10.0 Getting Around Japan (1)
Step into Chapter 10, Getting Around Japan, and join Lina as she embarks on her adventure across Japan. This chapter focuses on how Lina communicates with locals, manages uncertainties and shares her excitement, offering you a chance to learn practical language skills.
Here, you’ll discover key phrases and expressions to assist you in seeking help and making polite requests. These tools are designed to enhance your travel experience, making it easier for you to navigate Japan with confidence and ease. Get ready to equip yourself with the language skills that will make your journey memorable and smooth!
Learning goals
By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:
- Identify and understand essential kanji: 大 (big), 学 (study/learn), 先 (previous), 生 (life), 女 (woman), 男 (man), 見 (see), 行 (go), 食 (eat) and 飲 (drink).
- Apply the te-form of verbs to connect actions and express ongoing activities.
- Use てください (te kudasai) for polite requests.
- Employ てもいいですか (temo ii desu ka) to ask for permission and てもいいです（よ）(temo ii desu [yo]) to give permission.
Why these skills matter
Cognitive benefits
- Improve pattern recognition by learning to recognise complex kanji
- Enhance your ability to connect ideas by using the te-form
- Apply appropriate levels of politeness in communication
Real-life benefits
- Precisely express actions and make requests with clarity
- Make polite requests and ask for or give permission appropriately
Words
| Japanese | Romaji | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ru-verbs |
|||
| 借（か）りる | kariru | to borrow | Dictionary form. Use 借りる with the particle を to indicate what is being borrowed. |
| 降（お）りる | oriru | to get off/down (from) | Dictionary form. Use 降りる with the particle を to indicate what you are getting off/down from. For example, バス（ばす）を降りる means ‘to get off the bus’. This verb is used when disembarking from vehicles or going down a flight of stairs. |
| 浴（あ）びる | abiru | to take (a shower) | Dictionary form. Use 浴びる with the particle を to indicate the direct object ‘shower’: シャワーを浴びます (Shawaa o abi masu) means ‘I take a shower’. |
| 教（おし）える | oshieru | to teach | Dictionary form. Use 教える with the particles を and に to indicate what is being taught and who it is being taught to, respectively. For example, 友達（ともだち）に英語（えいご）を教（おし）えます (Tomodachi ni Nihongo o oshie masu) means ‘I will teach Japanese to my friend(s)’. |
| U-verbs | |||
| 乗（の）る | noru | to ride | Dictionary form. Use 乗る with the particle に to indicate what form of transport you are riding or getting on, such as a vehicle or horse. For example, 電車（でんしゃ）に乗る means ‘to ride on the train’. |
| 言（い）う | iu | to say | Dictionary form. Use 言う with the particles を and に to indicate what is being said and who it is being said to, respectively. |
| 書（か）く | kaku |
to write | Dictionary form. Use 書く with the particles を and に to indicate what is being written and who is being written to, respectively. |
| 座（すわ）る | suwaru | to sit | Dictionary form. Use 座る with the particle に to indicate where you are sitting. |
| 置（お）く | oku | to put | Dictionary form. Use 置く with the particles を and に to indicate what you are putting and where you are putting it, respectively. |
| 入（はい）る | hairu | to enter | Dictionary form. Use 入る with the particle に to indicate what you are entering. |
| Irregular verbs | |||
| 旅行（りょこう）[を]する | ryokou (o) suru | to go on a trip | Dictionary form. The verb する, meaning ‘to do’, often pairs with a noun to indicate an action. In 旅行をする, which literally means ‘to do a trip’, the particle を indicates that the noun 旅行 is the object of the verb する. (Note that the particle is often omitted in casual contexts.) |
