Do you realize how many adjectives you use when you describe or express something, such as feeling, personality, weather conditions, and the size and color of things? Adjectives in Japanese are various and rich in expression, so learning the top 100 Japanese adjectives will greatly improve your conversation skills in Japanese!

It’s not very difficult to learn Japanese adjectives rules, as they work in mostly the same way as they do in English grammar. Before we move onto our list, though, it’s prudent to go over Japanese adjectives rules to give you context.

So first things first: Where do Japanese adjectives go?

For example, a Japanese adjective is placed before a noun: 親切な人 (shinsetsu na hito), meaning “kind person.” Or they can follow the noun + be verb + adjective pattern: 外は寒い (soto wa samui), meaning “outside is cold.”

Most Japanese adjectives end with the sound of either Hiragana い (i) or な (na), unless it’s not in past form. An adjective consists of a stem, such as 親切 (shinsetsu), which never changes, and a suffix, such as な (na), which can change.

Ready to expand your Japanese adjectives vocabulary? You’ll enjoy speaking Japanese a lot more once you know the variety of Japanese adjectives! Here’s our top 100 Japanese adjectives list at JapanesePod101.com!

Table of Contents

1. Describing Dimension, Size, Distance & Number
2. Describing Value
3. Describing Sense
4. Japanese Adjectives for Personality & Feelings
5. Describing Speed, Difficulty, Importance, etc.
6. Describing Colors
7. Describing Shapes
8. Describing Weather
9. Japanese Adjectives for Food: Describing Taste
10. Describing Situations
11. Describing Physical Traits or Physical Conditions
12. Describing Appearance and Condition
13. Conclusion: How JapanesePod101 Can Help You Learn More Japanese

1. Describing Dimension, Size, Distance & Number

1- Vocabulary

2- Example Sentences

• 部屋に大きいベッドと小さい椅子があります。
  Heya ni ōkii beddo to chiisai isu ga arimasu.
  There is a big bed and a small chair in the room.
• このカバンは重いです。
  Kono kaban wa omoi desu.
  This bag is heavy.
• 駅はここから遠いです。
  Eki wa koko kara tōi desu.
  The station is far from here.
• あそこに高いビルがあります。
  Asoko ni takai biru ga arimasu.
  There is a tall building there.

2. Describing Value

1- Vocabulary

2- Example Sentences

• 私はテストで良い結果を出した。
  Watashi wa tesuto de yoi kekka wo dashita.
  I got a good result on the test.
• そこから素晴らしい眺めが見えます。
  Soko kara subarashii nagame ga miemasu.
  You can see a great view from there.
• あの女性はとても美しいです。
  Ano josei wa totemo utsukushii desu.
  That lady is very beautiful.
• この安いカメラはすぐに壊れました。
  Kono yasui kamera wa sugu ni kowaremashita.
  This cheap camera broke instantly.

3. Describing Sense

1- Vocabulary

2- Example Sentences

• この西陣織は柔らかい素材です。
  Kono Nishijin-ori wa yawarakai sozai desu.
  This Nishijin-ori is soft material.
• 彼女は強い男性が好きです。
  Kanojo wa tsuyoi dansei ga suki desu.
  She likes strong men.
• ダイヤモンドは硬い石です。
  Daiyamondo wa katai ishi desu.
  Diamond is a hard stone.
• その問題は複雑です。
  Sono mondai wa fukuzatsu desu.
  The problem is complicated.

4. Japanese Adjectives for Personality & Feelings

Looking for Japanese adjectives to describe a person? Here are the best Japanese adjectives to describe someone’s personality or feelings.

1- Vocabulary

Also visit “Which Adjective Describes Your Personality Best?” to check Japanese pronunciation, and see some more related vocabulary.

2- Example Sentences

• 彼女は頑固な人です。
  Kanojo wa ganko na hito desu.
  She is a stubborn person.
• 私は面白い人が大好きです。
  Watashi wa omoshiroi hito ga daisuki desu.
  I really like a funny person.
• 試験に合格したので嬉しいです。
  Shiken ni gōkaku shita node ureshii desu.
  I am happy because I passed the exam.
• 彼は社交的な学生です。
  Kare wa shakōteki na gakusei desu.
  He is a sociable student.

To learn more about Personalities and Feelings, please read this article.

5. Describing Speed, Difficulty, Importance, etc.

1- Vocabulary

2- Example Sentences

• インターネットが遅いのでビデオ電話ができません。
  Intānetto ga osoi node bideo-denwa ga dekimasen.
  I can’t make a video-call because the internet is slow.
• これは簡単な問題です。
  Kore wa kantan na mondai desu.
  This is an easy problem.
• 私は新しい携帯電話が欲しいです。
  Watashi wa atarashii keitai denwa ga hoshii desu.
  I want a new mobile phone.
• 彼は真面目な会議で笑い出しました。
  Kare wa majime na kaigi de waraidashimashita.
  He started laughing at a serious meeting.

6. Describing Colors

1- Vocabulary

“Color” is iro in Japanese.
　

2- Example Sentences

• りんごは赤い種類と緑の種類があります。
  Ringo wa akai shurui to midori no shurui ga arimasu.
  Apples have a red kind and a green kind.
• 白いライオンを見たことがありますか。
  Shiroi raion o mita koto ga arimasu ka.
  Have you seen white lions?
• 私は暗い色の服が好きです。
  Watashi wa kurai iro no fuku ga suki desu.
  I like clothes with dark colors.
• その浴衣は鮮やかな色が特徴です。
  Sono yukata wa azayaka na iro ga tokuchō desu.
  That Yukata is characterized by vivid colors.

7. Describing Shapes

1- Vocabulary

“Shape” is katachi in Japanese.

2- Example Sentences

• その丸い鏡を見てください。
  Sono marui kagami o mite kudasai.
  Please look at the round mirror.
• ゴミはあの四角い箱に入れてください。
  Gomi wa ano shikakui hako ni irete kudasai.
  Please put trash in that square garbage bin.
• 地球は球体の形をしています。
  Chikyū wa kyūtai no katachi o shite imasu.
  The earth has a spherical shape.
• この建築は立方体の形が有名です。
  Kono kenchiku wa rippōtai no katachi ga yūmei desu.
  This architecture is famous for its cubic shape.

8. Describing Weather

1- Vocabulary

Also, check out our lesson Learn the Top 15 Weather Conditions to learn how to express even more weather conditions in Japanese.

2- Example Sentences

• 今日は寒いので手袋を持って行ってください。
  Kyō wa samui node tebukuro o motte itte kudasai.
  Please take gloves with you because today is cold.
• 夏は30度を超える暑い日が続きます。
  Natsu wa 30-do o koeru atsui hi ga tsuzukimasu.
  Hot days with over 30 degrees continue in summer.
• 春は暖かい気候で花見ができます。
  Haru wa atatakai kikō de hanami ga dekimasu.
  Spring has a warm climate, and flowers bloom.
• 昨日は肌寒い日でした。
  Kinō wa hadazamui hi deshita.
  Yesterday was chilly.

To learn more about weather, please visit our article all about Japanese Weather.

9. Japanese Adjectives for Food: Describing Taste

Here are the most common and important Japanese adjectives for describing food and taste!

1- Vocabulary

2- Example Sentences

• 私は甘いものが大好きです。
  Watashi wa amai mono ga daisuki desu.
  I like sweets very much.
• この梅干しは塩辛いので食べられません。
  Kono umeboshi wa shiokarai node taberaremasen.
  I can’t eat this Umeboshi because it’s salty.
• 彼は苦いコーヒーが好きです。
  Kare wa nigai kōhī ga suki desu.
  He likes bitter coffee.
• 明日は記念日なので美味しいものを食べたい。
  Ashita wa kinenbi na node oishii mono o tabetai.
  I want to eat something delicious because tomorrow is an anniversary.

10. Describing Situations

1- Vocabulary

2- Example Sentences

• これは安全な調理器具です。
  Kore wa anzen na chōri kigu desu.
  This is safe cooking equipment.
• 私はつまらない映画で寝落ちしました。
  Watashi wa tsumaranai eiga de neochi shimashita.
  I fell asleep during the boring movie.
• 彼は危険な橋を渡りました。
  Kare wa kiken na hashi o watarimashita.
  He crossed a dangerous bridge.
• いつも正しい行いをしなさい。
  Itsumo tadashii okonai o shinasai.
  Always do the right things.

11. Describing Physical Traits or Physical Conditions

1- Vocabulary

2- Example Sentences

• 「若い時の苦労は買ってでもせよ」ということわざがある。
  “Wakai toki no kurō wa katte demo seyo” to iu kotowaza ga aru.
  There is a proverb saying “Heavy work in youth is quiet in old age.”
• 彼女の部屋はいつも綺麗です。
  Kanojo no heya wa itsumo kirei desu.
  Her room is always clean.
• あの女性は素敵な靴を履いています。
  Ano josei wa suteki na kutsu o haite imasu.
  That lady wears nice shoes.
• 異常な症状が出たらすぐに電話してください。
  Ijō na shōjō ga detara sugu ni denwa shite kudasai.
  If abnormal symptoms appear, please call me immediately.

12. Describing Appearance and Condition

1- Vocabulary

2- Example Sentences

• 彼女はいつもきちんとした服を着ています。
  Kanojo wa itsumo kichin to shita fuku o kite imasu.
  She always wears neat clothes.
• 私は平均的な家出身です。
  Watashi wa heikinteki na ie shusshin desu.
  I am from an average family.
• 貧しい子供達のために募金をしてください。
  Mazushii kodomo-tachi no tame ni bokin o shite kudasai.
  Please donate for poor children.

13. Conclusion: How JapanesePod101 Can Help You Learn More Japanese

In this Japanese adjectives lesson, we introduced the top 100 Japanese adjectives with examples. We hope this article is helpful for you, and has given you more footing to improve your Japanese vocabulary! Do you feel prepared to describe your personality and feelings?

If you would like to learn more about the Japanese language, you’ll find a lot more useful content on JapanesePod101.com. We provide a variety of free lessons for you to improve your Japanese language skills. For more Japanese adjectives practice, Most Common Adjectives and Words and Phrases to Help You Describe Your Feelings are useful to help you learn pronunciation with audio. Further, Top 15 Questions You Should Know for Conversations and Top 10 Conversational Phrases are essential for your conversation practice.

Know that your hard work will pay off; with enough practice, you’ll be speaking like a native in no time with JapanesePod101.com!

Hinamatsuri (Japanese Doll Festival) is a special Japanese holiday dedicated to praying for the well-being of little girls. This holiday is unique to the Japanese culture, and is steeped in both traditional and modern cultural values and beliefs.

In this article, you’ll learn many interesting Japanese Doll Festival facts, from the holiday’s origins to how it’s celebrated today. Are you ready? Let’s get started!

1. What is the Japanese Traditional Doll Festival?

The Japanese Doll Festival (Hinamatsuri), unique to Japan, is a festival that prays for the healthy growth of little girls.

The history of Hinamatsuri goes back a long way. It’s said that the hihina (or hiina) play, which involved making little dolls out of paper or earth and dressing them in clothes, and which went on over a thousand years ago, was the prototype of the modern-day Hinamatsuri.

Gradually, this evolved into a custom called Nagashibina, which was to pray for sound health. During Nagashibina, these dolls were used as substitutes for real people, had people’s bad luck transferred to them, and were sent floating down the river.

After this, with the passing of time, it became typical for the dolls to be displayed and admired indoors, as they are today, as mamori-hina. The mamori-hina watch over the happiness and growth of the daughter of the house.

A girl’s first Doll Festival is referred to as 初節句 (hatsuzekku). For this celebration, the maternal grandparents often give a set of dolls. With this gift, they place a wish that the doll will be used as a scapegoat so that their cute granddaughter will not suffer from disaster.

→ See this list of Must-Know Terms for Family Members to learn more useful words related to family!

2. Japanese Doll Festival Date

Each year, the Doll’s Festival takes place on March 3. If you match it to the old Japanese calendar, Hinamatsuri takes place when the peach trees are blooming.

3. Japanese Doll Festival Activities and Displays

People display a set of graceful dolls in ancient court costumes on a tier of five to seven shelves, which is called 雛人形 (Hina Ningyō). The dolls are arranged as follows:

• Emperor and Empress Dolls: Called 内裏雛 (だいりびな), these are displayed on the top shelf. Generally, the emperor doll is placed on the left side and the empress doll on the right. This custom also influences weddings—the groom sits on the left, and the bride on the right. Gold folding screens are arranged behind the emperor and empress dolls on a red felt carpet.
• Three Court Ladies: Called 三人官女 (さんにんかんじょ), these are displayed on the second tier from the top. The court ladies care for the emperor and empress.
• Five Court Musicians: Called 五人囃子 (ごにんばやし), these are displayed on the third tier from the top. The musicians are often depicted playing different musical instruments for the amusement of the emperor and empress.

People usually display the dolls a few weeks in advance of March 3. Some dolls are exquisite and have seven or eight layers of decoration. The value of such dolls can be more than 500,000 yen (or over $4,500). There are also popular compact types that can be decorated easily and stored in apartments and rental housing.

