Ekiben 駅弁
English (UK)

Arrival 到着 · Stop A03

都心へ

From the airport into the city

Narita is a long way from central Tokyo. Find your train or bus, buy a ticket, and maybe send your suitcase ahead. Ask how to get into the city, find tickets and the right bus, and send your bag to the hotel.

  • 成田空港第1ターミナル · Set in Narita Airport Terminal 1
  • 6-minute lesson
  • With Ekiben Pass

Phrases

しんじゅくへはどうやっていけばいいですか？

Shinjuku e wa dou yatte ikeba ii desu ka?

How do I get to Shinjuku?

Swap in any place. Staff will often point you to a train or bus counter.

Pattern: 〜へはどうやって行けばいいですか？

新宿へはShinjuku e wa · to Shinjuku (topic)どうやってdou yatte · how行けばikeba · if I goいいですかii desu ka · is it good?

とうきょうえきいきのバスのりばはどこですか？

Tokyo eki iki no basu noriba wa doko desu ka?

Where's the bus stop for Tokyo Station?

Signs and announcements often read 行き as yuki. Both iki and yuki are correct.

Pattern: 〜行きのバス乗り場はどこですか？

東京駅行きのTokyo eki iki no · bound for Tokyo Stationバス乗り場basu noriba · bus stopはwa · (topic)どこdoko · whereですかdesu ka · is it?

きっぷうりばはどこですか？

kippu uriba wa doko desu ka?

Where can I buy tickets?

Uriba means 'selling place'. You'll find ticket machines and a staffed counter there.

切符売り場kippu uriba · ticket officeはwa · (topic)どこdoko · whereですかdesu ka · is it?

つぎのバスはなんじですか？

tsugi no basu wa nanji desu ka?

What time is the next bus?

Airport buses run on a timetable, so it's worth checking before you buy a ticket.

次のtsugi no · nextバスbasu · busはwa · (topic)何時nanji · what timeですかdesu ka · is it?

スーツケースをホテルにおくりたいんですが

suutsukeesu o hoteru ni okuritai n desu ga

I'd like to send my suitcase to my hotel.

Ending with n desu ga makes it a soft, polite request. Staff will take it from there.

スーツケースをsuutsukeesu o · suitcase (object)ホテルにhoteru ni · to the hotel送りたいokuritai · want to sendんですがn desu ga · (polite softener)

What you’ll hear

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

onimotsu, oazukarishimasu

I'll take your luggage.

Airport bus staff loading suitcases. Keep the claim tag they hand you.

You

onegaishimasu

Thank you. / Please.

hachiban noriba kara onori kudasai

Please board at stop number 8.

Ticket staff telling you which numbered stop your bus leaves from.

You

hachiban desu ne

Number 8, right?

Culture tip

Send Your Bags Ahead

Major airports have delivery counters (takkyubin) that send your suitcase to your hotel, usually by the next day, for a few thousand yen. You ride into the city hands-free. Have your hotel's name, address and phone number ready.

“You can send your suitcase from the airport straight to your hotel.”

Practise scene

The Road to Shinjuku

Narita Airport Terminal 1 arrivals lobby. Your hotel is in Shinjuku, and your suitcase is enormous.

Mr. Suzuki · Tourist information

  1. Your turn: Ask the information desk how to get to Shinjuku.

    Shinjuku e wa dou yatte ikeba ii desu ka?

    How do I get to Shinjuku?

  2. Narita ekusupuresu ga benri desu yo. Shinjuku made norikae nashi de ikemasu.

    The Narita Express is easiest. It goes to Shinjuku with no transfers.

  3. Your turn: Sounds good. Ask where to buy tickets.

    kippu uriba wa doko desu ka?

    Where can I buy tickets?

  4. chika ikkai desu. achira no esukareetaa de orite kudasai.

    It's one floor down, on B1. Take that escalator.

  5. Your turn: Dragging that huge suitcase onto a train sounds awful. Ask about sending it to your hotel.

    suutsukeesu o hoteru ni okuritai n desu ga

    I'd like to send my suitcase to my hotel.

  6. takuhaibin no kauntaa ga achira ni arimasu. ashita ni wa hoteru ni todokimasu yo.

    There's a delivery counter over there. Your bag will reach the hotel by tomorrow.

Phrases from Ekiben content v3