Ekiben 駅弁

Sign Reader

Japanese signs you’ll see on day one

You don’t need to read Japanese to get around, but recognizing a few dozen signs makes everything calmer. Tap any sign to flip it. These are the 46 signs taught in the Ekiben Sign Reader.

Station

  • 出口 · Exit

    でぐち · deguchi

    Usually yellow signs in stations. Big stations have dozens of exits, so check the name or letter.

  • 入口 · Entrance

    いりぐち · iriguchi

    Opposite of 出口. Both share 口 (kuchi), meaning mouth or opening.

  • 改札 · Ticket Gates

    かいさつ · kaisatsu

    Tap your IC card or insert your ticket here.

  • 乗り場 · Boarding Area

    のりば · noriba

    With a number it's a platform. Also バス乗り場 (bus stop) and タクシー乗り場 (taxi stand).

  • 乗り換え · Transfer

    のりかえ · norikae

    Follow these signs to change to another line without leaving the station.

  • 北口 · North Exit

    きたぐち · kitaguchi

    Also 南口 (South), 東口 (East) and 西口 (West). Agree on one before meeting friends.

  • 切符売り場 · Tickets

    きっぷうりば · kippu uriba

    Ticket machines. Most have an English button.

  • 精算機 · Fare Adjustment

    せいさんき · seisanki

    Paid too little or your IC card is low? Pay the difference here before the exit gate.

  • 優先席 · Priority Seats

    ゆうせんせき · yuusenseki

    Give these up to elderly, pregnant, injured or disabled passengers.

  • 女性専用車 · Women Only Car

    じょせいせんようしゃ · josei sen'yousha

    Usually during rush hour. Young children and passengers with disabilities may also ride.

  • 各駅停車 · Local

    かくえきていしゃ · kakueki teisha

    Stops at every station. Slowest, but you can't miss a small stop.

  • 快速 · Rapid

    かいそく · kaisoku

    Skips some stations. Check that your stop is on its list.

  • 特急 · Limited Express

    とっきゅう · tokkyuu

    Fewest stops. On JR it needs an extra ticket; on many private lines it's free.

Shops & restaurants

  • 営業中 · Open

    えいぎょうちゅう · eigyouchuu

    Often on a hanging sign. Flipped over, it may say 準備中.

  • 準備中 · Closed

    じゅんびちゅう · junbichuu

    Not open yet, or on a break between lunch and dinner. Come back later.

  • 定休日 · Closed Today

    ていきゅうび · teikyuubi

    The shop's regular day off. 月曜定休 means closed every Monday.

  • 現金のみ · Cash Only

    げんきんのみ · genkin nomi

    Still common at small restaurants and shrines. Carry some yen.

  • 免税 · Tax Free

    めんぜい · menzei

    From November 2026 you pay tax at checkout; it is refunded after customs checks your goods as you leave Japan.

  • 押 · Push

    おす · osu

    A single kanji on doors. Its partner is 引 (pull).

  • 引 · Pull

    ひく · hiku

    A single kanji on doors. Its partner is 押 (push).

  • 会計 · Cashier

    かいけい · kaikei

    Often written お会計 or レジ. In many restaurants you pay here, not at the table.

  • 予約席 · Reserved

    よやくせき · yoyakuseki

    Placed on restaurant tables. Wait to be seated somewhere else.

  • 両替 · Currency Exchange

    りょうがえ · ryougae

    On buses, 両替 is the machine that breaks bills into coins for the fare.

  • 無料 · Free

    むりょう · muryou

    No charge. Seen on water, tea, refills and samples.

  • 有料 · Fee Required

    ゆうりょう · yuuryou

    You'll pay for this: parking, lockers, toilets, plastic bags.

Toilets

  • 男 · Men

    おとこ · otoko

    Also written 男性 (dansei).

  • 女 · Women

    おんな · onna

    Also written 女性 (josei).

  • お手洗い · Toilets

    おてあらい · otearai

    Polite word for toilet. Literally 'hand washing'.

  • 化粧室 · Restrooms

    けしょうしつ · keshoushitsu

    Common in department stores and hotels. Literally 'powder room'.

  • 多目的トイレ · Accessible Toilet

    たもくてきトイレ · tamokuteki toire

    Spacious, for wheelchairs, strollers and baby changing. Use it only if you need it.

  • 流す · Flush

    ながす · nagasu

    On toilet control panels. Some toilets flush with a lever or a sensor instead.

Warnings

  • 禁煙 · No Smoking

    きんえん · kin'en

    Many city streets are no-smoking too. Smoke only in marked areas (喫煙所).

  • 撮影禁止 · No Photography

    さつえいきんし · satsuei kinshi

    Common in temples, museums and shops. If in doubt, ask before you shoot.

  • 立入禁止 · Keep Out

    たちいりきんし · tachiiri kinshi

    Do not enter. 禁止 (kinshi) means prohibited.

  • 危険 · Danger

    きけん · kiken

    Often in red. Seen at construction sites, cliffs and train tracks.

  • 非常口 · Emergency Exit

    ひじょうぐち · hijouguchi

    Look for the green running-figure sign above doors.

  • 土足厳禁 · Remove Shoes

    どそくげんきん · dosoku genkin

    No outdoor shoes past this point. Common at temples, ryokan and some restaurants.

  • 足元注意 · Watch Your Step

    あしもとちゅうい · ashimoto chuui

    Uneven floors, steps or a gap at the platform. 注意 (chuui) means caution.

Street

  • 止まれ · Stop

    とまれ · tomare

    Japan's stop sign is a red upside-down triangle, not an octagon.

  • 交番 · Police Box

    こうばん · kouban

    A small neighborhood police post, often marked KOBAN. Ask here for directions or lost items.

  • 案内所 · Information

    あんないじょ · annaijo

    観光案内所 (kankou annaijo) is a tourist information center, often with English-speaking staff.

  • 喫煙所 · Smoking Area

    きつえんじょ · kitsuenjo

    In many cities, the only place outdoors where smoking is allowed.

  • 駐車場 · Parking

    ちゅうしゃじょう · chuushajou

    満車 (mansha) means full, 空車 (kuusha) means spaces available.

  • 空室 · Vacancy

    くうしつ · kuushitsu

    Rooms available. Seen outside hotels and on booking boards.

  • 満室 · No Vacancy

    まんしつ · manshitsu

    Fully booked. 満 (man) means full.

  • 避難場所 · Evacuation Area

    ひなんばしょ · hinan basho

    Usually a park or school ground where people gather after a big earthquake or fire.