On the Doll Festival, these dolls are offered 菱餅 (hishimochi), or “diamond-shaped rice cakes,” and ひなあられ (hina-arare), or “sweet rice crackers.” A celebration is then held in front of the dolls, during which people consume lots of Japanese Doll Festival food and drinks. These include 白酒 (しろざけ), or “white sake,” and a meal of chirashizushi and clam soup.

It is said that it’s best to put away the dolls as soon as the festival is over. This is because of the saying “late to clear away then late to marry.” Some believe that “a daughter who cannot clean will not become a good bride.”

→ To learn the names of more amazing Japanese foods, check out our vocabulary list titled What’s Your Favorite Japanese Food?

→ And if you’re interested in learning about Japanese weddings and marriage, check out this lesson!

4. Momo no Sekku

Do you know which flower is used for Doll’s Festival decorations, and why?

The correct answer is a “peach blossom.” Peach blossoms bloom from the end of March to the beginning of April of the lunar calendar, just around the time of the Doll’s Festival. For this reason, the festival is also known as 桃の節句 (Momo no Sekku) or “Peach Seasonal Festival.”

In the past, peaches were believed to have the power to purge evil spirits. Therefore, peach blossoms are used as decorations for the Doll’s Festival to obtain the protection of peaches and help girls grow up healthy.　

→ For more words related to the beginning of spring, visit our vocabulary list of Words for the First Day of Spring.

5. Must-Know Vocab for the Japanese Doll’s Festival

Ready to review some of the vocabulary words from this article? Here’s a list of the essential vocabulary words you’ll need to talk about the Doll Festival in Japanese!

• ひな祭り (ひなまつり) — “Doll Festival”
• 白酒 (しろざけ) — “white sake”
• 三人官女 (さんにんかんじょ) — “three court ladies”
• 桃の花 (もものはな) — “peach blossom”
• ぼんぼり (ぼんぼり) — “paper lamp”
• 右大臣 (うだいじん) — “minister of the right”
• 左大臣 (さだいじん) — “minister of the left”
• お雛様 (おひなさま) — “hina doll”
• 雛あられ (ひなあられ) — “hina arare“
• 金屏風 (きんびょうぶ) — “gold screen”
• 五人囃子 (ごにんばやし) — “five court musicians”
• 女雛 (めびな) — “empress doll”
• 男雛 (おびな) — “emperor doll”
• 内裏雛 (だいりびな) — “emperor and empress dolls”
• 菱餅 (ひしもち) — “diamond-shaped rice cake”
• 蛤のお吸い物 (はまぐりのおすいもの) — “clear broth soup with clams”
• ちらし寿司 (ちらしずし) — “chirashi-zushi”

To hear the pronunciation of each word, and to read them alongside relevant images, visit our Japanese Doll’s Festival vocabulary list!

Final Thoughts

We hope you enjoyed learning about the Japanese Doll Festival with us! Are there any similar holidays in your country, or is this holiday very new to you? Let us know in the comments!

If you’re interested in learning more about the unique Japanese culture and holidays, you can visit the following pages on JapanesePod101.com:

• Japanese Superstitions
• Top 5 Things You Need to Know About Japanese Society
• Values Underlying Japanese Business Culture
• How to Celebrate the Obon Festival in Japan
• Japanese Keiro no hi: Respect for the Aged Day in Japan

Whatever your reasons for developing an interest in Japanese culture or the language, know that JapanesePod101.com is the best way to expand your knowledge and improve your skills. With tons of fun and effective lessons for learners at every level, there’s something for everyone!

Create your free lifetime account today, and start learning Japanese like never before.

It’s wonderful if you can learn Japanese and have entertainment at the same time. Yes, it is possible with online streaming services! One of the most famous and popular is Netflix, which nowadays offers a wide range of Japanese shows and movies. A lot of Japanese movies on Netflix are available with subtitles in both Japanese and English, so it’s ideal to learn by listening to actual pronunciation, reading what words mean, and/or checking vocabulary and spelling. In terms of understanding Japanese culture, Netflix can also be a great source for this.

When it comes to learning and entertainment, watching Japanese shows on Netflix is much easier and useful than watching them on TV or at actual movie theaters. Watching Japanese shows on Netflix doesn’t require traveling to theaters, you don’t need to bother checking schedules, and you don’t need to remember to record. Most of all, you can repeat lines at any time, and as many times as you like, with subtitles so that you can learn Japanese more efficiently.

Whether you just want to enjoy watching Japanese movies on Netflix casually, or you want to try learning conversational Japanese, Netflix is one of the best options for you. Either way, watching Netflix Japanese shows will boost your Japanese skills and allow you to see Japanese culture in action.

So what’s on Japanese Netflix? Here’s JapanesePod101’s list of recommended Japanese Netflix titles for an enjoyable Japanese learning experience!

Table of Contents

1. Midnight Dining / 深夜食堂 (Shin’ya Shokudō)
2. Hibana: Spark / 火花
3. Terrace House / テラスハウス
4. Ainori Love Wagon / あいのり
5. Atelier / アンダーウェア
6. Solitary Gourmet / 孤独のグルメ
7. Kantaro: The Sweet Tooth Salaryman / さぼリーマン甘太朗
8. Million Yen Women / 100万円の女たち
9. Dad of Light / ファイナルファンタジーXIV 光のお父さん
10. Jiro Dreams of Sushi / 二郎は鮨の夢を見る
11. Conclusion: How JapanesePod101 Can Help You Learn More Japanese

1. Midnight Dining / 深夜食堂 (Shin’ya Shokudō)

Midnight Diner is a Japanese TV series, based on the manga of the same title: 深夜食堂 (Shin’ya Shokudō). This Japanese show is currently one of the best Japanese Netflix shows. This drama is mainly about a diner which operates at midnight, and follows the owner’s interactions with his customers.

The setting of the show is a small Izakaya named “Meshiya” in Shinjuku, the big city that never sleeps in Tokyo. As Shinjuku is busy with its nightlife, there are always customers who visit this midnight diner (open from midnight to seven o’clock in the morning). Customers come to the diner for delicious traditional Japanese food and relaxing conversation with the master chef after their stressful day. What’s interesting is that each customer has a unique and touching story.

You’ll learn about how Japanese people talk about their lives, dreams, and love lives, and get a taste of Japanese traditional night foods and drinks. When it comes to the language they use, it may be a bit difficult for beginners, as the characters speak in a very casual style (sometimes with slang), which is far from using the structured formal language. However, this can be useful learning material for grasping colloquial Japanese.

You’ll probably hear Japanese curse words in some episodes, but here’s a tip for you: Japanese Curse Words You Should Never Use.

2. Hibana: Spark / 火花

Hibana, the Japanese word meaning “spark,” is a Japanese Netflix show based on the award-winning novel written by a Japanese comedian. Inspired in part by the author’s real life, the story is about two young manzai comedians and their struggles as they try to become big stand-up comedians. This show has ten episodes, and each episode focuses on one year of their lives, totaling a span of ten years.

This Japanese Netflix show attracts viewers’ attention and draws them into the story as it depicts human drama with stark reality, both heartwarming and heart-wrenching. The drama is well-filmed to show human relationships and the reality of competitiveness in the comedy industry.

For Japanese learners, it’s useful to know how people use conversational Japanese around close friends, seniors, and juniors, using both the formal and informal language. For this reason, we recommend this show for intermediate-level Japanese learners. This show also gives insight into the culture and industry of Japanese comedy.

Many Japanese comedians are from the Kansai area, and they speak Kansai dialect. For more information on this topic, check out our Japanese Dialects guide!

3. Terrace House / テラスハウス

This Netflix Japanese show is based on the reality TV show that aired on Japanese Fuji TV with five series, and now they’ve made a Netflix original series. This reality show follows the lives of young Japanese strangers—three girls and three guys—living together in one posh house. Viewers get to see how different people get to know each other and form human relationships (and sometimes romance) over time.

This show doesn’t have a particular story, nor dramatic turn of events. However, this is a good way to know how the younger Japanese generations interact with each other in everyday life. Although they share their lives under one roof, each member still engages in their own work or study outside the house, and they’re free to enter and leave. This setting makes the show more realistic and interesting.

If you want to make new Japanese friends and speak natural Japanese (which normal textbooks don’t teach), this can be the ideal show to watch. You can learn how to speak when you’re getting to know someone new, and how to start conversations.

This Japanese Netflix show is recommended for Japanese learners at the intermediate level. The conversations are mostly informal and spoken among young people, without structured or formal language.

4. Ainori Love Wagon / あいのり

This Japanese show on Netflix is originally from the popular Japanese TV program which was first aired two decades ago. The Japanese word Ainori means “ride together,” and can also mean “love ride,” based on how it’s read. This reality show follows seven young, single Japanese participants who go on a road trip to foreign countries in a pink van. The goal of participants is to find real love and become a couple with another participant while on the budget-type trip. They’ll then finish traveling and return to Japan together.

Ainori is an interesting love reality show which also introduces foreign countries and cultures during the participants’ travels. Each participant has a unique personality, and as you keep watching, you may find some favorite characters whom you want to support and see them happily form a couple. Unlike Terrace House, which features fancy people and a posh house, Ainori has more events, adventure, and drama as the participants travel to foreign lands.

We recommend this show for intermediate Japanese learners. Similarly to Terrace House, conversations are informal, without structured or formal language. It’s good for learning how young Japanese people talk and communicate with each other.

If you want to learn more about love phrases, check out Romance and Love in Japanese here!

5. Atelier / アンダーウェア

Atelier (the title of the original Japanese version is アンダーウェア meaning “Underwear” ) is a Netflix Japanese drama produced by Fuji TV for Netflix. It has thirteen episodes, and the real and famous lingerie company sponsors and supports this drama, making it more realistic in detail.

This show centers on a girl who has started her career at a high-end lingerie company and struggles to do well there. Through all the happenings, the story focuses on her interactions and relationship with her boss and the owner of the company. The character settings remind viewers of Anna Wintour and Miranda Priestly.

This Japanese Netflix drama provides viewers with a chance to learn some business conversation in Japanese for the office setting, and gives viewers insight into the daily life of a young employee. It’s good for intermediate-level learners.

6. Solitary Gourmet / 孤独のグルメ

Looking for good Japanese Netflix shows about food?

Solitary Gourmet is based on the original Japanese comic of the same name, and it has been produced as a Japanese TV drama series. It’s now available on Netflix.

This show is about nothing but Japanese cuisine, and it’s great for Japanese food lovers. The story follows a Japanese salesman who travels to different places across Japan for business, and visits various restaurants. He has a great passion for food, and he feels ultimate happiness when he indulges in eating delicious food.

It may sound boring, as it’s about a businessman eating alone, but this show actually offers something more and can be very addictive. In each episode, the main character tries out new restaurants and bars, and he enjoys every detail of speciality food. It’s intriguing how he tastes food and describes it to himself (in his head) in detail.

This is recommended for Japanese food fans and those who are interested in the Japanese food culture. You’ll learn a lot more about Japanese cuisine than just sushi and ramen. Also, watching this show is a great way to improve your vocabulary, especially in terms of adjectives.

7. Kantaro: The Sweet Tooth Salaryman / さぼリーマン甘太朗

This is another one of the top Japanese Netflix shows which is based on the manga comics featuring food, but this one is about sweets. What’s interesting and attractive about this series is that the featured cafes, patisserie, and sweets and desserts are real, although the story itself is fiction.

The story of this Japanese Netflix series centers on a salaryman, Kantaro, who is considered a go‐getter and hardworking businessman. However, his seemingly fast and efficient work is actually motivated by his endless passion for sweets and desserts. He manages his work in such a way that he can sneak out to eat sweets in various places across Tokyo. Each episode focuses on a particular kind of sweet.

This show is good for Japanese learners, especially those who love sweets. If you live in Tokyo or have a chance to visit Tokyo, you can actually try the sweets featured in this show! If that’s possible, try to learn what Kantaro says to describe sweets; you’ll be able to practice those phrases while tasting yummy sweets. This show also offers a great chance to learn formal business Japanese.

8. Million Yen Women / 100万円の女たち

This Japanese show on Netflix is also based on a manga, and the series was co-produced by TV Tokyo and Netflix into a live-action drama.

This mysterious plot features a young novelist, and five beautiful women who suddenly moved in with him to pay him a crazy one-million yen per month to help his living. Each of the five women has unique characteristics and background stories, making the story more attractive.

He wonders why these women came to his place to offer him such crazy help, but it’s forbidden to ask them questions. However, through living with them, a small piece of the mystery is revealed little by little in each episode.

This is one of the most fascinating Japanese Netflix programs today. This show is very amusing as the story is shrouded in curious mystery and viewers are pulled into its unique world to discover the secret. You can simply enjoy watching it, but it can also be good material to learn conversational Japanese. It’s recommended for beginner- and intermediate-level learners.

9. Dad of Light / ファイナルファンタジーXIV 光のお父さん

This was originally a TV drama based on a true story from a blog, and is the first live-action series to commercialize the game Final Fantasy XIV.

The story focuses on a father and his son as they reconnect by playing the online role-playing game Final Fantasy XIV. The son, who feels distant from his father after years of little conversation, tries to break the ice. He remembered that he and his father played Final Fantasy III together when he was a kid, and they had a good bond through the game. He hopes that this passion for FFXIV will help them reconnect and he plans to become friends with his father in the online game without telling him who he really is. Over time, through playing and working together in-game, he tries to understand and communicate with his father better.

