New here? This is lesson 43 of a free 240-lesson Japanese course.
Where is the metro in Japanese
Leo needs the Yamanote line. From Kissa Hotaru he can already hear a train, but he still does not know which way to walk.
He asks Goro where the station is. Goro holds up his Suica, as if a card could be a place.
You will ask where the station, a toilet, a convenience store, and a pharmacy are. You will also ask for the nearest station, and check 'is it here?'
Keep it polite. Use these with staff and new faces.
By the end of this lesson
Ask where a station, a shop, or a toilet is.
- 駅はどこですか。Where is the station?
- トイレはどこですか。Where is the toilet?
- コンビニはどこですか。Where is the convenience store?
- 薬局はどこですか。Where is the pharmacy?
- 一番近い駅はどこですか。Where is the nearest station?
- ここですか。Is it here?
Scene — a rumble from Nippori
Kissa Hotaru sits on a Yanaka corner. Cups rattle as a Yamanote train passes Nippori, close enough to hear from the booth.
Leo stands by the door with his bag. Goro still has not touched his blend coffee. A Suica hangs on a cord around the yak's neck.
Learn — ask where it is
These six polite questions help you ask where a place is.
The last one checks a spot: is it here?
駅はどこですか。
Where is the station?
When to use it: Ask this when you need a train station.
Learn it as one piece for the station.
トイレはどこですか。
Where is the toilet?
When to use it: Ask this when you need a toilet.
Learn it as one piece for the toilet.
コンビニはどこですか。
Where is the convenience store?
When to use it: Ask this when you need a convenience store.
Learn it as one piece for a nearby shop.
Say it: Give ん in コンビニ its own beat.
薬局はどこですか。
Where is the pharmacy?
When to use it: Ask this when you need a pharmacy.
Learn it as one piece for a pharmacy.
Say it: Hold the small っ in 薬局.
一番近い駅はどこですか。
Where is the nearest station?
When to use it: Ask this when several stations are near.
Learn it as one piece for the nearest station.
ここですか。
Is it here?
When to use it: Use this to check if a place is here.
Learn it as one piece to check a spot.
Say it: The u in です is almost silent.
Story — a Suica for a station
Leo needs the station. Goro answers with a Suica, not a street.
Highlighted phrases are the new lines. Turn on Show English if you want a gloss.
- Cups rattle. Leo stands by the door with his bag.
Leoすみません。駅はどこですか。Excuse me. Where is the station?- Goro lifts the Suica on its cord, as if the card were the station.
Goroここです。It's here.- Leoここですか。Is it here?
Masakoいいえ、外です。No, it's outside.- Leo一番近い駅はどこですか。Where is the nearest station?
- Goroあそこです。It's over there.
- Leo still has a short list before the train.
- Leoトイレはどこですか。Where is the toilet?
- Masako奥ですよ。It's at the back.
- Leoコンビニはどこですか。Where is the convenience store?
- Goro外です。It's outside.
- Leoええと、薬局はどこですか。Um, where is the pharmacy?
- Masako向こうですよ。It's across the way.
Practice — pick the right where
Eleven short tasks wait in this round. You will listen, match meanings, fill a gap, and build a line.
Each one is small, so you move on quickly.
0 of 11 done
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
Match the pairs
Japanese
駅はどこですか。Drop the English hereトイレはどこですか。Drop the English here薬局はどこですか。Drop the English hereEnglish
What do you say?
What do you say?
You are in Kissa Hotaru and you need the bathroom. Ask Masako.
Fill the gap
Fill the gap
Where is the convenience store?
コンビニは____ですか。
What does it mean?
What does it mean?
薬局はどこですか。
Pick the reply
Goro says:
Pick the reply
ここですよ。
It's here.
And you reply with:
Build the line
Build the line
Where is the nearest station?
。
Tap the words in order.
What do you say?
What do you say?
You want Goro's attention before you ask the way.
Swap the word
Swap the word
You want to ask where the station is. Change the word that checks a spot.
駅は____ですか。
True or false?
True or false?
This line asks where something is.
Find the mistake
Find the mistake
Say it — your turn to speak
You are Leo by the kissa door, ready to ask where places are. When the cue is yours, tap the microphone and say the line.
Tap play first if you want to hear it. The recording stays on this device.
- Masakoどうぞ。Go ahead.
- Leo (you)Ask where the station is.
Ask where the station is.
駅はどこですか。
Where is the station?
0 of 6 said
Recap — what you can say now
| Japanese | English | Play |
|---|---|---|
| 駅はどこですか。 | Where is the station? | |
| トイレはどこですか。 | Where is the toilet? | |
| コンビニはどこですか。 | Where is the convenience store? | |
| 薬局はどこですか。 | Where is the pharmacy? | |
| 一番近い駅はどこですか。 | Where is the nearest station? | |
| ここですか。 | Is it here? |
Save your progress — it’s free
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Keep practicing with Yak Cards
Keep these where-questions in your pocket. Open the Yak Cards for this lesson and run them on the train.
A short Yak Cards round keeps where ready before you step out.
Open Yak Cards