| 宿題（しゅくだい）[を]する | shukudai (o) suru | to do homework | Dictionary form. In 宿題をする, which literally means ‘to do homework’, the particle を indicates that the noun 宿題 is the direct object of the verb する. (Note that the particle is often omitted in casual contexts.) |
| Nouns |
|||
| 駅（えき） | eki | station | 駅 means ‘station’ and is usually used to refer to train stations in Japanese. To use it with the name of a station, simply place the name of the station before 駅. |
| 京成（けいせい）スカイライナー（すかいらいなあ） |
Keisei sukai rainaa | Keisei Skyliner | The Keisei Skyliner is a fast train that connects Narita Airport with central Tokyo (Ueno and Nippori stations). |
| 日暮里（にっぽり） |
Nippori |
Nippori | A station in Tokyo that serves as a transfer point between different train lines, including the Keisei and Yamanote lines. |
| 山手線（やま[の]てせん） |
Yama(no)te-sen | Yama(no)te line | A major railway line that circles central Tokyo, connecting many key neighbourhoods and stations. It has historical and cultural significance and is known for the frequency of its services. |
| 旅行（りょこう） | ryokou |
trip/travel | |
| ビデオ（びでお） | bideo | video | This is often used with the particle を as the direct object of the verb 撮（と）る, meaning ‘to take’ or ‘to record’. ビデオを撮る means ‘to take/record a video’. |
| トラム（とらむ） |
toramu |
tram | トラム is a loanword from the English word ‘tram’. The formal Japanese term for a tram or streetcar is 路面電車（ろめんでんしゃ: romen densha), which literally means ‘street surface train’. In some Australian cities such as Melbourne, trams are a convenient way to get around the city centre. |
| かばん | kaban |
bag | かばん can be used to refer to a bag in general, such as a handbag, backpack or briefcase, but not a suitcase. |
| 荷物（にもつ） | nimotsu | luggage/baggage | 荷物 is typically used to refer to bags that are larger than a かばん and items taken on trips. It can also refer to any load or items you are carrying. |
| 温泉（おんせん） | onsen | hot spring | In Japanese culture, visiting an onsen is a popular activity for relaxation and rejuvenation, often associated with scenic locations and traditional Japanese inns, known as 旅館 (りょかん: ryokan). |
| お土産（みやげ） | omiyage | souvenir | お土産 is a souvenir or gift typically brought back from trips for friends, family or coworkers. The お (o) is an honorific prefix that adds politeness, making the term more respectful and commonly used in social and business settings. They are usually locally made snacks or specialty items distinctive to the region visited, such as sweets, tea or small crafts. Giving omiyage is a valued tradition in Japan and is seen as a way to show appreciation and maintain relationships. Including others in your travel experience reflects thoughtfulness and consideration, making it an important aspect of social etiquette in Japanese culture. |
Expressions and phrases
| Japanese | Romaji | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| もう一度（いちど） | mou ichi-do |
one more time / again | This phrase can be used in various contexts, such as asking someone to repeat what they have said or to redo something. |
| いつか | itsuka |
sometime | The word is used to refer to an indefinite time in the future. It implies that something will happen eventually, but the exact timing is not specified. |
| ぜひ | zehi |
definitely / by all means | The word is often used to express a strong desire or recommendation to do something. |
Kanji
| School and everyday |
大 (big), 学 (study/learn), 先 (previous), 生 (life), 女 (woman) and 男 (man) |
|---|---|
| Actions |
見 (see), 行 (go), 食 (eat) and 飲 (drink) |
NOTE: These kanji will be further explored in Module 10.1.
