Japanese - Station & Transit Phrases

Lesson 157 of 168

A busy Japanese train station entrance with signs for exits and platforms; the image highlights station phrases in Japanese for navigating transit.

Goal: Quick, polite Japanese for stations, trains, and taxis

Free Japanese lessons with guided practice, audio, and speaking support.

Welcome! This short lesson focuses on common phrases you’ll actually use at Japanese train stations, on trains, buses, and in taxis. Listen, repeat, and practice — it’s built for quick wins.

Level A1: Lesson 157 teaches polite, practical transportation phrases you can use right away — e.g., asking which exit or platform, checking destinations, saying you’re getting off, and calling a taxi. This CEFR-aligned mini-lesson helps you hear the phrases in context, repeat them aloud, and check your understanding with short quizzes. By the end you'll feel more confident navigating stations and transit in Japan.

After this lesson you'll be able to:

  • Hear and repeat common station and transit phrases (polite forms).
  • Ask which exit or platform (何番出口ですか, 何番ホームですか).
  • Check destinations, transfers, and how many minutes to a stop.
  • Use short crowd phrases like 通してください and 降ります。
  • Ask for a taxi and tell the driver your destination (___までお願いします).
A traveler asking a station attendant at a ticket gate and looking at platform signs; emphasizes asking 何番出口ですか and 何番ホームですか in Japanese.

Ready? Let's go!

When you tap play on phrases, we track your progress through this lesson.

1. Reading + Listening Practice

Hear core phrases, repeat aloud.

何番出口ですか。

Nan-ban deguchi desu ka.

Which exit number is it?

Meaning: Which exit number is it?

When to use: Ask at station gates or underground passages when you need the correct exit number.

Tip: Some learners say ゲート (gate) instead of 出口 (deguchi); in stations, 出口 is the natural word.

すみません、何番出口ですか？

Sumimasen, nan-ban deguchi desu ka?

Excuse me, which exit number is it?
観光案内所は何番出口ですか？

Kankō annaijo wa nan-ban deguchi desu ka?

Which exit number is the tourist information office?

何番ホームですか。

Nan-ban hōmu desu ka.

Which platform number is it?

Meaning: Which platform number is it?

When to use: Ask on station concourses or platform signs when you're unsure which platform your train uses.

この電車は何番ホームですか？

Kono densha wa nan-ban hōmu desu ka?

Which platform is this train on?
快速は何番ホームから出ますか？

Kaisoku wa nan-ban hōmu kara demasu ka?

From which platform does the rapid train depart?

この電車は___に行きますか。

Kono densha wa ___ ni ikimasu ka.

Does this train go to ___?

Meaning: Does this train go to ___?

When to use: Ask the conductor, staff, or a fellow passenger before boarding if you're unsure the train goes to your destination.

この電車は東京に行きますか？

Kono densha wa Tōkyō ni ikimasu ka?

Does this train go to Tokyo?
この電車は成田空港に行きますか？

Kono densha wa Narita kūkō ni ikimasu ka?

Does this train go to Narita Airport?

___まで何分ぐらいですか。

___ made nan-pun gurai desu ka.

About how many minutes to ___?

Meaning: About how many minutes to ___?

When to use: Ask staff or fellow passengers when you want an estimated travel time to a station or landmark.

渋谷まで何分ぐらいですか？

Shibuya made nan-pun gurai desu ka?

About how many minutes to Shibuya?
ここから新宿まで何分ぐらいですか？

Koko kara Shinjuku made nan-pun gurai desu ka?

About how many minutes from here to Shinjuku?

乗り換えはありますか。

Norikae wa arimasu ka.

Is there a transfer?

Meaning: Is there a transfer?

When to use: Ask when checking whether you need to change trains or buses during your trip.

この路線は乗り換えはありますか？

Kono rosen wa norikae wa arimasu ka?

Does this route require a transfer?
途中で乗り換えはありますか？

Tochū de norikae wa arimasu ka?

Is there a transfer along the way?

次の駅で降ります。

Tsugi no eki de orimasu.

I’m getting off at the next station.

Meaning: I’m getting off at the next station.

When to use: Say this on trains or buses when you’re moving toward the door and want to alert people.

次の駅で降ります。荷物を持ってください。

Tsugi no eki de orimasu. Nimotsu o motte kudasai.

I'm getting off at the next station. Please hold my luggage.
すみません、次の駅で降ります。

Sumimasen, tsugi no eki de orimasu.

Excuse me, I'm getting off at the next station.

ここで降ります。

Koko de orimasu.

I’m getting off here.

Meaning: I’m getting off here.

When to use: Use on buses, taxis, or crowded trains to indicate your stop.

ここで降ります。ありがとうございました。

Koko de orimasu. Arigatō gozaimashita.

I'm getting off here. Thank you.
ここで降ります、お願いします。

Koko de orimasu, onegai shimasu.

I'll get off here, please.

降ります

Orimasu.

I’m getting off.

Meaning: I’m getting off.

When to use: A short announcement in crowded trains or buses while moving through the car to the door.

Tip: Beginners sometimes say 下ります (kudarimasu) by mistake; use 降ります (orimasu) for getting off vehicles.

降ります！右通してください。

Orimasu! Migi tōshite kudasai.

I'm getting off! Please let me through on the right.
すみません、降ります。

Sumimasen, orimasu.

Excuse me, I'm getting off.

通してください。

Tōshite kudasai.

Please let me through.

Meaning: Please let me through.

When to use: Say this in a packed train or narrow aisle when you need people to make a path.

すみません、通してください。荷物を持っています。

Sumimasen, tōshite kudasai. Nimotsu o motte imasu.