This Japanese Netflix TV series would be very interesting for gamers, particularly those who already have some knowledge about Final Fantasy. This show features a lot of game-related vocabulary, and is recommended for beginner- and intermediate-level learners.

10. Jiro Dreams of Sushi / 二郎は鮨の夢を見る

If you couldn’t tell, Japanese Netflix TV shows about food are quite popular. This one also features food, but is different from the others on this list because it’s a documentary film. The film was directed by David Gelb, and the documentary focuses on Jiro Ono (小野 二郎 Ono Jirō), who is an eighty-five-year-old sushi master.

The film features the legendary Jiro’s renowned restaurant Sukiyabashi Jiro which has three Michelin stars. His restaurant, located in the middle of Ginza, one of the most expensive districts in Tokyo, has merely ten seats, but the minimum price per person is from ¥30,000. The documentary also focuses on Jiro’s relationship with his two sons, both of whom are also sushi chefs (and one of them is his eventual heir).

This documentary gives insight into the ultimate Japanese craftsmanship and pursuit in the art of food. The Japanese spoken in this film isn’t a perfect tool for learning, but it still helps you to deepen your knowledge of Japanese.

11. Conclusion: How JapanesePod101 Can Help You Learn More Japanese

I hope this Japanese Netflix list of the best shows on Netflix to learn Japanese is helpful, and that it makes your Japanese studies more enjoyable! By now, you should have a better idea of how to use Japanese Netflix content to make learning fun and efficient.

Ready to watch Japanese Netflix? Which of these Japanese Netflix programs are you most interested in? Let us know!

If you would like to learn more about the Japanese language, you’ll find more useful content on JapanesePod101.com. We provide a variety of free lessons for you to improve your Japanese language skills. For example, Top 15 Questions You Should Know for Conversations to practice your Japanese with audio. If you’re a fan of Japanese anime, How to Learn Japanese with Anime? and 76 Must-Know Japanese Onomatopoeia Words are helpful. If you’re planning to visit Japan, check out 3 Reasons to Learn Japanese Before Traveling!

Know that your hard work will pay off; with enough practice, you’ll be speaking like a native in no time!

Japan is a country steeped in a rich history and fascinating culture, both of which the Japanese people reflect on each year on 建国記念日 (けんこくきねんび), or National Foundation Day in Japanese. This is a major holiday in Japan, celebrating the beginning of the country’s history. In this article, you’ll learn all about Japan’s National Foundation Day, from its origins to modern-day celebrations and traditions.

Are you ready to dive in? Let’s get started!

1. What is National Foundation Day in Japan?

National Foundation Day is a day to commemorate the founding of the country and cultivate a love for it. It’s celebrated on the day the first Emperor of Japan was crowned as the “Day that Japanese history began.” This national holiday was first celebrated during the Meiji Era, where it was known as Kigensetsu.

While many countries celebrate Foundation Day on the date that they became independent, Japan is different. In the past, Japan was ruled by an Emperor. The lineage of many generations of Emperors can be traced back to times of mythology thousands of years ago. The first Emperor was crowned by God with the purpose of expanding her realm, and has been respected by the Japanese people since ancient times. This is why Foundation Day is celebrated on the day that the first Emperor was crowned—the beginning of 日本の歴史 (にほんのれきし), or Japanese history.

2. Foundation Day Date

Each year, National Foundation Day in Japan takes place on February 11.

3. How Does Japan Celebrate National Foundation Day?

On National Foundation Day, Japan holds events such as political lectures, symposia, and gatherings throughout the country. The Emperor system has its controversies, with opinions being divided in recent years about it following the female line. The National Foundation Day is an opportunity to hear the views of experts on the state of the country, and to deepen one’s own thoughts.

Starting with the Meiji Jingu, which is dedicated to Emperor Meiji, there are shrines that hold festivals for events such as National Foundation Festivals and Kigensai. There are a variety of festivals held that involve doing things such as pulling a portable shrine and playing drum and pipe music through a spectacular parade.

While remembering the many ancestors who were instrumental in the development of Japan for thousands of years since ancient times, people make wishes that the country will be even more prosperous in the future.

4. First Emperor of Japan

Who was the first Emperor of Japan, or 初代天皇 (しょだいてんのう)?

The correct answer is Emperor Jinmu. According to the Nihon Shoki, Emperor Jinmu was crowned on Lunar New Year’s Day of 660 B.C., or February 11 on the solar calendar. The Nihon Shoki is a book that was compiled at the beginning of the eighth century and is the oldest history book in Japan. In the book, it’s recorded that Emperor Jinmu was born with intelligence and a strong will.

Did you know that Japan has a unique way for counting years? It’s called the Kōki and starts counting from the year of the coronation of Emperor Jinmu. The first year in the Imperial Era was 660 B.C.

5. Essential Vocabulary for National Foundation Day

Ready to study some of the vocabulary words from this article? Here’s a list of the most important words and phrases for National Foundation Day!

• 祝日 (しゅくじつ) — “holiday”
• 建国 (けんこく) — “founding of a nation”
• 日本書紀 (にほんしょき) — “Chronicles of Japan”
• 神武天皇 (じんむてんのう) — “Emperor Jimmu”
• 即位 (そくい) — “coronation”
• 日本の歴史 (にほんのれきし) — “Japanese history”
• 初代天皇 (しょだいてんのう) — “first emperor of Japan”
• 建国記念日 (けんこくきねんび) — “National Foundation Day”
• 歴史 (れきし) — “history”
• 紀元節 (きげんせつ) — “Empire Day”
• 公布 (こうふ) — “promulgation”

To hear each of these vocabulary words pronounced, and to read them alongside relevant images, be sure to check out our Japanese National Foundation Day vocabulary list! You can also watch the video above to learn more essential vocabulary with Risa!

Final Thoughts

As you can see, Foundation Day in Japan is a unique holiday that pays tribute to the country’s history and early beginnings, while simultaneously encouraging people to look ahead to the future. Does your country have a similar holiday? Let us know in the comments section!

If you’re interested in continuing to learn about Japanese culture and holidays, you may find the following pages useful:

• Japanese Culture
• Japanese Etiquette and Manners
• Can You Identify These Japanese Foods?
• What is White Day in Japan? Celebrate Japanese White Day!
• How to Celebrate the Obon Festival in Japan

Whatever your reasons for wanting to learn more about Japanese culture or the language, know that JapanesePod101.com is the best place to expand your knowledge and improve your language skills. With tons of lessons for beginners, intermediate learners, and more advanced students, there’s something for everyone!

What are you waiting for? Create your free lifetime account today and gain access to everything you could possibly want to know about Japan!

Happy learning! 🙂

If you’re learning Japanese grammar, you may be surprised by how many variations there are of Japanese conjunctions and Japanese connective particles, and how they vary depending on the use of sentences.

When you think about speaking your mother tongue, the flow of your sentences is very natural, without redundancy or lack of words. This is because you can use conjunctions effectively and naturally to connect sentences.

In this way, in Japanese grammar, conjunctions are one of the most essential parts of speech. When you master Japanese conjunctions, you’ll be able to speak Japanese quite fluently!

By the end of this article, you should have a better idea about Japanese conjunctions meaning, how to use Japanese conjunctions, and have an increased Japanese conjunction vocabulary!

Here are some of the most basic and useful Japanese conjunctions and connectives. Let’s enjoy learning here at JapanesePod101.com!

Table of Contents

1. What is a Conjunction?
2. Conjunctions to Correlate Similar Thoughts
3. Conjunctions to Express Condition
4. Conjunctions to Express Cause
5. Conjunctions to Express Opposition
6. Conjunctions to Express Choices
7. Other Useful Japanese Conjunctions
8. Conclusion: How JapanesePod101 Can Help You Learn More Japanese

1. What is a Conjunction?

Conjunctions are words that connect and conjoin phrases, clauses, or sentences together. A conjunction word doesn’t have a meaning itself, much like prepositions. Conjunctions in Japanese function similarly to how they do in English.

The conjunction in Japanese is usually a particle or postposition that’s usually used at the end of the dependent clause(s), determining the relationship of the conjoined clauses. Examples of these relationships include copulative, disjunctive, adversative, and conclusive.

For example, here are the most common Japanese conjunctions by type:

• Copulative Conjunctions: The conjunctive relation of units that expresses the addition and/or connection of meanings.

  And:
  と、(to)
  や、 (ya)
  そして (soshite)

  Also:
  も、(mo)
  もまた (mo mata)

  Then:
  そして、 (soshite)
  それから (sorekara)

  Or:
  または、(mata wa)
  また (mata)

• Disjunctive Conjunctions: The conjunctive relation of units that expresses the disjunction of their meanings.

  -or, -or : -ka, -ka ‥か、‥か
  -and, -and : -ya, -ya ‥や、‥や

• Adversative Conjunctions: The conjunctive relation of units that expresses the opposition of their meanings.

  But:
  しかし、(shikashi)
  が、(ga)
  けど (kedo)
  けれども (keredomo)
  なのに (nanoni)
  でも (demo)

  However:
  しかしながら、 (shikashinagara)
  ところが (tokoroga)
  　
  Despite:
  にもかかわらず (nimokakawarazu)

• Conclusive Conjunctions

  So:
  それで、(sorede)
  なので (nanode)

  And then:
  それから、(sorekara)
  その後 (sonogo)

  Therefore:　
  それゆえに、(soreyue ni)
  だから、(dakara)
  したがって (shitagatte)

  Thus:
  ゆえに、(yue ni)
  したがって (shitagatte)

There are exceptions where Japanese language conjunctions can’t be used to connect equivalent clauses or sentences. However, we’ll explain the basic and most important Japanese conjunctions in this article.

Japanese conjunctions have a wide range of variations

2. Conjunctions to Correlate Similar Thoughts

Here are the commonly used Japanese conjunctions which connect clauses/sentences with a function of addition.

1- と (to)

• Meaning: This word means “and.” It simply adds one thing to another.
• Usage:と(to) is used when you list everything that’s applicable. と (to) can only be used to connect nouns.
• Example:

  テーブルの上にりんごとみかんとバナナがあります。
  Tēburu no ue ni ringo to mikan to banana ga arimasu.
  There are apples, oranges, and bananas on the table.

  • In this case, there are only apples, oranges, and bananas on the table.

2- や (ya)

• Meaning: This word means “and.” It adds one thing to another.
• Usage: や (ya) is similar to と (to), but it’s used when you list only some parts of a whole, which are applicable. や (ya) can only be used to connect nouns.
• Example:

  テーブルの上にりんごやみかんがあります。
  Tēburu no ue ni ringo ya mikan ga arimasu.
  There are apples and oranges on the table.

  • The translation in English is the same as that for the example for と (to). In this case, however, it implies that there are things besides the apple and orange on the table.

3- そして (soshite)

• Meaning: This word means “and.” It adds things to each other, like the last words. It can also mean “thus” and “and then.”
• Usage: そして (soshite) is used to add noun(s), or to explain an action that follows.
• Example:

  テーブルの上にりんごとみかん、そしてバナナがあります。
  Tēburu no ue ni ringo to mikan, soshite banana ga arimasu.
  There are apples, oranges, and bananas on the table.

  私はりんごを食べます。そしてみかんも食べます。
  Watashi wa ringo o tabemasu. Soshite mikan mo tabemasu.
  I’ll eat an apple. And then I’ll eat an orange, too.

3. Conjunctions to Express Condition

There are several variations of Japanese conjunctions which are used to introduce a conditional clause.

1- もし (moshi)

• Meaning: It means simply “if,” but it can also mean “in case” and “supposing.”
• Usage: When using もし (moshi), the end of a sentence should be conjugated to the conditional form, such as: たら (-tara), なら (-nara), ならば (-naraba), or すると (-suruto).

  When the conditional form is emphasized, it’s possible to omit もし (moshi) and the sentence still keeps the expression of condition.

• Example:

  もし明日雨が降るなら、ピクニックは中止です。
  Moshi ashita ame ga furu nara, pikunikku wa chūshi desu.
  If it rains tomorrow, the picnic will be cancelled.

2- たら (tara)

• Meaning: This word means “if,” and it denotes a condition.
• Usage: As mentioned above, たら (-tara) is used at the end of a clause/sentence, along withもし (moshi) at the beginning. It’s usually used to express a relationship of assumption, as well as a specific and one-time consequence.
• Example:

  もし時間があったら、映画を見たいです。
  Moshi jikan ga attara, eiga o mitai desu.
  If I have time, I want to watch a movie.

3- なら (nara)

• Meaning: This word means “if,” and it denotes a condition.
• Usage: なら (-nara) is also used at the end of a clause/sentence, along withもし (moshi) at the beginning.

  Unlike たら (-tara), なら (-nara) is usually used to express a speaker’s decision, order, hope, or opinion of assumption when assuming a certain thing.

• Example:

  京都へ行くなら、新幹線で行きたいです。
  Kyōto e iku nara, Shinkansen de ikitai desu.
  If I go to Kyoto, I want to go by Shinkansen.

