Vocabulary

Japanese Shopping Phrases: The Complete Guide for Tourists and Learners (2026)

Q: Can you bargain in Japanese shops?

Bargaining (値切り, negiri) is not standard practice in most Japanese retail environments — department stores, convenience stores, supermarkets, and chain shops have fixed prices and attempting to negotiate is considered rude. Exceptions exist: flea markets (フリーマーケット), some electronics districts (Akihabara bulk purchases), and small independent shops may accept polite negotiation. The phrase 少し安くなりますか？(Can it be a little cheaper?) is the most acceptable way to enquire, but expect it to be declined.

Q: How do you ask for a size in Japanese?

To ask if an item comes in a specific size: Sサイズはありますか？(Do you have size S?) or もう少し大きいサイズはありますか？(Do you have a slightly larger size?). Japanese clothing uses S/M/L/XL sizing familiar from Western fashion, plus Japanese numeric sizing (9号、11号 etc. for women's). For shoes, Japan uses centimetre sizing — 24cm = approximately UK 5.5 / US women's 7.

Q: How do you ask for gift wrapping in Japan?

Gift wrapping is called プレゼント用に包んでもらえますか？(Can you wrap it as a gift?) or simply ギフト包装をお願いします (Please gift wrap it). Department stores and most retail shops offer free gift wrapping (無料ラッピング). The wrapping quality in Japan is exceptionally high. You may also be asked お渡し用のご用意でしょうか (Is this a gift?) — answer はい、お願いします (Yes, please).

Q: What payment methods are accepted in Japan?

Japan is more cash-based than most developed countries, though credit cards are now widely accepted in cities. IC cards (Suica, ICOCA) are accepted at many convenience stores and some shops. QR code payments (PayPay, LINE Pay, d払い) have grown rapidly since 2019. To ask: クレジットカードは使えますか？(Can I use a credit card?). Cash (現金, genkin) is always accepted everywhere.

March 202610 min read

Shopping in Japan is a pleasure — staff are unfailingly polite, shops are immaculate, and the service culture is unlike anywhere else in the world. But navigating it in Japanese requires a specific vocabulary set that tourist phrasebooks rarely cover completely. This guide gives you every phrase you will actually need: at the register, in department stores, trying on clothes, asking about sizes, requesting gift wrapping, paying, and decoding what staff are saying to you.

All phrases include natural Japanese, hiragana/katakana readings, and clear English translations, plus notes on when each phrase is appropriate.

Essential phrases at the register

The checkout (レジ, reji) is where most interactions happen. These are the core phrases for every shopping situation:

Japanese	Reading	English
いくらですか？	ikura desu ka	How much is it?
〜をください。	〜 wo kudasai	I would like 〜, please.
〜をひとつください。	〜 wo hitotsu kudasai	One 〜, please.
これをください。	kore wo kudasai	I will take this one, please.
ちょっと見ているだけです。	chotto mite iru dake desu	I am just looking, thank you.
レシートをください。	reshiito wo kudasai	Can I have a receipt, please?
袋はいりません。	fukuro wa irimasen	I do not need a bag.
袋をいただけますか？	fukuro wo itadakemasu ka	Could I have a bag?
返品できますか？	henpin dekimasu ka	Can I return this?
交換できますか？	koukan dekimasu ka	Can I exchange this?

Asking for prices

すみません、これはいくらですか？sumimasen, kore wa ikura desu kaExcuse me, how much is this?

全部でいくらですか？zenbu de ikura desu kaHow much is it in total?

税込みですか？zeikomi desu kaIs tax included? (Japan's consumption tax is 10%, some prices are 税抜き — before tax)

Polite staff speech: what they are saying to you

Japanese retail staff use a specific register of extremely formal speech (接客語, sekkyakugo) that can confuse even intermediate learners. Understanding what they are saying stops the awkward nodding-without-comprehension experience.

