text:
Japan's Top 100 Cherry Blossom Spots

A feature of Japanese culture is ordering items into lists. This is the list of the 100 top cherry blossom viewing spots in Japan.

Selection criteria
This list was compiled by the Japan Cherry Blossom Association using the following criteria:
 * 1) Each location is well-known
 * 2) There are a relatively large number of fully grown trees
 * 3) Many visitors come to view the cherry blossoms
 * 4) The area has history
 * 5) The surrounding area is harmonious and beautiful
 * 6) Each prefecture is to have at least one spot on the list

History
Cherry blossom viewing, known as hanami, has been a part of Japanese culture since the 8th century. The concept came from China where plum blossoms were the flower of choice. In Japan, the first cherry blossom parties were hosted by the emperor only for himself and other members of the aristocracy around the Imperial Court. From the Heian Period, references to the blossoms and the hanami parties made their way into poetry and paintings, solidifying their position as an integral part of Japanese culture. They are often used as metaphors for life, as they are so beautiful when they bloom but fade and die away so quickly.

Toyotomi Hideyoshi was particularly fond of cherry blossoms and hanami parties. The parties he held at Daigo-ji in Southern Kyoto and Mount Yoshino are well-known to this day. Mount Yoshino is indisputably the best place in the nation for cherry-blossom viewing with over 30,000 trees. Most of those trees were planted during the Nara Period by priests as a part of religious ascetics associated with mountain worship. None of the trees are said to have existed here naturally. Toyotomi Hideyoshi made the mountain famous through his many grand hanami parties. It is said that he had over 5,000 guests at his Mount Yoshino party in 1594. At Daigo-ji, he did his own landscaping, specifically to add hundreds of cherry blossoms and the Sanbo-in Garden for the purpose of hosting one of his parties in 1598. It was a massive event, said to be the biggest flower-viewing event in history.

While the official parties were still limited to the court, samurai later began hosting parties of their own. In time, ordinary citizens made trips in the spring to see the cherry trees. Actual parties among the masses however, did not truly become a part of Japanese culture until the Edo Period.

Since then, cherry blossoms have become a symbol of the nation of Japan. They remain highly regarded with many websites dedicated to highlighting places to see them, festivals, and even making predictions of when they will bloom in each region, since the actual blooming days vary each year depending on the winter weather. Today, the cherry blossom-viewing tradition remains strong and has even spread to other countries where Japan has donated trees.

The List
Although the list itself acts as a ranking system, within the list, no hierarchy is given. The numbers simply mark the position of the location in Japan from Hokkaido (Sakura Namiki Street) in the north to Okinawa (Nago Castle Park) in the south. Sites are also grouped within their respective regions and prefectures. For example, Yoshino has long been known as the best place to view cherry blossoms, but it features at #72 on the list, because it is part of Nara Prefecture (#71-73) in the Kansai area.

See ja:w:日本さくら名所100選 for names in Japanese and more photos.

Hokkaido
1. Nijukken Sakura Namiki Road (Shinhidaka, Hokkaido)
 * Japanese Name: 二十間道路桜並木
 * Number of cherry trees: 3000
 * Typical blossom season: early May to mid-May
 * Cherry blossom festival: early May

2. Matsumae Park (Matsumae, Hokkaido)
 * Japanese Name: 松前公園
 * Number of cherry trees: 10000
 * Typical blossom season: Late April to mid-May
 * Cherry blossom festival: April 29 - May 15 (dates change according to blooming times)

Tohoku

3. Ashino National Park (Goshogawara, Aomori Prefecture)
 * Japanese Name:芦野池沼群県立自然公園藤枝ため池
 * Number of cherry trees: 2200
 * Typical blossom season: Late April to early May
 * Cherry blossom festival: April 29 - May 5

4. Hirosaki Park (Hirosaki, Aomori Prefecture)
 * Japanese Name: 弘前公園
 * Number of cherry trees: 2600
 * Typical blossom season: Late April to early May
 * Cherry blossom festival: End of April through early May

5. Takamatsu Park  (Morioka, Iwate Prefecture)
 * Japanese Name: 高松公園
 * Number of cherry trees: 800
 * Typical blossom season: Mid-April to late April
 * Cherry blossom festival:

6. Kitakami Park (Kitakami, Iwate Prefecture)
 * Japanese Name: 北上市立公園展勝地
 * Number of cherry trees: 10000
 * Typical blossom season: Mid-April to May
 * Cherry blossom festival: Mide-April to early May

