Essential Japanese for Travel

Planning a trip to Japan? Want to learn how to be able to speak a few words and phrases and impress your travel mates? While Japan is ever becoming a more English-friendly country (and especially in the large international ski resorts such as Niseko and Hakuba), it is still a great idea to learn some useful Japanese prior to travel.
Check out our list of essential Japanese words and phrases below.
ARIGATOU GOZAIMASU (Areegaato Gozaimas) – THANK YOU
KUDASAI (Kudasai) – PLEASE
HAI (Hai) – YES
Iie (Ee-ay) – NO
KONICHIWA (Koneecheewa) – HI
KONBANWA (Konbonwa) – GOOD EVENING
OHAYO GOZAIMASU (Ohayo Gozaimas) – GOOD MORNING
SAYONARA (Saiyonara) – GOODBYE
SUMIMASEN (Sumeemasen) – EXCUSE ME
IKURA DESU KA (Ikura Des Ka?) – HOW MUCH IS THIS?
O GENKI DESU KA / GENKI (Oh Genkee Des Ka? / Genkee?) – HOW ARE YOU?
GENKI DESU (Genkee Des) – I AM WELL
ICHI, NI, SAN, SHI, GO, ROKU, NANA, HACHI, KYU, JYU (Eechee, Nee, San, Shee, Go, Roku, Nana, Hachee, Kyu, Ju) – ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE, SIX, SEVEN, EIGHT, NINE, TEN
O-KANJOU WO ONEGAISHIMASU (Oh Konjo oh Onaygaisheemas) – CAN I HAVE THE BILL PLEASE?
WATASHI NO NAMAE WA… (Watashee No Namayay wa…) – MY NAME IS…
TOIRE WA DOKO DESU KA (Toyray wa Dokoo Des Ka?) – WHERE IS THE TOILET?
EIGO WO HANASHIMASU KA (Eggo Oh Hanasheemas Ka?) – DO YOU SPEAK ENGLISH?
WAKARIMASEN (Wakareemasen) – I DON’T UNDERSTAND
GOMENNASAI (Gomenasai) – I’M SORRY
DOITASHIMASHITE (Doytasheemashtay) – YOU’RE WELCOME
Be sure to bookmark this page for easy reference while travelling!