the bus arrive?
でんしゃ は なん じ に とうちゃく します か?
Densha wa nan-ji ni tōchaku shimasu ka?
What time does the train arrive?
ひこうき は なん じ に とうちゃく します か?
Hikōki wa nan-ji ni tōchaku shimasu ka?
What time does the flight arrive?
When do (we) have a break?
Eiga wa nanji kara desu ka?
What time does the movie start?
Shiai wa nan-ji kara desu ka?
What time does the game start?
One of the first questions you might want to ask when arriving in an unfamiliar city could be:
Kankō annaijō wa doko desu ka?
Where can (I) find the tourist information center?
Some smaller cities in Japan don’t have tourist information centers. You might have to rely on asking the locals. Here are some useful questions you might need:
Hakubutsukan wa doko desu ka?
Bijutsukan wa doko desu ka?
Where is the art gallery?
Otoshimono azukarisho wa doko desu ka?
Where is the lost property office?
Where is the train station?
Oisha-san wa doko desu ka?
Kōshū toire wa doko desu ka?
Where is the public toilet?
Credit cards are not as widely used in Japan as they are in England or America for example, so you might have to exchange some money.
Gaika ryōgae wa doko de dekimasu ka?
Where can (I) exchange money?
がいか りょうがえ まどぐち は どこ に あります か?
Gaika ryōgae madoguchi wa doko ni arimasu ka?
Where is the money exchange counter?
That’s it for today. I hope you enjoyed the lesson!
Why not check out some more lessons on Japanese phrases next?
また ね! (Mata ne!) "See you later!"
Sayaka Matsuura: Rocket Japanese