If you are ever lost in Japan, most people will be very helpful. You'll be surprised sometimes that the people you ask for directions will end up showing you the way by actually going with you!
However, if there are not too many people around, or those that you ask are not helpful or do not know the way, your best bet is to find a police offer. Look for the nearest Koban, a small police station where cops usually have nothing to do but to help people to find their way. It's common in Tokyo for the cops to help lost tourists with directions in such a large and busy city.
Police officers don't usually speak English though. However, they have very big maps of all the streets in the neighborhood, so don't hesitate to ask them for your route, as they will still be able to point it out to you on the map.
Useful Phrases
Here are some sentences and useful phrases to help you find your way or ask for directions in the busy streets of Japan:
Where is the Yodobashi camera store ? : « Yodobashi camera ha dochira desu ka »
This way ? That way ? « Kochira desu ka ? Sochira desu ka »
Straight forward : « massugu »
Left : « hidari »
Right : « Migi »
Back : « Ushiro »
Is it still far ? « Mada tooi desu ka »
No, it’s close ! « Chikai desu »
Where is the rest room ? : « Toile ha doko desu ka »
Excuse me, but I’m lost : « Sumimasen, michi ni machigaimashita »
Where am I on this map ? : « Watashi ha, kono chizu no doko ni iru no desu ka »
What is the name of this street ? : « Koko ha nan to iu michi desu ka »
Is there a post office near here ? : « Kono atari ni yubinkokyu ha arimasu ka »
How can I go to the Sakura hotel ? : « Sakura hotel ni ha dou yatte iku’n desu ka »
Turn right at the first traffic light : « Hitotsu me no shingo no tokoro de migi ni magatte kudasai. »
Go straight for 2 traffic lights, then turn on your left, you’ll see the café on your right : « Massugu itte, nibanme no shingo wo hidari ni magaru to migi ni arimasu. »
You need to cross the street : « Michi wo watasanai to »
Cross the street and you’ll see it before the coffe shop : « Michi wo watasu to cofi shop no temae ni arimasu »
How long will it take till the Tokyo tower ? : « Tokyo towa made dono kurai kakarimasu ka »
About five minutes by walking : « Haruite go fun kurai desu »
What is the easiest way ? « Dou ittara ichiban raku desu ka »
What is the quickest way ? « Dou ittara ichiban hayai desu ka »
Where can I find a place to eat ? : « Doko ni tabeya ga arimasu ka »
There is one at this crossroads : « kono kado ni arimu »
You can find one next to the post : « Yubinkokyu no soba ni arimasu »
There is a maid cafe between the koban and the school, on the 3rd floor : « Maid cafe ha, koban to gakkou no aida ni arimasu ; sankai desu »
Where is there a temple : « Jinja ha doko ni arimasu ka »
If you go straight you’ll find one soon : « Massugu itarra sugu arimasu »
Where is the park : « Koen ha dochira desu ka »
A subway map please : « Chikatetsu no chizu wo kudasai »
Where’s the ticket counter ? : « Kippu uriba ha doko desu ka »
How much does it cost to go to shinjuku ? : « Shinjuku made ikura desu ka »
It’s 200 yen : « ni hyaku en desu »
Which train should I take to shinjuku ? : « Shinjuku he ha dono densha ni noreba ii deshou ka »
Where am I supposed to change train ? : « Dono eki de norikaereba ii desu ka »
Where am I supposed to get off for Ogikubo ? : « Ogikubo he iku no ha doko de oritarra ii desu ka »
You can change to the JR Chuo Line at Shinjuku : « Shinjuku de JR no Chuo Sen ni norikaete kudasai »
Where can I catch an express train : « Kyukou ni ha doko de noreru’n desu ka »
Go to track number 2 : « 2 bansen ni itte kudasai »
When is the next one : « Sugi ha nanji desu ka »
There is one every 10 minutes : « Juu pun oki ni kimasu »
Does this train stop at Nagoya ? : « Kono densha ha Nagoya ni tomarimasu ka »
It’s the 4th stop from here : « Koko kara yon ban me no eki desu »
It’s the next stop : « sugi no eki desu »
Where’s the bus stop ? : « Basu noriba ha doko desu ka »
Is this bus go to the airport ? : « Kono basu ha kuukou made ikimasu ka »
Is this seat taken : « Kono seki ha haite imasu ka »
The bus has just left : « Basu ha deta tokoro desu »
