Japan Railways (JR) run ferry services on certain routes where the JR Pass can be used. There is a good ferry network in Japan linking the various islands. Ferries can be used as an alternative to trains if you wish to travel between the islands and have time to spare. During the holidays some lines can be very busy, so if you are driving it is advisable to book a place in advance.
Do you have a timetable?jikokuhyoo wa arimasu ka?Is there a car ferry to?ni iku kaa-ferii wa arimasu ka?How much is a ticket?kippu wa ikura desu ka?singlekatamichireturnoofukuHow much is it for a car and people? kuruma to hito ga nin de ikura desu ka?one personhitoritwo peoplefutarithree peoplesan-ninWhere does the boat leave from?booto wa doko kara demasu ka?Are there any boat trips around Tokyo bay?tookyoo-wan no yuuransen wa arimasu ka?When is the next boat?tsugi no fune wa nan-ji desu ka?How long does the trip take?yuuran wa donokurai kakarimasu ka? YOU MAY HEAR kore ga saishuu-bin desuThis is the last boat kyoo wa yatte imasenThere is no service today kuruma wa nan desu ka?What type of car do you have?Air travel
At the airport, most signs are written in both Japanese and English. Most of the airport staff understand and speak some English. The three biggest airports are Narita, Kansai and Haneda. You can find airport details by visiting www.narita-airport.jp, www.kansai-airport.jp and www.haneda-airport.jp.
toochakuarrivals shuppatsudepartures kokusaiinternational kokunaidomestic toojooguchiboarding gate How do I/we go to?niwa dooyatte ikeba ii desu ka?to the airportkuukoo niwato townmachi niwato the hotelhoteru niwato the airportkuukoo niwachecked luggageazukarinimotsuhand luggagetenimotsuIs there a bus to the airport?kuukoo iki no basu wa arimasu ka?Where is the check-in desk for?no chekku-in kauntaa wa doko desu ka?Which carousel is for the luggage for the flight from?kara tsuita nimotsu wa dono taanteeburu desu ka?Where can I change some money?okane no ryoogae wa doko de dekimasu ka?Where can I print my ticket?chiketto no insatsu wa doko de dekimasu ka?I have my boarding pass on my smartphonetoojooken wa sumaho ni haitte imasu YOU MAY HEAR ban geeto kara toojoo shimasuBoarding will take place at gate number ban geeto made shikyuu osusumi kudasaiGo immediately to gate number ekitaibutsu-kinshiNo liquids nimotsu ga juuryoo seigen o oobaa shite imasuYour luggage exceeds the maximum weightCustoms control
UK, US, Canadian and Australian visitors to Japan do not require a visa for short business trips and holidays. During your stay, you are not allowed to work. It is advisable that you have proof of identity at all times, so make sure that you always carry your passport.
nihon-jin kikokuJapanese people returning to the country gaikoku-jin nyuukokuNon-Japanese people entering the country zeikancustoms Do I have to pay duty on this?kore ni zeikin ga kakarimasu ka?Its for my own personal usewatashi ga tsukau mono desuIts a presentpurezento desuI have nothing to declareshinkoku suru mono wa arimasenWe are on our way to (if in transit through a country)ni iku tochuu desuMy passportwatashi no pasupootoMy visawatashi no bizaI came here onde kimashitaholidaykyuukabusinessshigotoCar hire
You must obtain an international driving permit prior to leaving your country. You also need to carry your own national licence while driving in Japan. You will be required to produce your international driving permit to rent a car.
unten-menkyoshoodriving licence soogoohokenfully comprehensive insurance I want to hire a carkuruma o karitai desufor daysnichiwith automatic gearsootoma shaWhat are your rates?ryookin wa ikura desu ka?per dayichinichi noper weekisshuukan noHow much is the deposit?hoshookin wa ikura desu ka?Do you take credit cards?kurejitto kaado wa tsukaemasu ka?Is there a charge per mile/kilometre?sookoo-kyori no shiharai wa arimasu ka?Does the price include fully comprehensive insurance?kono kingaku wa soogoohoken-ryoo o fukunde imasu ka?Must I return the car here?kuruma wa koko ni kaesanakereba ikemasen ka?By what time?nan-ji made ni desu ka?Id like to leave it in ni oite kitai desu YOU MAY HEAR kuruma wa gasorin o mantan ni shite kaeshite kudasaiPlease return the car with a full tankDriving
In Japan, the majority of petrol stations are manned by attendants who not only fill up the tank for you but also wipe the windows and check the water. However, unmanned petrol stations have been on the rise recently and are cheaper than manned ones.
