Japanese · Travel & tourism
Speak Japanese for your trip — before it happens.
At a Kyoto station, asking "駅はどこですか" instead of "京都駅はどこですか" gets you a polite "ここです" — the answer only works if the station agent can read your intent. Naming the station you want is Japanese pragmatics, not grammar; the politeness markers ride on top.
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What you'll practice
- Order at a restaurant with the polite prefix + counter — "カツ丼を一ついただけますか"
- Ask for directions naming the destination explicitly — "京都駅までどう行けばいいですか"
- Buy a train ticket — "○○までの切符を一枚ください" without saying "ticket machine"
- Decode fast station announcements — the same words are spoken at half speed and a half dozen syllables collapsed
A real exchange
いらっしゃいませ。ご注文はお決まりですか。
Welcome. Have you decided on your order?
ラーメンをください。
Ramen, please.
丁寧さはまだ足りません。「〜をいただけますか」の方が柔らかいです。もう一度。
Not polite enough. "〜をいただけますか" sounds softer. Once more.
味噌ラーメンを一ついただけますか。
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