What Japanese phrases should I learn before visiting Japan?

Greetings and goodbyes

Konnichiwa is a daytime hello only; it is never used to say goodbye. Sayōnara exists, but it sounds final, like a long parting, and people rarely use it day to day. Friends say jā ne or mata ne, and the polite exit from a shop, office or phone call is shitsurei shimasu.

O-genki desu ka is the textbook "how are you", but it is mostly said to someone you haven't seen for a while, not as a passing greeting. A small bow with hajimemashite is the normal first meeting.

Polite essentials

The polite forms end in -masu or desu, and they are the safe default with staff and strangers. Sumimasen does most of the work: it gets a server's attention, lets you squeeze past on a train and apologises for small things.

A flat iie (no) can sound blunt. To turn down a bag or a receipt, people say kekkō desu or daijōbu desu with a small wave of the hand, palm out.

Eating and drinking

Staff call out irasshaimase as you walk in; it needs no reply, and a nod is fine. Then they ask nanmei-sama desu ka (how many?): answer futari desu for two, or just hold up two fingers. Call staff over with sumimasen.

Say itadakimasu before the first bite and gochisōsama deshita as you leave; staff notice and appreciate it. At a group drink, wait for kanpai before you sip. Most Japanese food is mild, so the useful question is whether a dish is spicy rather than asking for it without chilli. Many dishes use dashi, a fish stock, so vegetarians should ask specifically. Don't tip: the Japan National Tourism Organization says tipping is not common in restaurants, bars, taxis or hotels.

Shopping and markets

Bargaining is not done in Japan. The national tourism board notes that most shops won't haggle, so you pay the marked price; flea markets are the occasional exception.

Cards are widely accepted in cities, but Japan still runs on cash in small restaurants, shrines and rural shops. A 現金のみ (genkin nomi) sign means cash only. Transit IC cards such as Suica also pay at convenience stores. Tax-free shopping needs your passport and a spend over 5,000 yen.

Getting around

Open with sumimasen before asking a stranger for directions. Station signs in the big cities are in English, but many taxi drivers can't read an address in romaji, so keep your hotel address in Japanese on your phone and show it with kono jūsho made onegaishimasu.

Numbers 1-10, 100 and 1,000

Prices are said as the number plus en (not "yen"): 500 yen is go-hyaku en. For 4 and 7, say yon and nana; shi (4) sounds like the word for death and is avoided. Large sums are counted in units of 10,000 (man), so 30,000 yen is san-man en.

Help and emergencies

Call 110 for police and 119 for an ambulance or fire; both are free. The tourism board's Japan Visitor Hotline (050-3816-2787) answers in English 24 hours a day and helps with accidents and emergencies, but it does not replace 110 and 119.

Etiquette that matters more than words

Bowing is the normal greeting. It runs from a small nod to a deep bend, and nobody expects a visitor to judge the angle perfectly; a slight nod back when someone bows to you is right. Handshakes are uncommon, so wait for one to be offered.

Use -san for other people, never for yourself. Address people by surname plus -san (Tanaka-san). Introducing yourself, say "Smith desu", not "Smith-san desu".

Keep refusals soft. Japanese conversation avoids a flat no. If someone answers your request with chotto... ("it's a little...") and trails off, the answer is no.

For the customs that matter more than any phrase, see what is considered rude in Japan.

Frequently asked questions