4- すると (suruto)

• Meaning: This word means “if,” and it denotes a condition.すると (suruto) can also mean “then.”
• Usage: When using すると (suruto) as a conditional conjunction, と (to) or だと (da to) usually come in front of it. It expresses a relationship of assumption and a consequence.
• Example:

  彼が間に合わないとすると、私たちは会議を始められません。
  Kare ga maniawanai to suruto, watashi-tachi wa kaigi o hajimeraremasen.
  If he can’t come in time, we can’t start a meeting.

When you use conjunctions effectively, conversations will go smoothly.

4. Conjunctions to Express Cause

There’s also a number of Japanese conjunctions which are used to express cause. Combining two clauses/sentences with the following conjunctions denotes a reason and result. In Japanese grammar, note that the clause/sentence that states the reason comes first.

1- だから (da kara) / から (kara)

• Meaning: This word can mean “so,” “therefore,” or “thus.”
• Usage: だから (da kara) and から (kara) are very similar. However, a noun usually comes in front of だから (da kara), and an adjective or verb comes before から (kara).
• Example:

  明日は日曜日だから 仕事はしません。
  Ashita wa nichi-yōbi da kara shigoto wa shimasen.
  Tomorrow is Sunday, so I don’t work.

  太るからケーキは食べません。
  Futoru kara kēki wa tabemasen.
  I will get fat, so I don’t eat cakes.

When considering the word order in Japanese grammar, it’s easier to remember the meaning as “so” rather than “because,” to match the order in English grammar.

2- ので (node)

• Meaning: This word means “so” or “thus.”
• Usage: ので (node) is used the same way as から (kara), but ので (node) is somewhat more polite.
• Example:

  辛いので食べられません。
  Karai node taberaremasen.
  It is spicy, so I can’t eat it.

3- ため (tame) / のため (no tame)

• Meaning: This word can mean “because (of) …” or “as a consequence of …”
• Usage: Both ため (tame) and のため (no tame) have the same meaning, but an adjective or verb usually comes before ため (tame), and a noun comes in front of のため (no tame).
• Example:

  宝くじが当たったため、私は車を買いました。
  Takarakuji ga atatta tame, watashi wa kuruma o kaimashita.
  I bought a car because I won the lottery.

  雪のため電車は遅れました。
  Yuki no tame densha wa okuremashita.
  Because of the snow, the train was delayed.

4- なぜなら (nazenara)

• Meaning: This word means “because.”
• Usage: When you use なぜなら (nazenara), please remember that a sentence of a particular situation comes before なぜなら (nazenara), and a sentence to explain why follows it. It often comes with だから (da kara) or から (kara) to explain why.
• Example:

  彼女は怒って帰りました。なぜなら彼氏が浮気したのを知ったからです。
  Kanojo wa okotte kaerimashita. Nazenara kareshi ga uwaki shita no o shitta kara desu.
  She got angry and left, because she came to know her boyfriend had cheated on her.

In order to learn which conjunction is appropriate to use and in what situation, try to listen to how Japanese people use Japanese conjunctions in various situations.

5. Conjunctions to Express Opposition

Here are several examples of Japanese conjunctions which are used to denote contrast.

1- しかし (shikashi) / でも (demo)

• Meaning: This word means “but” or “however.”
• Usage: Both しかし (shikashi) and でも (demo) are the most commonly used conjunctions to express opposition. They usually come at the beginning of a sentence and refer to the statement which was mentioned before. しかし (shikashi) is often used in formal situations, while でも (demo) is more casual and colloquial.
• Example:

  気温は低く寒いです。しかし、 花が咲きました。
  Kion wa hikuku samui desu. Shikashi, hana ga sakimashita.
  The temperature is low and it’s cold. However, flowers bloom.

  外は暖かい。でも、風は冷たい。
  Soto wa atatakai. Demo, kaze wa tsumetai.
  It is warm outside. But the wind is cold.

2- が (ga) / だが (daga)

• Meaning: This word means “but” or “however.”
• Usage: が (ga) and だが (daga) are almost the same, but が (ga) is used to conjoin separate sentences with a comma, and だが (daga) is often used at the beginning of a sentence.
• Example:

  お金はあるが、旅行する時間がない。
  O-kane wa aru ga, ryokō suru jikan ga nai.
  I have money, but I don’t have time to travel.

  春は好きです。だが、夏は好きではないです。
  Haru wa suki desu. Daga, natsu wa suki de wa nai desu.
  I like spring. But I don’t like summer.

3- ところが (tokoroga) / なのに (nanoni)

• Meaning: This word means “but” or “however.”
• Usage: ところが (tokoroga) and なのに (nanoni) have similar meanings which express reverse conditions. They have a nuance of surprise, or sometimes complaint, which contrasts the expectation. ところが (tokoroga) is more formal, while なのに (nanoni) is used in a casual way and in colloquial speech.
• Example:

  彼女は勉強をしなかった。とことろが、試験に受かった。
  Kanojo wa benkyō o shinakatta. Tokoroga, shiken ni ukatta.
  She did not study. But she passed the examination.

  彼は先生だ。なのに、英語を話せない。
  Kare wa sensei da. Nanoni, eigo o hanasenai.
  He is a teacher. But he can’t speak English.

4- けど (kedo) / けれども (keredomo)

• Meaning: This word can mean “but,” “however,” “though,” and “although.”
• Usage: While しかし (shikashi) and でも (demo) are often used at the beginning of a sentence with a comma, けど (kedo) and けれども (keredomo) are used to conjoin two separate sentences to express reverse conditions.

  けど (kedo) and けれどもけど (keredomo) are almost the same. However, けれども (keredomo) is slightly more formal and polite, while けど (kedo) is often used in a casual way and in colloquial speech.

• Example:

  外は暖かいけど、風は冷たい。
  Soto wa atatakai kedo, kaze wa tsumetai.
  It is warm outside, but the wind is cold.

  私は1ヶ月お菓子を食べなかったけれども、痩せなかった。
  Watashi wa ikkagetsu o-kashi o tabenakatta keredomo, yasenakatta.
  Although I didn’t eat snacks for a month, I didn’t lose weight.

6. Conjunctions to Express Choices

Here are some basic Japanese conjunctions which are used to express choices and alternatives.

1- または (matawa) / もしくは (moshikuwa)

• Meaning: This word means “or” or “otherwise.”
• Usage: These conjunctions are used when you want to show options for something. または (matawa) and もしくは (moshikuwa) are very similar, and there’s not much difference in their meaning and usage. または (matawa) is more common and is used more often than もしくは (moshikuwa).
• Example:

  電車またはバスで行きます。
  Densha matawa basu de ikimasu.
  I will go by train or bus.

  クレジットカードもしくは、電子決済でお支払いください。
  Kurejitto cādo moshikuwa, denshi kessai de o-shiharai kudasai.
  Please pay by credit card or through an electric payment.

2- か (ka)

• Meaning: This word means “or,” or “whether…or.”
• Usage: か (ka) is almost the same in meaning as the English word “or.” With this meaning, か (ka) is usually used twice in a sentence to indicate alternatives.
• Example:

  今レストランは開いているか、 閉まっているか、知っていますか。
  Ima resutoran wa aite iru ka, shimatte iru ka, shitte imasu ka.
  Do you know if the restaurant is open or closed now?

3- あるいは (aruiwa)

• Meaning: This word means “or” or “alternatively.”
• Usage: あるいは (aruiwa) is another Japanese conjunction to express a choice between A or B. This is often used to show things which are of the same or similar kind. It has a nuance of “alternatively.”
• Example:

  私は来年大阪あるいは名古屋へ転勤になります。
  Watashi wa rainen Ōsaka aruiwa Nagoya e tenkin ni narimasu.
  I will be transferred to Osaka or Nagoya next year.

Some Japanese conjunctions are only used in colloquial speech, and some are mostly used in formal settings.

7. Other Useful Japanese Conjunctions

It is good to know other useful Japanese conjunctions to improve your conversation skills. Here are some commonly used expressions.

1- ところで (tokorode)

• Meaning: This word means “by the way.”
• Usage: This phrase is often used when you change the topic in a conversation, and it’s generally used before asking a question.
• Example:

  ところで、今週末は何か予定ありますか。
  Tokorode, konshūmatsu wa nani ka yotei arimasu ka.
  By the way, do you have any plans for this weekend?

2- 一方で (ippō de)

• Meaning: This phrase can mean “on the other hand,” “while,” or “meanwhile.”
• Usage: 一方で (ippō de) is used to indicate that the following sentence will be in a direction different from the previous sentence. The following sentence doesn’t necessarily have to be completely opposite from the previous one. 一方で (ippō de) can be also be used to mean “while” or “meanwhile.”
• Example:

  彼女は寿司が好きです。一方で彼はピザが好きです。
  Kanojo wa sushi ga suki desu. Ippō de kare wa piza ga suki desu.
  She likes sushi. On the other hand, he likes pizza.

3- 例えば (tatoeba)

• Meaning: This means “for example.”
• Usage: This phrase can be used exactly the same as “for example” in English. It’s used when you want to give examples.
• Example:

  私の趣味はスポーツです。例えば、水泳とテニスが好きです。
  Watashi no shumi wa supōtsu desu. Tatoeba, suiei to tenisu ga suki desu.
  My hobby is sports. For example, I like swimming and tennis.

4- さらに (sarani) / その上 (sonoue)

• Meaning: These words can mean “in addition” and “moreover.”
• Usage: Bothさらに (sarani) and その上 (sonoue) are used when you want to add something. その上 (sonoue) has a slightly stronger emphasis thanさらに (sarani).その上 (sonoue) is literally translated as “on top of that.”
• Example:

  日曜日に買い物へ行き、さらにジムへ行きました。
  Nichi-yōbi ni kaimono e iki, sarani jimu e ikimashita.
  I went shopping, and moreover, I went to the gym on Sunday.

  日曜日に買い物へ行き、さらにジムへ行きました。その上、夜は映画を見に行きました。
  Nichi-yōbi ni kaimono e iki, sarani jimu e ikimashita. Sonoue, yoru wa eiga o mi ni ikimashita.
  I went shopping, and in addition, I went to the gym on Sunday. Moreover, I went to see the movie.

Please see our article on Must-Know Adverbs and Phrases for Connecting Thoughts for more examples with audio.

8. Conclusion: How JapanesePod101 Can Help You Learn More Japanese

I hope this Japanese conjunctions list is helpful for your Japanese language studies. By learning Japanese conjunctions, your conversation skills will improve a lot, and you can enjoy speaking Japanese much more!

Which conjunctions do you plan on using soon? Which ones are you still struggling with? Let us know in the comments!

If you’re keen on learning more about the Japanese language, you’ll find more useful content on JapanesePod101.com. We provide a plethora of free lessons for you to help you boost your Japanese language skills, regardless of your current skill level:

• Themed vocabulary lists
• More insightful blog posts like this one
• Mobile apps to learn Japanese anywhere
• A MyTeacher program for Premium Plus members
• Much, much more!

All of your studying and practice will pay off, and soon you’ll be speaking and writing in Japanese like a native! And SpanishPod101 will be here throughout your language-learning journey with support and effective lesson materials!

Best wishes, and happy learning!

What is Japanese etiquette?

Japanese culture is well-known for its politeness and unique features, and what is thought to be normal in other countries isn’t always common in Japan. Many foreign tourists wonder what exactly the DO’s and DON’Ts in Japan are when traveling to Japan for the first time.

Japanese people are warm and welcoming to travelers, and they understand if foreign travelers don’t know all the Japanese customs. However, it’s always good to know the basic Japanese etiquette and manners in advance to make your trip more smooth and enjoyable. It’s also a part of experiencing and exploring the Japanese culture.

Here’s our guide to Japanese manners and etiquette, especially for travelers. Here, you’ll find all the Japanese etiquette tips, Japanese customs, and other Japanese etiquette for foreigners you need to know!

Table of Contents

1. Basic Japanese Etiquette
2. Japanese Table Etiquette & Manners
3. Japanese Etiquette for Sightseeing
4. Japanese Etiquette for Greeting
5. Japanese House Guest Etiquette
6. Japanese Business Etiquette
7. Conclusion: How JapanesePod101 Can Help You Learn More Japanese

1. Basic Japanese Etiquette

The DO’s and DON’Ts in this first section are very basic, and they’re common in most important occasions in Japan.

1- DO’s

• Be Polite

  Politeness may be the basis for other Japanese etiquette rules. It’s noted that Japanese etiquette is greatly influenced by the concept of collectivism, which is characterized by fairness among people and prioritization of interests of the social group over individuals. It also emphasizes on maximizing the benefits and goodness of the group through each individual’s effort and thoughtfulness. This means that being polite and kind to others is for everyone’s convenience and happiness.

• Respect

  Respect is another very essential value when it comes to Japanese manners and customs. In order to add to everyone’s happiness, you should respect others’ rights, interests, convenience, and so on. In addition, influenced by Confucianism, respecting elders is also important; please help elders cross the street, walk up stairs with luggage, and so on.

• Be Punctual, Even Early

  Keeping time is imperative in Japanese culture social etiquette. This is a way of respecting others and not wasting their valuable time. Japanese trains arrive on time, and Japanese people usually arrive five to ten minutes before the meeting time. If it’s an interview at a company, it’s not good enough to arrive just on time; you’re expected to arrive earlier than the appointment time. Definitely keep this in mind if you’re serious about learning Japanese business etiquette.

