Japanese Directions: 40 Phrases for Asking and Giving Directions

Getting lost in Japan is easy. Getting directions is easier — if you know the right phrases. Japanese directions follow predictable patterns, and once you learn the core vocabulary, you can both ask for and understand directions confidently. This guide gives you 40 essential phrases organised by function, a landmark vocabulary table, common particle mistakes, and a real dialogue to study.

Direction words

Asking for directions — 5 key question patterns

Use these patterns to ask where something is. Always start with すみません (sumimasen, excuse me) to politely get someone's attention.

Pattern 1: 〜はどこですか — Where is ~?

• 駅はどこですか。
  Eki wa doko desu ka.
  Where is the station?
• コンビニはどこですか。
  Konbini wa doko desu ka.
  Where is the convenience store?

Pattern 2: 〜はどこにありますか — Where is ~ (located)?

• トイレはどこにありますか。
  Toire wa doko ni arimasu ka.
  Where is the bathroom?
• 郵便局はどこにありますか。
  Yuubinkyoku wa doko ni arimasu ka.
  Where is the post office?

Pattern 3: 〜まで行くにはどうすればいいですか — How do I get to ~?

• 渋谷まで行くにはどうすればいいですか。
  Shibuya made iku ni wa dou sureba ii desu ka.
  How do I get to Shibuya?

Pattern 4: 〜はここから遠いですか — Is ~ far from here?

• 駅はここから遠いですか。
  Eki wa koko kara tooi desu ka.
  Is the station far from here?
• 歩いて行けますか。
  Aruite ikemasu ka.
  Can I walk there?

Pattern 5: 〜を教えてもらえますか — Could you tell me ~?

• 道を教えてもらえますか。
  Michi wo oshiete moraemasu ka.
  Could you tell me the way?
• 地図を書いてもらえますか。
  Chizu wo kaite moraemasu ka.
  Could you draw me a map?

Giving directions — instruction patterns

Turn instructions

• 右に曲がってください。
  Migi ni magatte kudasai.
  Please turn right.
• 左に曲がってください。
  Hidari ni magatte kudasai.
  Please turn left.
• 角を右に曲がってください。
  Kado wo migi ni magatte kudasai.
  Please turn right at the corner.
• 交差点を左に曲がってください。
  Kousaten wo hidari ni magatte kudasai.
  Please turn left at the intersection.

〜があります — There is ~

• まっすぐ行くと、右側に駅があります。
  Massugu iku to, migigawa ni eki ga arimasu.
  If you go straight, the station is on the right side.
• 橋を渡ると、コンビニがあります。
  Hashi wo wataru to, konbini ga arimasu.
  If you cross the bridge, there is a convenience store.

〜を渡ると — Cross ~ and...

• 横断歩道を渡って、まっすぐ行ってください。
  Oudanhodou wo watatte, massugu itte kudasai.
  Cross the crosswalk and go straight.
• 橋を渡ると左に見えます。
  Hashi wo wataru to hidari ni miemasu.
  Cross the bridge and you'll see it on the left.

Distance expressions

• 徒歩5分です。
  Toho go-fun desu.
  It's a 5-minute walk.
• ここから歩いて10分ほどです。
  Koko kara aruite juppun hodo desu.
  It's about a 10-minute walk from here.
• すぐそこです。
  Sugu soko desu.
  It's right there / It's just around the corner.
• 少し遠いです。電車で行った方がいいです。
  Sukoshi tooi desu. Densha de itta hou ga ii desu.
  It's a bit far. You'd be better off going by train.

Landmark vocabulary

Real dialogue: asking for directions to a convenience store

Common mistakes: に vs で with direction verbs

曲がる (to turn) always takes に

The particle に marks the direction of movement. 曲がる (to turn) is a movement verb, so it takes に for the direction:

• ✗ 右で曲がってください — incorrect particle
• ✓ 右に曲がってください — correct: turn right
• ✗ 左で曲がって — incorrect
• ✓ 左に曲がって — correct: turn left

行く (to go) — に vs で vs まで

• ✓ 駅に行ってください — Please go to the station (に marks destination)
• ✓ まっすぐ行ってください — Please go straight (no particle needed for まっすぐ)
• ✓ 電車で行ってください — Please go by train (で marks means of transport)
• ✗ 駅で行ってください — wrong; で cannot mark destination of going

渡る (to cross) — always takes を

• ✓ 横断歩道を渡ってください — Please cross the crosswalk
• ✓ 橋を渡ると見えます — Cross the bridge and you'll see it
• ✗ 橋に渡ってください — incorrect particle with 渡る

10 more essential direction phrases

• この地図で見せてもらえますか？— Could you show me on this map?
• もう一度言ってもらえますか？— Could you say that again?
• ゆっくり話してもらえますか？— Could you speak slowly?
• 右側です / 左側です — It's on the right side / left side.
• 突き当たりを左です — Turn left at the dead end.
• 一つ目の信号を右に — Turn right at the first traffic light.
• 二つ目の角を左に — Turn left at the second corner.
• 駅の改札を出てすぐです — It's right outside the ticket gates.
• 地下鉄で二駅です — It's two stops on the subway.
• わかりません。すみません。— I don't know. I'm sorry. (when you cannot help)

Practising these direction phrases in writing helps cement them before your trip. Try composing a few direction-giving sentences and check them with ZISTICA MOJIIQ's free grammar checker to catch particle errors and unnatural phrasing instantly.

Frequently asked questions