Phrasebook / Trains & taxis

Japanese Phrases for Trains and Taxis

Major stations have plenty of English signs, but things get harder at smaller stations, when a service changes, or when a gate refuses your card. These phrases cover the questions you are most likely to need. Fill in the blank with your destination, or show station staff the place name in Japanese.

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9 useful phrases

Which platform for trains to ___?

___行きは何番線ですか？

___いきはなんばんせんですか？ · ___ yuki wa nanbansen desu ka?
Does this train stop at ___?

この電車は___に止まりますか？

このでんしゃは___にとまりますか？ · kono densha wa ___ ni tomarimasu ka?

Ask before boarding — rapid and express services skip stations.
One ticket to ___, please

___まで一枚お願いします

___までいちまいおねがいします · ___ made ichimai onegaishimasu
I'd like a reserved Shinkansen seat

新幹線の指定席をお願いします

しんかんせんのしていせきをおねがいします · shinkansen no shiteiseki o onegaishimasu

自由席 (jiyūseki) = unreserved cars.
Window seat, please

窓側の席をお願いします

まどがわのせきをおねがいします · madogawa no seki o onegaishimasu

For Fuji views from Tokyo to Kyoto, sit on the right (seat E).
My IC card didn't work at the gate

ICカードが使えませんでした

ICカードがつかえませんでした · IC kādo ga tsukaemasen deshita

Go to the staffed window at the side of the gates.
Which exit is closest to ___?

___に一番近い出口はどこですか？

___にいちばんちかいでぐちはどこですか？ · ___ ni ichiban chikai deguchi wa doko desu ka?
What time is the last train?

終電は何時ですか？

しゅうでんはなんじですか？ · shūden wa nanji desu ka?
To this address, please (taxi)

この住所までお願いします

このじゅうしょまでおねがいします · kono jūsho made onegaishimasu

Show the address in Japanese. Taxi doors open automatically.

Good to know

Check the train type before boarding

Local, rapid and express trains often share a platform, and the faster ones skip stations. A train going in the right direction may run straight past your stop, so it is worth asking 「この電車は___に止まりますか？」 before you get on. 行き (yuki) after a place name means bound for that place.

IC cards and gate problems

IC cards such as Suica, PASMO and ICOCA are tapped on the way in and out. If a gate closes on you, do not keep tapping. Go to the staffed window beside the gates, because staff can correct a missed tap or a low balance on the spot.

Shinkansen seats and big luggage

指定席 (shiteiseki) is a reserved seat and 自由席 (jiyūseki) is an unreserved car, though some services are fully reserved. On the Tōkaidō, Sanyō and Kyushu Shinkansen, very large bags need a reservation in advance, so check the rules if you have oversized luggage.

On board and in taxis

People generally avoid phone calls on trains and keep their voices down. In a taxi, the rear door opens and closes automatically, so leave the handle alone. Drivers may not know a place by its English name, so have the address ready in Japanese.