ホテルの日本語
Hoteru no Nihongo
Useful Japanese for hotels, check-in, problems, and check-out
Hotels are supposed to be relaxing. Then the front desk asks a question at machine-gun speed, the air conditioner starts acting dramatic, and suddenly your peaceful trip turns into a tiny language boss battle.
The good news: hotel Japanese is actually pretty predictable. Staff use the same polite phrases again and again, and travelers usually need the same survival lines too. Learn a few of these, and you go from panicked blinking to “look at me, functioning like an adult abroad.” That is a win.
If you want more everyday basics first, the main Learn Japanese hub is a good place to keep your language toolkit growing.
Check-In Basics
These are the phrases you will hear or use first at the front desk. Most are polite and safe in almost any hotel.
| Kanji | Rōmaji | Meaning | Example (JP) | Example (Rōmaji) | Translation (EN) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 予約しています | Yoyaku shiteimasu | I have a reservation | 田中の名前で予約しています。 | Tanaka no namae de yoyaku shiteimasu. | I have a reservation under the name Tanaka. |
| チェックインをお願いします | Chekku in o onegaishimasu | I’d like to check in | チェックインをお願いします。 | Chekku in o onegaishimasu. | I’d like to check in, please. |
| 一泊です | Ippaku desu | It’s for one night | 今日は一泊です。 | Kyō wa ippaku desu. | It’s for one night today. |
| 二泊です | Nihaku desu | It’s for two nights | 二泊ですので、明後日まで泊まります。 | Nihaku desu node, asatte made tomarimasu. | It’s for two nights, so I’ll stay until the day after tomorrow. |
| 名前は〜です | Namae wa ~ desu | My name is ~ | 名前はスミスです。 | Namae wa Sumisu desu. | My name is Smith. |
| パスポートです | Pasupōto desu | Here is my passport | はい、パスポートです。 | Hai, pasupōto desu. | Yes, here is my passport. |
| 予約番号はこちらです | Yoyaku bangō wa kochira desu | Here is my reservation number | 予約番号はこちらです。確認をお願いします。 | Yoyaku bangō wa kochira desu. Kakunin o onegaishimasu. | Here is my reservation number. Please check it. |
| 禁煙ルームですか | Kin’en rūmu desu ka | Is it a non-smoking room? | この部屋は禁煙ルームですか。 | Kono heya wa kin’en rūmu desu ka. | Is this room non-smoking? |
| 喫煙ルームですか | Kitsuen rūmu desu ka | Is it a smoking room? | 喫煙ルームですか、それとも禁煙ですか。 | Kitsuen rūmu desu ka, soretomo kin’en desu ka. | Is it a smoking room, or non-smoking? |
| 朝食はありますか | Chōshoku wa arimasu ka | Is breakfast included / available? | 朝食はありますか。 | Chōshoku wa arimasu ka. | Is breakfast available? |
Useful Front Desk Questions
You do not need perfect grammar here. Short, clear hotel questions work beautifully. Polite and boring wins. Boring is your friend.
