How to Ask for and Understand Directions in Japanese 7 of 10 in
Series: The Essentials of Japanese Words and Phrases for
Traveling Exploring Japan can be quite an adventure, but you
need to know how to ask for directions in Japanese and how to
understand the directions you are given. After all, if you don't
know how to understand what you're told, you might miss the very
things you hoped to see. The first thing you need to know is how
to ask for directions. To get help you can say Sumimasen.
(Excuse me.); or Michi o kiite mo ii desu ka. (May I ask you for
directions?); or Tasukete kudasasimasen ka. (Will you help me?).
The following words can be used when asking for or receiving
directions in Japan. tonari (next to) mae (in front of) michi
(street, road) massugu iku (to go straight) migi ni magaru (to
turn right) kōsaten o hidari ni magaru (to turn left at the
intersection) Be forewarned. It can be very difficult to find
streets and houses based on addresses in Japan. An address is
usually used to indicate th