• Keep in Order

  To be fair to everyone and respect others, Japanese people naturally queue up even if there’s no instruction to do so. For instance, they may keep from rushing into an activity if they see that there are already too many people doing it. You’ll see Japanese people queuing neatly aside the opening doors of the train on crowded weekday mornings.

Keep public places clean and do not litter.

2- DON’Ts

• Don’t Bother Others

  Prioritization of the group’s interests also means that bothering and annoying others is considered very bad manners in Japan. Even if you’re starving or don’t have enough time, please refrain from eating smelly foods (such as fast food) on the train, or putting on makeup during the ride.

• Don’t Litter

  Streets are not your own room, so don’t litter on the streets. Usually, you don’t find many trash bins along the streets in Japan, but you’ll notice that the ground is free from rubbish. It’s common courtesy according to modern Japanese etiquette to keep your trash with you until you find a bin or arrive home.

• Don’t be Loud

  Another important Japanese etiquette rule: In public places, you’re expected not to make loud noises. Especially on a train, keep your conversation voice soft and quiet. Talking loudly or talking on the phone will make surrounding Japanese people feel uncomfortable. Please don’t forget to set your mobile phone to silent when you’re on a public transportation.

2. Japanese Table Etiquette & Manners

There are quite different table manners and etiquette in Japan compared to other countries. Don’t be surprised; when in Japan, do as the Japanese do!

1- Greet Before/After Eating

This is one of the most basic Japanese greeting etiquette rules, and Japanese people do this for every meal.

According to Japanese etiquette table manners, you should say いただきます (Itadakimasu) before eating. The phrase Itadakimasu doesn’t have a direct translation in English, but it means “I’m thankful for this food and I will start eating.”

Also, say ごちそうさまでした (Gochisō-sama deshita) after you’ve finished eating. This phrase means “It was delicious,” and it shows appreciation for the meal.

2- Use Chopsticks Properly: Chopstick Etiquette in Japan

When you’re an adult, you’re expected to know how to use chopsticks properly as this is good Japanese etiquette when eating. So when you’re eating at a Japanese cuisine restaurant, try to use chopsticks. If you don’t have the confidence to use chopsticks well, you can still ask a waiter for forks and knives.

However, don’t play with your chopsticks. It’s considered rude behavior, as well as childish, if you hold one stick with one hand and the other stick with the other hand, poking food around or pointing to something with your chopsticks, etc.

In addition, never stick them vertically in your rice bowl and never use your chopsticks to pass a piece of food to someone else’s chopsticks directly. These actions are associated with funeral rituals and the deceased, and are considered the worst possible chopstick behavior.

3- Make Noise While Eating Soup Noodles

According to Japanese manners and etiquette, making noise while you’re eating is considered bad manners. The only exception is for soup noodles such as ramen, udon, and soba, when it comes to slurping soup and noodles. Slurping shows that you’re enjoying your food. However, making chewing noises isn’t appropriate, and it’s considered rude and is associated with poor education. Close your mouth while you’re chewing food.

Slurping is ok only for soup noodles in Japan.

4- Do Not Pour Your Own Drink When You’re with Someone

This is another typical Japanese etiquette rule when dining. When you dine out with your friends, colleagues, or your boss, it’s rude to pour your own drink yourself. You pour drinks for everyone else first, and then they will pour your drink in return.

Usually, those who are youngest or in the lowest position of a hierarchy should be the one to pour elders drinks first. This is especially true for work-related occasions.

Even among friends, pouring drinks for each other is considered nice, and it shows your mutual thoughtfulness toward a good friendship.

5- Do Not Pay a Tip

Good news for everyone! According to Japanese etiquette, money shouldn’t be given as a tip. This bit of Japanese etiquette when visiting may surprise you, but don’t leave a tip on the table. Otherwise, the waiter/ess will run after you to let you know that you forgot your money. If you try to hand a tip to them, the staff member will wonder what the money’s for and won’t know what to do with it.

So, just keep your change in your pocket, even if you’re impressed by nice Japanese services. Instead, tell a staff member that you really liked their food or services with a smile.

Make sure you use chopsticks properly, especially at proper Sushi and Japanese restaurants.

3. Japanese Etiquette for Sightseeing

In this section, we’ll go over etiquette in Japan you need to keep in mind while sightseeing! This is just simple Japanese etiquette to ensure you’re polite and respectful wherever you are.

1- At Shrines and Temples

There are numerous 神社 (jinja) or “Shintō shrines” and お寺 (o-tera) or “Buddhist temples” across Japan. Foreign tourists are welcome to visit them, but there are particular manners and etiquette rules for sightseeing.

Shrines and temples are considered sacred places, and you should behave quietly with respect. Smoking is not allowed inside of the precincts. Take off your hat and don’t dress too casually when you enter buildings (for example, don’t wear beach sandals).

When arriving at the main building, throw a coin into an offering box in front of the sacred object. Then, make a short prayer with your palms together in front of your chest.

When entering Shrines, you need to do a purification ritual. There’s a water source usually located near the main 鳥居 (Torii) gate and you need to purify your body before proceeding further into the Shrine.

Take a provided ladle to scoop up water and pour it over both of your hands to rinse them. Then pour a bit of water in your hand and use it to rinse your mouth. Do not swallow the water, but spit it out on the ground. Put the ladle back to where it was.

2- Taxi Doors

More often than not, Japanese taxi doors are automatic! So note this tip on Japanese cultural etiquette for taxis.

When you stop a taxi, the driver will pull the lever and open the door (usually for the back seat) for you. After you get in a taxi, the door will close automatically. So don’t try to open or close the taxi door by yourself.

Japanese taxi calculates fee by meters.

3- Onsen and Swimming Pools

温泉 (Onsen), or hot springs, is one of the most popular things to do in Japan, especially during the cold seasons. If you have large tattoos on your body, however, you have to be checked to see if you’re allowed to use Onsen or the public swimming pool.

This essential Japanese etiquette rule may seem strange, so let us explain.

Traditionally, most Japanese onsen and public pools ban people with tattoos from using the facilities. This is because they intend to keep out Yakuza and members of crime gangs, who are associated with having body tattoos.

However, due to the growing demand of foreign tourists with tattoos, the number of tattoo-friendly facilities is increasing. Some facilities provide cover-up tape to allow those with tattoos access to the facilities. Be sure to check the availability in advance if you have visible tattoos on your body.

When you use Onsen, Japanese etiquette requires that users wash their bodies before entering a pool. Onsen is shared with others and it must be kept clean and hygienic. Even if you’re very excited to experience Onsen, don’t rush straight into a pool; clean yourself first.

Japanese Onsen is usually gender-separated and you can’t wear swimsuits.

4. Japanese Etiquette for Greeting

As you learn Japanese etiquette, knowing how to greet is essential. Greeting is imperative to the Japanese etiquette and manners, as politeness and respect start from the greeting.

1- Bowing

Bowing is one of the most important common Japanese body language gestures for both formal and informal occasions. People bow to greet, nod, thank, and apologize.

There are variations of how to bow, depending on the depth, duration, and seriousness, but foreign tourists aren’t expected to understand all of it. Japanese people won’t be offended if visitors don’t bow correctly.

Bow politely; bend your head and back in a straight line when you meet someone, thank someone, or say goodbye. Bowing can be a bit awkward for you at first if you’re used to shaking hands, but follow and imitate how Japanese people bow. When someone bows to you as a greeting, it’s usually sufficient to do the same in return.

Bowing properly and politely is one of the most important business manners.

2- Shaking Hands but No Hugging/Kissing

Japanese people also shake hands when they greet often, such as in a work-related setting. However, the Japanese don’t hug or kiss as a greeting. Japanese people prefer to keep personal space, and traditionally avoid intimate physical body contact in public.

Hugging as a greeting can be done by Japanese people only in special cases, such as meeting someone you know well after quite a long time, or when a person is extremely emotional with joy or in mourning. Ordinary Japanese people never kiss as a greeting. If you try to hug or kiss a Japanese person whom you just met, they will get startled and feel offended.

So, when you greet Japanese people, just bow or shake hands. Do not hug or kiss.

5. Japanese House Guest Etiquette

1- Remove Your Shoes

Japanese people never wear shoes inside of a house. Every house has 玄関 (genkan) or a sunken-foyer entrance inside of the door where you remove your shoes before you actually enter the main section of the home.

You also have to remove your shoes when entering Japanese traditional accommodations which are called 民宿 (minshuku) or 旅館 (ryokan), temple halls, some restaurants, and buildings with 畳 (tatami) areas. Tatami is a type of mat made of grass used as a flooring material in traditional Japanese-style rooms.

It’s very rude and offensive if you enter places with your shoes on where you’re supposed to take them off, so please be aware!

2- Bring a Gift

One of the essential Japanese etiquette rules when visiting someone’s house is to bring a little お土産 (o-miyage), or a gift, for the host in return for their hospitality. It’s common courtesy to give a nicely wrapped gift to the host to show your appreciation for their invitation. Common gifts include sweets or drinks that they can share and enjoy while you’re visiting.

It’s rude to visit without a gift, especially when you know that the host will cook meals for you. So, when you’re invited to your friend’s place, buy cakes or a bottle of wine, and arrive on time.

A bottle of wine or Champagne would be a good choice to take for a dinner invitation.

3- Slippers

If you’re invited to someone’s home as a guest, you may be offered a pair of slippers at the genkan for walking around inside. Slippers are okay on wooden or smooth flooring, but don’t wear slippers on tatami flooring. Remove your slippers before entering a Japanese tatami room.

In addition, some households have toilet slippers. You should change out of your original slippers into toilet slippers when you enter the restroom, and never step outside the restroom wearing toilet slippers. Some hotels and restaurants also have such separated slippers in the restroom.

To learn more, please watch our YouTube video about How to Visit Someone’s House.

6. Japanese Business Etiquette

Now, it’s time for our Japanese business etiquette guide. Be mindful of all the Japanese business etiquette dos and don’ts here, because they can make or break your first impression.

1- Greeting and Introduction

According to Japanese business etiquette rules, when you meet someone in a business-related occasion, it’s considered good manners to greet them with a decent bow. You should also introduce yourself briefly with your business card.

As for bowing, stand straight first, put your hands in line with the sides of your body, and bend your upper body forward. You shouldn’t bow too quickly, and don’t just bend your head nor arch your back.

Japanese people usually talk about themselves with their name, which company they work for, what job position they’re in, and sometimes how long they’ve worked for their company or industry. Telling or asking for detailed personal information is usually inappropriate.

To learn more about bowing, please see How to Bow in Japan & Manners.

2- Exchanging Business Cards

When you meet someone, exchanging 名刺 (meishi), or business cards, is a must-do business custom in Japan in formal settings. Treat a business card with care, as Japanese people regard it as one’s face.

Make sure you give or receive a business card with both hands when exchanging cards. Handing a card with just one hand is considered very rude. Further, read a card you were given carefully, and ask some questions or offer comments; this is a good way to start a conversation.

Japanese businessmen often bow when they exchange business cards.

3- Dining in Business Settings

Whether you’re dining with colleagues, your boss, or your clients, the seating position is important in business settings.

The seat in the deepest part of the room and the furthest place from the door is considered the best seat, and it should be offered to the most respected person (such as the person in the highest job position, or the oldest person). Further, clients are prioritized above your colleagues, even your boss. The seat closest to the door is considered the least important position, and this is usually used by the youngest person.

Also, the youngest person (or the person in the lowest job position) should usually take everyone’s drink order and tell it to the waiter or waitress. The most respected or important person often gives a small speech and gives a Kanpai toast.

Dining in a business setting in Japan is very hierarchical, and roles at the dining table are implicitly allocated and performed according to the participants’ attributes.

To learn more, our video about How to Attend a Japanese Company Drinking Party is useful.

7. Conclusion: How JapanesePod101 Can Help You Learn More Japanese

We hope this article about Japanese etiquette and manners is helpful, and that you’ll have a more enjoyable experience when you visit Japan!

If you’d like to learn about the Japanese language, you’ll find very useful content on JapanesePod101.com. We provide a variety of free lessons for you to improve your Japanese language skills.

We also have a YouTube channel where you can enjoy learning the Japanese language by watching videos and listening to actual Japanese pronunciation. Learning Japanese gestures is also very helpful when it comes to understanding Japanese etiquette and culture.

When you plan to visit Japan, don’t forget to check out the following content: Learn the Top 25 Must-Know Japanese Phrases!, Top 20 Travel Phrases You Should Know in Japanese, Best Traveling Tips and Places to Visit in Japan!, and much more.

Before you go, be sure to let us know in the comments what you thought about our Japanese etiquette guide. Do you feel more confident now, or is there still a situation or topic you need information about? We look forward to hearing from you!

Learning how to read dates is one of the most basic things when learning a new language, and it’s essential in everyday life. For instance, you use dates when making appointments, buying tickets for a particular day, asking for someone’s birthday, etc.

Expressing the date in Japanese isn’t very complicated. The date in Japanese mostly follows the counter system, with just a few exceptions; English, on the other hand, has different names for the months and days of the week.