| Kanji | Rōmaji | Meaning | Example (JP) | Example (Rōmaji) | Translation (EN) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| チェックインは何時ですか | Chekku in wa nanji desu ka | What time is check-in? | チェックインは何時ですか。 | Chekku in wa nanji desu ka. | What time is check-in? |
| チェックアウトは何時ですか | Chekku auto wa nanji desu ka | What time is check-out? | チェックアウトは何時ですか。 | Chekku auto wa nanji desu ka. | What time is check-out? |
| 荷物を預けられますか | Nimotsu o azukeraremasu ka | Can I leave my luggage? | チェックイン前に荷物を預けられますか。 | Chekku in mae ni nimotsu o azukeraremasu ka. | Can I leave my luggage before check-in? |
| Wi-Fiはありますか | Waifai wa arimasu ka | Is there Wi-Fi? | 部屋にWi-Fiはありますか。 | Heya ni waifai wa arimasu ka. | Is there Wi-Fi in the room? |
| Wi-Fiのパスワードは何ですか | Waifai no pasuwādo wa nan desu ka | What is the Wi-Fi password? | Wi-Fiのパスワードは何ですか。 | Waifai no pasuwādo wa nan desu ka. | What is the Wi-Fi password? |
| エレベーターはどこですか | Erebētā wa doko desu ka | Where is the elevator? | すみません、エレベーターはどこですか。 | Sumimasen, erebētā wa doko desu ka. | Excuse me, where is the elevator? |
| 部屋は何階ですか | Heya wa nankai desu ka | What floor is the room on? | 部屋は何階ですか。 | Heya wa nankai desu ka. | What floor is the room on? |
| 地図はありますか | Chizu wa arimasu ka | Do you have a map? | この近くの地図はありますか。 | Kono chikaku no chizu wa arimasu ka. | Do you have a map of this area? |
| 英語を話せますか | Eigo o hanasemasu ka | Can you speak English? | 少し英語を話せますか。 | Sukoshi eigo o hanasemasu ka. | Can you speak a little English? |
| もう一度お願いします | Mō ichido onegaishimasu | One more time, please | すみません、もう一度お願いします。 | Sumimasen, mō ichido onegaishimasu. | Excuse me, one more time please. |
If question words still feel slippery, this guide to questions in Japanese helps a lot. Hotels love question words almost as much as they love tiny toothbrush sets.
Room And Stay Phrases
Once you get your key, the next useful phrases are about the room itself: keys, towels, cleaning, and the little things that become huge things when you are tired.
| Kanji | Rōmaji | Meaning | Example (JP) | Example (Rōmaji) | Translation (EN) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 鍵をなくしました | Kagi o nakushimashita | I lost the key | すみません、鍵をなくしました。 | Sumimasen, kagi o nakushimashita. | Excuse me, I lost the key. |
| カードキーが使えません | Kādo kī ga tsukaemasen | The key card doesn’t work | カードキーが使えません。 | Kādo kī ga tsukaemasen. | The key card doesn’t work. |
| タオルをもう一枚ください | Taoru o mō ichimai kudasai | Please give me one more towel | タオルをもう一枚ください。 | Taoru o mō ichimai kudasai. | Please give me one more towel. |
| 毛布をください | Mōfu o kudasai | Please give me a blanket | 寒いので、毛布をください。 | Samui node, mōfu o kudasai. | It’s cold, so please give me a blanket. |
| 部屋を掃除してください | Heya o sōji shite kudasai | Please clean the room | 午後に部屋を掃除してください。 | Gogo ni heya o sōji shite kudasai. | Please clean the room in the afternoon. |
| 水をください | Mizu o kudasai | Please give me water | すみません、水をください。 | Sumimasen, mizu o kudasai. | Excuse me, please give me some water. |
| 氷はありますか | Kōri wa arimasu ka | Is there ice? | 氷はありますか。 | Kōri wa arimasu ka. | Is there ice? |
| ランドリーはありますか | Randorī wa arimasu ka | Is there laundry? | ホテルにランドリーはありますか。 | Hoteru ni randorī wa arimasu ka. | Is there laundry service in the hotel? |
| モーニングコールをお願いします | Mōningu kōru o onegaishimasu | Please give me a wake-up call | 六時にモーニングコールをお願いします。 | Rokuji ni mōningu kōru o onegaishimasu. | Please give me a wake-up call at six. |
| 延泊できますか | Enpaku dekimasu ka | Can I extend my stay? | もう一泊、延泊できますか。 | Mō ippaku, enpaku dekimasu ka. | Can I extend my stay by one more night? |
Problem Phrases You Will Be Glad You Learned
This is the section nobody wants to use, which is exactly why you should learn it. Problems happen. Rooms are noisy. Showers break. Air conditioners decide they are decorative objects. Language should not be the hardest part.
