Speak or show your screen. Filter by situation (restaurants, food allergies & dietary cards, train stations, hotels, shopping, emergencies), tap Speak (日本語) to play pronunciation via your browser's Japanese voice, or tap Show to Staff for a large fullscreen card that staff can read at a glance.
Tips for communicating in Japan
- Start with "Sumimasen" (すみません): it means both "excuse me" and "sorry," and is how you politely get a server's or station attendant's attention.
- Pointing beats guessing: for food allergies or vegetarian/vegan requests, showing written Japanese characters is much safer than speaking romaji, especially regarding hidden dashi (fish stock). Read our vegetarian, vegan & allergies guide.
- Numbers & counters: holding up fingers (1, 2, 3) when entering a restaurant immediately tells the host how many people are in your party.
Essential Survival Japanese Phrase & Dietary Card Reference Table
| Situation | English Meaning | Japanese (Show to Staff) | Pronunciation (Romaji) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polite Basics | Excuse me / Sorry (to get attention) | すみません | Su-mi-ma-sen |
| Polite Basics | Thank you very much | ありがとうございます | A-ri-ga-tō go-zai-ma-su |
| Dining | Table for two, please | 二人です | Fu-ta-ri de-su |
| Dining | Do you have an English menu? | 英語のメニューはありますか？ | Ei-go no me-nyū wa a-ri-ma-su ka? |
| Dining | Check / bill, please | お会計をお願いします | O-kai-kei o o-ne-gai shi-ma-su |
| Dietary / Allergy | I am vegetarian (including no fish stock/dashi) | 私はベジタリアンです。肉・魚・魚介類・かつお出汁は食べられません。 | Wa-ta-shi wa be-ji-ta-ri-an de-su (niku, sakana, dashi NG) |
| Dietary / Allergy | I have a severe wheat / gluten allergy | 小麦アレルギーがあります（醤油・小麦粉も含む）。 | Ko-mu-gi a-re-ru-gī ga a-ri-ma-su |
| Transit | Where is the ticket gate / platform for…? | …行きの乗り場はどこですか？ | …-yu-ki no no-ri-ba wa do-ko de-su ka? |
| Hotels | Can you hold my luggage before check-in? | チェックイン前に荷物を預かってもらえますか？ | Chek-ku-in mae ni ni-mo-tsu o a-zu-kat-te mo-ra-e-ma-su ka? |
Frequently asked questions
How much English is spoken in Japan, and which 5 Japanese phrases are most useful?
In major train stations, airports, and hotels across Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka, signage is bilingual and staff speak functional travel English, while smaller restaurants and rural towns rely more on Japanese. Mastering five phrases—Sumimasen (Excuse me / sorry), Arigatou gozaimasu (Thank you), Kudasai (Please give me...), O-kaikei onegaishimasu (Check, please), and Eigo no menyu wa arimasu ka? (Do you have an English menu?)—covers 90% of daily interactions.
How can I safely explain severe food allergies, celiac disease, or vegan/vegetarian diets at Japanese restaurants?
Even dishes that look vegetable-based in Japan (such as miso soup, cold soba dipping sauce, udon broth, and agedashi tofu) almost always contain fish-based dashi stock (bonito flakes) and soy sauce containing wheat. Always show a written Japanese allergy/dietary card clearly listing hidden ingredients (katsuobushi, dashi, shoyu, mirin, pork gelatin) to the server before ordering.
How do you politely ask for the bill or get a server's attention at an izakaya or restaurant?
In casual restaurants and izakaya, press the small call button on the table or raise your hand slightly and say 'Sumimasen!' to order. When finished, say 'O-kaikei onegaishimasu' (or cross your two index fingers in a small 'X' gesture); in most Japanese restaurants you take the table slip to the cash register near the exit to pay rather than paying at the table.
What do the convenience store cashier questions mean when buying food at 7-Eleven, Lawson, or FamilyMart?
Cashiers typically ask three quick questions: 'Atatamemasu ka?' (Would you like this heated up? — reply 'Onegaishimasu' for yes or 'Daijobu desu' for no), 'Ohashi / foku watsukemasu ka?' (Do you want chopsticks or a fork?), and 'Fukuro wa irimasu ka?' (Do you need a plastic bag, usually ¥3–¥5?).