Japanese Shopping Phrases: Useful Japanese Phrases for Shopping

Shopping in Japan can feel intimidating if you don't speak Japanese, but here's the thing: you only need a handful of phrases to navigate most situations. I'm talking about the essential phrases that'll help you ask for what you need, try on clothes, check prices, and pay without awkwardly pointing at everything. Let me walk you through the most useful phrases you'll actually need when shopping in Japan, from Tokyo department stores to convenience stores in smaller cities.

Essential Japanese phrases for shopping

Before we dive into specific scenarios, you need to understand a few key words that show up constantly when you shop in Japan. These are the building blocks of polite shopping conversations.

These four phrases alone will get you surprisingly far in any Japanese shop.

What shopkeepers say in Japan

Understanding what shopkeepers say helps you respond appropriately. When you enter most stores in Japan, you'll hear , which means "welcome." Here's what confuses tourists: you don't need to respond to this. Just nod or smile and continue shopping.

At the cashier, clerks will ask , meaning "Would you like a bag?" Since 2020, Japan started charging for plastic bags, so this question comes up at every purchase. Answer for yes, or to decline.

When you're ready to pay, the cashier might say , acknowledging they've received your payment. After giving change, they'll say , thanking you for your purchase.

Asking for items and locations when shopping in Japanese

Walking into a shop and finding what you need requires some basic question phrases. The most versatile phrase is , which means "Do you have this?" Point at a picture or similar item while saying this.

If you're looking for something specific, use "(Item) wa arimasu ka?" The particle wa (は) marks the topic of your sentence, and means "do you have" or "is there." The particle ka (か) turns statements into questions, kind of like adding a question mark.

For example:

Looking for a convenience store? Ask , meaning "Where is the convenience store?" The word です is a polite copula that roughly means "is" or "to be," and you'll see it in tons of phrases.

To ask if there's a convenience store nearby, say . This phrase works for any store type, just replace "konbini" with the store you need.

Inquiring about price and size

Price questions are super straightforward. Point at an item and ask , meaning "How much is this?" The word これ means "this," and you'll use it constantly when pointing at things.

If you see something without a price tag, works perfectly. Most stores in Japan display prices clearly, but smaller shops or markets might require asking.

For size questions, you have several options:

The phrase specifically asks for smaller options and comes up frequently when shopping for clothes or accessories.

Trying on clothes: The shichaku process

Trying on clothes in Japanese stores follows specific etiquette. The magic phrase is , which means "May I try this on?" The word specifically means "trying on clothes."

Most clerks will respond , meaning "Yes, please go ahead," and show you to the fitting room.

Inside fitting rooms, you'll often find face covers to protect clothes from makeup. Use them. Japanese shopping etiquette takes cleanliness seriously.

After trying something on, if it fits and you want it, say , meaning "I'll take this." If it doesn't work, say , which politely means "This is a bit different from what I want."

You can also say , meaning "I'll think about it," which gives you an easy out without committing.

Making a purchase and payment methods

When you're ready to buy, bring your items to the cashier. The clerk will scan everything and tell you the total. If you didn't catch the number, ask , meaning "One more time, please."

Payment phrases you need:

Understanding yen amounts helps too. Prices in Japan use yen, and you'll see amounts like or . The 円 symbol represents yen.

Politely declining or thanking

Sometimes clerks in Japan can be very attentive, approaching you multiple times. If you want to browse alone, say , meaning "I'm just looking."

To politely decline help, works perfectly. This versatile phrase means "I'm okay" or "It's fine."

When leaving a store without buying, you don't need to say anything special. A simple as you leave shows appreciation for their service, even if you didn't purchase anything.

After completing a purchase, the proper response to the cashier's thanks is or just a polite nod. Some tourists wonder if they should thank the staff, and the answer is yes, mutual appreciation is part of Japanese shopping culture.

The 80/20 rule in Japanese shopping

You might wonder about the 80/20 rule in Japanese. This refers to the principle that 20% of your effort gets you 80% of the results. For shopping in Japan, learning about 20 core phrases covers roughly 80% of situations you'll encounter.

The phrases I've covered here represent that essential 20%. You could study hundreds of shopping-related phrases, but these core ones handle the vast majority of interactions in Japanese stores.

Focus on mastering these basics with decent pronunciation rather than trying to learn every possible phrase. Shopkeepers appreciate the effort, and these phrases work across different store types, from convenience stores to department stores.

Shopping etiquette beyond phrases

Knowing the phrases helps, but understanding Japanese shopping etiquette makes your experience even better. Here are the unwritten rules:

Common shopping scenarios in Tokyo

Tokyo presents unique shopping situations. The city has everything from high-end Ginza boutiques to quirky Harajuku shops to massive electronics stores in Akihabara.

In tourist-heavy areas of Tokyo, many stores have English-speaking staff or translation devices. But venture into local neighborhoods, and you'll need these Japanese phrases.

Tax-free shopping is available for tourists spending over 5,000 yen at participating stores. Ask , meaning "Is this tax-free?" Show your passport at the tax-free counter.

Vending machines are everywhere in Tokyo. They don't require phrases, but knowing means "change" helps if a machine malfunctions and you need to speak with someone.

Practice makes your shopping experience better

Learning these key phrases before your trip helps tremendously. Practice pronunciation using language apps or YouTube videos. The more comfortable you get with basic phrases, the more confident you'll feel in Japanese stores.

Start with the absolute essentials: sumimasen, kudasai, arigatou gozaimasu, and ikura desu ka. These four phrases alone handle most tourist shopping situations.

Then add phrases specific to what you plan to buy. Go shopping for clothes? Focus on size and trying-on phrases. Hitting convenience stores daily? Master the bag and heating questions.

Japanese shopkeepers genuinely appreciate when tourists make the effort to speak Japanese, even poorly. The polite culture means they'll help you through any communication struggles.

Anyway, if you want to actually practice these phrases in context while consuming Japanese content, Migaku's browser extension and app let you look up words instantly while watching Japanese shows or reading Japanese websites. Makes learning way more practical than just memorizing phrase lists. There's a 10-day free trial if you want to check it out.

FAQs

Learn Japanese useful phrases via media!

These shopping phrases give you a foundation, but they're just the beginning. Once you've mastered basic shopping interactions, you might want to expand your Japanese abilities for deeper cultural experiences. That's when you should start your extensive reading and watching with Japanese media, be it manga, anime, dramas, or movies.

Time for the retail therapy...