Ekiben 駅弁
English (Canada)

Transit 移動 · Stop T05

道を聞く

Asking for directions in Japanese

You've spent the afternoon with the deer in Nara Park. Now you need to find your way back to the station. Ask for directions, check if you can walk, and get help with a map.

  • 奈良公園 · Set in Nara Park
  • 6-minute lesson
  • With Ekiben Pass

Phrases

えきへのいきかたをおしえてください

eki e no ikikata o oshiete kudasai

Could you tell me how to get to the station?

Swap in any place: ホテルへの行き方 (to the hotel), 空港への行き方 (to the airport).

Pattern: 〜への行き方を教えてください

駅へのeki e no · to the station行き方をikikata o · way to go (object)教えてoshiete · tell / show (me)くださいkudasai · please (do)

あるいていけますか？

aruite ikemasu ka?

Can I walk there?

If the answer is yes, you'll often hear the minutes too: 歩いて5分 = a 5-minute walk.

歩いてaruite · on foot行けますかikemasu ka · can I go?

massugu desu ka?

Straight ahead?

Point ahead as you ask. まっすぐ = straight.

まっすぐmassugu · straight aheadですかdesu ka · is it?

ちずでおしえてもらえますか？

chizu de oshiete moraemasu ka?

Could you show me on the map?

Hold out your phone map. Most people are happy to point.

地図でchizu de · on the map教えてoshiete · tell / show (me)もらえますかmoraemasu ka · could you?

みぎですか、ひだりですか？

migi desu ka, hidari desu ka?

Right or left?

右 (migi) = right, 左 (hidari) = left. Worth memorizing before you go!

右ですかmigi desu ka · (to the) right?左ですかhidari desu ka · (to the) left?

What you’ll hear

Staff talk fast. Here’s what they are likely to say at this stop, and a good answer.

massugu itte, futatsume no shingou o migi ni magatte kudasai.

Go straight, then turn right at the second traffic light.

Someone giving you directions. Listen for 右 (right) and 左 (left).

You

migi desu ne. arigatou gozaimasu.

Right, got it. Thank you.

aruite juppun gurai desu yo.

It's about a 10-minute walk.

The answer to "Can I walk there?"

You

tasukarimasu. arigatou gozaimasu.

That helps. Thank you.

sumimasen, kono hen wa chotto wakaranai desu.

Sorry, I don't really know this area.

A passerby who can't help. It happens! Thank them and try someone else.

You

daijoubu desu. arigatou gozaimasu.

That's OK. Thanks anyway.

Culture tip

Streets Without Names

Most small streets in Japan have no names. Addresses go from big to small: city, area, then block and building numbers (like 1-2-3). So locals give directions by landmarks such as konbini, traffic lights and big buildings. A map app helps a lot.

“Directions in Japan often use landmarks like konbini and traffic lights instead of street names.”

Practice scene

Back to the Station

Nara Park, with deer all around. You want to walk back to Kintetsu-Nara Station, so you ask a local.

Ms. Tanaka · Local resident

  1. Your turn: Get her attention and ask how to get to the station.

    sumimasen, eki e no ikikata o oshiete kudasai

    Excuse me, could you tell me how to get to the station?

  2. Kintetsu-Nara eki desu ne. kono michi o zutto itte kudasai.

    Kintetsu-Nara Station? Just keep going along this road.

  3. Your turn: Check that it's straight ahead.

    massugu desu ka?

    Straight ahead?

  4. hai, massugu desu. aruite juppun gurai desu yo.

    Yes, straight ahead. It's about a 10-minute walk.

  5. Your turn: Hold out your phone and ask her to show you on the map.

    chizu de oshiete moraemasu ka?

    Could you show me on the map?

  6. ii desu yo. ima iru no ga koko de, eki wa koko desu.

    Sure. We're here now, and the station is here.

Phrases from Ekiben content v3