55 Japanese Phrases Shop, Hotel, and Station Staff Say to You (and How to Reply)

💡 Probably the phrase you will hear most. Staff say it before checking stock, calling a manager, or running to the back. Just wait; a nod or "hai" is enough.

💡 A very polite "got it" used by staff after you order or ask for something. It means your request went through. You don't need to reply. Customers don't say it back; it would sound like you are the one taking the order.

💡 A formal cousin of sumimasen. Staff use it before asking you to do something, or to thank you when you hand over exact change. It is simply politeness, not a sign that something is wrong.

💡 Said when your food arrives or when it is finally your turn, even if you only waited ten seconds. It works more like "here you go" than a real apology. A nod or "arigato gozaimasu" is a fine reply.

💡 Staff use this pattern to confirm almost anything: a price, a seat, a size, an order. Answer "hai" if it's right. If it isn't, say "iie" and point or explain.

💡 Asked at nearly every chain store and convenience store. Most visitors don't have one, so just say "nai desu" or "daijobu desu," or shake your head a little. Some stores will offer to make one for you.

💡 Some staff say "reshito wa irimasu ka" instead. "Hai, onegaishimasu" means yes; "daijobu desu" means no. Keep receipts if you plan to track spending or return something.

💡 Often shortened to "oshiharai wa?" Answer with "genkin de" (cash), "kado de" (card), or the name of the IC card or app you use. Showing your card is also fine.

💡 Japanese credit cards can be split into installments at the register, so staff sometimes check. With a foreign card the answer is almost always "hai." It does not mean anything is wrong with your card.

💡 Staff repeat the amount you handed over so both sides agree on it before change is given. No reply is needed. Many shops ask you to put money in a small tray rather than hand it over directly.

💡 Bills are often counted out in front of you, then coins and the receipt follow. Take it and nod. There is no tipping in Japan, so do not leave the change behind.

💡 A standard goodbye as you leave a shop or restaurant. You can walk out without a word, but a quick "gochisosama deshita" at a restaurant or "arigato" at a shop is a nice touch.

💡 If you are ready, just point and say "kore o onegaishimasu." If not, "mo sukoshi matte kudasai" (a little more time, please) is fine. At many restaurants staff will not come back until you call them or press the bell.

💡 Staff ask this before clearing an empty plate or glass. Say "hai" or "onegaishimasu" if you are done. If you are still eating, "mada desu" (not yet) works.

💡 At izakaya and many restaurants, drinks are ordered first, before food. Answer with the drink plus "onegaishimasu," for example "nama biru, onegaishimasu" (a draft beer, please).

💡 Usually about 30 minutes before closing, though it varies by restaurant. Order anything else now, or say "daijobu desu" if you are finished. Last order does not mean you have to leave right away.

💡 Here "tadaima" means "at the moment," not "I'm home." You can ask "dono kurai machimasu ka" (about how long is the wait?) or just thank them and try another place.

💡 Staff may then ask you to write your name on a list or take a ticket. Say "daijobu desu" or "machimasu" (I'll wait) if you are happy to wait, or thank them and leave.

💡 A seating question at restaurants that still have smoking areas. Say "suimasen" (I don't smoke) for a non-smoking seat. Indoor smoking rules became much stricter in 2020, so you will hear this less than before. Note that "suimasen" here is "don't smoke," not "sorry."

💡 A platform announcement before a train arrives. Many stations now say "kiiroi sen" (the yellow line), meaning the raised tactile strip. Step back from the edge; no reply needed.

💡 "Mamonaku" (soon) is the key word in station and train announcements. On a train, "mamonaku" plus a station name means your stop is next, so get ready.

💡 Heard just before a train departs, often with a chime or melody. If you are not already aboard, wait for the next train; they tend to come often in big cities.

💡 The opening line of many on-board announcements, followed by the destination and next stop. Listen for the part after it: the train's destination ("...-yuki") and the next station.

💡 You will hear it on trains, escalators, and at the entrance of old buildings or ryokan with a raised step. Just take care; no reply needed.

💡 Hotel and ryokan staff say this when you head out for the day. A simple "itte kimasu" (I'm off) back is charming, but "arigato" or a nod is fine too.

💡 A formal thank-you at the end of a visit, tour, or show. "Honjitsu" is the formal word for "today." You can answer "arigato gozaimashita" back.