You’ll be able to learn dates in Japanese much easier once you know Japanese numbers. If you’re not yet familiar with numbers in Japanese, please visit Japanese Numbers on our website.

Table of Contents

1. How are Dates Usually Expressed in Japanese?
2. How to Say the Years in Japanese
3. How to Say the Months in Japanese
4. How to Say the Days in Japanese
5. How to Say the Days of the Week in Japanese
6. Practical Phrases to Talk about Dates in Japanese
7. Conclusion: How JapanesePod101 Can Help You Learn More Japanese

1. How are Dates Usually Expressed in Japanese?

How to say dates in Japanese is very simple. Dates in Japanese writing start with the year, then the month, and finally the day. The only exception is when there’s a particular instruction to write it a different way, such as on an entry form.

1- How to Write Dates in Japanese

1. April 30, 2019 is written as follows:

2019年4月30日　or 2019/04/30 　

• 年 (nen) : year
• 月 (gatsu) : month
• 日(nichi) : day

2. With the days of the week, Tuesday, April 30th, 2019 is written as follows:

2019年4月30日 (火曜)　or 2019年4月30日 (火)

• The days of the week are usually indicated in a round bracket ( ) and placed after the day.
• The name of the day is expressed in a short form.

Tuesday is 火曜日（ka-yōbi), but when it’s expressed in a written form, it usually becomes 火曜 (ka-yō) or just 火 (ka).

2- How to Read Dates in Japanese

2019年4月30日 (火曜) is read as follows:

Ni-sen jū-kyū / nen / shi / gatsu / san-jū / nichi / ka-yō

Literally translated as:
Two-thousand ten nine / year / four / month / three ten / day / Tuesday

To listen to the pronunciation of basic Japanese numbers, please visit Numbers on our website.

3- Examples

• 今日は2019年1月13日です。
  Kyō wa ni-sen jū kyū-nen ichi-gatsu jū-san-nichi desu.
  Today is January 13th, 2019.
• 私は1990年5月1日生まれです。
  Watashi wa sen kyū-hyaku kyū-jū-nen go-gatsu tsuitachi umare desu.
  I was born on May 1st, 1990.
• 試験は2019年8月30日です。
  Shiken wa ni-sen jū kyū-nen hachi-gatsu san-jū-nichi desu.
  The examination is on August 30th, 2019.

In Japan, keeping the date and time for appointments is very important. Please don’t mix up months and dates!

2. How to Say the Years in Japanese

1- Gregorian Calendar

The Gregorian calendar is very common in Japan to express the years.

Just say the year and then add “nen (年)” which is a year counter meaning ‘year’.

• 1575年 : sen go-hyaku nana-jū go-nen
• 1998年：sen kyū-hyaku kyū-jū hachi-nen
• 2003年：ni-sen san-nen

In some cases, numbers can be expressed with the last two digits as a short version.

For example, 1998 is 98年 (kyū-jū hachi-nen).

2- Japanese Era Calendar

Did you know that there’s also a Japanese calendar?

The Japanese people use 和暦 (Wareki), or the Japanese era calendar, which is based on the reigns of Japanese emperors. The previous era was called 平成 (Heisei), which started on January 8, 1989, when the previous Emperor, Akihito, acceded to the throne following the death of his father. The current era is called 令和 (Reiwa), which started on May 1, 2019, when the current Emperor, Naruhito, acceded to the throne following the abdication of his father.

2019 is the first year of the Reiwa era. It’s written as 令和1年 and read as Reiwa ichi-nen.

This traditional Japanese era calendar is often used for official occasions and in written form, such as in official documents used for public services at a city hall.

3- Vocabulary for Describing Relative Years

• 今年 ことし (Kotoshi) : This year
• 去年　きょねん (Kyonen) : Last year
• 一昨年　おととし (Ototoshi) : The year before last year
• 来年　らいねん (Rainen) : Next year
• 再来年　さらいねん (Sarainen) : The year after next year
• 閏年　うるうどし (Urūdoshi) : Leap year
• 毎年 まいとし (Maitoshi) : Every year

4- Examples

• 今年は2019年です。
  Kotoshi wa ni-sen jū kyū-nen desu.
  This year is 2019.
• 来年の2020年はうるう年です。
  Rainen no ni-sen ni-jū-nen wa urūdoshi desu.
  The next year of 2020 is a leap year.
• 2005年は平成17年です。
  Ni-sen go-nen wa Heisei jū nana-nen desu.
  2005 was year seventeen of the Heisei era.
• 私は2012年に結婚しました。
  Watashi wa ni-sen jū ni-nen ni kekkon shimashita.　
  I got married in 2012.

3. How to Say the Months in Japanese

1- Saying the Month in Japanese: Japanese Months

Using months and dates in Japanese is very simple. It follows this simple pattern, without exception:

Name a number (1-12) of the month, and then just add 月 (gatsu), which is a month counter meaning “month.”

In order to listen to the pronunciation of the months in Japanese, please visit Talking about Months on our website.

2- Relative Vocabulary for the Month in Japanese

• 今月 こんげつ (Kongetsu) : This month
• 先月 せんげつ (Sengetsu) : Last month
• 先々月 せんせんげつ (Sensengetsu) : Month before last month
• 来月 らいげつ (Raigetsu) : Next month
• 再来月 さらいげつ (Saraigetsu) : Next next month
• 毎月 まいつき (Maitsuki) : Every month

3- Examples

• 私は六月生まれです。
  Watashi wa roku-gatsu umare desu.
  I was born in June.
• 日本では四月に学校が始まります。
  Nihon de wa shi-gatsu ni gakkō ga hajimarimasu.
  School starts in April in Japan.
• 私の誕生日は先月でした。
  Watashi no tanjōbi wa sengetsu deshita.
  My birthday was last month.
• 今月は仕事が忙しいです。
  Kongetsu wa shigoto ga isogashii desu.
  This month is busy with work.

4. How to Say the Days in Japanese

1- Days

How to say the days of the month in Japanese is a bit more complicated.

The basic pattern for days and dates in Japanese is number + 日 (nichi), which is a day counter meaning “day.”

All the dates are written in this pattern. However, when it comes to reading, there are some exceptions and irregularities, indicated in blue in the chart below.

The days, especially those from one to ten, have a unique reading which is very different from ordinary Japanese Numbers. After eleven, it’s basically read with regular numbers and 日 (nichi), except for fourteen, nineteen, twenty, twenty-four, and twenty-nine.

It’s very common to use Arabic numerals to express dates, together with the kanji 日 (nichi). For example: 1日, 24日, 30日, etc.

Dates are also often written in Kanji, especially in official documents and vertical writing scripts.　

2- Relative Vocabulary for Days

• 今日 きょう (Kyō) : Today
• 昨日 きのう (Kinō) : Yesterday
• 一昨日 おととい (Ototoi) : The day before yesterday
• 明日 あした (Ashita) : Tomorrow
• 明後日 あさって (Asatte) : The day after tomorrow
• 毎日 まいにち (Mainichi) : Everyday

3- Examples

• 今日は六月一日です。
  Kyō wa roku-gatsu tsuitachi desu.
  Today is June 1st.
• 五月五日は子供の日で、祝日です。
  Go-gatsu itsuka wa kodomo no hi de, shukujistu desu.
  May 5th is Children’s Day and it is a national holiday.
• 私の誕生日は二月二十日です。
  Watashi no tanjōbi wa ni-gatsu hatsuka desu.
  My birthday is February 20th.
• 4月24日の天気予報は雨です。
  Shi-gatsu ni-jū yokka no tenki yohō wa ame desu. 　
  The weather forecast on April 24th is rain.

The Japanese calendar often starts on Sunday.

5. How to Say the Days of the Week in Japanese

1- Days of the Week

How to say the days of the week in Japanese is simple. All of them are named after elements and nature, and they all end with 曜日(yōbi) which denotes a day of the week.

In order to listen to the pronunciation of the days of the week in Japanese, please visit Talking about Days on our website.

2- Relative Vocabularies of Week

“Week” in Japanese is 週 (shū).

• 平日 へいじつ (Heijitsu) : Weekday
• 週末 しゅうまつ (Shūmatsu) : Weekend
• 今週 こんしゅう (Konshū) : This week
• 先週 せんしゅう (Senshū) : Last week
• 先々週 せんせんしゅう (Sensenshū) : Week before last week
• 来週 らいしゅう (Raishū) : Next week
• 再来週 さらいしゅう (Saraishū) : Next next week
• 毎週 まいしゅう (Maishū) : Every week

3- Examples

• 今週は金曜日が休みです。
  Konshū wa kin-yōbi ga yasumi desu.
  Friday is off this week.
• 2月4日は月曜日です。
  Ni-gatsu yokka wa getsu-yōbi desu.
  February 4th is Monday.
• 来週の土曜日は結婚記念日です。
  Raishū no do-yōbi wa kekkon kinenbi desu.
  Saturday of next week is a marriage anniversary.
• 月曜日から金曜日まで仕事で忙しいです。
  Getsu-yōbi kara kin-yōbi made shigoto de isogashii desu.
  I am busy with work from Monday to Friday.

Saturdays and Sundays are usually off at work and school in Japan, but some schools have classes on Saturdays and some people work on weekends.

6. Practical Phrases to Talk about Dates in Japanese

1- Appointments / Reservations

• 2月14日は何か予定ありますか。
  Ni-gatsu jū-yokka wa nani ka yotei arimasu ka.
  Do you have any plans for February 14th?
• 土曜日と日曜日の週末なら空いています。
  Do-yōbi to nichi-yōbi no shūmatsu nara aite imasu.
  I am free on weekends, Saturday and Sunday.
• 12月25日に予約は取れますか。
  Jū ni-gatsu ni-jū go-nichi ni yoyaku wa toremasu ka.
  Can I make a reservation for December 25th?
• 7月13日に予約をお願いします。
  Shichi-gatsu jū san-nichi ni yoyaku o onegai shimasu.
  Please make a reservation for July 13th.

When you make an appointment or reservation, make sure you mention the date in addition to the day of the week.

2- Asking / Answering Questions

• 今日は何日の何曜日ですか。
  Kyō wa nan-nichi no nan-yōbi desu ka.
  What day is it today?

  今日は3月10日の日曜日です。
  Kyō wa san-gatsu tōka no nichi-yōbi desu.
  Today is March 10th and Sunday.

• あなたの誕生日はいつですか。
  Anata no tanjōbi wa itsu desu ka.
  When is your birthday?

  私の誕生日は8月7日です。
  Watashi no tanjōbi wa hachi-gatsu nanoka desu.
  My birthday is August 7th.

• いつから学校が始まりますか。
  Itsu kara gakkō ga hajimarimasu ka.
  When does your school start?

  私の学校は4月1日に始まります。
  Watashi no gakkō wa shi-gatsu tsuitachi ni hajimarimasu.
  My school starts on April 1st.

7. Conclusion: How JapanesePod101 Can Help You Learn More Japanese

I hope this article about reading dates in Japanese is helpful for you to improve your Japanese. The date is one of the most important counters when it comes to numbers. There are a variety of Japanese counter words for each object, action, or event that you should also learn.

If you’d like to learn more about the Japanese language, you’ll find more useful content on JapanesePod101.com. We provide a variety of free lessons for you to improve your Japanese language skills.

On our YouTube channel, you’ll enjoy learning the Japanese language by watching videos and listening to actual Japanese pronunciation.

Before you go, let us know in the comments how you feel about reading dates in Japanese now! Do you feel like you know your way around Japanese calendar dates and saying dates in Japanese? Why not practice telling dates in Japanese by dropping us a comment with today’s date?

We always look forward to hearing from you!

Year-end parties in Japan, also called “drinking parties” or “Bonenkai parties,” are special celebrations held at the end of the year. Essentially, during a Japanese drinking party, people get together with food and alcohol, and honestly reflect on the past year with each other.

In this article, you’ll learn all about what to expect from a year-end party in Japan, as well as this celebration’s place in Japanese literature.

At JapanesePod101.com, we aim to make every aspect of your language-learning journey both fun and informative—starting with this article!

Let’s go.

1. What is a Year-End Party?

So, what is Bonenkai in Japan, and why is it important?

A 忘年会 (ぼうねんかい), or “year-end party,” is a banquet held at the end of each year in order to forget the troubles and hard times of the year. Well, perhaps rather than saying “forget,” it’s more like “Letting bygones be bygones” or “Resetting ourselves for the coming New Year.” It’s a dinner held not with feelings of regret for the past, but with feelings of motivation to start afresh and do one’s best in the future.

2. When to Expect a Japanese End-of-Year Party

Year-end parties are held throughout Japan on different dates, usually starting in early December up until the New Year.

3. Bonenkai Parties: Traditions and Customs

For a year-end party, Japanese people host business year-end parties on 仕事納め (しごとおさめ), or “the last business day of the year,” in which work colleagues get together, as well as private year-end parties in which friends and private groups get together. In either case, the Japanese spend December pleasantly eating and drinking while looking back at the events of the year.

When looking back at the year, it’s natural to look back not only at what was good and brought happiness, but also to remember the hard times and things that didn’t quite work out. At year-end parties, it’s important that all participants share the feeling that while many things happened this year, they will continue to do their best in the New Year. People renew their vitality for work and social circles for the coming New Year.

