Japanese - Travel Experience

Lesson 65 of 168

Traveler with a camera looking at a map and a train in the background — Japanese travel story phrases about problems and memories.

Goal: Tell what went wrong — and what you loved

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

Ready to tell a travel story that has surprises? This short lesson helps you explain problems, memorable moments, and what you'd do next. Have fun — and don't worry if your story has a twist!

Level B1: In this lesson you'll practice useful travel-story phrases like 「旅行は予定どおりにいきませんでした」 (Ryokō wa yotei-dōri ni ikimasen deshita) and 「道に迷いましたが、なんとか戻れました。」 (Michi ni mayoimashita ga, nantoka modoremashita). We'll listen, repeat, and use frames to say what happened on the way, who you met, and what you'll do next — CEFR-aligned, practical, and ready for real conversations.

After this lesson you'll be able to:

  • Tell a short travel story using B1-level frames (e.g. 旅行は予定どおりにいきませんでした (Ryokō wa yotei-dōri ni ikimasen deshita)).
  • Use connectors to explain events: 行く途中で、___がありました (Iku tōchū de, ___ ga arimashita).
  • Describe feelings and future plans with phrases like 思ったより___でした (Omotta yori ___ deshita) and 次は、___たいです (Tsugi wa, ___ tai desu).
A small suitcase and a boarding pass on a café table while someone explains 「行く途中で、___がありました。」 — an image for travel storytelling 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.

旅行は予定どおりにいきませんでした。

Ryokō wa yotei-dōri ni ikimasen deshita.

The trip didn't go as planned.

Meaning: The trip didn't go as planned.

When to use: Use this to start your explanation when something went wrong during a trip.

旅行は予定どおりにいきませんでした。飛行機が遅れました。

Ryokō wa yotei-dōri ni ikimasen deshita. Hikōki ga okuremashita.

The trip didn't go as planned. The plane was delayed.
残念ながら、旅行は予定どおりにいきませんでしたが、楽しいこともありました。

Zannen nagara, ryokō wa yotei-dōri ni ikimasen deshita ga, tanoshii koto mo arimashita.

Unfortunately the trip didn't go as planned, but there were fun moments too.

行く途中で、___がありました。

Iku tochū de, ___ ga arimashita.

On the way there, ___ happened.

Meaning: On the way there, ___ happened.

When to use: Introduce a specific event that occurred while you were traveling (insert a noun like 事故, 渋滞, or 大雨).

Tip: Beginners sometimes use を instead of が (e.g. 事故をありました) — use が to mark the event.

行く途中で、事故がありました。バスが止まりました。

Iku tōchū de, jiko ga arimashita. Basu ga tomarimashita.

On the way there, there was an accident. The bus stopped.
行く途中で、大雨がありましたが、傘を借りて大丈夫でした。

Iku tōchū de, ōame ga arimashita ga, kasa o karite daijōbu deshita.

On the way there, there was heavy rain, but I borrowed an umbrella and was okay.

道に迷いましたが、なんとか戻れました。

Michi ni mayoimashita ga, nantoka modoremashita.

I got lost, but I found my way back.

Meaning: I got lost, but I found my way back.

When to use: Tell a short story about being lost and recovering; a useful phrase for travel mishaps.

道に迷いましたが、なんとか戻れました。地元の人が助けてくれました。

Michi ni mayoimashita ga, nantoka modoremashita. Jimoto no hito ga tasukete kuremashita.

I got lost, but I managed to get back. A local person helped me.
駅で道に迷いましたが、地図を見てなんとか戻れました。

Eki de michi ni mayoimashita ga, chizu o mite nantoka modoremashita.

I got lost at the station, but I looked at the map and found my way back.

思ったより___でした。

Omotta yori ___ deshita.

It was more ___ than I expected.

Meaning: It was more ___ than I expected.

When to use: Compare what you expected with the reality by inserting an adjective or noun (e.g. きれい, 静か).

Tip: Remember: for い-adjectives use the adjective in past form (e.g. 高かったです), not the plain stem.

思ったよりきれいでした。海がとてもきれいでした。

Omotta yori kirei deshita. Umi ga totemo kirei deshita.

It was more beautiful than I expected. The sea was very pretty.
思ったより静かでした。街は夜に静かでした。

Omotta yori shizuka deshita. Machi wa yoru ni shizuka deshita.

It was quieter than I thought. The town was quiet at night.

___人たちに会いました。

___ hito-tachi ni aimashita.

I met some people who ___ .

Meaning: I met some people who ___.

When to use: Mention people you met while traveling by inserting a clause (normal form) before 人たちに会いました。

同じホテルに泊まっていた人たちに会いました。夕食を一緒に食べました。

Onaji hoteru ni tomatte ita hito-tachi ni aimashita. Yūshoku o issho ni tabemashita.

I met people who stayed at the same hotel. We had dinner together.
海外から来た学生たちに会いました。英語で話しました。

Kaigai kara kita gakusei-tachi ni aimashita. Eigo de hanashimashita.

I met students from overseas. We talked in English.

___の写真をたくさん撮りました。

___ no shashin o takusan torimashita.

I took a lot of photos of ___ .

Meaning: I took a lot of photos of ___.