Key grammar points
| Japanese | Romaji | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| … たいんですが | tain desu ga |
I’d like to do …, but | The phrase たいんですが is used in Japanese to express a desire or wish in a polite and indirect way. It combines the verb form たい (which indicates wanting to do something) with んですが, which softens the statement and implies that you’re about to ask for help, make a request or explain something further. |
| … て, …て | … te, … te | (verb 1) and then (verb 2) | The te-form is used in several ways, but one of the most useful is for connecting multiple verbs to describe a series of actions. Example: 食べて、飲んで (tabete, nonde) – ‘Eat and then drink’. When connecting more than two nouns in Japanese, use the particle と (introduced in Module 4.5), rather than the te-form. For further details on te-form conjugation and usage, see Module 10.2. |
| … てください | te kudasai |
Please do [verb]. | This phrase is used to make polite requests or give instructions. It is placed at the end of a verb in the te-form to ask someone to do something. For further details, see Module 10.3. |
| … てもいいですか | temo ii desu ka |
May I [verb]?/Is it okay if I [verb]? | This phrase is used to ask for permission to do something. It is formed by adding てもいいですか to the verb in the te-form. For further details, see Module 10.4. |
| … てもいいです（よ） | temo ii desu (yo) |
It’s okay if you [verb]. | This phrase is used to give permission or indicate that it is acceptable for someone to do something. It is formed by adding てもいいです（よ） to the verb in the te-form. The sentence-ending particle よ (yo) adds emphasis to the assurance or encouragement, and is often used in conversations. For further details, see Module 10.4. |
Exercise 1
Model dialogues
In this chapter, we dive into everyday interactions in Japan as Lina arrives at Narita Airport, navigates her way through Tokyo and engages in conversations with locals.
From seeking directions to making small talk, these dialogues offer practical examples of how to communicate effectively while travelling. Follow along as Lina asks for help and connects with local people in Japan, gaining insights into local customs and making the most of her visit.
Dialogue 1
| Lina: すみません。東京駅（とうきょうえき）に行（い）たいんですが。 | Sumimasen. Toukyou eki ni ikitai n desu ga. |
| Local: 東京駅ですか。京成（けいせい）スカイライナー（すかいらいなあ）に乗（の）って、日暮里（にっぽり）に行（い）ってください。それから、山手線（やまのてせん）に乗（の）って、東京駅に行ってください。 | Toukyou desu ka. Keisei Sukairainā ni notte, Nippori ni itte kudasai. Sorekara, Yamanote-sen ni notte, Tōkyō-eki ni itte kudasai. |
| Lina: すみません…。ちょっと難（むずか）しい…。もう一度（いちど）言（い）ってください。 | Sumimasen … Chotto muzukashii … Mou ichi-do itte kudasai. |
| Local: 大丈夫（だいじょうぶ）ですよ。じゃあ、ここに書（か）きますね。 | Daijoubu desu yo. Jaa, koko ni kaki masu ne. |
| Lina: ありがとうございます！ | Arigatou gozaimasu! |
Dialogue 2
| Lina: すみません。ここに座（すわ）ってもいいですか。 | Sumimasen. Koko ni suwatte mo ii desu ka. |
| Local: どうぞ。いいですよ。ここに荷物（にもつ）を置（お）いてもいいですよ。 | Doozo. Ii desu yo. Koko ni nimotsu o oite mo ii desu yo. |
| Lina: すみません。ありがとうございます。 | Sumimasen. Arigatou gozaimasu. |
| Local: 旅行（りょこう）ですか。 | Ryokou desu ka. |
| Lina: はい！オーストラリア（おおすとらりあ）の大学（だいがく）の学生（がくせい）です。 | Hai! Oosutoraria no daigaku no gakusei desu. |
| Local: オーストラリアのどこですか。 | Oosutoraria no doko desu ka. |
| Lina: メルボルン（めるぼるん）です。 | Meruborun desu. |
| Local: メルボルン … いいですね！ときどき、テレビ（てれび）で見（み）ますよ。トラム（とらむ）がありますよね。それから、たくさんカフェ（かふぇ）もありますね。 | Meruborun … ii desu ne! Tokidoki terebi de mi masu yo. Toramu ga ari masu yo ne. Sorekara, takusan kafe mo ari masu ne. |
| Lina: はい、たくさんあります！
