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Free guide · 6 min read

Trains & directions

Finding your platform, buying a ticket, and understanding the answer when you ask the way. Japan's trains are superb once you can ask the three or four questions that matter.

You rarely need to understand a long explanation - you need to ask a sharp question and catch a direction word in the reply.

Asking the way

___ wa doko desu ka.
Where is ___?
eki wa doko desu ka.
Where is the station?
chikai desu ka.
Is it close?
Why it works

“[place] は どこですか” is the master key. You'll catch the useful part of the answer - まっすぐ, みぎ, ひだり - even if the rest washes over you.

At the station

___ made no kippu o kudasai.
A ticket to ___, please.
___ yuki wa nanbansen desu ka.
Which platform for the train to ___?
kono densha wa ___ ni tomarimasu ka.
Does this train stop at ___?
Why it works

ゆき (yuki, or いき iki) means “bound for”. Signs read 東京ゆき = “bound for Tokyo”. ばんせん (bansen) = platform number, so なんばんせん = “which platform?”.

Direction words to catch

massugu
straight ahead
migi / hidari
right / left
tsugi / tonari
next / next-door
Why it works

Listen for these as anchors. If you catch つぎ (next) and みぎ (right), “next corner on the right” is enough to get you moving.

These phrases get built into real conversation in the90 day course. The first week needs no account.