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Japanese Direction Words: Essential Navigation Vocabulary for Asking Directions in Japanese

Last updated: January 2, 2026

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Getting lost in Tokyo at 2 AM with a dead phone battery is a special kind of panic. I learned this the hard way during my first trip to Japan in 2023. But if you're unfamiliar with Japanese, what will happen if you get lost, or your phone dies? That's where learning Japanese direction words becomes genuinely useful when learning Japanese. This vocabulary goes beyond basic Japanese phrases you'd find in a phrasebook. We're talking about the actual words and grammar structures Japanese people use when giving directions on the street, at train stations, or anywhere you might need to navigate.

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Essential Japanese direction words you need to know

Let's start with the fundamental direction vocabulary. These are the words you'll hear constantly when asking for directions in Japanese or trying to follow a map.

Cardinal directions

The cardinal directions in Japanese follow a logical pattern based on Chinese characters:

  1. means north. You'll see this on signs at train stations and street markers throughout Japan.
  2. means south. Tokyo's Minami-Senju station literally means "South Senju."
  3. means east. Tokyo itself is written as , which translates to "Eastern Capital."
  4. means west. Nishi-Shinjuku refers to the western side of Shinjuku.

These cardinal direction words often combine with place names to indicate specific areas or districts. When someone tells you to head , they're saying to go northward.

Basic left and right

  1. means left. This is probably the most important direction word you'll use.
  2. means right. Equally critical for navigation.

Here's the thing about left and right in Japanese: they're super straightforward. No weird grammar tricks or exceptions. When someone says , they're asking you to turn right.

Positional direction words

  1. means front or in front of. You'll use this constantly. means "in front of the station."
  2. means behind or back. means "behind the convenience store."
  3. means next to or beside. means "next to the bank."
  4. means inside. means "inside the building."
  5. means outside. Pretty self-explanatory.
  6. means between. means "between the two buildings."
  7. means across from or opposite. means "across from the station."

These positional words combine with the particle "no" (の) to create location phrases.

The pattern goes: landmark + no + position word.

Advanced direction vocabulary

Once you've mastered the basics, these additional words will help you understand more complex directions.

  1. means corner. means "turn right at the next corner."
  2. means dead end or end of the street. means "turn left at the end of the street."
  3. means going up or uphill. means uphill slope.
  4. means going down or downhill. means downhill slope.
  5. means stairs. means "go up the stairs."
  6. means elevator. Borrowed from English.
  7. means escalator. Also borrowed from English.
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Movement verbs for giving directions

Direction words alone won't help you navigate. You need verbs that describe movement and action.

  1. means to go. This is your basic movement verb. means "go straight."
  2. means to turn. Combined with left or right: means "turn left."
  3. means to walk. means "walk for five minutes."
  4. means to cross. means "cross the crosswalk."
  5. means to go back or return. Useful when you've gone too far.
  6. means to pass by or go past. means "pass the convenience store."
  7. means to arrive. means "arrive at the station."

The polite forms of these verbs add : ikimasu, magarimasu, arukimasu. When giving directions, Japanese people typically use the te-form plus to make polite requests.

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Distance and time vocabulary

When giving directions in Japanese, people often include distance or time estimates.

  1. means close or near.
  2. means far.
  3. means "five minutes on foot." You can substitute any number here.
  4. means "100 meters." Japan uses the metric system exclusively.
  5. means "right there" or "just over there." This means it's very close.
  6. means "a little" or "a bit." means "It's a bit far."
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Landmarks and reference points

Japanese directions rely heavily on landmarks. Street names barely exist in most Japanese cities, so people reference buildings, stores, and other visible markers.

  1. means traffic light. means "turn right at the traffic light."
  2. means intersection. Major navigation points.
  3. means bridge. Common reference point in cities with rivers.
  4. means park. Easy to spot and remember.
  5. means convenience store. They're everywhere in Japan, making them perfect landmarks.
  6. means station. Train stations serve as major reference points.
  7. means post office. Distinctive red logo makes them easy to identify.
  8. means bank. Often located at major intersections.
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Common Japanese phrases for asking directions

Do you know how to express positions in Japanese through directions? Let me show you the actual phrases people use in real conversations.

Starting the conversation

  1. means excuse me . Always start with this. Japanese people appreciate politeness.
  2. means "I have a quick question." This softens your request nicely.
  3. means "I got lost." The "shimaimashita" adds a sense of accidentally ending up in this situation.

The actual question

  1. ？ means "Where is (place)?" This is your basic question format. Example:
    ？
    Where is Tokyo Station?
  2. means "I want to go to (place)." This works when you need directions to get somewhere specific.
  3. means "Please tell me how to get to (place)." This is more formal and polite.