From November onwards, the storefronts of pubs and other year-end party venues are adorned with posters saying, “We host year-end parties.” Additionally, websites and gourmet magazines put together special year-end party editions. For restaurants, the year-end party season is a prosperous time of year for business.

As suggested by the coined word “alcommunication” from “communication,” the Japanese prefer to strengthen their relationships while eating delicious food and drinking alcohol. It’s for this reason that they hold year-end parties throughout the country. The Japanese also view these parties as a 無礼講 (ぶれいこう), or “abandonment of normal social formalities.”

4. Mentions of the Year-End Party in Japanese Literature

The oldest literature that contains references to year-end parties is thought to have come from the Muromachi period of the 14th and 15th centuries. It mentions holding a party and drinking after poetry recitals held at the end of the year.

In which famous novel of the Meiji period does the phrase “year-end party” appear?

The correct answer is I Am a Cat by Sōseki Natsume. In it, he wrote that there is a year-end party and concert at the home of an acquaintance of Mukōjima, with the word “year-end party” notably being used without annotation. From this, it’s believed that year-end parties were quite commonplace in the Meiji era, the time in which Sōseki was alive.

5. Must-Know Vocabulary for Year-End Parties

Here’s some Japanese vocabulary you need to know for the year-end parties!

• カラオケ (カラオケ) — karaoke
• 忘年会 (ぼうねんかい) — year-end party
• 居酒屋 (いざかや) — izakaya
• 乾杯 (かんぱい) — cheers
• 飲み放題 (のみほうだい) — all-you-can-drink
• 宴会 (えんかい) — banquet
• 仕事納め (しごとおさめ) — the last business day of the year
• 幹事 (かんじ) — party organizer
• 貸し切り (かしきり) — charter
• ドンチャン騒ぎ (ドンチャンさわぎ) — boisterous merrymaking
• 無礼講 (ぶれいこう) — abandonment of normal social formalities
• パーティールーム (パーティールーム) — party room

To hear each of these vocabulary words pronounced, and to read them alongside relevant images, be sure to check out our Japanese Year-End Party vocabulary list!

Final Thoughts

What are your thoughts on the Japanese year-end parties? Are any of the celebrations similar to New Year celebrations in your own country? Let us know in the comments!

If you’re interested in learning more about Japanese culture, or want to learn some more wintery words, you may find the following pages interesting:

• Japanese Culture
• Top 5 Pop Culture Things/Icons You Need to Know About Japan
• Japanese Hand Gestures and Body Language
• Words for Winter Snow Days
• Top 10 New Year’s Resolutions

Learning Japanese doesn’t have to be boring or overwhelming. With JapanesePod101.com, it can even be fun! If you’re serious about mastering the language, create your free lifetime account today.

Happy Japanese learning, and have a Happy New Year!

Learning a foreign language isn’t only about the language itself, but also about its culture, customs, and society. Family is the minimum unit of a social group, and it’s important to understand its characteristics as this is closely related to culture and customs.

When you learn how to explain your family in Japanese, it helps to expand your vocabulary and improve your communication skills in Japanese.

Compared to English, there are many more words to describe family members in Japanese. These words are according to age and the style (formal and informal). For example, what is a Japanese father-in-law called?

Let’s learn how to describe family in Japanese at JapanesePod101.com. Here’s our list of the most useful Japanese words and family member terms, as well as important information about family in Japan.

Table of Contents

1. Family in Japan – Cultural Perspective
2. Basic Family Terms
3. Terms of Relatives
4. Family Terms as a Married Person
5. Endearment Terms
6. How to Describe Family and Ask Question about Family in Japanese
7. Conclusion: How Japanesepod101 Can Help You Learn More Japanese

1. Family in Japan – Cultural Perspective

Before we move onto the actual family vocabulary, it’s important that we go over family roles in Japanese culture, family values in Japanese society, and the importance of family in Japanese culture. This will give you a better idea of what to expect from Japanese families, and give more context to the Japanese family vocabulary and phrases you’re going to learn!

1- Traditional and Modern Family in Japan

The traditional Japanese family is characterized by the 家 (Ie) or family system, which is literally translated as “household.” It refers to a home and family’s lineage, which bestows importance of kinship and loyalty to their family.

Each member of a family is expected to serve their family’s interests (rather than the individual’s) as a priority. The Japanese family is traditionally patriarchal and a household usually consists of grandparents, their son, his wife, and their children. The eldest son is expected to inherit the household assets, and he’s responsible for taking care of his parents when they get old.

In the modern Japanese family, however, the influence of the traditional ie system isn’t as strong as it used to be. A 核家族 (kaku kazoku) or “nuclear family” is very common nowadays, and consists of two parents and their children, typically centering on a married couple.

While a married couple is expected to live together with a husband’s parents in the traditional Japanese family, grandparents don’t live with a kaku kazoku in a modern Japanese family (although they are visited often).

2- Becoming a Family in Japan (Marriage)

In Japan, the 戸籍 (Koseki) or “family registration system” is mandatory to all households. It requires that the family records all changes in family composition and identity, such as births, deaths, marriages, divorces, acknowledgements of paternity, adoptions, and disrupted adoptions.

It’s required to register one person as the head of a household, and the rest of the members in a household must have the same surname as that of the head. Once a couple gets married, spouses are obligated to have the same surname, and registration of different surnames is not allowed.

Due to the traditional system and the importance of kinship as custom, marriage isn’t only a matter of the bride and groom, but also of their extended family. It’s expected that extended families from both sides are going to have a “family relationship” once a couple gets married in Japan. As such, relationships with one’s in-laws become important.

3- Expressions of Family in Japan

There are various words to name family members in Japanese.

Japanese vocabulary words to describe family count age difference, and there are particular names related to age. This is because age is regarded as one of the most important attributions in the Japanese society, which is greatly influenced by the concept of Confucianism that states seniority is highly respected.

As relationships with in-laws are also culturally important, there are particular names for them as well.

In addition, there are variations of how to express family members, ranging from very casual to formal. Which ones to use depend on the occasion.

Let’s dive into the details in the following sections, and get you started with common family words in Japanese.

2. Basic Family Terms

Now, it’s time to learn some basic Japanese words for family members. These are the words you’ll most often hear and use!

1- Basic Family Vocabularies

The formal terms are usually used for official occasions and in written form, while the informal terms are commonly used in casual situations (orally) as well as when calling a family member.

Average modern Japanese families usually have 1 or 2 children.

2- More Vocabulary

• 家族 かぞく (Kazoku) : family
• 両親 りょうしん (Ryōshin) : parents (father & mother)
• 親 おや (Oya) : parent(s)
• 子供 こども (Kodomo) : child(ren)
• 兄弟 きょうだい (Kyōdai) : brothers
• 姉妹しまい (Shimai) : sisters

3- Examples

Here are some examples of Japanese phrases for family, so you have a better idea how to use the vocabulary above.

• 私の家族は、お母さん、お父さん、私、弟の4人家族です。
  Watashi no kazoku wa, o-kā-san, o-tō-san, watashi, otōto no yo-nin kazoku desu.
  My family has four members: mother, father, me, and my younger brother.
• 私は姉と妹がいる3姉妹です。
  Watashi wa ane to imōto ga iru san-shimai desu.
  I have an older sister and a younger sister, and we are three sisters.
• 私は兄と姉がいます。
  Watashi wa ani to ane ga imasu.
  I have an older brother and an older sister.
• 私は祖父と祖母が大好きです。
  Watashi wa sofu to sobo ga daisuki desu.
  I like my grandfather and grandmother very much.

To listen to the pronunciation of basic family terms, please visit Must-Know Terms for Family Members on our website.

Also, if you would like to know more about Japanese numbers, please visit our Japanese Numbers article.

The bond between a mother and a daughter is often very strong.

3. Terms of Relatives

1- Vocabulary for Relatives

• 親戚　しんせき (Shinseki) : relatives
• 叔父　おじ (Oji) : uncle
• 叔母　おば (Oba) : aunt
• 甥　おい (Oi) : nephew
• 姪　めい (Mei) : niece
• いとこ (Itoko) : cousin

2- Examples

• 私の親戚は全員東京に住んでいます。
  Watashi no shinseki wa zen’in Tōkyō ni sunde imasu.
  All my relatives live in Tokyo.
• 私は5人いとこがいます。
  Watashi wa go-nin itoko ga imasu.
  I have five cousins.
• 私の叔父と叔母は教師です。
  Watashi no oji to oba wa kyōshi desu.
  My uncle and my aunt are teachers.
• 私の姪は5歳で、甥は2歳です。
  Watashi no mei wa go-sai de, oi wa ni-sai desu.
  My niece is five years old and my nephew is two years old.

4. Family Terms as a Married Person

1- Vocabulary to Know as a Married Person

• 結婚 けっこん (Kekkon) : marriage
• 既婚 きこん (Kikon) : married
• 未婚　みこん (Mikon) : unmarried
• 離婚　りこん (Rikon) : divorce
• 夫 おっと (Otto) : husband
• 妻 つま (Tsuma) : wife
• 息子　むすこ (Musuko) : son
• 娘　むすめ (Musume) : daughter
• 義理の ぎりの (Giri no) : in-law

In order to express “XXX in-law,” add 義理の (Giri no) in front of XXX (the family member).

For example:

• 義理の両親 (Giri no ryōshin) : parents-in-law
• 義理の父 (Giri no chichi) : father-in-law
• 義理の母 (Giri no haha) : mother-in-law
• 義理の兄 (Giri no ani) : older brother-in-law
• 義理の弟 (Giri no otōto) : younger brother-in-law
• 義理の姉 (Giri no ane) : older sister-in-law
• 義理の妹 (Giri no imōto) : younger sister-in-law

2- Examples

• 私は夫と娘が1人います。
  Watashi wa otto to musume ga hitori imasu.
  I have a husband and one daughter.
• 私の義理の父と母は大阪に住んでいます。
  Watashi no giri no chichi to haha wa Ōsaka ni sunde imasu.
  My father and mother in-law live in Osaka.
• 私は既婚者で子供が2人います。
  Watashi wa kikonsha de kodomo ga futari imasu.
  I am married and I have two children.
• 私の義理の両親は、私の息子におもちゃを買いました。
  Watashi no giri no ryōshin wa, watashi no musuko ni omocha o kaimashita.
  My parents-in-law bought a toy for my son.

5. Endearment Terms

In addition to the formal and informal terms for family, there are also more casual vocabulary words that you can call family members. It may vary from household to household, or on what kind of relationships there are between family members, but here are some examples. Just note that these are typically used in Japanese family relationships that are close.

1- Father

• パパ (Papa) : papa

Like in English, “papa” is a common name to call a father in Japan, especially when children are very small. However, most Japanese people don’t use papa as they grow up.

• 父ちゃん (Tō-chan) : dad

This term includes a nuance of cute and comical affection.

• おやじ (Oyaji) : dad

This term is usually used by sons who are post-adolescent age. When they become adults, they often feel embarrassed to call their father papa or o-tō-san. This term also indicates a nuance of close affection.

2- Mother

• ママ (Mama) : mama

Just like papa, mama is used especially when children are still small.

• 母ちゃん (Kā-chan) : mom

This is the version of tō-chan used for mothers.

• お袋 (Ofukuro) : mom

This is the mother version of oyaji.

3- Grandfather

• じじ (Jiji) : grandpa

Grandchildren and their parents usually call a grandfather by this term when the grandchildren are still small. It indicates a nuance of cute affection.

• じーじ (Jīji) : grandpa

This is very similar to jiji, but the first ji is pronounced longer.

4- Grandmother

• ばば (Baba) : grandma

This is the grandmother version of jiji.

• ばーば (Bāba) : grandma

This is the grandmother version of jīji.

Grandparents often have endearing nicknames when they have grandchildren.

6. How to Describe Family and Ask Question about Family in Japanese

Most of the time, there’s no problem with talking about family and relatives. When it comes to marital status and children, however, it can be a delicate matter. It can sometimes be inappropriate to ask someone about his/her marital status or if they have children, unless he/she is open and willing to talk. This is especially true for a woman in her 30s.

Here are some example questions and answers related to family.

Q:
何人家族ですか。
Nan-nin kazoku desu ka.
How many family members do you have?

A:
お父さん、お母さん、お姉ちゃん、私の4人家族です。
O-tō-san, o-kā-san, o-nee-chan, watashi no yo-nin kazoku desu.
I have four family members: father, mother, older sister, and me.

—–

Q:
兄弟はいますか。
Kyōdai wa imasu ka.
Do you have brothers and sisters?

*When asking a question, kyōdai can also refer to sisters.

A:
私は姉と弟がいます。
Watashi wa ane to otōto ga imasu.
I have an older sister and a younger brother.

—–

Q:
結婚していますか。
Kekkon shite imasu ka.
Are you married?

A:
はい、妻と子供が2人います。
Hai, tsuma to kodomo ga futari imasu.
Yes, I have a wife and two children.

—–

Q:
孫はいますか。
Mago wa imasu ka.
Do you have grandchildren?

A:
はい、私は孫が6人います。
Hai, watashi wa mago ga roku-nin imasu.
Yes, I have six grandchildren.

—–

Q:
ご両親はお元気ですか。
Go-ryōshin wa o-genki desu ka.
How are your parents?

