Lost in Tokyo? Or trying to tell a friend how to get to the café? Japanese has a clear way to talk about places and directions using particles. In this post, you’ll learn how to use に, へ, で, and を to say where things are, where you’re going, and how to give simple directions—plus natural phrases you’ll hear in Japan.

The big picture: particles for place and movement

• に: destination (go to), or location of existence (is/are at)
• へ: direction (towards); often interchangeable with に in movement
• で: place of action (do something at/in)
• を: route/space with certain movement verbs (cross, pass, leave)

We’ll practice each with useful words and everyday sentences.

Essential location and direction words

Here are common place and direction words you’ll use all the time.

に vs で: Being somewhere vs doing something somewhere

• に marks location for existence: someone/something is at a place.
  • カフェにいます。 I am at the café. (animate: いる)
  • 図書館にあります。 It is at the library. (inanimate: ある)
• で marks the place where an action happens:
  • 図書館で勉強します。 I study at the library.
  • 公園で走ります。 I run in the park.

If you “are” there, use に. If you “do” something there, use で.

私は図書館勉強します。

友だちはカフェいます。

自転車は家あります。

を with movement verbs: crossing, leaving, passing

Japanese uses を not only for direct objects, but also for places when the verb describes moving through/over/out of that place.

Common patterns:

• 橋を渡る to cross a bridge
• 公園を通る to go through the park
• 部屋を出る to leave a room
• 道をわたる to cross the road

Think of を here as “the route/space affected by movement.”

橋に渡ります。 → 橋を渡ります。 Use を with 渡る (to cross). に marks destination, which doesn’t fit crossing. 部屋に出ます。 → 部屋を出ます。 Leaving (出る) uses を for the place you exit. 公園に通ります。 → 公園を通ります。 Passing through (通る) takes を.

Position words with の

To locate places relative to landmarks, attach の + position word:

• 〜の前 in front of
• 〜の後ろ behind
• 〜の中 inside
• 〜の外 outside
• 〜の上 on/above
• 〜の下 under
• 〜のとなり next to
• 〜の向かい across from/opposite

This is very common in directions:

• 銀行のとなりです。 It’s next to the bank.
• コンビニの向かいです。 It’s across from the convenience store.

Mini-dialogue: Ask and give directions

Practice putting it all together with a short conversation.

Cultural note: Landmarks and station exits

In Japan, people often use landmarks rather than street names:

• コンビニのとなり next to the convenience store
• 駅の前 in front of the station

Stations have multiple exits: 東口 (east exit), 西口 (west exit), 南口 (south), 北口 (north). Directions often include the exit:

• 駅の東口を出て、まっすぐ行きます。 Leave the east exit and go straight.

Addresses can be block-based (丁目), so landmarks and exits are very practical in daily life.

Put it into practice: short tasks

Try these to reinforce your understanding.

私は駅友だちに会います。

コンビニの前バスを待ちます。

Quick recap

• に: destination or existence at a place (いる/ある)
• へ: direction/towards (often interchangeable with に in movement)
• で: place of action (do something at/in)
• を: route/space with movement verbs (渡る, 通る, 出る)
• Use position words with の: 銀行のとなり, 交差点の前, 駅の向かい

With these patterns, you can ask for directions, describe where things are, and guide someone through busy streets like a local. がんばって！