What they say	What it means
いらっしゃいませ	Welcome (standard greeting when you enter — no response needed)
ただいま〇〇円のお返しです	Your change is 〇〇 yen (ただいま = right now/here; お返し = return/change)
〇〇円のお預かりをします	I am receiving 〇〇 yen from you (お預かり = receiving for safe-keeping — polite form of 受け取る)
お袋はご入用でしょうか？	Would you like a bag? (ご入用 = need/necessity — very polite)
ポイントカードはお持ちですか？	Do you have a points card?
お会計は〇〇円でございます	Your total is 〇〇 yen (ございます = extremely formal form of です)
少々お待ちください	Please wait a moment (少々 = a little; お待ちください = polite please wait)
ありがとうございました	Thank you very much (past tense — thanking you for the completed transaction)
またお越しくださいませ	Please come again (formal farewell — お越し = honourable coming)

Department stores: navigating floors and services

Japanese department stores (百貨店, hyakkaten — literally “hundred goods store”) are multi-floor experiences with dedicated floors for different product categories. Floor guides (フロアガイド, furoa gaido) are available at the entrance. Essential vocabulary for navigating:

Japanese	Reading	Meaning
地下一階（B1F）	chika ikkai	Basement floor 1 (usually food hall / デパ地下)
婦人服売り場	fujinfuku uriba	Women's clothing section
紳士服売り場	shinshifuku uriba	Men's clothing section
試着室	shichakushitsu	Fitting room / changing room
お手洗い / トイレ	otearai / toire	Restroom / toilet
インフォメーション	infomeeshon	Information desk
お客様サービスカウンター	okyakusama saabisu kauntaa	Customer service counter
免税カウンター	menzei kauntaa	Tax-free counter (for tourists with valid passport)

Tax-free shopping (免税)

Tourists visiting Japan on a short-term visa can claim consumption tax refunds (8% or 10%) on qualifying purchases above ¥5,000. Show your passport at the designated tax-free counter (免税カウンター). The phrase:

免税の手続きをお願いします。パスポートはこちらです。menzei no tetsuzuki wo onegaishimasu. pasupooto wa kochira desu.I would like to complete the tax-free procedure. Here is my passport.

Trying on clothes: fitting room phrases

試着してもいいですか？shichaku shite mo ii desu kaMay I try this on?

Mサイズはありますか？emu saizu wa arimasu kaDo you have this in size M?

もう少し大きいサイズはありますか？mou sukoshi ookii saizu wa arimasu kaDo you have a slightly larger size?

別の色はありますか？betsu no iro wa arimasu kaDo you have this in a different colour?

ちょっとサイズが合わないみたいです。chotto saizu ga awanai mitai desuThe size does not seem to fit.

Japanese clothing size conversion

Japan (号)	Japan (letter)	UK	US	EU
7号	XS	6	2	34
9号	S	8	4	36
11号	M	10	6	38
13号	L	12	8	40
15号	XL	14	10	42

Shoes in Japan use centimetre sizing: 24.0cm, 24.5cm, 25.0cm etc. To ask your size: 24センチはありますか？

Gift wrapping and presents

Japan has an exceptional gift-giving culture (贈り物文化, okurimono bunka), and shops — especially department stores — offer beautiful free gift wrapping. There is often a choice of wrapping style and ribbon. Standard phrases:

プレゼント用に包んでいただけますか？purezento you ni tsutsunde itadakemasu kaCould you please gift wrap this?

ギフト包装をお願いします。gifuto houSOU wo onegaishimasuGift wrapping please.

別々に包んでください。betsubetsu ni tsutsunde kudasaiPlease wrap them separately.

一緒に包んでください。issho ni tsutsunde kudasaiPlease wrap them together.

Payment methods: cash, card, IC, and QR

Japan is more cash-reliant than most developed nations, but card acceptance has expanded dramatically, especially in cities. Understanding payment options and the phrases around them is essential:

クレジットカードは使えますか？kurejitto kaado wa tsukaemasu kaCan I use a credit card?