💡 Staff say it when entering a private room, reaching across your table, or ending a phone call. It is the more formal form of "shitsurei shimasu." No reply needed.

💡 In many restaurants you wait to be seated rather than choosing a table yourself. Just follow the staff member. "Goannai" (guidance) also appears on signs pointing to reception.

💡 Usually said with an open-palm gesture toward where you should go. Just follow along. In the Japanese spelling, the particle e is written with the kana for "he."

💡 Hotels often store luggage before check-in or after check-out. Say "hai, onegaishimasu" and take the claim tag if you are given one.

💡 Say your family name, perhaps slowly or spelled out, or show the booking on your phone. Non-Japanese names can be hard to catch, so a screen is often quickest.

💡 Eating alone is completely normal in Japan, and many ramen shops and bars are built for it. Just say "hai" or hold up one finger. "Ohitori-sama" is also a word for doing things solo.

💡 Counter seats are common and often the best spot to watch the cooking. "Hai, daijobu desu" means yes. If you prefer to wait for a table, say "teburu ga ii desu."

💡 At busy lunch spots and food courts, strangers may be seated at the same table. People usually just eat quietly without chatting. You can say "hai" or politely decline and wait.

💡 In many Japanese restaurants you don't pay at the table. Take the slip left on your table to the register by the door. At some places you pay at a machine instead.

💡 Asked when a group comes to pay. "Hai" means one bill. If you want to pay separately, say "betsubetsu de onegaishimasu." Some busy places prefer one bill, so it is kind to ask early.

💡 When you buy alcohol or cigarettes at a convenience store or supermarket, you are often asked to tap a button on a small screen to confirm you are 20 or older. Just tap it. Some stores may also ask for ID.

💡 If you buy something without a bag, staff often put a strip of store tape on it to show it has been paid for. Say "hai." Plastic bags cost a few yen in Japan, so many people skip them.

💡 Department stores and sweet shops ask this to decide how to wrap. Say "jitaku-yo desu" (for myself) for simple packing, or "purezento desu" for gift wrapping, which is often free.

💡 Staff will head to the back and return. Wait nearby. "Onegaishimasu" is a good reply.

💡 "Ainiku" (unfortunately) is a soft word staff use before bad news. You can say "wakarimashita" (I see) or ask "hoka ni arimasu ka" (do you have something else?).

💡 A clerk's way of offering help. If you just want to browse, "miteru dake desu" (just looking) with a smile is completely fine. If you need something, name it or show a photo.

💡 Said after your food is served or when you are shown to your room. It is a friendly send-off rather than a question. A nod is plenty.

💡 Heard when sizzling plates, hot pots, or hot towels arrive. Take it literally: the plate really is hot. No reply needed.

💡 Asked at the end of an order. "Hai" means that's all. If you want to add something, say "a, mo hitotsu" (oh, one more) and point.

💡 Staff read back what you ordered. Nod along, and say "hai" at the end if it is right. Numbers are often said with "o-" in front, like "ohitotsu" (one).

💡 The fast-food and bakery question. Answer "hai" or "koko de" to eat in, or "mochikaeri de" to take away. The price can differ slightly because of different tax rates for eating in and taking out.

💡 A frequent warning at busy stations. Dashing through closing doors can delay the whole line, and the next train is usually only a few minutes away in cities.

💡 An announcement near the end of a train or bus ride. Check the overhead rack and your seat. Lost items in Japan are often turned in, so if you do leave something, ask station staff.

💡 "Okure" means delay and "daiya" means the timetable. Listen for "unten miawase" too, which means service is suspended. Staff can give you a delay certificate (chien shomeisho) if you need proof for work or school.

💡 Hotels are generally required to check passports of foreign guests without an address in Japan, and tax-free shopping also needs one. "Haiken" is a humble word for "look." Just hand it over.

💡 Heard at hotel check-in and on various forms. You can write in English. If a field is confusing, point and ask "kore wa nan desu ka?"

💡 "Goenryo kudasai" sounds soft but means "please don't." You will see it on signs at temples, museums, and shops. Put the camera away and say "sumimasen."

💡 Many restaurants hand you a wet towel, hot in winter and sometimes cold in summer, to wipe your hands before eating. Take it with a nod. It is meant for your hands, though you may see some people wipe their face too.

💡 At many izakaya a small dish arrives that you didn't order. It usually comes with a per-person charge on the bill, a bit like a cover charge. It is normal, not a trick; practices vary by place.