Trains are probably going to be your most common method of travel in Japan. They go everywhere in Japan, especially if you count the shinkansen bullet train and chikatetsu subway.
Besides things using these words, you may also hear other Japanese phrases pretty often. Japanese train stations have electronic ticket kiosks where you can buy a one time ticket or add money to your IC card. Mine cost like yen to get, and it was way easier to put all my train money on it and not worry about buying tickets all the time. Plus, they work on buses too. It will have all the stations mapped out, with a price next to each one. The amount you need for your ticket will be the amount next to the station you want to go to.
With your ticket, you can pass through the gate onto the platform. Platforms are labeled by which direction the train is going and which line. So make sure you pay attention to that. At big stations, they might have someone who speaks English. I even had one go and print an entire itinerary out for me when I missed a transfer. This is more true in large, busy stations.
When the trains arrive, people will move to the side to let off other passengers before trying to get on. Another interesting thing that you might not be used to is escalator etiquette. In most places in Japan, people will stand on the left side of the escalator so others can walk up the right.
In Osaka, because Osaka will always be different, people stand on the right and walk up the left. When you are on the train, you might notice that it is surprisingly quiet. This is one of those things you get used to pretty quickly. Foreigners traveling to Japan should also be aware of Women Only cars on trains.
As a woman, I liked these separated cars a lot, and I almost always took one when I had the chance. Most train behavior can be picked up pretty easily just by being aware. However, part of learning a language is learning a culture, and being able to function in a way that helps the people around you feel comfortable. Trains were, and still are, one of my favorite modes of transportation, and one of the great things about Japan is how easily you can get around.
Buses and trains tend to be really similar in Japan. With a bus you can either get a pass or just pay when you get off. But a lot of the words and Japanese phrases will probably be pretty similar. The biggest thing with telling your taxi driver where to go is knowing how to give directions.
Taxi drivers will also speak really politely, so just be prepared for that if they ask you for clarification on something. As far as etiquette goes, riding in a Japanese taxi is pretty much the same as riding in a taxi anywhere else.
Fancy taxis. In Japan, traveling can be so easy thanks to public transportation. Learn Japanese online with BondLingo? Want to learn more about Japanese language and cultures with Japanese teacher for free? Press ESC to close. Share Article: Tags: japan travel Japanese common phrases Japanese language japanese phrases trip in japan useful phrases.