7. Funaoka Castle Grounds (Shibata, Miyagi Prefecture)
 * Japanese Name: 船岡城址公園
 * Number of cherry trees: 1000
 * Typical blossom season: mid-April
 * Cherry blossom festival: Mid-April to late April

8. Bank of Hinokinai River and Kakunodate Samurai Residence (Senboku, Akita Prefecture)
 * Japanese Name: 桧木内川堤・角館武家屋敷
 * Number of cherry trees: 400
 * Typical blossom season: mid-April to Early May
 * Cherry blossom festival: April 20 - May 6

9. Senshu Park (Akita, Akita Prefecture)
 * Japanese Name: 千秋公園
 * Number of cherry trees: 810
 * Typical blossom season: mid-April to late April
 * Cherry blossom festival: April 20 - May 1

10. Mato Park (Yokote, Akita Prefecture)
 * Japanese Name: 真人公園
 * Number of cherry trees: 2000
 * Typical blossom season: late April - early May
 * Cherry blossom festival: late April - early May

11. Tsuruoka Park (Tsuruoka, Yamagata Prefecture)
 * Japanese Name: 鶴岡公園
 * Number of cherry trees: 730
 * Typical blossom season: mid-April to late April
 * Cherry blossom festival: late April

12. Eboshiyama Park (Nanyo, Yamagata Prefecture)
 * Japanese Name: 烏帽子山公園
 * Number of cherry trees: 1000
 * Typical blossom season: late April to early May
 * Cherry blossom festival: April 15 to May 5

13. Miharu Shidarezakura (Miharu, Fukushima Prefecture)
 * Japanese Name: 三春町のシダレザクラ
 * Number of cherry trees: 1 (a very old and famous shidarezakura tree)
 * Typical blossom season: mid-April to late April
 * Cherry blossom festival: None

14. Kasumiga Castle Park, (Nihonmatsu, Fukushima Prefecture)
 * Japanese Name: 霞ヶ城公園
 * Number of cherry trees: 4500
 * Typical blossom season: mid-April to late April
 * Cherry blossom festival: April 10 to May 6

15. Tsuruga Castle Park (Aizu-Wakamatsu, Fukushima Prefecture)
 * Japanese Name: 鶴ヶ城公園
 * Number of cherry trees: 1000
 * Typical blossom season: mid-April to late April
 * Cherry blossom festival: One weekend in April (varies by year, usually second or third weekend)

Kanto
16. Kamine Park (Hitachi, Ibaraki Prefecture)
 * Japanese Name: 日立市かみね公園・平和通り
 * Number of cherry trees: 1000
 * Typical blossom season: early April to mid-April
 * Cherry blossom festival: April 1–22

17. Shizumine Park (Nakashi, Ibaraki Prefecture)
 * Japanese Name: 静峰公園
 * Number of cherry trees: 2100 yaezakura and 200 yoshino
 * Typical blossom season: late April to early May
 * Cherry blossom festival: April 21 - May 6

18. Nikko Pilgrimage Route (Utsunomiya/Nikko, Tochigi Prefecture)
 * Japanese Name: 日光街道桜並木
 * Number of cherry trees: 1500
 * Typical blossom season: mid-April to late April
 * Cherry blossom festival: None

19. Ohirasan Prefectural Nature Park (Tochigi, Tochigi Prefecture)
 * Japanese Name: 太平山県立自然公園
 * Number of cherry trees: 4000
 * Typical blossom season: late March to early April
 * Cherry blossom festival: April 6–15

20. Akaginanmen Cherry Blossoms (Maebashi, Gunma Prefecture)
 * Japanese Name: 赤城南面千本桜
 * Number of cherry trees: 1000
 * Typical blossom season: early April to mid-April
 * Cherry blossom festival: April 7–22

21. Sakurayama Park (Fujioka, Gunma Prefecture)
 * Japanese Name: 桜山公園
 * Number of cherry trees: 10,000 in April (7000 bloom in November and December)
 * Typical blossom season: mid-April
 * Cherry blossom festival: None

22. Kumagaya Sakuratsutsumi (Kumagaya, Saitama Prefecture)
 * Japanese Name: 熊谷桜堤
 * Number of cherry trees: 500
 * Typical blossom season: early April to mid-April
 * Cherry blossom festival: April 3–15

23. Omiya Park (Saitama, Saitama Prefecture)
 * Japanese Name: 大宮公園
 * Number of cherry trees: 1000
 * Typical blossom season: late March to early April
 * Cherry blossom festival: None

