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The last thing you want is to get lost in Japan. You will probably use public transportation. And, you will certainly have to ask for directions. It is important that you understand where you need to go and how to get around. You will have to ask questions like “Where do I get off the subway?” and “What time does the bus leave Tokyo station?” Save yourself a lot of time and heartache by familiarizing yourself with Japan’s terrain and how to navigate it. In this Japanese for Beginners article, learn how to ask for directions and use public transportation in Japan. You will become familiar with the different types of transportation available to you and how to talk and ask about all of them. iku master takushii (“taxi”), chikatetsu ni norikaeru (“to transfer to the subway”), and many other phrases that will help you get around in Japan. As always, choose a series of Japanese vocabulary words that will take your Japanese to the next level. Make your life easier with this Japanese article for beginners!

Vocabulary: In this article, you will learn the following words and phrases:

Keisei Narita-eki – “Narita Station on the Keisei Line”
Yamanote-sen – “Yamanote Line”
nippori – “Nippori” (place name)
Keisei-sen – “Kisei Line”
noru – “get on (a train), take (a train)” (class 1 verb)
ikkai – “once, once”
memorandum – “memorandum”
mazu – “first of all, to begin with”
oriru – “get off” (class 2 verb)
norikaeru – “transfer, change train” (class 2 verb)

Grammar: In this article, you will learn the following words and phrases:

Vocabulary and useful phrases:

Doo shimashita ka.

Please review the vocabulary and usage below:

poop – “What”
shimashita – the past tense of shimasuhear”.
what – question marker

We can literally translate this sentence as “how did it go?” However, it corresponds to “what’s up?” what is going on?” in English.

Kara

the particle Kara indicates a cause or reason and is equivalent to the English “since” or “because”.

In today’s dialogue:

1. Sumimasen ga, moo ikkai, yukkuri itte kudasai. Memo or shimasu kara. “I’m sorry, can you say that one more time slowly? (Because) I’m going to write it down.”

Examples:

1. Chotto mate kudasai. Suguni ikimasu kara. “Please wait. I’ll be there shortly.”
2. Densha of ikimashoo. Takushii wa takai desu kara. “Let’s take a train. (Because) taxis are expensive.”

Yamanote-sen
Prayed Yamate-sen
Keisei-sen

sen means “line”. We express the names of the train lines as “[name of the line] + sen.”

For example:

1. Chiyoda-sen – “The Chiyoda Line”
2. Ginza-sen – “The Ginza Line”
3. Chuuoo-sen – “The Chuuoo Line”

Useful verbs of transportation

These verbs will come in handy when taking public transportation in Japan.

1. Class 1 verbs: iku-“to carry out” noru-“mount, take” (a transport)
2. Class 2 verbs: norikaeru – “to transfer” oriru – “Get down”

particles

ME. [Transportation] plus + iku

SEE Nihongo Doojoo, “Welcome to Style You: Article 23,” for more details.

say “pass” [type of transportation]we mark the type of transport with the particle of.

“English” / Japanese

“go by taxi” / iku takushii
“go by car” / iku kuruma
“go by subway” / chikatetsu of iku
“Go by train” / iku densha
“go in bus” / basu of iku
“go down the Yamanote line” / Yamanote-sen from iku
“go on foot” / aruki from iku

Note: *aruki medium “walking”

II. [Transportation] + neither + noru

Say “take” [type of transportation]we mark the type of transport with the particle neither.

“English” / Japanese

“take a taxi” / takushii ni noru
“take the subway” / chikatetsu ni noru
“take a train” / densha ni noru
“Take a bus” / basu ni noru
“take the Yamanote line” / Yamanote-sen ni noru
“to ride a horse” / uma ni noru

Note: *uma means “horse”

third [Transportation] + neither Prayed me + norikaeru

Say “transfer to [type of transportation]we mark the type of transport with the particle neither Prayed me.

“English” / Japanese

“transfer to subway” / chikatetsu ni norikaeru
“transfer to a train” / densha ni norikaeru
“transfer to a bus” / basu ni norikaeru
“transfer to Yamanote Line” / Yamanote-sen ni norikaeru

IV. [Transportation] + oh + oriru

say “get down” [type of transportation]”We usually mark the type of transport with the particle oh.

“English” / Japanese

“to get off the subway” / chikatetsu or oriru
“get off the train” / densha or oriru
“Get off the bus” / basu or oriru
“to get off the Yamanote Line” / Yamanote-sen or oriru

Useful sentences from today’s dialogue

1. iku (-you form); it’s Yamanote-sen of Nippori ni itte kudasai. “Go to Nippori via the Yamanote line.”
2. noru (-you form); Note Keisei-sen nippori ni notte kudasai. “Take the Keisei Line at Nippori Station.”
3. orimasu (-you form); oritis Nippori of Yamanote-sen or orite kudasai. Get off the Yamanote Line at Nippori.
4. norikaeru (-you form); norikaete Keisei-sen ni norikaete kudasai. “Transfer to the Keisei line.”

Practice:

Please complete the sentences by filling in the blanks.

Shinjuku–(the Marunouchi line) — Akasakamitsuke — (the Ginza line)? Asakusa

1. by Akasakamitsuke ni itte kudasai.
2. Akasakamitsuke’s __ni norikaete kudasai.

Tokyo — (the Tookaidoo line) — Totsuka — (the Shoonan-Shinjuku line) — Kamakura

1. no note_____________ ni itte kudasai.
2. norikaete kudasai.
3. Kamakura’s or orite kudasai.