現金でお願いします。genkin de onegaishimasuCash, please.

Suicaで払えますか？suika de haraemasu kaCan I pay with Suica (IC card)?

PayPayは使えますか？peipei wa tsukaemasu kaIs PayPay accepted? (Japan's most popular QR code payment)

一括払いでお願いします。ikkatsu barai de onegaishimasuSingle payment, please (not instalment — ikkatsu means lump sum)

Convenience store (コンビニ) phrases

Convenience stores (7-Eleven, Lawson, FamilyMart) have their own scripted service vocabulary that staff recite to every customer. Recognising it makes the experience far less confusing.

Staff phrase	Meaning	Your response (if needed)
温めますか？	Shall I heat this up? (for food items)	はい、お願いします / いいえ、大丈夫です
お箸はご入用ですか？	Would you like chopsticks?	はい / いいえ
レジ袋はいかがですか？	Would you like a register bag? (paid bag, typically ¥3-10)	お願いします / いりません
ポイントカードはお持ちですか？	Do you have a points card?	はい / ありません
お支払い方法は？	How would you like to pay?	現金で / カードで / ICで
一万円からでよろしいですか？	Is it alright if I start from 10,000 yen? (confirming the note you gave)	はい、どうぞ

Useful counters for shopping

Japanese uses special counting words (助数詞, josuushi) depending on what you are counting. In shopping contexts, these come up constantly:

Counter	Used for	Example
〜個 (こ)	Small round objects, general items	りんご三個 — 3 apples
〜枚 (まい)	Flat things: shirts, plates, paper, cards	Tシャツ二枚 — 2 T-shirts
〜本 (ほん)	Long thin objects: bottles, pens, umbrellas	ビール一本 — 1 bottle of beer
〜足 (そく)	Pairs of footwear or socks	靴下三足 — 3 pairs of socks
〜着 (ちゃく)	Suits, sets of clothing (formal)	スーツ一着 — 1 suit
〜袋 (ふくろ)	Bags of items	お菓子一袋 — 1 bag of snacks
〜点 (てん)	Items (used in retail contexts: 3 items = 3点)	計三点 — 3 items in total

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Frequently asked questions

Can you bargain in Japanese shops?

Bargaining is not standard practice in most Japanese retail environments — department stores, convenience stores, supermarkets, and chain shops have fixed prices. Exceptions exist at flea markets (フリーマーケット) and some electronics districts. The phrase 少し安くなりますか？ is the most acceptable way to enquire, but expect it to be declined in most cases.

What does いらっしゃいませ mean?

いらっしゃいませ (irasshaimase) is the formal welcome greeting used by staff when a customer enters. It is an honorific form of いる/来る (to be/to come). You do not need to respond — it is a greeting to you, not a question. Simply nodding slightly or saying nothing is completely fine.

How do you ask for a size in Japanese?

To ask if an item comes in a specific size: Sサイズはありますか？ (Do you have size S?) or もう少し大きいサイズはありますか？ (Do you have a slightly larger size?). Japanese clothing uses S/M/L/XL sizing. For shoes, Japan uses centimetre sizing — 24cm = approximately UK 5.5 / US women's 7.

How do you ask for gift wrapping in Japan?

Use プレゼント用に包んでいただけますか？ (Could you please gift wrap this?) or ギフト包装をお願いします (Gift wrapping please). Department stores and most retail shops offer free gift wrapping. You may also be asked お渡し用のご用意でしょうか (Is this a gift?) — answer はい、お願いします.

What payment methods are accepted in Japan?

Cash (現金) is always accepted. Credit cards are widely accepted in cities. IC cards (Suica, ICOCA) are accepted at many convenience stores. QR code payments (PayPay, LINE Pay) have grown rapidly. To ask: クレジットカードは使えますか？ (Can I use a credit card?)