Taking the Train in Japan
Taking the train · a free Japanese immersion capsule
Useful sentences · 10
Phrases you'll actually use today. Tap Explain for the why behind each one.
駅はどこですか。
Where is the station?
Literal Station (topic) where is?
A simple, essential question using the topic particle は and the question particle か. Use this any time you need directions to a station.
- は (wa) marks 駅 (eki, station) as the topic
- どこ = where
- ですか = polite question ending
東京行きの切符を一枚ください。
One ticket to Tokyo, please.
Literal Tokyo-bound (possessive) ticket (object) one flat-thing please give.
A complete sentence for buying a ticket at the counter or machine. 行き means 'bound for', and 一枚 uses the counter for flat objects like tickets.
- 〜行き (ゆき) = bound for ~, attaches to destination names
- 切符 (きっぷ) = ticket
- 枚 (まい) = counter for flat, thin objects
- ください = please give me
このホームで合っていますか。
Is this the right platform?
Literal This platform at matching/correct is?
合っている (あっている) means 'to be correct or matching'. This is a natural phrase to confirm you are waiting in the right spot before the train arrives.
- この = this (demonstrative modifier)
- ホーム = platform (loanword from English)
- 合っている (あっている) = to be correct/matching
- 〜ていますか = polite question about a current state
次の電車は何時に出発しますか。
What time does the next train depart?
Literal Next train (topic) what time at depart does?
Use this at the information booth or with a fellow passenger. 何時 means 'what time' and に marks the specific time point of the action.
- 次 (つぎ) = next
- 電車 (でんしゃ) = (electric) train
- 何時 (なんじ) = what time
- に = time particle, marks the point in time
- 出発する (しゅっぱつする) = to depart
この席は空いていますか。
Is this seat available?
Literal This seat (topic) empty/open is?
空いている (あいている) describes a state of being empty or unoccupied. This is the go-to phrase on crowded rush-hour trains before sitting down.
- 席 (せき) = seat
- 空いている (あいている) = is empty/available (stative form of 空く)
- 〜ていますか = polite question about a present state
すみません、この電車は新宿駅に止まりますか。
Excuse me, does this train stop at Shinjuku Station?
Literal Excuse me, this train (topic) Shinjuku Station at stop does?
すみません grabs someone's attention politely. 止まる (とまる) means 'to stop', and に marks the station as the destination of that stopping action.
- すみません = excuse me (polite attention-getter)
- 〜に止まる (とまる) = to stop at ~
- に marks the location/destination of the stopping action
改札口はどちらですか。
Which way is the ticket gate?
Literal Ticket gate (topic) which direction is?
どちら is the polite equivalent of どっち (which direction). 改札口 is the gate where you tap your IC card or insert your paper ticket to enter or exit the station.
- 改札口 (かいさつぐち) = ticket gate/turnstile
- どちら = which direction (polite; どっち is more casual)
- ですか = polite question ending
終電は何時ですか。
What time is the last train?
Literal Last train (topic) what time is?
終電 (しゅうでん) literally means 'the final electric train'. Knowing this time is critical when traveling late at night in Japan, as trains stop running by midnight in many cities.
- 終電 (しゅうでん) = last train of the day
- 何時 (なんじ) = what time
- ですか = polite question
どこで乗り換えますか。
Where do I transfer?
Literal Where (at) transfer?
乗り換える (のりかえる) is the verb meaning 'to change trains.' で marks the location where an action takes place, so どこで means 'at what place.' Using the verb form directly is more natural than topicalizing the noun 乗り換え with する.
- 乗り換える (のりかえる) = to transfer / change trains — verb form
- どこで = where (at) — で marks the location of an action
- 乗り換えます = polite non-past form of 乗り換える
ご乗車ありがとうございます。
Thank you for riding with us.
Literal Honorable boarding, we have great thanks.
This formal phrase is heard in train announcements across Japan. The honorific prefix ご〜 elevates the tone, and ありがとうございます is the most formal expression of thanks.
- ご〜 = honorific prefix used in formal/polite speech
- 乗車 (じょうしゃ) = boarding or riding a vehicle
- ありがとうございます = thank you (formal)
New words · 10
Themed vocabulary, each with an example you can borrow.
駅
station
駅はどこですか。
Where is the station?
Read as えき (eki). Combined with place names: 東京駅 = Tokyo Station.
切符
ticket
切符を一枚ください。
One ticket, please.
Read as きっぷ (kippu). IC cards like Suica and Pasmo are now more common than paper tickets.
ホーム
platform
三番ホームはどちらですか。
Which way is platform three?
Loanword from English 'platform'. 番線 (ばんせん) is an alternative used on signage.
