Welcome to Japan! While you can get by in English with slight difficulty, knowing a few of these Japanese expressions will make your experience easier and more enjoyable:
good morning – ohayo gozaimasu; ohayo
good afternoon – konnichiwa
good evening – konbanwa
yes – hai
no – iie
I don’t understand – wakarimasen
Do you speak English? – Eigo o hanashimasu ka?
excuse me – sumimasen
sorry – gomen nasai
please – kudasai
thank you – domo; arigato; domo arigato; arigato gozaimasu; domo arigato gozaimasu; arigato gozaimashita (“thank you for what you’ve done” – best applied upon leaving a restaurant)
Do you have an English menu – Eigo no menyu wa arimasu ka?
water – omizu
draft beer please – nama biiru kudasai
one more please – mohitotsu kudasai
Numbers when ordering food:
one (piece)- hitotsu
two – futatsu
three – mitsu
four – yotsu
five – itsutsu
six – mutsu
seven – nanatsu
eight – yatsu
nine – kokonotsu
ten – to
kanpai – cheers
itadakimasu – said before eating a meal
gochisosama deshita – said after eating a meal
Buy your Official JR Pass and Regional Pass!
Stay connected in Japan with Pocket Wifi!
Arrive in style and convenience with Meet & Greet service!
Disclaimer: This article contains affiliate links to hotel booking sites. With no additional cost to you, your bookings earn me a commission if you click on the links via my website – Thank you!
Sign up for my newsletter on the sidebar for blog updates and my travel insider tips! And, check out my vlogs on YouTube!
A Brief Bread History. Pita is one of the world’s most popular breads with a…
From Olive Oil & Garlic to Garlic Butter. Garlic Bread is a favorite in any…
All About the Filipino Champorado. Champorado is the famous Filipino breakfast dish that’s a favorite…
All About the Bar Pizza. Beer in one hand, pizza in the other. The perfect…
Originally posted October 20, 2022 Reposted May 3, 2022 Tapas Time(line) and More Theories. Tapas…
From the Ice Cream Float to the Sundae. Before the sundae was created, ice cream…