A1 · Unit 3 · Getting around

How to ask for directions in Japanese

Asking where something is

すみません、JR線はどこですか

sumimasen, jeiāru sen wa doko desu ka

“Excuse me, where is the JR line?”

When: Asking station staff

Practice this scene liveFree: 3 sessions a day, 3 minutes each

The moment

You are inside Shinjuku Station in Tokyo and need to ask a staff member where the JR line is.

A1 · Unit 3 · Getting around

The pattern "X wa doko desu ka?" (where is X?) opens every direction question. Add sumimasen first.

すみません、JR線はどこですか

sumimasen, jeiāru sen wa doko desu ka

“Excuse me, where is the JR line?”

When to use it: Asking station staff

What you’ll hear back: まっすぐ行って、右です。 massugu itte, migi desu. (Straight ahead, then right.)

Key words: "massugu" (straight), "migi" (right), "hidari" (left). Repeat them to confirm.

まっすぐで、右ですね

massugu de, migi desu ne

“Straight ahead, then right?”

When to use it: Confirming what you heard

What you’ll hear back: はい、そうです。 hai, sō desu. (Yes, that's right.)

Japanese	Romaji	English
どこですか	doko desu ka	where is it?
トイレはどこですか。 Where is the toilet? Tip: Attach to anything: X wa doko desu ka.
まっすぐ	massugu	straight ahead
まっすぐ行ってください。 Please go straight. Tip: The most common direction word.
右 / 左	migi / hidari	right / left
駅は右です。 The station is on the right. Tip: Migi = right, hidari = left.

Ask how to get where you’re going, then check one detail: which way to turn or how far it is.

Lines that get it done

In the live scene the objective stays on screen, and the Replay afterwards says whether you got it done.