Language/Japanese/Vocabulary/Basic-Travel-and-Tourism-Vocabulary
Traveling to Japan is an exciting experience that requires you to know some basic travel and tourism vocabulary. In this lesson, you will learn how to talk about and plan a trip to Japan, and use the basic travel and tourism vocabulary.
Basic Travel and Tourism Vocabulary
Here are some essential words and phrases that you will need when traveling in Japan:
Japanese | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
旅行者 | りょこうしゃ | traveler |
観光 | かんこう | sightseeing |
観光地 | かんこうち | tourist spot |
名所 | めいしょ | famous place |
温泉 | おんせん | hot spring |
旅館 | りょかん | traditional inn |
ホテル | ホテル | hotel |
空港 | くうこう | airport |
駅 | えき | train station |
新幹線 | しんかんせん | bullet train |
バス | バス | bus |
タクシー | タクシー | taxi |
地図 | ちず | map |
- 旅行者 (りょこうしゃ) means traveler, but when used alone, it often means tourist.
- 観光 (かんこう) means sightseeing or tourism in general.
- 観光地 (かんこうち) means a tourist spot or attraction.
- 名所 (めいしょ) means a famous place or landmark.
- 温泉 (おんせん) is a hot spring, which is a popular attraction in Japan.
- 旅館 (りょかん) is a traditional Japanese-style inn, often found in rural areas or hot spring resorts.
- ホテル (ホテル) is a Western-style hotel, which is often found in urban areas or tourist destinations.
- 空港 (くうこう) is an airport, which is usually called by the city name followed by kūkō.
- 駅 (えき) is a train station, which is usually called by the city name followed by eki.
- 新幹線 (しんかんせん) is the high-speed bullet train, which connects major cities in Japan.
- バス (バス) is a bus, which is often used for local transportation or group tours.
- タクシー (タクシー) is a taxi, which is relatively expensive compared to other transportation means.
- 地図 (ちず) is a map, which is often useful for finding directions or locating places of interest.
Here are some common phrases you can use when traveling in Japan:
- こんにちは (konnichiwa) - Hello (used during the day)
- こんばんは (konbanwa) - Good evening (used after sunset)
- ありがとう (arigatou) - Thank you (casual)
- ありがとうございます (arigatou gozaimasu) - Thank you (formal)
- すみません (sumimasen) - Excuse me/I'm sorry (used for getting attention or apologizing)
- お願いします (onegaishimasu) - Please (used for making requests or ordering food)
- 英語が話せますか? (eigo ga hanasemasu ka?) - Do you speak English? (useful for communicating with non-Japanese speakers)
Planning a Trip
If you're planning a trip to Japan, here are some things you should consider:
1. Visa and passport: Depending on your nationality, you may need a visa to enter Japan. Make sure to check the embassy website for the latest information. You also need a valid passport.
2. Best time to visit: Japan has four seasons, each with different attractions and weather conditions. Consider which season you want to visit, and plan accordingly.
3. Budget: Japan can be expensive, especially in urban areas like Tokyo and Osaka. Make sure to budget your expenses, including transportation, accommodation, food, and souvenirs.
4. Itinerary: Japan has a lot to offer in terms of culture, history, nature, and entertainment. Decide which places you want to visit, and how long you want to stay in each place. Consider buying a JR rail pass if you plan to travel long distances by train.
Useful Phrases
Here are some useful phrases for traveling in Japan:
Japanese | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
どこですか? | どこですか? | Where is it? |
どうやって行きますか? | どうやっていきますか? | How do I get there? |
いくらですか? | いくらですか? | How much does it cost? |
もう一度言ってください。 | もういちどいってください。 | Please say it again. |
分かりません。 | わかりません。 | I don't understand. |
何時ですか? | なんじですか? | What time is it? |
もう一つある? | もうひとつありますか? | Is there another one? |
これください。 | これください。 | I'll have this, please. |
- どこですか? (doko desu ka?) means "Where is it?" and is useful when you're trying to find a specific place or location.
- どうやって行きますか? (douyatte ikimasu ka?) means "How do I get there?" and is useful when you need directions or transportation advice.
- いくらですか? (ikura desu ka?) means "How much does it cost?" and is useful when you're shopping, eating out, or using services.
- もう一度言ってください。(mou ichido itte kudasai) means "Please say it again" and is useful when you cannot understand what someone has said to you.
- 分かりません。(wakarimasen) means "I don't understand" and is useful when you cannot understand someone's words or directions.
- 何時ですか?(nan ji desu ka?) means "What time is it?" and is useful when you need to know the time.
- もう一つある?