| Kanji | Rōmaji | Meaning | Example (JP) | Example (Rōmaji) | Translation (EN) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 問題があります | Mondai ga arimasu | There is a problem | すみません、部屋に問題があります。 | Sumimasen, heya ni mondai ga arimasu. | Excuse me, there is a problem with the room. |
| お湯が出ません | Oyu ga demasen | Hot water doesn’t come out | シャワーのお湯が出ません。 | Shawā no oyu ga demasen. | Hot water doesn’t come out of the shower. |
| エアコンが動きません | Eakon ga ugokimasen | The air conditioner doesn’t work | エアコンが動きません。 | Eakon ga ugokimasen. | The air conditioner doesn’t work. |
| トイレが流れません | Toire ga nagaremasen | The toilet won’t flush | すみません、トイレが流れません。 | Sumimasen, toire ga nagaremasen. | Excuse me, the toilet won’t flush. |
| 電気がつきません | Denki ga tsukimasen | The light won’t turn on | 部屋の電気がつきません。 | Heya no denki ga tsukimasen. | The room light won’t turn on. |
| Wi-Fiがつながりません | Waifai ga tsunagarimasen | The Wi-Fi won’t connect | 部屋でWi-Fiがつながりません。 | Heya de waifai ga tsunagarimasen. | The Wi-Fi won’t connect in the room. |
| 部屋が寒すぎます | Heya ga samusugimasu | The room is too cold | 部屋が寒すぎます。 | Heya ga samusugimasu. | The room is too cold. |
| 部屋が暑すぎます | Heya ga atsusugimasu | The room is too hot | 部屋が暑すぎます。 | Heya ga atsusugimasu. | The room is too hot. |
| 部屋がうるさいです | Heya ga urusai desu | The room is noisy | 隣の音で、部屋がうるさいです。 | Tonari no oto de, heya ga urusai desu. | The room is noisy because of noise next door. |
| 別の部屋に変えられますか | Betsu no heya ni kaeraremasu ka | Can I change to another room? | 別の部屋に変えられますか。 | Betsu no heya ni kaeraremasu ka. | Can I change to another room? |
Start complaint phrases with すみません
Sumimasen
Excuse me / sorry. It softens the whole sentence immediately, which is very useful when the toilet has chosen violence.
Emergency And Help Phrases
Hopefully you never need these. Still, if something serious happens, simple Japanese can get help moving faster.
| Kanji | Rōmaji | Meaning | Example (JP) | Example (Rōmaji) | Translation (EN) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 助けてください | Tasukete kudasai | Please help me | すみません、助けてください。 | Sumimasen, tasukete kudasai. | Excuse me, please help me. |
| 気分が悪いです | Kibun ga warui desu | I feel sick | 少し気分が悪いです。 | Sukoshi kibun ga warui desu. | I feel a little sick. |
| 医者を呼んでください | Isha o yonde kudasai | Please call a doctor | 必要なら医者を呼んでください。 | Hitsuyō nara isha o yonde kudasai. | Please call a doctor if necessary. |
| 救急車を呼んでください | Kyūkyūsha o yonde kudasai | Please call an ambulance | 救急車を呼んでください。 | Kyūkyūsha o yonde kudasai. | Please call an ambulance. |
| 警察を呼んでください | Keisatsu o yonde kudasai | Please call the police | 警察を呼んでください。 | Keisatsu o yonde kudasai. | Please call the police. |
| 財布をなくしました | Saifu o nakushimashita | I lost my wallet | ホテルで財布をなくしました。 | Hoteru de saifu o nakushimashita. | I lost my wallet at the hotel. |
| パスポートをなくしました | Pasupōto o nakushimashita | I lost my passport | パスポートをなくしました。 | Pasupōto o nakushimashita. | I lost my passport. |
| 盗まれました | Nusumaremashita | It was stolen | バッグが盗まれました。 | Baggu ga nusumaremashita. | My bag was stolen. |
| 日本語があまり話せません | Nihongo ga amari hanasemasen | I can’t speak much Japanese | 日本語があまり話せません。ゆっくりお願いします。 | Nihongo ga amari hanasemasen. Yukkuri onegaishimasu. | I can’t speak much Japanese. Please speak slowly. |
| ゆっくり話してください | Yukkuri hanashite kudasai | Please speak slowly | すみません、ゆっくり話してください。 | Sumimasen, yukkuri hanashite kudasai. | Excuse me, please speak slowly. |
Breakfast, Facilities, And Daily Hotel Life
These are not dramatic phrases, but they make the stay smoother. And yes, knowing where breakfast is can feel emotionally significant before coffee.