Excuse me, please let me through. I have luggage.
通してください、出口はあちらです。

Tōshite kudasai, deguchi wa achira desu.

Please let me through, the exit is that way.

すみません、通ります。

Sumimasen, tōrimasu.

Excuse me, I’m passing through.

Meaning: Excuse me, I’m passing through.

When to use: Use when moving past people in a narrow place; polite and common.

すみません、通ります。少し急いでいます。

Sumimasen, tōrimasu. Sukoshi isoide imasu.

Excuse me, I'm passing through. I'm a bit in a hurry.
通ります、失礼します。

Tōrimasu, shitsurei shimasu.

I'm passing through, excuse me.

この席、空いていますか。

Kono seki, aite imasu ka.

Is this seat free?

Meaning: Is this seat free?

When to use: Ask before sitting in a train, bus, or waiting area when you’re not sure the seat is available.

この席、空いていますか？少し座ってもいいですか？

Kono seki, aite imasu ka? Sukoshi suwatte mo ii desu ka?

Is this seat free? May I sit for a bit?
すみません、この席は空いていますか？

Sumimasen, kono seki wa aite imasu ka?

Excuse me, is this seat free?

タクシーを呼んでもらえますか。

Takushī o yonde moraemasu ka.

Could you call a taxi for me?

Meaning: Could you call a taxi for me?

When to use: Ask hotel staff, restaurant workers, or shop staff to arrange a taxi.

すみません、タクシーを呼んでもらえますか？お願いします。

Sumimasen, takushī o yonde moraemasu ka? Onegai shimasu.

Excuse me, could you call a taxi for me? Please.
タクシーを呼んでもらえますか。荷物が多いです。

Takushī o yonde moraemasu ka. Nimotsu ga ōi desu.

Could you call a taxi for me? I have a lot of luggage.

___までお願いします。

___ made onegai shimasu.

To ___, please.

Meaning: To ___, please.

When to use: Tell a taxi driver your destination; put the place name before まで.

空港までお願いします。

Kūkō made onegai shimasu.

To the airport, please.
駅前までお願いします。

Ekimae made onegai shimasu.

To the station square, please.

2. Conversational Listening Practice

Hear phrases in a real mini-conversation.

On a crowded platform and then on the train

Two people on a train talking quietly, one preparing to get off and saying 次の駅で降ります and すみません、通ります; shows real transit interactions in Japanese.

What are Anna and David asking about?

Portrait of Anna in a Japanese lesson dialogue

Anna

すみません、何番ホームですか？

Sumimasen, nan-ban hōmu desu ka?

Excuse me, which platform is it?

Portrait of David in a Japanese lesson dialogue

David

この電車は東京に行きますか？

Kono densha wa Tōkyō ni ikimasu ka?

Does this train go to Tokyo?

Portrait of Anna in a Japanese lesson dialogue

Anna

乗り換えはありますか？

Norikae wa arimasu ka?

Is there a transfer?

Portrait of David in a Japanese lesson dialogue

David

いいえ、直通です。次の駅で降ります。

Iie, chokkū desu. Tsugi no eki de orimasu.

No, it's direct. I'm getting off at the next station.

Portrait of Anna in a Japanese lesson dialogue

Anna

わかりました。すみません、通ります。

Wakarimashita. Sumimasen, tōrimasu.

Got it. Excuse me, I'm passing through.

3. Guided Practice

Quizzes and matching to lock in meaning.

Which Japanese sentence asks about the platform number?

You want someone to let you through a crowd. Which phrase do you use?

Which sentence politely asks whether a train goes to a place?

You are in a taxi and want the driver to go to the station. Which phrase do you say?

Excuse me on the train, does this train go to Tokyo?

（電車内）すみません、___に行きますか。

Excuse me at the bus stop: About how many minutes to Shibuya?

（バス停で）すみません、___まで何分ぐらいですか。

In a crowded car: Excuse me, I'm passing through. I'm getting off.

（混雑した車内で）すみません、___。降ります。

Match the core phrases

Match the extra phrases

4. Speaking Practice

Say phrases yourself (mic/recording).

Recording stays on your device only. Check speech uses your browser's speech tools when available.

Say this phrase out loud:

何番出口ですか。

Nan-ban deguchi desu ka.

Which exit number is it?

Say this phrase out loud:

何番ホームですか。

Nan-ban hōmu desu ka.

Which platform number is it?

Say this phrase out loud:

この電車は___に行きますか。

Kono densha wa ___ ni ikimasu ka.

Does this train go to ___?

Say this phrase out loud:

___まで何分ぐらいですか。

___ made nan-pun gurai desu ka.

About how many minutes to ___?

Say this phrase out loud:

乗り換えはありますか。

Norikae wa arimasu ka.

Is there a transfer?

Say this phrase out loud:

次の駅で降ります。

Tsugi no eki de orimasu.

I'm getting off at the next station.

Say this phrase out loud:

ここで降ります。

Koko de orimasu.

I'm getting off here.

Say this phrase out loud:

降ります

Orimasu.

I'm getting off.

Say this phrase out loud:

通してください。

Tōshite kudasai.

Please let me through.

Say this phrase out loud:

すみません、通ります。

Sumimasen, tōrimasu.

Excuse me, I'm passing through.

Say this phrase out loud:

この席、空いていますか。

Kono seki, aite imasu ka.

Is this seat free?

Say this phrase out loud:

タクシーを呼んでもらえますか。

Takushī o yonde moraemasu ka.

Could you call a taxi for me?

Say this phrase out loud:

___までお願いします。

___ made onegai shimasu.

To ___, please.