Asking for Directions in Japanese: Phrases & Answers (Audio)

The short answer

Ask: すみません、〜はどこですか (Excuse me, where is…?).
Key answer words: みぎ (right), ひだり (left), まっすぐ (straight), かど (corner), しんごう (traffic light).
〜にまがってください = please turn (left/right).
Ask how far: あるいてなんぷんですか (how many minutes on foot?).

How to ask

すみません、えきはどこですかsumimasen, eki wa doko desu ka
Excuse me, where is the station?
とうきょうタワーへはどうやっていきますかTōkyō tawā e wa dō yatte ikimasu ka
How do I get to Tokyo Tower?
このちかくにコンビニはありますかkono chikaku ni konbini wa arimasu ka
Is there a convenience store near here?
ちかいですかchikai desu ka
Is it close?
あるいてなんぷんですかaruite nanpun desu ka
How many minutes on foot?
ちずでおしえてもらえますかchizu de oshiete moraemasu ka
Could you show me on the map?

Understanding the answer

まっすぐいってくださいmassugu itte kudasai
Go straight ahead.
みぎにまがってくださいmigi ni magatte kudasai
Turn right.
ひだりにまがってくださいhidari ni magatte kudasai
Turn left.
つぎのかどをみぎですtsugi no kado o migi desu
Right at the next corner.
しんごうをわたってくださいshingō o watatte kudasai
Cross at the traffic light.
ひだりがわにありますhidarigawa ni arimasu
It’s on the left side.
あるいてごふんぐらいですaruite gofun gurai desu
About five minutes on foot.

Direction words

Japanese	Reading	Meaning
みぎ	migi	right
ひだり	hidari	left
まっすぐ	massugu	straight ahead
かど	kado	corner
しんごう	shingō	traffic light
こうさてん	kōsaten	intersection
はし	hashi	bridge
むかい	mukai	opposite, across from
となり	tonari	next to
ちかく	chikaku	nearby
きた・みなみ・ひがし・にし	kita, minami, higashi, nishi	north, south, east, west

Big stations have exits named after directions: ひがしぐち (east exit), にしぐち (west exit). Knowing these saves a lot of time. More position words in position words in Japanese.

Why Japanese addresses are tricky

In most of Japan, streets don’t have names. Addresses are based on districts and numbered blocks, so even locals rely on landmarks and map apps. Don’t be surprised if someone says コンビニのとなりです, it’s next to the convenience store.

Saying thanks

わかりました。ありがとうございますwakarimashita. arigatō gozaimasu
I understand. Thank you very much.
たすかりましたtasukarimashita
That was a big help.

Landmarks Japanese people use

コンビニkonbini
convenience store
ぎんこうginkō
bank
ゆうびんきょくyūbinkyoku
post office
こうえんkōen
park
じんじゃjinja
shrine
おてらotera
temple

Because streets rarely have names, directions sound like: ぎんこうのかどをみぎにまがって、コンビニのとなりです (turn right at the bank’s corner; it’s next to the convenience store). Position words are in position words in Japanese.

Distance and time

とおいですかtōi desu ka
Is it far?
すぐそこですsugu soko desu
It’s just there.
あるいてじゅっぷんぐらいですaruite juppun gurai desu
About ten minutes on foot.
タクシーのほうがいいですよtakushī no hō ga ii desu yo
A taxi would be better.

Reading Japanese maps

Japanese maps and signs often show north at the top, but station area maps are usually oriented to the direction you’re facing. Look for げんざいち (you are here) on street maps. Big stations have numbered and lettered exits: Aさんばんでぐち means exit A3.

Which way?0/3

みぎにまがってください means:
“How many minutes on foot?”
しんごう is:

Frequently asked questions

How do you ask where something is in Japanese?

Say すみません、〜はどこですか (sumimasen, ... wa doko desu ka), for example えきはどこですか, 'where is the station?'.

How do you say left and right in Japanese?

Right is みぎ (migi) and left is ひだり (hidari). Turn right is みぎにまがってください.

Why do Japanese streets not have names?

Most Japanese addresses are based on districts and numbered blocks rather than street names, so people navigate by landmarks and maps.

How do you say is it far in Japanese?

Ask 遠いですか (tōi desu ka). The answer might be すぐそこです (it's just there) or 歩いて10分ぐらいです (about ten minutes on foot).