Essential Japanese Phrases for Airports | Travel with Confidence in Japan
Whether you are traveling to Japan or flying abroad, knowing essential Japanese phrases can make your airport experience smoother and stress-free. This page provides useful expressions for check-in, security checks, boarding, immigration, and customs. With pronunciation guides and English translations, you can quickly learn and use these phrases in real situations.
Key takeaways
At the airport, you will encounter various situations such as check-in, security checks, boarding, immigration, and customs. This page introduces essential Japanese phrases for each scenario and provides practical tips to help you communicate smoothly. By learning these expressions in advance, you can navigate the airport with confidence and enjoy a stress-free travel experience.
- Essential Japanese phrases for airport situations (check-in, security, boarding, immigration, customs, etc.)
- Tips for smoother communication (common words and useful expressions)
- Emergency phrases for unexpected situations (trouble-solving expressions)
Basic Phrases
| こんにちは。 Konnichiwa. |
Hello. |
| ありがとうございます。 Arigatou gozaimasu. |
Thank you. |
| すみません。 Sumimasen. |
Excuse me. / Sorry. |
| トイレはどこですか？ Toile wa doko desu ka? |
Where is the restroom? |
| 英語を話せますか？ Eigo o hanasemasu ka? |
Can you speak English? |
“すみません (sumimasen)” is a versatile phrase that can be used for both apologizing and getting someone’s attention.
Check-in
| チェックインをお願いします。 Chekku in o onegai shimasu. |
I’d like to check in. |
| こちらがパスポートです。 Kochira ga pasupōto desu. |
Here is my passport. |
| 窓側の席をお願いします。 Mado gawa no seki wo onegai shimasu. |
I’d like a window seat, please. |
| 通路側の席はありますか？ Tsuuro gawa no seki wa arimasuka? |
Do you have an aisle seat available? |
| 搭乗は何時から始まりますか？ Toujyou wa nanji kara hajimarimasuka? |
What time does boarding start? |
“〜をお願いします (〜wo onegai shimasu)” is a useful way to make polite requests.
Baggage Check-in
| このバッグを預けたいです。 Kono bagu wo azuketai desu. |
I would like to check this bag. |
| 預ける荷物は2つです。 Azukeru nimotsu wa futatsu desu. |
I have two pieces of baggage to check. |
| 機内持ち込みのバッグがあります。 Kinai mochikomi no bagu ga arimasu. |
I have a carry-on bag. |
| 荷物は自分で詰めました。 Nimotsu wa jibun de tsumemashita. |
I packed luggage myself. |
Learn the phrases for declaring hand-carry baggage, checked baggage and and to tell the number of pieces!.
Lost Baggage
| 荷物が見つかりません。 Nimotsu ga mitsukarimasen. |
I can’t find my luggage. |
| 荷物がまだ出てきません。 Nimotsu ga mada detekimasen. |
My luggage hasn’t come out yet. |
| 荷物が破損していました。 Nimotsu ga hason shiteimashita. |
My luggage has got damaged. |
| 私のフライト番号はJAL535です。 Watashi no flgiht bankou wa JAL gou-san-go desu. |
My flight number is JAL535. |
“〜が見つかりません (〜ga mitsukarimasen)” is used when something is lost or missing..
Security Check
| ポケットの中のものを出してください。 Poketto no naka no mono o dashite kudasai. |
Please take out the items from your pockets. |
| 上着を脱いでください。 Uwagi wo nuide kudasai. |
Please take off your jacket. |
| ベルトを外してください。 Beruto wo hazushite kudasai. |
Please remove your belt. |
Security staff often give instructions, so familiarize yourself with “ください (kudasai),” which is used to make polite requests.
Boarding
| これが私の搭乗券です。 Kore ga watashi no toujyou desu. |
This is my boarding pass. |
| 搭乗ゲートはどこですか？ Toujyou Gēto wa doko desu ka? |
Where is the boarding gate? |
| 何時に搭乗が始まりますか？ Nanji ni toujyou ga hajimarimasu ka? |
What time does boarding start? |
| 今、搭乗できますか？ Ima toujyou dekimasuka? |
May I board now? |
The phrase “〜はどこですか？ (〜wa doko desu ka?)” is useful for asking directions.
Immigration
| （旅行の目的は）観光です。 (Tokou no mokiteki wa)Kankou desu. |
(The purpose of the trip is) sightseeing. |
| 仕事で来ました。 Shigoto de kimashita. |
I’m here for work. |
| （この国を）訪れるのは初めてです。 (Kono kuni wo) otozurerunowa hajimete desu. |
This is my first visit to this country. |
| 1週間滞在します。 Isshuukan taizai shimasu. |
I will stay for one week. |
| ホテルに滞在します。 Hotel ni taizai shimasu. |
I will stay at a hotel. |
| 家族と一緒に旅行しています。 Kazoku to issho ni ryokou shiteimasu. |
I’m traveling with my family. |
Immigration officers often ask about your purpose of visit and length of stay, so prepare your answers in advance.
Customs
| 申告するものはありません。 Shinkoku suru mono wa arimasen. |
I have nothing to declare. |
| これはお土産です。 Kore wa omiyage desu. |
This is a souvenir. |
| 身の回りのものがあります。 Minomawari no mono ga arimasu. |
There are my personal belongings. |
| いくらまで免税ですか？ Ikura made menzei desu ka? |
How much is duty-free? |
Tip: The phrase “申告するものはありません (Shinkoku suru mono wa arimasen)” is commonly used at customs to indicate you have nothing to declare.
Useful Airport Words
| 搭乗券 Toujyou ken |
Boarding pass |
| 手荷物 Tenimotsu |
Carry-on baggage |
| 預け荷物 Azuke nimotsu |
Checked baggage |
| 出発ゲート Shuppatsu gēto |
Departure gate |
| 到着ロビー Touchaku robī |
Arrival lobby |
Learning these words will help you understand airport signs more easily.
In this guide, we introduced essential Japanese phrases for different airport situations. Phrases like “〜はどこですか？ (Where is ~?)” and “〜をお願いします (Please ~)” are especially useful for smooth communication. By practicing these expressions in advance, you can feel more confident navigating the airport and enjoy a stress-free travel experience in Japan!