Understanding the response

  1. means "I don't understand." Be ready to say this if the directions come too fast.
  2. means "One more time please." Super useful when you need them to repeat.
  3. means "Slowly please." Most Japanese people will speak quickly at first, assuming you're fluent.
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Example dialogues for real situations

Let me give you some practical examples of how these direction conversations actually play out.

Example 1: Finding a train station

You: ？
Excuse me, where is Shibuya Station?

Them: 。
Go straight on this street, turn left at the second traffic light. The station will be on the right side.

Example 2: Looking for a convenience store

You: ？
Is there a convenience store nearby?

Them: 。
Yes, there is. Walk straight, and after you pass the park, there's a Family Mart on the left side.

Example 3: Finding a specific building

You: 。
Please tell me how to get to ABC Building.

Them: 。
Walk about five minutes from here. Cross the crosswalk and turn right. It's next to the bank.

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Grammar patterns for direction sentences

The grammar for directions in Japanese follows predictable patterns once you understand the structure.

The basic pattern

(Action) + te-form +

Example: means "Please turn right."

The te-form connects actions in sequence. means "Go straight, then turn left."

Location pattern

(Landmark) + no + (position word) + ni +

Example: means "The convenience store is in front of the station."

Distance pattern

(Starting point) + kara + (distance/time) + (direction)

Example: means "Please walk straight for five minutes from here."

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Cultural tips for asking directions in Japan

Japanese people are generally helpful when you ask for directions, but there are some cultural nuances worth knowing.

  1. First, many Japanese people will try to help even if they don't know the answer. They might walk you partway or ask other people on your behalf. This kindness is genuine, so show appreciation with .
  2. Second, some people might avoid you if they don't speak English, worried about embarrassing themselves. Learning even basic Japanese phrases shows respect and makes people more comfortable helping you.
  3. Third, police boxes called exist throughout Japanese cities. The officers inside have detailed maps and can give excellent directions. Don't hesitate to ask them for help.
  4. Fourth, pointing is acceptable when giving directions in Japan, unlike some cultures where it's considered rude. People will often gesture while explaining, which helps tremendously.
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Building your direction vocabulary list

Are there any phrases or direction vocabulary in Japanese you still want to know? Here's how to build your personal reference list effectively.

  1. Start with the 20 most common direction words and phrases. Write them in a notebook with hiragana, kanji, romaji, and English meanings. Practice them daily until they become automatic.
  2. Create example sentences using real locations you care about. If you're planning a trip to Kyoto, make sentences about getting to Kiyomizu-dera or Fushimi Inari. Personal relevance makes vocabulary stick.
  3. Practice both asking for and giving directions. Many learners only focus on asking, but understanding responses matters just as much. Listen to how Japanese people structure their explanations.
  4. Record yourself saying the phrases. Compare your pronunciation to native speakers using resources like Forvo or YouTube. Direction words need to be understood quickly in real situations, so clear pronunciation matters.
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Practical application and practice

Learning direction vocabulary works best when you practice with real scenarios. Try these exercises:

  1. Pull up Google Maps Street View for a Japanese city. Pick a starting point and destination. Write out the directions in Japanese, using the vocabulary from this lesson. Check your work by actually following the route virtually.
  2. Watch Japanese YouTube videos where people give walking tours. Pay attention to how they describe locations and movements. You'll pick up natural phrasing that textbooks miss.
  3. Find a language exchange partner and practice direction dialogues. Take turns being the lost tourist and the helpful local. This builds confidence for real interactions.
  4. If you're already in Japan, take deliberate detours and ask for directions even when you don't need them. Real practice beats studying every time.
  5. Fancy coming to study with us in Japan? Even if you're learning from home, immersing yourself in real Japanese content accelerates your vocabulary acquisition way faster than memorizing lists.

Speaking of immersion, if you want to practice these direction words in context, Migaku's browser extension and app let you look up vocabulary instantly while watching Japanese YouTube videos or reading articles about travel in Japan. You can save words directly to your flashcard deck and review them with spaced repetition. There's a 10-day free trial if you want to check it out.

Learn Japanese words with Migaku
Learn Japanese with Migaku
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FAQs

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Now you know how to ask for directions in Japanese without your phone!

Mastering Japanese direction words takes consistent practice, but the payoff is huge. You'll navigate Japan with confidence, have genuine interactions with locals, and handle unexpected situations when technology fails. Yet, while you can still use your tech, make use of it to learn more about how to ask for directions naturally!

If you consume media in Japanese, and you understand at least some of the messages and sentences within that media, you will make progress. Period.

Small efforts build success!