24. Nagatoro (Nagatoro, Saitama Prefecture)
 * Japanese Name: 長瀞
 * Number of cherry trees: 3000
 * Typical blossom season: early April to mid-April
 * Cherry blossom festival: None

25. Shimizu Park (Noda, Chiba Prefecture)
 * Japanese Name: 清水公園
 * Number of cherry trees: 2000
 * Typical blossom season: late March to early April
 * Cherry blossom festival: March 24 to April 8

26. Mobara Park (Mobara, Chiba Prefecture)
 * Japanese Name: 茂原公園
 * Number of cherry trees: 2850
 * Typical blossom season: late March to early April
 * Cherry blossom festival: late March to early April

27. Izumi Nature Park (Chiba, Chiba Prefecture)
 * Japanese Name: 泉自然公園
 * Number of cherry trees: 1500
 * Typical blossom season: late March to early April
 * Cherry blossom festival: None

28. Ueno Onshi Park (Tokyo (Taito-ku)), Tokyo Prefecture)
 * Japanese Name: 上野恩賜公園
 * Number of cherry trees: 1000
 * Typical blossom season: late March to early April
 * Cherry blossom festival: March 20 to April 8

29. Shinjuku Gyoen (Tokyo, Tokyo Prefecture)
 * Japanese Name: 新宿御苑
 * Number of cherry trees: 1300
 * Typical blossom season: late March to late April
 * Cherry blossom festival: None

30. Sumida Park (Tokyo (Sumida-ku)), Tokyo Prefecture)
 * Japanese Name: 隅田公園
 * Number of cherry trees: 335
 * Typical blossom season: late March to early April
 * Cherry blossom festival: late March to early April

31. Koganei Park (Koganei, Tokyo Prefecture)
 * Japanese Name: 小金井公園
 * Number of cherry trees: 1700
 * Typical blossom season: early April
 * Cherry blossom festival: April 6–8

32. Inokashira Park (Musashino, Tokyo Prefecture)
 * Japanese Name: 井の頭恩賜公園
 * Number of cherry trees: 250 around the pond (500 total)
 * Typical blossom season: late March to early April
 * Cherry blossom festival: None

33. Kanagawa Kenritsu Mitsuike Park (Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture)
 * Japanese Name: 神奈川県立三ツ池公園
 * Number of cherry trees: 1600
 * Typical blossom season: late March to mid-April
 * Cherry blossom festival: None

34. Odawara Castle Park (Odawara, Kanagawa Prefecture)
 * Japanese Name: 小田原城址公園
 * Number of cherry trees: 350
 * Typical blossom season: late March to early April
 * Cherry blossom festival: late March to early April

35. Kinugasayama Park (Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture)
 * Japanese Name: 衣笠山公園
 * Number of cherry trees: 2000
 * Typical blossom season: late March to early April
 * Cherry blossom festival: March 29 to April 9

Chubu

36. Okotsu/Okozu Canal (Tsubame, Niigata Prefecture)
 * Japanese Name: 大河津分水
 * Number of cherry trees: 3000
 * Typical blossom season: early April to mid-April
 * Cherry blossom festival: April 1–21

37. Muramatsu Park (Gosen, Niigata Prefecture)
 * Japanese Name: 村松公園
 * Number of cherry trees: 3000
 * Typical blossom season: mid-April
 * Cherry blossom festival: early April to mid-April

38. Takada Castle Park (Joetsu, Niigata Prefecture)
 * Japanese Name: 高田城址公園
 * Number of cherry trees: 4000 (with 3000 lanterns)
 * Typical blossom season: mid-April
 * Cherry blossom festival: April 6–22

39. Matsukawa Park (Toyama, Toyama Prefecture)
 * Japanese Name: 松川公園
 * Number of cherry trees: 500
 * Typical blossom season: early April to mid-April
 * Cherry blossom festival: April 6–8

40. Takaoka Castle Park (Takaoka, Toyama Prefecture)
 * Japanese Name: 高岡古城公園
 * Number of cherry trees: 1800
 * Typical blossom season: early April to mid-April
 * Cherry blossom festival: April 1 to mid-April

41. Kenrokuen Garden (Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture)
 * Japanese Name: 兼六園
 * Number of cherry trees: 400
 * Typical blossom season: early April to mid-April
 * Cherry blossom festival: 1 week in early April

42. Asuwayama Park (Fukui, Fukui Prefecture)
 * Japanese Name: 足羽川・足羽山公園
 * Number of cherry trees: 4000
 * Typical blossom season: early April to mid-April
 * Cherry blossom festival: April 1–22

