Japanese for Trains and Getting Around
Trains in Japan are clean and reliable, but big stations can be overwhelming the first time. Knowing a handful of words for signs, a few phrases for asking the way and some simple train etiquette makes getting around much easier, whether you are visiting or have just moved.
Finding your way in the station
Most station signs in big cities include English, but smaller stations and printed timetables may not, and announcements are often in Japanese first. These are the words you will see most:
| Japanese | Say it | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 改札 | kaisatsu | Ticket gates |
| 〜番線 | …bansen | Platform number (track number) |
| 乗り換え | norikae | Transfer, change trains |
| 出口 / 入口 | deguchi / iriguchi | Exit / entrance |
| 東口・西口・南口・北口 | higashi-guchi, nishi-guchi, minami-guchi, kita-guchi | East, west, south and north exits |
| 各駅停車 / 普通 | kakueki teisha / futsū | Local train, stops at every station |
| 快速・急行・特急 | kaisoku, kyūkō, tokkyū | Faster trains that skip some stations |
| 終電 | shūden | Last train of the night |
Two tips save a lot of stress. First, faster trains skip stations, and which stations they skip differs by line, so check that your train stops where you need it. Second, big stations have many exits that can be far apart. If you are meeting someone, agree on the exit name, not just the station.
IC cards and tickets
The easiest way to ride is with a rechargeable IC card, a contactless card you tap on the reader at the ticket gate as you enter and again as you leave. The fare is taken automatically. Different regions issue their own cards, and many can also be used in other regions and in convenience stores, but coverage varies, so check before relying on one for a long trip. Some phones can also carry an IC card. To add money, look for チャージ (chāji, top up) on the ticket machine.
You can also buy a paper ticket, 切符 (kippu), from the ticket machines, 券売機 (kenbaiki). Find your destination on the fare map above the machines, then choose that fare. Most machines have an English button. If you paid too little, don’t worry: use the fare adjustment machine, 精算機 (seisanki), near the gates before you exit, or ask station staff.
For long-distance trains such as the shinkansen, you usually need a separate ticket, and you can choose a reserved seat, 指定席 (shiteiseki), or a non-reserved seat, 自由席 (jiyūseki), on trains that have them. Ticket types and rail passes change, so check the rail company’s official site.
Asking for help
Station staff are used to helping travellers, and a short polite question goes a long way. Start with すみません (sumimasen, excuse me).
| Japanese | Say it | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 〜駅はどこですか？ | …eki wa doko desu ka? | Where is … station? |
| 〜に行きたいんですが。 | … ni ikitai n desu ga. | I’d like to go to … |
| この電車は〜に止まりますか？ | kono densha wa … ni tomarimasu ka? | Does this train stop at …? |
| 何番線ですか？ | nanbansen desu ka? | Which platform is it? |
| どこで乗り換えますか？ | doko de norikaemasu ka? | Where do I change trains? |
| 〜まで、大人一枚お願いします。 | … made, otona ichimai onegai shimasu. | One adult ticket to …, please. |
| 切符をなくしました。 | kippu o nakushimashita. | I’ve lost my ticket. |
When you ask for directions, the answer may include まっすぐ (massugu, straight on), 右 (migi, right), 左 (hidari, left) and 階段 (kaidan, stairs). Showing the name of the place on your phone also helps.
Taking a taxi
Taxis are easy to use once you know the basics. On many taxis the rear door opens and closes automatically, so let the driver operate it. Tell the driver your destination with 〜までお願いします (… made onegai shimasu), and showing the address or a map on your phone is very helpful. When you want to stop, say ここで大丈夫です (koko de daijōbu desu, here is fine), and ask for a receipt with 領収書をお願いします (ryōshūsho o onegai shimasu). There is no tipping. Many taxis take cards or cashless payment, but not all, so ask カードは使えますか？ (kādo wa tsukaemasu ka?) before you set off if you aren’t sure.
Train etiquette
- Queue at the marked lines on the platform, and let people get off before you board.
- Keep your voice down, put your phone on silent, called マナーモード (manā mōdo), and avoid phone calls on board.
- Take off your backpack in crowded trains and hold it in front of you or put it on the rack.
- Give priority seats, 優先席 (yūsenseki), to older people, pregnant passengers, people with disabilities and those with small children.
- Eating: eating on long-distance trains like the shinkansen is normal, but on local commuter trains it is generally avoided.
- Women-only cars, 女性専用車 (josei senyōsha), run on some lines at certain times. Check the signs on the platform.
For more everyday travel Japanese, see Japanese phrases for your first trip.
Practise before you travel
Asking which platform you need or whether a train stops at your station is short and predictable, which makes it perfect to practise in advance. A Hanabuddies tutor can role-play buying a ticket, asking staff for help and giving a taxi driver directions, using the places you actually plan to visit, so the real conversations feel familiar.