Six phrases that actually work in Japan and when to use them

A handful of Japanese phrases will get you further than you'd expect—locals respond warmly to visitors who make the effort, and pronunciation is refreshingly consistent (five vowel sounds, no tones). English coverage is real but patchy: about 30% of Japanese people say they're comfortable with it, and while stations, airports, and chains in big cities have English signage and staff, local restaurant menus and rural train stations often don't.

What phrases do I actually need?

Just a handful covers most situations:

• Sumimasen (soo-mee-mah-sen) — "excuse me / sorry." Use it to get a server's attention, apologize, or squeeze past someone. Japanese restaurants expect you to call out for service rather than wait for a server to check on you.
• Arigatou gozaimasu (ah-ree-gah-toh go-zai-mas) — "thank you very much." Simple, but it warms up any interaction.
• Kore wo kudasai (koh-reh oh koo-dah-sai) — "this one, please." Point at a photo or dish and say this; no need to read the menu or pronounce anything else.
• ~ wa doko desu ka (wah doh-koh dess kah) — "Where is ~?" Drop in a place name for directions.
• Gochisousama deshita (go-chee-soh-sah-mah desh-ta) — "thank you for the meal," said when you finish eating. Locals appreciate hearing it from visitors.
• Kaado wa tsukaemasu ka? — "Can I use a card?" Worth asking before you order, since cash is still king outside major tourist areas.

How far does English actually get you?

In Tokyo and other big cities, you'll find English at stations, airports, convenience store chains, and in many tourist-area shops. Outside those areas, it thins out fast—train signs are often bilingual, but restaurant menus frequently aren't. The fix: about 85% of Japanese restaurants use photo menus, so pointing and saying "kore wo kudasai" works even without English.

What about taxis and getting around?

Most taxi drivers don't speak English, but they can read addresses. Show your destination written in Japanese or pinned on your phone map instead of trying to pronounce it—far more reliable than verbal directions.

What if I need help in an emergency?

Police is 110, ambulance/fire is 119; both have some English support, though it's not guaranteed everywhere. The JNTO Japan Visitor Hotline (050-3816-2787) offers more consistent multilingual help (English, Chinese, Korean) for accidents and medical issues. For hospitals, Tokyo's Himawari service (03-5285-8181, 09:00–20:00 daily) can point you to English-friendly clinics—only about 30% of hospitals offer foreign language support. The free VoiceTra app (31 languages, government-backed) is a useful aid for medical conversations, though it's no substitute for a human interpreter in serious situations.

FAQ

Do I need to learn kanji? No—these phrases work fine spoken or read phonetically; menus lean on photos rather than text at most places.

Is it rude to speak English? Not at all—effort and politeness matter more than fluency, and starting with "sumimasen" softens any request.

What if a restaurant has no English menu or photos? Point at what another table is having, or ask staff directly with "kore wo kudasai" while gesturing.

Sources

• Essential Japanese Phrases for Travelers 2026 | WaTabi
• Essential Japanese Phrases for Travelers to Japan – Akita Samurai’s Guide to Japan
• https://kawaraban.jp/en/living-en/50494.html
• Learn Basic Japanese for Travel: Essential Phrases and Tips - Learn languages with italki
• https://japanhandbook.com/communicating-with-doctors-language-tips-for-non-japanese-speakers/