43. Maruoka Castle Park (Sakai, Fukui Prefecture)
 * Japanese Name: 丸岡城公園
 * Number of cherry trees: 400
 * Typical blossom season: early April to mid-April
 * Cherry blossom festival: April 1–20

44. Oboshi Park (Fujikawa, Yamanashi Prefecture)
 * Japanese Name: 大法師公園
 * Number of cherry trees: 2000
 * Typical blossom season: late March to early April
 * Cherry blossom festival: March 31-April 8

45. Garyu Park (Suzaka, Nagano Prefecture)
 * Japanese Name: 臥竜公園
 * Number of cherry trees: 800
 * Typical blossom season: mid-April to late April
 * Cherry blossom festival: April 7–29

46. Takato Castle Park (Ina, Nagano Prefecture)
 * Japanese Name: 高遠城址公園
 * Number of cherry trees: 1500
 * Typical blossom season: early April to mid-April
 * Cherry blossom festival: April 1–30

47. Komoro Castle Ruins (Komoro, Nagano Prefecture)
 * Japanese Name: 小諸城趾懐古園
 * Number of cherry trees: 400
 * Typical blossom season: mid-April to late April
 * Cherry blossom festival: April 10–30

48. Along the Shinsakai River (Kakamigahara, Gifu Prefecture)
 * Japanese Name: 新境川堤・百十郎桜
 * Number of cherry trees: 1200
 * Typical blossom season: late March to early April
 * Cherry blossom festival: March 31 - April 1

49. Usuzumi Park (Motosu, Gifu Prefecture)
 * Japanese Name: 根尾谷・淡墨公園
 * Number of cherry trees: 1 (a tree over 1500 years old)
 * Typical blossom season: mid-April
 * Cherry blossom festival: None

50. Kamagatani Valley (Ikeda, Gifu Prefecture)
 * Japanese Name: 霞間ヶ渓
 * Number of cherry trees: 1500
 * Typical blossom season: late March to early April
 * Cherry blossom festival: April 8

51. Sakura no Sato (Itō, Shizuoka Prefecture)
 * Japanese Name: さくらの里
 * Number of cherry trees: 3000
 * Typical blossom season: 1000 bloom from late March to April, while the others are of varieties that bloom at different times from September through May)
 * Cherry blossom festival: April 7–8

52. Fuji Cemetery (Oyama, Shizuoka Prefecture)
 * Japanese Name: 冨士霊園
 * Number of cherry trees: 8000
 * Typical blossom season: early April to mid-April
 * Cherry blossom festival: None

53. Okazaki Park (Okazaki, Aichi Prefecture)
 * Japanese Name: 岡崎公園
 * Number of cherry trees: 1700
 * Typical blossom season: late March to early April
 * Cherry blossom festival: April 1–15

54. Four Seasons Road at Yamazaki River (Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture)
 * Japanese Name: 山崎川四季の道
 * Number of cherry trees: 600
 * Typical blossom season: late March to early April
 * Cherry blossom festival: None

55. Tsuruma Park (Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture)
 * Japanese Name: 鶴舞公園
 * Number of cherry trees: 1000
 * Typical blossom season: late March to early April
 * Cherry blossom festival: April 8

56. Gojo River (Iwakura, Aichi Prefecture)
 * Japanese Name: 五条川
 * Number of cherry trees: 1400
 * Typical blossom season: late March to early April
 * Cherry blossom festival: April 1–10

Kansai

57. Mitake (Tsu, Mie Prefecture)
 * Japanese Name: 三多気
 * Number of cherry trees: 500
 * Typical blossom season: mid-April
 * Cherry blossom festival: Sometime in mid-April

58. Miyagawa-Tsutsumi Park (Ise, Mie Prefecture)
 * Japanese Name: 宮川堤
 * Number of cherry trees: 1000
 * Typical blossom season: late March to early April
 * Cherry blossom festival: None

59. Kaizu Osaki (Takashima, Shiga Prefecture)
 * Japanese Name: 海津大崎
 * Number of cherry trees: 800
 * Typical blossom season: early April to mid-April
 * Cherry blossom festival: None

60. Hokoen Park (Nagahama, Shiga Prefecture)
 * Japanese Name: 豊公園
 * Number of cherry trees: 700
 * Typical blossom season: early April to mid-April
 * Cherry blossom festival: None

