Japanese Travel Phrases

Essential phrases for your Japan trip — with Japanese script and romaji pronunciation. Select a category to get started.

Japan has one of the world's lowest English-proficiency rates among developed nations — around 30% of people can hold a basic conversation. Knowing even 20-30 key phrases dramatically improves your experience in restaurants, train stations, and shops. All phrases include hiragana and Hepburn romaji for pronunciation.

  1. Select a category (greetings, restaurant, transport, etc.)
  2. Browse phrases with hiragana and romaji
  3. Copy any phrase to practise
Immerse Japanese Extension

Planning a trip to Japan? Build vocabulary passively while browsing travel sites — free N5 tier available.

Learn More →

Frequently Asked Questions

What Japanese phrases do tourists need most?

The most essential phrases for tourists in Japan are sumimasen (excuse me/sorry), arigatou gozaimasu (thank you), ikura desu ka (how much), and eigo wo hanasemasu ka (do you speak English). Learning even 20 to 30 key phrases dramatically improves your experience in restaurants, train stations, and shops.

How do I pronounce Japanese correctly using romaji?

Japanese vowels are always pronounced the same way: a as in father, i as in ee, u as in boot, e as in bet, and o as in go. There are no silent letters — every vowel is fully pronounced. Consonants are similar to English. The Hepburn romaji system used here reflects actual Japanese pronunciation faithfully.

Is English widely spoken in Japan?

English proficiency in Japan is limited outside major cities and tourist areas. Around 30 percent of people can hold a basic conversation. In rural areas, train stations, and local restaurants, English signage and English-speaking staff are rare. Learning basic Japanese phrases is very helpful for independent travel.

Related tools: Romaji Converter · Japanese Name Generator