When we travel, there are various methods of choosing the accommodation we will stay at. But have you ever been in a situation where you only realized the hotel you just stayed at has this awesome facility, such as a private bath with a great view that you didn’t utilize during your stay because you didn’t recognize the direction signs in the hotel?
To ensure you never get into a situation again, read on and learn some commonly used vocabulary and Japanese phrases before your next Japan trip!
Free or Not?
In Japan, whenever you see 「無料」（muryō), it means that a product or service is free of charge.
This is our favorite Japanese vocabulary (´▽｀*).
The opposite to 「無料」is 「有料」（yūryō). So when you see these two characters, prepare to pay!
Commonly Used Phrases at Hotels
You can interchange the underscored word with any vocabulary suitable for the situation.
- すみません、荷物を預かって貰えますか？Sumimasen、nimotsu wo azukatte moraemasuka？(Excuse me, can I store my luggage here?)
- はい。 お荷物は1件のみでしょうか? Hai。Onimotsu wa ikken nomi deshōka？(Yes, you can. Just one piece of luggage for you?)
Note for this phrase, the staff will replace the number with the actual number of luggage that you hand to them. - そうです。お願いします。Sō desu。onegaishimasu。(Yes, please)
- すみません、エレベーターはどこですか？ Sumimasen, elebētā wa doko desuka? (Excuse me, where is the elevator/lift?)
- すみません、空港シャトルを予約したいです。Sumimasen, kūkōshatoru wo yoyaku shitai desu. (Excuse me, I want to make a booking for the airport shuttle bus.)
- すみません、コインランドリーの使い方を教えてもらえませんか？
Sumimasen, coin laundry no tsukaikata wo oshiete moraemasenka? (Excuse me, could you please teach me how to use the washing machine) - ルームキーを使っても部屋が開かないです。ルームキーを再発行してもらえませんか？
Room key wo tsukattemo heya ga akanaidesu. Room key wo sai hakkō shite moraemasenka? (My room’s keycard isn’t working. Could you please give me another one?) - XXXに行きたいので、タクシーを呼んでもらえませんか？
xxx ni ikitainode, taxi wo yonde moraemasenka? (I want to go to xxx, could you please get me a taxi.) - このQRコードをプリントアウトして貰ってもいいですか？
Kono QR code wo print out shite morattemo iidesuka? (Could you please print this QR code for me.) - 空港までのバスチッケトを買いたいですが、手伝ってもいいですか？
Kūkō made no bus ticket wo kaitaidesuga, tetsudatte mo iidesu ka? (I want to purchase a bus ticket to the airport. Could you please help me.) - リムジンバス停はどこですか？
Limousine bus tei wa dokodesu ka? (Where is the limousine bus stop?) - 荷物を3時までに預かってもいいですか？
Nimotsu wo sanji made ni azukatte mo iidesu ka? (Could you keep my luggage until 3 pm?)
Different Types of Common Facilities
Please note that in Japanese, “R” is pronounced as “L” (‘ω’)ノ
| Japanese | Japanese Pronunciation | English |
| ロビー | robī | Lobby |
| フロント | furonto | Reception/Concierge |
| インフォメーションカウンター | infomēshon-kauntā | Information Counter |
| エレベーター | elebētā | Lift/elevator |
| トイレ | toire | Toilet |
| 客室 | kyakushitsu | Guestrooms |
| レストラン | resutoran | Restaurant |
| カフェ | kafe | Café |
| 宴会場 | enkaijō | Banquet room |
| バー | bā | Bar |
| フィットネスセンター | fittonesu-sentā | Gym/Fitness center |
| プール／室内プール | pūru／shitsunai-pūru | Swimming pool |
| スパ | supa | Spa |
| 喫煙コーナー | kitsuen-kōnā | Smoking area |
| ショップ | shoppu | Shops |
| 理容室／美容室 | riyōshitsu／biyōshitsu | Hair dresser/barber shop |
| 大浴場 | daiyokujō | Public bath |
| 露天風呂 | rotenburo | Outdoor bath |
| サウナ | sauna | Sauna |
| マッサージ | masāji | Massage |
| ビジネスセンター | bijinesu-sentā | Business center |
| FAX／コピー | fakkusu／copī | Fax/Copy |
| 会議室／ミーティングルーム | kaigishitsu／mītingu-rūmū | Meeting room |
Self-Service Facilities
| Japanese | Japanese Pronunciation | English |
| 自販機（ドリンク類） | jihanki（dorinkurui） | Vending machine (drinks) |
| 自販機（スナック類） | jihanki（sunakkurui） | Vending machine (snacks) |
| コインランドリールーム | koinrandorī-rūmu | Coin laundry room |
| 共用トイレ | kyōyō-toire | Public toilet |
| 共用キッチン | kyōyō-kicchin | Communal kitchen |
| 電子レンジ | denshirenji | Microwave |
| コーヒーメーカー | kōhīmēkā | Coffee maker |
Transportation
| Japanese | Japanese Pronunciation | English |
| シャトルバス | shatorubasu | Shuttle bus |
| 空港シャトル | kūkōshatoru | Airport shuttle bus |
| バス乗り場 | basunoriba | Bus stop |
| 駐車場あり／なし | chūshajō ari／nashi | There is a car park/there isn’t a car park |
| 自転車レンタル | jitensha-rentaru | Bike rental |
| レンタカー | rentakā | Car rental |
Common Free Services
If you stay at the same hotel for more than one day, your bedsheets/towels…etc will usually be replaced. If you don’t require this service and want to be more eco-friendly, then please put out the 「清掃不要 (seisō fuyō)」or 「起こさないでください (okosanaide kudasai)」plate out at the doorknob to notify the cleaning staff.
| Japanese | Japanese Pronunciation | English |
| 荷物預かり | nimotsu-azukari | Luggage storage |
| 客室清掃サービス | kyakushitsu-seisō-sābisu | Room cleaning |
| 外貨両替 | gaikaryōgae | Currency exchange |
| 24時間対応フロント | nijūyojikantaiō-furonto | 24 hours concierge |
| モーニングコールサービス | mōningukōru-sābisu | Morning call service |
| Wi-Fiサービス | waifai-sābisu | Wifi service |
Common Paid Service
| Japanese | Japanese Pronunciation | English |
| ケーブルチャンネル | kēburuchanneru | Cable channel |
| テレビカード | terebikādo | TV card for TV channel |
| ランドリー | randorī | Laundry |
| ドライクリーニング | doraikurīningu | Dry cleaning |
| ルームサービス | rūmusābisu | Room service |
And if You Just Can’t Understand what the Other Party is Saying
すみません、日本語があまりできないので、英語で大丈夫ですか？
Japanese Pronunciation: Sumimasen, nihongo ga amari dekinainode, eigo demo daijyōbu desuka?
English: Sorry, I don’t really speak Japanese. Can you say it in English?
Find Out Some Useful Phrases that You Can Use in Restaurants in Japan
In addition to the phrases that you can use in accommodations in Japan that we have introduced above, how about learning some useful terms and sentences that you might find handy when you visit restaurants in Japan?
To find out the phrases useful when you dine in Japan, refer to our Essential Japanese Travel Phrases for Vegetarians and Vegans article!
Very helpful post, will visit again in the comments Ming months as I plan for my spring trip to Japan. Where and What is the best time to go, if possible where and when it is less crowded but when the spring flowers are in bloom?
Hi Judy,
Can I please clarify by spring flowers, do you mean the cherry blossoms?
Kind regards,
Lily