The Taxi Ride: Giving Directions in Japanese
Learn essential Japanese phrases for taking a taxi - from telling the driver your destination to giving turn-by-turn directions and paying your fare.
Practice These PhrasesWhat You'll Learn
Taking a taxi in Japan is comfortable and efficient - automatic doors, immaculate interiors, and polite drivers. This lesson teaches you how to tell your driver where to go, give directions along the way, and handle payment confidently.
Key Vocabulary
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ε³ | migi | right |
| ε·¦ | hidari | left |
| γΎγ£γγ | massugu | straight |
| γγ | koko | here |
| ζ’γΎγ | tomaru | to stop |
| ζ²γγ | magaru | to turn |
| ε | saki | ahead/further |
| γγγ | ikura | how much |
Essential Phrases
Telling Your Destination
ζ±δΊ¬γγγ«γΎγ§γι‘γγγΎγγ
Tokyo hoteru made onegaishimasu.
Please take me to Tokyo Hotel.
Giving Directions
γγγε³γ«ζ²γγ£γ¦γγ γγγ
Koko wo migi ni magatte kudasai.
Turn right here, please.
γγγε·¦γ«ζ²γγ£γ¦γγ γγγ
Koko wo hidari ni magatte kudasai.
Turn left here, please.
γΎγ£γγθ‘γ£γ¦γγ γγγ
Massugu itte kudasai.
Go straight, please.
Stopping
γγγ§ζ’γΎγ£γ¦γγ γγγ
Koko de tomatte kudasai.
Please stop here.
γγε°γε γΎγ§γι‘γγγΎγγ
Mou sukoshi saki made onegaishimasu.
A little further, please.
Payment
γγγγ§γγοΌ
Ikura desu ka?
How much is it?
γ―γ¬γΈγγγ«γΌγγ§ζγγΎγγοΌ
Kurejitto kaado de haraemasu ka?
Can I pay by credit card?
δΈδΈεγγγι‘γγγΎγγ
Ichiman en kara onegaishimasu.
From ten thousand yen, please.
Use this when paying with a large bill to let the driver know you need change.
γγγγ¨γγγγγΎγγγ
Arigatou gozaimashita.
Thank you very much.
Cultural Tips
- Automatic doors: Taxi doors open and close automatically - don't try to open them yourself!
- No tipping: Tipping is not customary in Japan and can cause confusion.
- Payment: Many taxis now accept credit cards and IC cards, but cash is still widely used.
- Large bills: Use the phrase δΈδΈεγγ when paying with Β₯10,000 notes.
- Address cards: Having your hotel's business card with the address in Japanese is very helpful.
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