乗り換え
transfer / connection
渋谷で乗り換えます。
I transfer at Shibuya.
Read as のりかえ (norikae). As a verb: 乗り換える (のりかえる).
改札口
ticket gate
改札口を出てください。
Please exit through the ticket gate.
Read as かいさつぐち (kaisatsuguchi). You tap your IC card or insert your ticket here.
出発
departure
電車は七時に出発します。
The train departs at seven o'clock.
Read as しゅっぱつ (shuppatsu). Opposite: 到着 (とうちゃく, arrival).
終電
last train
終電に乗り遅れました。
I missed the last train.
Read as しゅうでん (shuuden). A very common concern for late-night travelers in Japan.
空いている
available / empty / not crowded
この電車は空いています。
This train is not crowded.
Read as あいている (aite iru). Opposite: 混んでいる (こんでいる, crowded).
〜行き
bound for ~ / heading to ~
大阪行きの電車はどれですか。
Which train is bound for Osaka?
Read as 〜ゆき or 〜いき. Attaches to place names. Appears on departure boards and train signs.
すみません
excuse me / I'm sorry
すみません、助けてもらえますか。
Excuse me, could you help me?
Used to get someone's attention politely or offer a mild apology. Indispensable in train stations.
Short reading
A tiny story stitched from today's words. Translation is hidden, tap to peek.
ケンジは初めて東京の地下鉄に乗った。改札口でICカードをタッチして、案内板で次の電車を確認した。ホームに着くと、隣に座っている人に「この席は空いていますか」と聞いた。電車が動き始めると、車内アナウンスが「次は新宿、新宿です」と告げた。新宿駅で乗り換えるために、彼は駅員に「乗り換えはどちらですか」と丁寧に聞いた。
Sentence by sentence
ケンジは初めて東京の地下鉄に乗った。
Kenji rode the Tokyo subway for the first time.
初めて (はじめて) = for the first time. 地下鉄 (ちかてつ) = subway. 〜に乗った = rode (past tense of 乗る, to ride/board).
改札口でICカードをタッチして、案内板で次の電車を確認した。
He tapped his IC card at the ticket gate and checked the departure board for the next train.
〜して connects two sequential actions. 案内板 (あんないばん) = information/departure board. 確認した (かくにんした) = confirmed/checked (past tense).
ホームに着くと、隣に座っている人に「この席は空いていますか」と聞いた。
When he reached the platform, he asked the person sitting next to him, 'Is this seat available?'
着くと (つくと) = when (he) arrived. 隣に座っている人 (となりにすわっているひと) = the person sitting next to him. と before 聞いた marks the quoted speech.
電車が動き始めると、車内アナウンスが「次は新宿、新宿です」と告げた。
As the train started moving, the onboard announcement said, 'Next stop is Shinjuku, Shinjuku.'
動き始める (うごきはじめる) = to start moving (始める = to begin). 車内 (しゃない) = inside the train. 告げた (つげた) = announced (past tense of 告げる).
新宿駅で乗り換えるために、彼は駅員に「乗り換えはどちらですか」と丁寧に聞いた。
In order to transfer at Shinjuku Station, he politely asked a station attendant, 'Which way is the transfer?'
〜ために = in order to (purpose clause). 駅員 (えきいん) = station staff/attendant. 丁寧に (ていねいに) = politely (adverb form of 丁寧な).
Pattern of the day
One grammar move, explained once, that unlocks dozens of sentences.
Polite Requests with 〜てください
To make a polite request in Japanese, take the te-form of a verb and add ください. This is the standard way to ask someone to do something and is appropriate in most public settings, with station staff, fellow passengers, or shop attendants. It is direct but never rude.
[Verb te-form] + ください
切符（きっぷ）を見（み）せてください。
Please show me your ticket.
もう一度（いちど）言（い）ってください。
Please say it one more time.
ここで止（と）まってください。
Please stop here.
窓（まど）を開（あ）けてください。
Please open the window.
Mini practice · 5
Low-pressure, never graded. Just enough to make it stick.
How do you say 'Where is the station?' in Japanese?
Hint Think: 駅 = station, どこ = where
You want one ticket to Tokyo. Complete the sentence: 東京___の切符を一枚ください。
Hint 〜行き means 'bound for' a destination
What does this mean? 「乗り換えはどこでしますか。」
Hint 乗り換え = transfer, どこで = where (at/in), します = do
You want to ask if this seat is free. Which phrase is correct?
Make this sentence more polite using 〜てください: 改札口を教える。
Hint Change 教える to its て-form first: 教えて
That’s today’s phraseberry.
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