Getting across the city by public transport in Japanese
浅草までどうやって行きますか。
Asakusa made dō yatte ikimasu ka.
“How do I get to Asakusa?”
When: Stopping a passerby or hotel staff
The moment
You are in your Shinjuku hotel lobby with one hour left before Sensoji temple in Asakusa closes for the evening. You have to ask a passerby which train to take, buy the ticket yourself, then check on the platform that you are heading the right way.
A1 · Unit 3 · Getting around · Checkpoint
This is the unit’s checkpoint: one roleplay that puts the unit’s scenes together.
The lines
Which train do I take?
Open with すみません, then ask 「浅草までどうやって行きますか。」 It asks which train or bus gets you there, and any place name slots in front of まで.
浅草までどうやって行きますか。
Asakusa made dō yatte ikimasu ka.
“How do I get to Asakusa?”
When to use it: Stopping a passerby or hotel staff
What you’ll hear back: 地下鉄の銀座線に乗ってください。 chikatetsu no Ginza sen ni notte kudasai. (Take the Ginza subway line.)
Buying it at the window
Same shape every time: destination, まで, then 片道 or 往復: 「浅草まで片道でお願いします。」 If you wanted the return leg too, 往復 would be the other choice.
浅草まで片道でお願いします。
Asakusa made katamichi de onegai shimasu.
“A one-way ticket to Asakusa, please.”
When to use it: At the ticket window or staffed gate
What you’ll hear back: 片道ですね。二百十円です。 katamichi desu ne. nihyaku jū en desu. (One way. That's 210 yen.)
Words for this scene
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| この電車は浅草に行きますか。 | kono densha wa Asakusa ni ikimasu ka | Does this train go to Asakusa? |
すみません、この電車は浅草に行きますか。 Excuse me, does this train go to Asakusa? Tip: Ask the person beside you on the platform; they will point. | ||
| 何番線ですか。 | nanbansen desu ka | Which platform is it? |
浅草行きは何番線ですか。 Which platform is the Asakusa train? Tip: Staff at the gates will walk you over even without English. | ||
| ここで止めてください。 | koko de tomete kudasai | Please stop here. |
運転手さん、ここで止めてください。 Driver, please stop here. Tip: Say it a block early; taxis cannot stop at crossings. | ||
Your objective
Ask a passerby how to get there, buy your ticket, then check with someone on the platform that it’s the right train.
- how to get there
- your ticket
- checking it’s the right train
Lines that get it done
- 浅草までどうやって行きますか。
- 浅草まで片道でお願いします。
- この電車は浅草に行きますか。 · kono densha wa Asakusa ni ikimasu ka · Does this train go to Asakusa?
In the live scene the objective stays on screen, and the Replay afterwards says whether you got it done.
Check yourself
1. At the window you want a ticket to Kamakura and back again tonight. What do you say?
- 鎌倉まで往復でお願いします。
- 鎌倉まで片道でお願いします。
- 鎌倉まで大人二枚お願いします。
- 鎌倉までどうやって行きますか。
Show the answer
鎌倉まで往復でお願いします。
往復 covers there and back; 片道 gets you one way only.
2. You are on the platform and want to be sure this train goes to Asakusa. What do you ask?
- この電車は浅草に行きますか。
- この電車は浅草から来ますか。
- この電車は何時に出ますか。
- この電車は何番線ですか。
Show the answer
この電車は浅草に行きますか。
行きますか asks where the train is heading; 来ますか asks where it came from.
3. You give up on the subway and flag a taxi. How do you ask what the ride will roughly cost?
- だいたいいくらぐらいかかりますか。
- だいたい何分ぐらいかかりますか。
- 領収書をお願いします。
- 次の電車は何時ですか。
Show the answer
だいたいいくらぐらいかかりますか。
いくら asks the fare; 何分 would only tell you how long the ride takes.