How to Ask for Directions in Japanese: 「すみません、駅はどこですか？」 (A2)

Getting a little lost in Japan? No worries! In this lesson, you’ll learn simple, polite Japanese to ask for directions and understand the answers. We’ll cover key phrases like “Where is the station?”, useful landmarks, and the most common request pattern with 〜てください. Practice along the way with short exercises.

Start politely: get attention

In Japan, it’s polite to start with “Excuse me” before asking. Use:

  • すみません…

Then ask your question.

Japanese
すみません、駅はどこですか？
Lit: / excuse me, station (topic) where is?
Excuse me, where is the station?
Japanese
すみません、コンビニはどこですか？
Lit: / excuse me, convenience store (topic) where is?
Excuse me, where is the convenience store?

すみません、駅どこですか？

すみません /
Excuse me / I’m sorry (to get attention)
interjection
すみません、道を教えてください。
Excuse me, please tell me the way.
〜はどこですか /
Where is 〜?
expression
トイレはどこですか？
Where is the restroom?
〜はどちらですか /
Where is 〜? (politer)
expression
受付はどちらですか？
Where is reception?

Requests: 〜てください for directions

When someone tells you what to do (go straight, turn right), they often use “verb + てください” = “Please do X.”

Japanese
まっすぐ行ってください。
Lit: straight go + please
Please go straight.
Japanese
右に曲がってください。
Lit: to the right turn + please
Please turn right.
Japanese
この道をまっすぐ行ってください。
Lit: this road (path) straight go + please
Please go straight along this road.
🔠 Put the words in order

Put the phrase together: "Please go straight along this road."

この道まっすぐ行ってください。

交差点で右曲がってください。

Useful landmarks and words

These are very common in directions.

道（みち） みち
road / street / way
noun
この道をまっすぐ行きます。
I go straight along this road.
角（かど） かど
corner
noun
次の角で左に曲がります。
Turn left at the next corner.
交差点（こうさてん） こうさてん
intersection
noun
交差点で右に曲がってください。
Please turn right at the intersection.
信号（しんごう） しんごう
traffic light
noun
信号を渡ってください。
Please cross at the traffic light.
駅（えき） えき
train station
noun
駅はどこですか？
Where is the station?
コンビニ /
convenience store
noun
コンビニはあちらです。
The convenience store is over there.
前（まえ）／後ろ（うしろ） まえ／うしろ
in front / behind
noun
駅の前にバス停があります。
There is a bus stop in front of the station.
交 intersect 差 cross / difference 点 point

Mini conversation practice

Try to order the lines of this short exchange.

💬 Asking the way to the station

Softening your request: 〜たいんですが

To be extra polite, you can start with what you want to do, plus んですが to soften the tone.

  • 駅に行きたいんですが… (I’d like to go to the station…)
  • 道を教えてください。 (Please tell me the way.)
Japanese
駅に行きたいんですが、どうやって行きますか？
Lit: to station want-to-go + but, how go?
I’d like to go to the station; how do I get there?
🔠 Put the words in order

Start with “As for the station, I’d like to go…”

Understanding typical answers

You’ll often hear a sequence of steps with the -て form:

  • まっすぐ行って、右に曲がって、コンビニの前を通って…

You may also hear counters for order:

  • 一つ目（ひとつめ）= first; 二つ目（ふたつめ）= second; 三つ目（みっつめ）= third

Example:

  • 二つ目の角で左に曲がってください。 (Turn left at the second corner.)

二つ目の角左に曲がってください。

駅にどこですか？ → 駅はどこですか？ Use は to mark the topic (the place you’re asking about). 右で曲がってください。 → 右に曲がってください。 Use に for the direction (right/left).

Quick quiz: choose the best Japanese

Test your understanding.

🧠 Directions A2 Check

Culture tips

  • Start with すみません and keep a friendly tone.
  • If someone looks unsure, show a map on your phone (スマホ) or point to the place name.
  • People may use landmarks more than street names. Listen for コンビニ, 駅, バス停 (bus stop), etc.
  • Always say ありがとうございます at the end.

Bonus phrases:

  • あちらです。 (It’s over there.)
  • ここから近いですよ。 (It’s close from here.)
  • すぐです。 (It’s right away / very close.)

Wrap-up practice

Put together a full, polite request and a common answer.

Japanese
すみません、駅はどこですか？
Lit: excuse me, station (topic) where is?
Excuse me, where is the station?
Japanese
この道をまっすぐ行って、二つ目の交差点で右に曲がってください。
Lit: this road (path) straight go + second intersection at right to turn + please
Go straight along this road and please turn right at the second intersection.

You’ve got this! With すみません, 〜はどこですか, and 〜てください, you can ask clearly and understand the most common directions in Japanese. Next time you’re out exploring, try these phrases—and enjoy the journey.