61. Arashiyama (Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture)
 * Japanese Name: 嵐山
 * Number of cherry trees: 1500
 * Typical blossom season: early April
 * Cherry blossom festival: None

62. Ninnaji Temple (Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture)
 * Japanese Name: 仁和寺 (御室桜)
 * Number of cherry trees: 500
 * Typical blossom season: early April to mid-April
 * Cherry blossom festival: None

63. Daigoji Temple (Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture)
 * Japanese Name: 醍醐寺
 * Number of cherry trees: 1000
 * Typical blossom season: late March to early April
 * Cherry blossom festival: None

64. Kasagiyama Natural Park (Kasagi, Kyoto Prefecture)
 * Japanese Name: 笠置山自然公園
 * Number of cherry trees: 3000
 * Typical blossom season: late March to early April
 * Cherry blossom festival: None

65. Osaka Castle Park (Osaka, Osaka Prefecture)
 * Japanese Name: 大阪城公園
 * Number of cherry trees: 600
 * Typical blossom season: early April
 * Cherry blossom festival: None

66. Japan Mint (Osaka, Osaka Prefecture)
 * Japanese Name: 造幣局の通り抜け
 * Number of cherry trees: 350
 * Typical blossom season: Only open to the public from April 17–23
 * Cherry blossom festival: None

67. Expo Park (Suita, Osaka Prefecture)
 * Japanese Name: 万博記念公園
 * Number of cherry trees: 5500
 * Typical blossom season: early April
 * Cherry blossom festival: late March to early April

68. Himeji Castle (Himeji, Hyogo Prefecture)
 * Japanese Name: 姫路城
 * Number of cherry trees: 1000
 * Typical blossom season: early April
 * Cherry blossom festival: April 7

69. Akashi Park (Akashi, Hyogo Prefecture)
 * Japanese Name: 明石公園
 * Number of cherry trees: 1200
 * Typical blossom season: late March to early April
 * Cherry blossom festival: None

70. Shukugawa Park (Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture)
 * Japanese Name: 夙川公園・夙川河川敷緑地
 * Number of cherry trees: 1660
 * Typical blossom season: late March to early April
 * Cherry blossom festival: April 8

71. Nara Park (Nara, Nara Prefecture)
 * Japanese Name: 奈良公園
 * Number of cherry trees: 1700
 * Typical blossom season: late March to early April
 * Cherry blossom festival: None

72. Mount Yoshino (Yoshino, Nara Prefecture)
 * Japanese Name: 吉野山
 * Number of cherry trees: 30,000
 * Typical blossom season: early April to late April
 * Cherry blossom festival: April 11–12

73. Koriyama Castle Park (Yamatokoriyama, Nara Prefecture)
 * Japanese Name: 郡山城址公園
 * Number of cherry trees: 1000
 * Typical blossom season: late March to early April
 * Cherry blossom festival: March 30 - April 8

74. Kimiidera Temple (Wakayama, Wakayama Prefecture)
 * Japanese Name: 紀三井寺
 * Number of cherry trees: 500
 * Typical blossom season: late March to early April
 * Cherry blossom festival: late March to mid-April

75. Negoroji Temple (Iwade, Wakayama Prefecture)
 * Japanese Name: 根来寺
 * Number of cherry trees: 7000
 * Typical blossom season: late March to early April
 * Cherry blossom festival: None

76. Shichikawa Dam (Kozagawa, Wakayama Prefecture)
 * Japanese Name: 七川ダム湖畔
 * Number of cherry trees: 3000
 * Typical blossom season: late March to early April
 * Cherry blossom festival: April 8

Chugoku

77. Kyusho Park (Tottori, Tottori Prefecture)
 * Japanese Name: 久松公園
 * Number of cherry trees: 250
 * Typical blossom season: Late March to early April
 * Cherry blossom festival: None

78. Utsubuki Park (Kurayoshi, Tottori Prefecture)
 * Japanese Name: 打吹公園
 * Number of cherry trees: 4000
 * Typical blossom season: late March to early April
 * Cherry blossom festival: late March to early June (this is the Spring Festival, so it extends well beyond the blossom season)

79. Matsue Castle Park (Matsue, Shimane Prefecture)
 * Japanese Name: 松江城山公園
 * Number of cherry trees: 300
 * Typical blossom season: late March to mid-April
 * Cherry blossom festival: March 29 to April 15

80. Bank of the Hii River (Unnan, Shimane Prefecture)
 * Japanese Name: 斐伊川堤防桜並木
 * Number of cherry trees: 1500
 * Typical blossom season: late March to mid-April
 * Cherry blossom festival: 1 month from late March to late April

