Japanese for Tourists

an audio guide to essential phrases

coaster at a Tōkyō bar, photo by the author

Respect

There are too many videos in the news lately documenting how tourists behave badly in Japan. And no matter the captured actions—sitting on the floor of a train, ringing shrine bells with overly violent enthusiasm, or hounding maiko, the women who work as traditional entertainers in Kyōto’s Gion neighborhood, for photographs—it speaks to a lack of respect for Japanese culture and people. I’m not going to let this newsletter bemoan this, aside from asking anyone who wants to visit Japan and experience its beauties firsthand to refrain from treating the country like one vast amusement park.

As a tourist, therefore, how do you cultivate respect? First of all, you study your destination, hoping to understand things the Japanese people typically consider rude or invasive of their privacy. Although many Japanese people (in major tourist destinations like Tōkyō, Ōsaka, and Kyōto) speak enough English to help you when you need it (and although our phones all have rudimentary translation features available), it’s easier to interact with people if you have even a few phrases in Japanese memorized. And unlike previous newsletters, I (and a special guest) will talk you through it all.