When to use: Talk about the photos you took by inserting a person, object, or place before の写真をたくさん撮りました。

寺院の写真をたくさん撮りました。朝の光がきれいでした。

Jiin no shashin o takusan torimashita. Asa no hikari ga kirei deshita.

I took a lot of photos of the temple. The morning light was beautiful.
街の写真をたくさん撮りました。色々な看板が面白かったです。

Machi no shashin o takusan torimashita. Iroiro na kanban ga omoshirokatta desu.

I took many photos of the city. Various signs were interesting.

次は、___たいです。

Tsugi wa, ___ tai desu.

Next time, I would ___ .

Meaning: Next time, I would ___.

When to use: Say what you will do differently next time by inserting a verb stem (ます形の語幹) into the blank.

次は、もっと早く出発したいです。今回遅れてしまったので。

Tsugi wa, motto hayaku shuppatsu shitai desu. Konkai okurete shimatta node.

Next time, I want to leave earlier. I was late this time.
次は、もっとゆっくり観光したいです。今回は駆け足でした。

Tsugi wa, motto yukkuri kankō shitai desu. Konkai wa kakeashi deshita.

Next time, I want to sightsee more slowly. This time was rushed.

___ときのことは、ずっと忘れません。

___ toki no koto wa, zutto wasuremasen.

I'll never forget the moment when ___ .

Meaning: I'll never forget the moment when ___.

When to use: Describe a memorable moment by inserting a clause in plain form before ときのことは、ずっと忘れません。

初めて富士山を見たときのことは、ずっと忘れません。

Hajimete Fujisan o mita toki no koto wa, zutto wasuremasen.

I'll never forget the moment I first saw Mount Fuji.
現地の人と踊ったときのことは、ずっと忘れません。とても感動しました。

Genchi no hito to odotta toki no koto wa, zutto wasuremasen. Totemo kandō shimashita.

I'll never forget the time I danced with locals. It was very moving.

2. Conversational Listening Practice

Hear phrases in a real mini-conversation.

Anna asks about David's recent trip.

Two people at a park bench sharing travel stories in Japanese, using phrases like 「道に迷いましたが、なんとか戻れました。」

Did the trip go as planned?

Portrait of Anna in a Japanese lesson dialogue

Anna

旅行はどうでしたか？

Ryokō wa dō deshita ka?

How was the trip?

Portrait of David in a Japanese lesson dialogue

David

旅行は予定どおりにいきませんでした。行く途中で、事故がありました。

Ryokō wa yotei-dōri ni ikimasen deshita. Iku tōchū de, jiko ga arimashita.

The trip didn't go as planned. On the way there, there was an accident.

Portrait of Anna in a Japanese lesson dialogue

Anna

大変でしたね。道に迷いましたか？

Taihen deshita ne. Michi ni mayoimashita ka?

That sounds tough. Did you get lost?

Portrait of David in a Japanese lesson dialogue

David

はい、道に迷いましたが、なんとか戻れました。思ったより街は静かでした。

Hai, michi ni mayoimashita ga, nantoka modoremashita. Omotta yori machi wa shizuka deshita.

Yes, I got lost, but I managed to get back. The town was quieter than I expected.

Portrait of Anna in a Japanese lesson dialogue

Anna

いいですね。何か写真を撮りましたか？

Ii desu ne. Nanika shashin o torimashita ka?

Nice. Did you take any photos?

Portrait of David in a Japanese lesson dialogue

David

寺院の写真をたくさん撮りました。次は、もっとゆっくり観光したいです。

Jiin no shashin o takusan torimashita. Tsugi wa, motto yukkuri kankō shitai desu.

I took many photos of the temple. Next time, I want to sightsee more slowly.

3. Guided Practice

Quizzes and matching to lock in meaning.

Which sentence means "The trip didn't go as planned."?

Choose the best completion for: "On the way there, ___ happened." (English: On the way there, there was an accident.)

Which sentence says "I got lost, but I found my way back."?

Which sentence means "I met some people who stayed at the same hotel."?

On the way there, there was an accident. Someone was injured.

行く途中で、___がありました。人がけがをしました。

The sea was more beautiful than I expected. I took many photos.

海は思ったより___でした。写真をたくさん撮りました。

Next time, I want to leave earlier. I was late this time.

次は、もっと早く___たいです。今回は遅れてしまいました。

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:

旅行は予定どおりにいきませんでした。

Ryokō wa yotei-dōri ni ikimasen deshita.

The trip didn't go as planned.

Say this phrase out loud:

行く途中で、___がありました。

Iku tōchū de, ___ ga arimashita.

On the way there, ___ happened.

Say this phrase out loud:

道に迷いましたが、なんとか戻れました。

Michi ni mayoimashita ga, nantoka modoremashita.

I got lost, but I found my way back.

Say this phrase out loud:

思ったより___でした。

Omotta yori ___ deshita.

It was more ___ than I expected.

Say this phrase out loud:

___人たちに会いました。

___ hito-tachi ni aimashita.

I met some people who ___.

Say this phrase out loud:

___の写真をたくさん撮りました。

___ no shashin o takusan torimashita.

I took a lot of photos of ___.

Say this phrase out loud:

次は、___たいです。

Tsugi wa, ___ tai desu.

Next time, I would ___.

Say this phrase out loud:

___ときのことは、ずっと忘れません。

___ toki no koto wa, zutto wasuremasen.

I'll never forget the moment when ___.