How to Ask for Directions in Japanese

If you’re traveling Japan, you might want to know how to ask for directions in Japanese. Smartphones have made it less likely to get lost, but you never know when you might find yourself with no battery in a foreign country!

At the end there’s a dialogue with Panda-san. He is Tanuki’s friend visiting from China. He’s trying to get to Tanuki’s village, but he’s lost! 

Approaching someone:

When you’re asking directions, the first thing you’ll have to do is to find someone to ask! It’s probably best to ask a couple people so you know that you’ve been given the right direction. One thing about Japanese people is that they might be afraid to speak in English and can ignore foreigners. Don’t feel offended or discouraged, and try to find someone else!

In Japanese, there is only one main phrase you should use as an “excuse me” or a “hello”. In Japanese, it’s a bit strange to say “hello” to a stranger. The word you should use before asking for directions is:

すみません。
Sumimasen.
Excuse me.

Asking for directions:

The next step on how to ask for directions in Japanese is to say your question. Here are some phrases you can use to find locations. In the blank you simply have to add the place you’re looking for. It’s a good idea to know the vocabulary in advance for various landmarks and useful locations.

近ちかくに＿＿＿はありますか？
Chikaku ni ＿＿＿ wa arimasuka?
Is there a ＿＿＿ nearby?

この辺あたりに＿＿＿はありますか？
Kono atari ni ＿＿＿wa arimasuka?
Is there a ＿＿＿around here?

＿＿＿はどこですか？
＿＿＿ wa doko desuka?
Where is ＿＿＿?

Vocabulary to understand directions:

In order to understand the directions someone will give you, you’ll need to know some key vocabulary. 

Directions:

まっすぐ – massugu – straight

右みぎ – migi – right

左ひだり – hidari – left

後うしろ – ushiro – back

前まえ – mae – front

中なか – naka – inside

外そと – soto – outside

わき or よこ – waki or yoko – next to

東ひがし – higashi – east

西にし – nishi – west

南みなみ – minami – south

北きた – kita – north

Other important words:

These are other words which are important to know for understanding directions. A key difference between English speakers and Japanese speakers might be that in Japan people don’t explain how many blocks you need to go. Instead, it’s more likely to count the number of traffic lights.

道みち – michi- road

交差点こうさてん – kousaten – cross section

信号しんごう – shingou – traffic light

角かど – kado – corner

突つき当あたたり – tsukiatari – at the end (of the road where splits)

坂さか – saka – slope or incline

Verbs:

In most cases the verbs explaining directions will be changed to the te-form. If you don’t know what this is yet, I’ve also put the te-form version in the parenthesis.

曲まがる（曲がって）- magaru (magatte) – To turn

行いく (行って）- iku (itte) – to go

そう (そって) – sou (sotte) – to go alongside ( the road)

上あがる (上がって) – agaru (agatte) – to go up

下さがる (下がって) – sagaru (sagatte) – to go down

突つき抜ぬける (突き抜けて）- tsukinukeru (tsukinukete) – to go through

Useful locations:

Knowing some key landmarks are useful so that people can explain how you can get somewhere. These are all common places that are present in every Japanese town and city.

神社じんじゃ – jinja – shrine

お寺てら – otera – temple

公園こうえん – kouen – park

学校がっこう – gakkou – school

コンビニ – konbini – convenience store

交番こうばん – kouban – police office

銀行ぎんこう – ginkou – bank

Other useful phrases:

If you’re looking for directions, you might also want to know a few other useful phrases!

地図ちずはありますか？
Chizu wa arimasuka?
Do you have a map?

道みちがわかりません。
Michi ga wakari masen.
I don’t know the way.

遠とおいですか？
Tooii desuka?
Is it far?

近ちかいですか？
Chikai desuka?
Is it close?

時間じかんがかかりますか？
Jikan ga kakari masuka?
Will it take time?

Dialogue: Panda-san is lost!!

Panda is a tourist in Japan, he is trying to find how to get to Tanuki mura (tanuki village). That’s where his friend Tanuki lives. He asks someone on the street for directions! The stranger is marked with an “S” and Panda is marked with a “P”.

P: すみません。タヌキ村むらはどこですか？
Sumimasen. Tanuki mura wa doko desuka?
Excuse me, where is Tanuki village?

S:　タヌキ村村はまっすぐ行いって、
Tanuki mura wa massugu itte,
To get to Tanuki village, go straight,

S:突つき当あたたりを右みぎに曲まがって、
tsuki atari o migi ni magatte,
at the end (of the road) turn right,

S: 前まえの公園こうえんを突つき抜ぬけた所ところにあります。
Mae no kouen o tsukinuketa tokoro ni arimasu.
Then it’ll be there if you go through the park that’s in front.

P: ありがとうございます！これでタヌキさんに会あえます！
Arigatou gozaimasu! Kore de tanuki san ni aemasu!
Thank you so much! Now I can meet Tanuki!

Now that you know how to ask for directions in Japanese, you’ll be ok even if you get lost like Panda-san! If you’re interested in other Japanese learning content be sure to check my other articles like How to Introduce Yourself in Japanese or Survival Phrases for Travelling Japan

~Tanuki