Survival Japanese for Travelers: The Phrases You Actually Need
Here's the good news before your trip: you do not need to speak Japanese to have an amazing time in Japan. You need about ten phrases, a willingness to point, and a smile. This guide gives you the survival Japanese that actually gets used — greetings, shopping, trains, restaurants — all in romaji, so you can start using it today. (If you want more than survival phrases and are ready to actually learn the language, start with the beginner roadmap instead.)
Do you even need Japanese to travel Japan?
Honestly? You can get by without it. Big cities have English signage, train stations show English, and translation apps cover the gaps. But a handful of phrases changes the whole trip: staff warm up, small interactions get smoother, and you'll navigate the moments where nobody speaks English with confidence. A little Japanese is pure upside — and if you'd rather drill these phrases properly before you fly, PlaneHopper is our travel-survival crash course built for exactly that trip.
The 10 phrases that do 80% of the work
If you learn nothing else, learn these. Saying them will get you through the trip; if you'd also like to read the signs and menus around you, learning the 46 hiragana is the place to start. Tap a phrase to see how to say it and when to use it:
At the convenience store & shops
The konbini (7-Eleven, Lawson, FamilyMart) is a traveler's best friend. Plenty of what's on the shelves is labelled in katakana, the script Japanese uses for imported words, so being able to read katakana helps more here than you'd expect. You barely need words — but these help:
- "Fukuro wa daijōbu desu" (ふくろは だいじょうぶです) — "No bag, thanks."
- "Kādo de" (カードで) — "By card." (or genkin de = by cash)
- Staff may ask "O-shibori / o-hashi wa?" (a wipe / chopsticks?) — a nod or "onegaishimasu" answers it.
On trains & getting around
Japan's trains are famously smooth once you're moving. The two patterns below are fill-in-the-blanks you can reuse endlessly, and if you're curious why は sits where it does, the beginner grammar guide walks through particles and word order. To find your way:
- "___ wa doko desu ka" (___ はどこですか) — "Where is ___?" (e.g. Shibuya, the platform)
- "Kore wa ___ ni ikimasu ka" (これは ___ に いきますか) — "Does this go to ___?"
- Learn two signs: 出口 (deguchi = exit) and 入口 (iriguchi = entrance).
At restaurants
Ordering is easier than it looks — lots of places have picture menus or plastic food displays:
- Get attention: "Sumimasen!"
- Order: point + "kore o kudasai" ("this, please").
- Ask for the bill: "O-kaikei onegaishimasu" (おかいけい おねがいします).
- Allergy? "___ arerugī ga arimasu" (___ アレルギーが あります) — "I'm allergic to ___." (say the food in English + point if needed)
- Finish with "Gochisōsama deshita" — "thank you for the meal."
Staying polite: the golden rules
You don't need perfect Japanese — you need warmth and effort. A few habits go a long way:
- Open interactions with "sumimasen" and close them with "arigatō gozaimasu."
- A small bow (a nod of the head) accompanies almost everything — thanks, sorry, hello.
- It's not rude to speak English — just ask "eigo ga hanasemasu ka?" first, and locals appreciate the courtesy.
Survival words: numbers, yes/no & the essentials
These are the words you'll reach for most often — and if you'd like to keep going after the trip, you can try a lesson of the free N5 course, no sign-up.
- Numbers 1–5: ichi, ni, san, yon, go (useful for "how many people" and prices).
- Yes / No: hai / iie.
- This / that: kore (near me) / sore (near you) / are (over there).
- Toilet: toire — and now you'll always find it.
Match the situation to the phrase a local would actually expect — tap 🔊 to hear each one, and relax, nothing here is scored.
Frequently asked questions
Can you travel Japan without speaking Japanese?
Yes. Big cities have English signage and many staff know some English, and translation apps help. But learning a few phrases — thank you, excuse me, “this, please” — makes everything smoother and friendlier.
What are the most useful Japanese phrases for tourists?
“Sumimasen” (excuse me), “arigatō gozaimasu” (thank you), “kore o kudasai” (this, please), “ikura desu ka” (how much), and “toire wa doko desu ka” (where is the toilet).
Do I need to learn Japanese writing to travel?
No — you can get by with spoken phrases in romaji. Recognising a few key signs like 出口 (exit) and 入口 (entrance) is a helpful bonus, but optional.
Is it rude to speak English in Japan?
Not at all. It's polite to open with “sumimasen, eigo ga hanasemasu ka?” (excuse me, do you speak English?), and locals appreciate any Japanese you do try.