| Kanji | Rōmaji | Meaning | Example (JP) | Example (Rōmaji) | Translation (EN) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 朝食は何時からですか | Chōshoku wa nanji kara desu ka | What time does breakfast start? | 朝食は何時からですか。 | Chōshoku wa nanji kara desu ka. | What time does breakfast start? |
| 朝食会場はどこですか | Chōshoku kaijō wa doko desu ka | Where is the breakfast area? | 朝食会場はどこですか。 | Chōshoku kaijō wa doko desu ka. | Where is the breakfast area? |
| 大浴場はありますか | Daiyokujō wa arimasu ka | Is there a public bath? | このホテルに大浴場はありますか。 | Kono hoteru ni daiyokujō wa arimasu ka. | Is there a public bath in this hotel? |
| 自動販売機はありますか | Jidō hanbaiki wa arimasu ka | Is there a vending machine? | 近くに自動販売機はありますか。 | Chikaku ni jidō hanbaiki wa arimasu ka. | Is there a vending machine nearby? |
| 電子レンジは使えますか | Denshi renji wa tsukaemasu ka | Can I use a microwave? | 電子レンジは使えますか。 | Denshi renji wa tsukaemasu ka. | Can I use a microwave? |
| 近くにコンビニはありますか | Chikaku ni konbini wa arimasu ka | Is there a convenience store nearby? | 近くにコンビニはありますか。 | Chikaku ni konbini wa arimasu ka. | Is there a convenience store nearby? |
| タクシーを呼べますか | Takushī o yobemasu ka | Can you call a taxi? | 空港までタクシーを呼べますか。 | Kūkō made takushī o yobemasu ka. | Can you call a taxi to the airport? |
| おすすめのレストランはありますか | Osusume no resutoran wa arimasu ka | Do you have a recommended restaurant? | 近くにおすすめのレストランはありますか。 | Chikaku ni osusume no resutoran wa arimasu ka. | Is there a restaurant nearby that you recommend? |
| 両替できますか | Ryōgae dekimasu ka | Can I exchange money? | ここで両替できますか。 | Koko de ryōgae dekimasu ka. | Can I exchange money here? |
| 領収書をください | Ryōshūsho o kudasai | Please give me a receipt | 会社用に領収書をください。 | Kaisha-yō ni ryōshūsho o kudasai. | Please give me a receipt for my company. |
Check-Out Phrases
The final step should be simple, but it helps to know a few set expressions for payment, luggage, and late check-out questions.
| Kanji | Rōmaji | Meaning | Example (JP) | Example (Rōmaji) | Translation (EN) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| チェックアウトをお願いします | Chekku auto o onegaishimasu | I’d like to check out | チェックアウトをお願いします。 | Chekku auto o onegaishimasu. | I’d like to check out, please. |
| 支払いはいくらですか | Shiharai wa ikura desu ka | How much is the payment? | 支払いはいくらですか。 | Shiharai wa ikura desu ka. | How much is the payment? |
| カードで払えますか | Kādo de haraemasu ka | Can I pay by card? | カードで払えますか。 | Kādo de haraemasu ka. | Can I pay by card? |
| 現金で払います | Genkin de haraimasu | I will pay in cash | 現金で払います。 | Genkin de haraimasu. | I will pay in cash. |
| 荷物を預けたいです | Nimotsu o azuketai desu | I want to leave my luggage | チェックアウト後、荷物を預けたいです。 | Chekku auto go, nimotsu o azuketai desu. | After check-out, I’d like to leave my luggage. |
| 空港までどのくらいですか | Kūkō made dono kurai desu ka | How long does it take to the airport? | 空港までどのくらいですか。 | Kūkō made dono kurai desu ka. | How long does it take to the airport? |
| 遅いチェックアウトはできますか | Osoi chekku auto wa dekimasu ka | Can I have a late check-out? | 遅いチェックアウトはできますか。 | Osoi chekku auto wa dekimasu ka. | Can I have a late check-out? |
| ありがとうございました | Arigatō gozaimashita | Thank you very much | お世話になりました。ありがとうございました。 | Osewa ni narimashita. Arigatō gozaimashita. | Thank you for your help. Thank you very much. |
| とても快適でした | Totemo kaiteki deshita | It was very comfortable | 滞在はとても快適でした。 | Taizai wa totemo kaiteki deshita. | The stay was very comfortable. |
| また来ます | Mata kimasu | I’ll come again | 機会があれば、また来ます。 | Kikai ga areba, mata kimasu. | If I have the chance, I’ll come again. |
Polite Mini Words That Make Everything Better
These are tiny, but they make your Japanese sound much smoother. If you only remember a few softeners, remember these.
