Learn Japanese for Travel
Build useful survival Japanese for stations, restaurants, hotels, shopping, and everyday moments in Japan. Start with N5 basics, then move into N4 travel confidence.
Travel Essentials
These are the phrases you will actually use while moving around Japan. Tap a card for AI explanation, realistic examples, or a quick quiz.
駅はどこですか？
Eki wa doko desu ka?
Use when asking for directions
これはいくらですか？
Kore wa ikura desu ka?
Shopping / price checking
一つください
Hitotsu kudasai
Ordering food or items
すみません
Sumimasen
Getting attention / polite apology
ありがとうございます
Arigatou gozaimasu
Polite thank you
〜を探しています
~ o sagashiteimasu
Use with place or item
どの電車が〜に行きますか？
Dono densha ga ~ ni ikimasu ka?
Train navigation
英語のメニューはありますか？
Eigo no menyuu wa arimasu ka?
Restaurant use
チェックインお願いします
Chekkuin onegaishimasu
Hotel use
カードは使えますか？
Kaado wa tsukaemasu ka?
Useful for payment
ちょっと待ってください
Chotto matte kudasai
Helpful in many situations
助けてください
Tasukete kudasai
Emergency basic
Travel Categories
Ask where places are and understand simple location language.
Read useful transit words and ask which train to take.
Check prices, ask for items, and handle simple purchases.
Order politely, ask for menus, and use common dining phrases.
Use basic check-in and service phrases for your stay.
Start with essential polite expressions used every day.
Learn key words for help, exits, and urgent situations.
N5 Foundation
Build a strong beginner foundation for JLPT N5 with reading, vocabulary, grammar, and core travel-useful Japanese.
Learn the main reading system used in beginner Japanese.
Read foreign words, menus, signs, and common travel terms.
Core beginner words for greetings, food, places, time, and numbers.
Simple sentence patterns used in daily conversation.
Starter characters often seen on signs, stations, and simple text.
Short beginner reading drills with travel context.
Quick review blocks to help reinforce what you study.
Hiragana Starter
Hiragana is one of the first things beginners should learn. Start with the basic vowel row and common K, S, T, and N sounds.
Core Hiragana
Japanese • Romaji • Sound
Beginner Vocabulary
These words are useful for both travel and early N5 study.
水
Mizu
Common at restaurants
駅
Eki
Important for travel
電車
Densha
Transit word
出口
Deguchi
Seen at stations and buildings
入口
Iriguchi
Useful for signs
今日
Kyou
Basic everyday word
明日
Ashita
Date and schedule use
人
Hito
Common beginner word
Grammar Basics
Start with simple sentence patterns you will see often in beginner Japanese.
~ desu
Used to make simple polite statements.
Example: これは駅です。
Kore wa eki desu.
This is the station.
~ desu ka
Used to ask polite questions.
Example: これは水ですか？
Kore wa mizu desu ka?
Is this water?
~ wa ...
Marks the topic of the sentence.
Example: 駅はどこですか？
Eki wa doko desu ka?
Where is the station?
~ ga arimasu / imasu
Used to say something exists or someone is there.
Example: 近くにコンビニがあります。
Chikaku ni konbini ga arimasu.
There is a convenience store nearby.
N4 Bridge for Travel
These patterns help you move beyond survival phrases. They are useful when you need to explain problems, ask follow-up questions, or understand more natural replies.
東京に行きたいです。
Tokyo ni ikitai desu.
Expressing what you want to do
電車が遅れているから
Densha ga okurete iru kara
Giving a reason
写真を撮ってもいいですか？
Shashin o totte mo ii desu ka?
Asking permission politely
ここに座ってはいけません。
Koko ni suwatte wa ikemasen.
Understanding restrictions
もし雨だったら...
Moshi ame dattara...
Conditional thinking
こっちの方がいいと思います。
Kocchi no hou ga ii to omoimasu.
Giving polite opinions
Daily Practice
Practice すみません, ありがとうございます, 駅はどこですか？, and カードは使えますか？
Say them aloud 5 times each. Then explain in English when you would use each phrase.
Mini Review
What is the difference between ありがとうございます and すみません in a shop or restaurant?
Tip: one shows gratitude, the other can get attention or politely apologize.