haioku4 star diizerudiesel muenunleaded Fill it up, pleasemantan ni shite kudasaiPlease checko chekku shite kudasaithe oiloiruthe watermizu3000 yen worth of unleaded petrol3000sanzen en bun no muen gasorinWhere is?wa doko desu ka?Can I pay by credit card?kurejitto kaado de haraemasu ka? YOU MAY HEAR/ oiru/mizu ga hitsuyoo desuYou need some oil/some water subete daijoobu desuEverything is OKBreakdown
If you break down, the emergency telephone number for the Japanese equivalent of the AA (JAF Japan Automobile Federation) is 0570-00-8139 or # (hash key) 8139
Can you help me?tasukete moraemasu ka?My car has broken downkuruma ga koshoo shite shimaimashitaIve run out of petrolgasorin ga kirete shimaimashitaCan you tow me to the nearest garage?moyori no gasorin-sutando made hippatte itte moraemasu ka?Do you have parts for a (make of car)?no buhin ga arimasu ka?Theres something wrong with theni nanika okashii tokoro ga arimasuCan you replace?o kookan dekimasu ka?Car parts
The isnt/arentworking properlyno chooshi ga warui desu acceleratorakuserualternatororutaneetaabatterybatteriibonnetbonnettobrakesbureekichokechookuclutchkurattchidistributorhaidenkiengineenjinexhaustekizoosutofusehyuuzugearsgiahandbrakehando bureekiheadlightsheddo raitoignitiontenka soochiindicatorhookoo shijikipointspointoradiatorrajieetaareverse gearbakku giaseat beltshiito berutospark plugtenka puragusteeringsutearingusteering wheelhandorutyretaiyawheelsharinwindscreenfuronto garasuwindscreenuindoo wosshaawasherwindscreenwaipaawiperRoad signs
no thoroughfare
stopping permitted
drive slowly
closed to pedestrians
centre line
stop
bicycle crossing
pedestrian crossing
stop line
minimum speed
two-step right turn for motorcycles
safety zone
Staying somewhere
Hotel (booking)
Japan offers a wide choice of places to stay, from western-style hotels to traditional Japanese inns. Capsule hotels offer minimum sleeping space on multiple levels, but have all the facilities and are good value for money.
YOU MAY HEAR shinguru ruumusingle room daburu ruumudouble room yooshitsuwestern-style room washitsuJapanese-style room otona no ninzuunumber of adults kodomo no ninzuunumber of children kapuseru hoterucapsule hotel ryokantraditional Japanese inn shukubooa stay in a shrine/temple yuusuhosuteruyouth hostel How much is it per night/per week?/ippaku/isshuukan ikura desu ka?Do you have a room for tonight?konya tomaremasu ka?with bathofuro tsukiwith showershawaa tsukiwith a double beddaburu beddo tsukiwith twin beds and an extra bed for a childtsuin beddo to kodomo-yoo no ekusutra beddoIs breakfast included?asa-gohan wa fukumarete imasu ka?Have you got anything cheaper?moo sukoshi yasui no wa arimasu ka? FACE TO FACE/shinguru/daburu ruumu o yoyaku shitain desu gaId like to book a single/double roomnampaku desu ka?For how many nights?//ippaku desu/haku (paku) desu/karamade desuFor one night/nights/fromtill YOU MAY HEAR manshitsu desu shimasuWere full onamae o onegai shimasuYour name, please no kakunin o onegaiPlease confirm meeru deby e-mail denwa deby phoneHotel desk