*It’s polite to put go in front of ryōshin when you talk about someone’s parents.

A:
はい、私の父と母は元気です。
Hai, watashi no chichi to haha wa genki desu.
Yes, my father and mother are doing well.

—–

For more about self-introductions, please visit Introducing Yourself in Japanese on our website.

7. Conclusion: How Japanesepod101 Can Help You Learn More Japanese

I hope this article about family in Japanese culture is useful and that it helps to improve your Japanese communication skills.

If you would like to learn more about the Japanese language, you’ll find more useful content on JapanesePod101.com. We provide a variety of free lessons for you to improve your Japanese language skills. For example, Must-Know Terms for Family Members is helpful if you want to practice family terms in Japanese with audio.

We also have YouTube channel: JapanesePod101. It’s always fun to learn Japanese by watching videos and listening to actual Japanese pronunciation.

Before you go, let us know in the comments if there are any family terms you still want to know! And to practice, write a short paragraph about your family in basic Japanese. We look forward to hearing from you!

Are you traveling to Japan and want to learn practical Japanese travel phrases? This article is designed to help you learn the most useful Japanese words for travel.

It’s always good to learn basic words when you travel to a foreign country. Not only does it make getting around easier, but it also allows you to enjoy communicating with the locals.

In general, Japanese people are not so good at speaking English, free wifi services aren’t very prevalent (especially outside of the central cities), and Japan is still more of a cash-based society than you may think. However, Japanese people are very kind; they’ll listen to you patiently and do their best to help. So just use these basic Japanese travel phrases to talk to Japanese people when you want to ask something.

When you speak even a little bit of Japanese, locals will appreciate your effort and will be more friendly. Here’s JapanesePod101’s list of practical Japanese travel phrases for your travels to Japan!

Table of Contents

1. Greeting/Communication
2. Asking for Directions
3. Shopping
4. Restaurants
5. When You Need Help
6. Conclusion: How JapanesePod101 Can Help You Learn More Japanese

1. Greeting/Communication

To begin our list of essential Japanese travel phrases, we’ll go over greetings and basic travel phrases in Japanese for solid communication. These simple Japanese travel phrases can make a world of difference in your conversations and overall experience in Japan.

1- こんにちは

• Romanization: Kon’nichiwa
• English Translation: Hello

In terms of must-know Japanese travel phrases, you probably already know that this is the most common Japanese greeting word. You can say this to anybody for any occasion during the daytime.

2- はい/いいえ

• Romanization: Hai / Iie
• English Translation: Yes / No

Hai is “Yes” and it’s pronounced like the English word “Hi.” In Japan, saying yes also means that you understand. Iie is “No” and it’s pronounced ‘EE-eh.’

3- ありがとうございます

• Romanization: Arigatō gozaimasu
• English Translation: Thank you

Arigatō gozaimasu is the polite way to say “Thank you” in Japanese, and you can use this for any occasion. In case of a casual situation, you can just say Arigatō, or even more casually, Dōmo (どうも) which means “Thanks.”

4- いいえ、いりません

• Romanization: Iie, irimasen
• English Translation: No, thank you.

It literally means “No, I don’t need it,” in Japanese. At a restaurant, say this phrase when a waiter offers to fill your glass of water and you don’t want more.

5- すみません

• Romanization: Sumimasen
• English Translation: I’m sorry / Excuse me

This word is usually used to say “sorry” or “excuse me”. Say this when you bump into someone in a crowd or when you ask someone for directions. Japanese people also use this to mean “thank you,” in some cases, such as when someone picks up something you dropped.

6- お願いします

• Romanization: Onegai shimasu
• English Translation: Please

When you request something, it’s polite to say Onegai shimasu. When someone offers you something and says please, she/he would say Dōzo (どうぞ) in Japanese.

7- 私はXXです

• Romanization: Watashi wa XX desu.
• English Translation: I am XX.

Watashi is “I,” wa is “am/is/are,” and desu is a present-tense word that links subjects and predicates; it’s placed at the end of a sentence. You can put your name, or your nationality, such as: Watashi wa Amerika-jin desu (私はアメリカ人です) which means “I am American.”　　

8- 私は日本語がわかりません

• Romanization: Watashi wa nihongo ga wakarimasen.
• English Translation: I don’t understand Japanese.

Nihongo is stands for the Japanese language, and Wakarimasen means “I don’t understand.” If you don’t know something, you can just say Wakarimasen meaning “I don’t know.”

9- 英語を話せますか

• Romanization: Eigo o hanasemasu ka
• English Translation: Can you speak English?

This is one of the most useful Japanese phrases for travelers. Eigo means “English,” Hanasemasu is a polite way to say “I speak,” and ka is a word that you add to the end of a complete sentence to make a question.

10- 英語でお願いします

• Romanization: Eigo de onegai shimasu
• English Translation: English, please.

This is another important Japanese travel phrase. De is the particle, and in this case it means “by” or “by means of.” The phrase literally translates as “English by please.” You can also say M saizu de onegai shimasu (Mサイズでお願いします) which means “Medium size, please.”

2. Asking for Directions

One of the most important Japanese travel phrases you should know are directions. Here are some useful vocabulary words and two Japanese language travel phrases you need to know!

1- Vocabulary

• 駅 (Eki) : Station
• 地下鉄 (Chikatetsu) : Subway/Metro
• トイレ (Toire) : Toilet
• 銀行 (Ginkō) : Bank
• 切符売り場 (Kippu uriba) : Ticket machine/Office
• 観光案内所 (Kankō annaijo) : Tourist information office
• 入口 (Iriguchi) : Entrance
• 出口 (Deguchi) : Exit
• 右 (Migi) : Right
• 左 (Hidari) : Left
• まっすぐ (Massugu) : Straight
• 曲がる (Magaru) : Turn
• 交差点 (Kōsaten) : Intersection
• 角 (Kado) : Corner

2- XXはどこですか

• Romanization: XX wa doko desu ka
• English Translation: Where is XX?

Doko means “where” and you replace XX with the name of where you want to go.

For example

• Toire wa doko desu ka (Where is the toilet?)
• Deguchi wa doko desu ka (Where is an exit?)

3- XX e wa dō ikeba ii desu ka (XXへはどう行けばいいですか) : How can I go to XX?

• Romanization: XX e wa dō ikeba ii desu ka
• English Translation: How can I go to XX?

Dō is “how,” e is “to,” and ikeba ii can be translated as “good to go.” When you want to know how you can get somewhere, replace XX with where you want to go.

For example:

• Eki e wa dō ikeba ii desu ka (How can I go to the station?)
• Ginkō e wa dō ikeba ii desu ka (How can I go to the bank?)

4- Other Examples

1. この道をまっすぐ行きます (Kono michi o massugu ikimasu.)：Go straight on this street.

Kono michi is “this street” and ikimasu is the polite way to say “Go.” O is a Japanese postpositional particle which indicates an object (in this case, kono michi).

2. 次の角を右へ曲がります (Tsugi no kado o migi e magarimasu.)：Turn right at the next corner.

Tsugi no kado means “next corner” and magarimasu is the polite way to say “Turn.” E is another postpositional particle that indicates direction; this can be translated as the English word “to.”

3. 交差点を渡って左へ行きます (Kōsaten o watatte hidari e ikimasu.)：Cross an intersection and go to the left (direction).

Watatte is a conjugated form of wataru which means “cross.”

3. Shopping

You’ll definitely love shopping when traveling in Japan, and some of the best Japanese phrases for travel are those related to this fun past-time. Knowing some useful Japanese words will make your shopping even more enjoyable.

1- XXはありますか

• Romanization: XX wa arimasu ka
• English Translation: Do you have XX?

When you’re at a store and looking for something, you can use this phrase by replacing XX with what you want.

2- いくらですか

• Romanization: Ikura desu ka
• English Translation: How much is it?

This is probably one of the most useful Japanese words for traveling and shopping. You can say Ikura desu ka in many situations, such as when you’re shopping, buying tickets, paying for a taxi, etc.

3- 免税できますか

• Romanization: Menzei dekimasu ka
• English Translation: Can you do a tax exemption?

Did you know that, as a traveler, you can get a sales tax exemption when you purchase things greater than 5,000 yen? Menzei is “tax exempted” and dekimasu means “can do.” Don’t forget to say this when you buy something big!

4- これは何ですか

• Romanization: Kore wa nan desu ka
• English Translation: What is this?

Kore is “this” and nan is another form of nani which means “what.” There are many unique foods, gadgets, and things which are unique to Japan, so when you wonder what it is, point to it and say this phrase.

5- これを買います

• Romanization: Kore o kaimasu
• English Translation: I’ll buy this.

Kaimasu is the conjugation of the verb kau, which means “buy.”

6- カードは使えますか

• Romanization: Kādo wa tsukaemasu ka
• English Translation: Can I use a credit card?

Kādo is “card” and you pronounce it just like the English word “card.” Tsukaemasu is a conjugation of the potential form of the verb tsukau which means “use.” This phrase is useful when you want to use your card at small shops and restaurants.

4. Restaurants

Japan has an array of delicious foods, of which sushi and ramen are just the tip of the iceberg. Amazingly, Tokyo is the city with the most Michelin-starred restaurants in the world, for several consecutive years. Enjoy yummy food at restaurants with useful Japanese words for restaurants and easy Japanese travel phrases related to food.

1- Vocabulary

• 英語のメニュー (Eigo no menyū) : English menu
• ベジタリアンのメニュー (Bejitarian no menyū) : Vegetarian menu
• 豚肉を含まないメニュー (Butaniku o fukumanai menyū) : Menu without pork
• 水 (Mizu) : Water
• 白/赤ワイン (Shiro / Aka wain) : White / Red wine

2- XXはありますか

• Romanization: XX wa arimasu ka
• English Translation: Do you have XX?

When you want to ask if the restaurant has something you want, say this phrase (replacing XX with what you want).

For example:

• Eigo no menyū wa arimasu ka (Do you have an English menu?)
• Aka wain wa arimasu ka (Do you have red wine?)

3- XXをください

• Romanization: XX o kudasai
• English Translation: Can I have XX?

This is another very useful phrase. Simply replace XX with what you want. You can also use this versatile phrase in various occasions, such as when shopping, choosing something, etc.

For example:

• Kore o kudasai (Can I have this?)
• Mizu o kudasai (Can I have water?)

4- お会計お願いします

• Romanization: O-kaikei onegai shimasu
• English Translation: Check, please.

O-kaikei means “check.” In Japan, people often cross their index fingers in front of their face as a gesture to indicate “check, please” at casual restaurants. However, when you’re at a nice restaurant, simply tell a waiter: O-kaikei onegai shimasu.

5. When You Need Help

Sometimes you get faced with unexpected emergencies while you’re traveling. Japan is famous for being one of the safest countries in the world, but you might fall very ill or be caught in a great earthquake.

1- Vocabularies

• 警察 (Keisatsu) : Police
• 病院 (Byōin) : Hospital
• 救急車 (Kyūkyūsha) : Ambulance
• ドラッグストア/薬局 (Doraggu sutoa / Yakkyoku) : Drug Store/Pharmacy
• タクシー (Takushī) : Taxi

2- XXを呼んでください

• Romanization: XX o yonde kudasai
• English Translation: Can you call XX?

When you’re severely ill or in case of emergency, let people know by using this phrase. Japanese people will kindly help you.

For example:

• Yūkyūsha o yonde kudasai (Can you call an ambulance?)
• Keisatsu o yonde kudasai (Can you call the police?)

3- どこでインターネットを使えますか

• Romanization: Doko de intānetto o tsukaemasu ka
• English Translation: Where can I use the internet?

Although large cities in Japan provide free public wifi at major stations, metros, and cafes, you may need to find internet access in smaller cities. Remember that there will be kind Japanese people who will share their personal hotspots, or look things up for you with their own phones, as well.

4- 電話を貸してください

• Romanization: Denwa o kashite kudasai
• English Translation: Can I use your phone?

Denwa is “phone” and kashite is a conjugation word of kasu, which means “lend.” This phrase is literally translated as “Please lend (me) a phone.”

5- 助けてください

• Romanization: Tasukete kudasai
• English Translation: Please help me.

I believe this phrase is the last thing you would ever use in Japan, but in case something does happen, this is useful survival Japanese for tourists.

6. Conclusion: How JapanesePod101 Can Help You Learn More Japanese

I hope this article of Japanese travel phrases is helpful and that you’ll enjoy your trip to Japan!

If you would like to learn more about the Japanese language, you’ll find more useful content on JapanesePod101.com. We provide a variety of free lessons for you to improve your Japanese language skills.

We also have YouTube channel: JapanesePod101. It’s fun to learn Japanese through watching videos and listening to actual Japanese pronunciation, so we recommend you check it out!

Don’t forget to study with our free Japanese vocabulary lists, read more insightful blog posts like this one, and download our mobile apps to learn anywhere, anytime! Whatever your reason for learning Japanese, know that we’re here to help and you can do it! Keep in mind that the best way to learn Japanese phrases for travel is repetition and practice.

Before you go, let us know in the comments how you feel about using these useful travel phrases in Japanese after reading this article. More confident, or still a little confused about something? Feel free to ask questions in the comments!