| Kanji | Rōmaji | Meaning | Example (JP) | Example (Rōmaji) | Translation (EN) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| すみません | Sumimasen | Excuse me / sorry | すみません、質問があります。 | Sumimasen, shitsumon ga arimasu. | Excuse me, I have a question. |
| お願いします | Onegaishimasu | Please | チェックインをお願いします。 | Chekku in o onegaishimasu. | I’d like to check in, please. |
| ください | Kudasai | Please give me / please do | タオルをください。 | Taoru o kudasai. | Please give me a towel. |
| 大丈夫です | Daijōbu desu | It’s okay / I’m fine | はい、大丈夫です。 | Hai, daijōbu desu. | Yes, I’m fine. |
| 結構です | Kekkō desu | No thank you / that’s enough | 水は結構です。ありがとうございます。 | Mizu wa kekkō desu. Arigatō gozaimasu. | No thank you for the water. Thank you. |
| わかりました | Wakarimashita | I understand | はい、わかりました。 | Hai, wakarimashita. | Yes, I understand. |
If you want to sound more natural when asking for things, this guide on how to say please in Japanese is genuinely useful. Japanese has more than one “please,” because of course it does.
Quick Notes On Hotel Japanese
- 予約
Yoyaku
means reservation. Very common at hotels, restaurants, and transport counters. - 〜できますか
~ dekimasu ka
means “can I?” or “is it possible?” This is one of the best travel patterns in Japanese. - 〜ください
~ kudasai
is direct but normal and polite enough for requests like towels, water, or help. - 〜お願いします
~ onegaishimasu
sounds softer and more service-friendly, especially at the front desk. - 部屋
Heya
means room, while ホテル
hoteru
means hotel. Obvious, yes, but still worth locking in.
Mini Practice: What Would You Say?
- You arrive and want to check in: チェックインをお願いします
Chekku in o onegaishimasu
I’d like to check in, please. - Your shower has no hot water: お湯が出ません
Oyu ga demasen
Hot water doesn’t come out. - You need the Wi-Fi password: Wi-Fiのパスワードは何ですか
Waifai no pasuwādo wa nan desu ka
What is the Wi-Fi password? - You want one more towel: タオルをもう一枚ください
Taoru o mō ichimai kudasai
Please give me one more towel. - You are leaving and want the bill: 支払いはいくらですか
Shiharai wa ikura desu ka
How much is the payment?
For more travel-style expressions and polite everyday Japanese, the lesson at this Japanese guide is a handy next stop.
Yak Takeaway
You do not need sixty perfect sentences on day one. Start with a small survival set: 予約しています
Yoyaku shiteimasu
I have a reservation, すみません
Sumimasen
Excuse me, お願いします
Onegaishimasu
Please, and a few problem phrases like お湯が出ません
Oyu ga demasen
There’s no hot water. That tiny toolkit already makes hotel life much easier.
And honestly, even simple Japanese gets a warm response when you use it politely. Front desk staff are not grading you. They just want to help, and your effort goes a long way. So check in, ask your question, grab your key, and enjoy the trip without losing a fight to the air conditioner.
