Plan your Japan trip without
the overwhelm
30+ Basic Japanese Phrases Every Traveler Should Know
Traveling to Japan but worried about the language barrier?
No stress, you don’t need to be fluent. Just a few key phrases can make a huge difference.
These expressions will help you order food, ask for help, and interact politely, with English and French translations + pronunciation to guide you.
👋 Basic Greetings (Politeness is key in Japan)
おはようございます (Ohayou gozaimasu) = Good morning | Bonjour (matin)
こんにちは (Konnichiwa) = Hello | Bonjour (jour)
こんばんは (Konbanwa) = Good evening | Bonsoir
ありがとうございます (Arigatou gozaimasu) = Thank you very much | Merci beaucoup
すみません (Sumimasen) = Excuse me / Sorry | Excusez-moi / Pardon
🗣️ Everyday Phrases
わかりました (Wakarimashita) = I understand | J’ai compris
わかりません (Wakarimasen) = I don’t understand | Je ne comprends pas
もう一度お願いします (Mou ichido onegaishimasu) = Please repeat | Répétez, s’il vous plaît
はい (Hai) = Yes | Oui
いいえ (Iie) = No | Non
❓ Useful Questions
お名前は？ (Onamae wa?) = What’s your name? | Comment vous appelez-vous ?
どこですか？ (Doko desu ka?) = Where is it? | Où est-ce ?
いくらですか？ (Ikura desu ka?) = How much is it? | Combien ça coûte ?
トイレはどこですか？ (Toire wa doko desu ka?) = Where is the bathroom? | Où sont les toilettes ?
どういう意味ですか？ (Dou iu imi desu ka?) = What does it mean? | Que signifie cela ?
🍜 At the Restaurant
メニューをください (Menyuu o kudasai) = Can I have the menu, please? | Puis-je avoir le menu ?
これは何ですか？ (Kore wa nan desu ka?) = What is this? | Qu’est-ce que c’est ?
おすすめは何ですか？ (Osusume wa nan desu ka?) = What do you recommend? | Que recommandez-vous ?
お水をください (O-mizu o kudasai) = Water, please | De l’eau, s’il vous plaît
お会計お願いします (O-kaikei onegaishimasu) = The bill, please | L’addition, s’il vous plaît
💡 Pro Tips
Save these phrases on your phone for quick access.
Practice the pronunciation out loud (just a few times helps!).
Use them with a smile, locals are usually happy you made the effort.
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Marie creator behind @Tabimawari
Hi, I’m Marie.
French islander from Reunion island, Japan lover, and travel planner behind Tabimawari.
I spent a year living in Kyoto, learning Japanese and falling in love with the culture. Since then, I’ve kept going back, exploring every corner from Tokyo to the tiniest hidden towns.
I created these guides after spending months planning, testing, and fine-tuning every detail so you don’t have to. Inside, you’ll find:
✅ Interactive maps
✅ Step-by-step directions
✅ Local spots + travel tips
✅ Offline use
Each guide is made with care, based on real-life travel, not generic blog advice.
This is what I wish I had on my first trip to Japan and now it’s yours.
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Japan Monthly by Tabimawari : Subscribe to get a monthly email packed with inspiration, local tips, and events happening across Japan straight from someone who’s lived and traveled a lot.
Marie creator behind @Tabimawari
Hi, I’m Marie.
French islander from Reunion island, Japan lover, and travel planner behind Tabimawari.
I spent a year living in Kyoto, learning Japanese and falling in love with the culture. Since then, I’ve kept going back, exploring every corner from Tokyo to the tiniest hidden towns.
I created these guides after spending months planning, testing, and fine-tuning every detail so you don’t have to. Inside, you’ll find:
✅ Interactive maps
✅ Step-by-step directions
✅ Local spots + travel tips
✅ Offline use
Each guide is made with care, based on real-life travel, not generic blog advice.
This is what I wish I had on my first trip to Japan and now it’s yours.
MY SOCIALS
MY NEWSLETTER
Plan your Japan trip without
the overwhelm
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