NOTE: In this sentence, たくさん means ‘a lot’ or ‘many’, and you can omit the noun with the particle が or は after たくさん when the context is clear. For example, instead of saying たくさんカフェがあります (‘There are many cafés’), you can simply say たくさんあります (There are many) if it’s obvious you’re talking about cafés or another noun. This makes the sentence more concise and natural. |
Hai, takusan ari masu. |
| Local: いつかメルボルンに行って、コーヒーを飲（の）みたいです。 | Itsuka Meruborun ni itte, koohii o nomi tai desu. |
| Lina: ぜひ、メルボルンに来（き）てください！ | Zehi Meruborun ni kite kudasai! |
English translation
Dialogue 1
| Lina: Excuse me. I’d like to go to Tokyo Station, but … |
| Local: To Tokyo Station? Please take the Keisei Skyliner and get off at Nippori. Then transfer to the Yamanote line and continue to Tokyo Station. |
| Lina: Excuse me … It’s a bit difficult (for me to understand) … Could you please say that again? |
| Local: It’s okay. Then I’ll write it down here. |
| Lina: Thank you very much! |
Dialogue 2
| Lina: Excuse me. May I sit here? |
| Local: Sure. You can also put your luggage here. |
| Lina: Excuse me. Thank you very much. |
| Local: Are you travelling? |
| Lina: Yes! I’m a university student from Australia. |
| Local: Where in Australia? |
| Lina: Melbourne. |
| Local: Melbourne … that’s nice! I sometimes see it on TV. There are trams, right? And there are many cafés too, aren’t there? |
| Lina: Yes, there are many. |
| Local: I’d like to visit Melbourne someday and have coffee there. |
| Lina: Please do come to Melbourne! |
Exercise 2
Listen to the following audio files and repeat each Japanese phrase after the recording. Each phrase is read twice, first at a slow pace and then at a natural pace.
Dialogue 1
Lina: すみません。東京駅（とうきょうえき）に行（い）きたいんですが。
Local: 東京駅ですか。京成（けいせい）スカイライナー（すかいらいなあ）に乗（の）って、日暮里（にっぽり）に行（い）ってください。それから、山手線（やまのてせん）に乗（の）って、東京駅に行ってください。
Lina: すみません…。ちょっと難（むずか）しい…。もう一度（いちど）言（い）ってください。
Local: 大丈夫（だいじょうぶ）ですよ。じゃあ、ここに書（か）きますね。
Lina: ありがとうございます！
Dialogue 2
Lina: すみません。ここに座（すわ）ってもいいですか。
Local: いいですよ。ここに荷物を置（お）いてもいいですよ。
Lina: すみません。ありがとうございます。
Local: 旅行（りょこう）ですか。
Lina: はい！オーストラリア（おおすとらりあ）の大学（だいがく）の学生（がくせい）です。
Local: オーストラリアのどこですか。
Lina: メルボルン（めるぼるん）です。
Local: メルボルン … いいですね！ときどき、テレビ（てれび）で見（み）ますよ。トラム（とらむ）がありますよね。それから、たくさんカフェ（かふぇ）もありますね。
Lina: はい、たくさんあります！
Local: いつかメルボルンに行って、コーヒーを飲（の）みたいです。
Lina: ぜひ、メルボルンに来（き）てください！
Discussion points
Let’s reflect on the following points and share your observations and thoughts!
- How do you handle language barriers when travelling? Share your experiences of asking for directions or assistance in a foreign language.
- What strategies or Japanese phrases have been helpful in overcoming communication challenges?
- What have been some memorable cultural exchanges you’ve experienced while travelling? Discuss how interactions with locals have enriched your travel experiences.
Further resources
This resource created by japan-guide.com will guide you through the Japanese railway system, providing a quick overview of how to navigate and use it effectively:
Figures
1 “Building Covered with Snow” by Matt Hardy. Pexels. Licensed under Pexels licence.
2 “Goal Icon” by faisalovers. Wikimedia Commons. Licensed under CC by 3.0.
3 “Speech Bubble Icon” by Geremy Good. Wikimedia Commons. Licensed under CC 0.
4 “Lightbulb Icon” by Maxim Kulikov. Wikimedia Commons. Licensed under CC by 3.0.
References
japan-guide.com. “How to Use Trains in Japan | japan-guide.com.” YouTube video, 8:51. April 16, 2019. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aW_sw77sqvE.