81. Kakuzan Park (Tsuyama, Okayama Prefecture)
 * Japanese Name: 鶴山公園
 * Number of cherry trees: 1000
 * Typical blossom season: late March to mid-April
 * Cherry blossom festival: April 1–15

82. Senkoji Park (Onomichi, Hiroshima Prefecture)
 * Japanese Name: 千光寺公園
 * Number of cherry trees: 10,000
 * Typical blossom season: late March to mid-April
 * Cherry blossom festival: End of March

83. Ueno Park (Shobara, Hiroshima Prefecture)
 * Japanese Name: 上野公園
 * Number of cherry trees: 1000
 * Typical blossom season: early to mid-April
 * Cherry blossom festival: April 1–30

84. Kikko Park (Iwakuni, Yamaguchi Prefecture)
 * Japanese Name: 吉香公園・錦帯橋
 * Number of cherry trees: 3000
 * Typical blossom season: late March to early April
 * Cherry blossom festival: None

85. Tokiwa Park (Ube, Yamaguchi Prefecture)
 * Japanese Name: 常盤公園
 * Number of cherry trees: 3500
 * Typical blossom season: late March to mid-April
 * Cherry blossom festival: April 1 - ?

Shikoku
86. Seibu Park (Tokushima, Tokushima Prefecture)
 * Japanese Name: 西部公園
 * Number of cherry trees: 500
 * Typical blossom season: Mid-March to early April
 * Cherry blossom festival: None

87. Kotohiki Park (Kanonji, Kagawa Prefecture)
 * Japanese Name: 琴弾公園
 * Number of cherry trees: 450
 * Typical blossom season: Early to mid-April
 * Cherry blossom festival: None

88. Matsuyama Park (Matsuyama, Ehime Prefecture)
 * Japanese Name: 城山公園
 * Number of cherry trees: 200
 * Typical blossom season: Late March to early April
 * Cherry blossom festival: April 6–8

89. Kagamino Park (Kami, Kochi Prefecture)
 * Japanese Names: 鏡野公園
 * Number of cherry trees: 600
 * Typical blossom season: late March to early April
 * Cherry blossom festival: late March to early April

90. Makino Park (Sakawa, Kochi Prefecture)
 * Japanese Name: 牧野公園
 * Number of cherry trees: 600
 * Typical blossom season: late March to early April
 * Cherry blossom festival: None

Kyushu and Okinawa
91. Nishi Park (Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture)
 * Japanese Name: 西公園
 * Number of cherry trees: 1300
 * Typical blossom season: late March to early April
 * Cherry blossom festival: None

92. Ogi Park (Ogi, Saga Prefecture)
 * Japanese Name: 小城公園
 * Number of cherry trees: 3000
 * Typical blossom season: late March to early April
 * Cherry blossom festival: April 6–8

93. Omura Park (Omura, Nagasaki Prefecture)
 * Japanese Name: 大村公園
 * Number of cherry trees: 2000
 * Typical blossom season: late March to mid-April
 * Cherry blossom festival: April 1

94. Kumamoto Castle (Kumamoto, Kumamoto Prefecture)
 * Japanese Name: 熊本城
 * Number of cherry trees: 800
 * Typical blossom season: late March to early April
 * Cherry blossom festival: None

95. Lakeside of Ichifusa Dam (Mizukami, Kumamoto Prefecture)
 * Japanese Name: 市房ダム湖畔
 * Number of cherry trees: 20,000
 * Typical blossom season: mid-March to early April
 * Cherry blossom festival: March 3 - April 1 (most festivities March 31 and April 1)

96. Minamata Cherry Line (Minamata, Kumamoto Prefecture)
 * Japanese Name: 水俣市チェリーライン
 * Number of cherry trees: 2000 (500 at the Yunoko Cherry Line)
 * Typical blossom season: late March to early April
 * Cherry blossom festival: April 1

97. Oka Castle Park (Taketa, Oita Prefecture)
 * Japanese Name: 岡城公園
 * Number of cherry trees: 1500
 * Typical blossom season: late March to early April
 * Cherry blossom festival: April 1

98. Mochio Park (Miyakonojo, Miyazaki Prefecture)
 * Japanese Name: 母智丘公園
 * Number of cherry trees: 2600
 * Typical blossom season: late March to early April
 * Cherry blossom festival: March 31 to April 1

99. Tadamoto Park (Okuchi, Kagoshima Prefecture)
 * Japanese Name: 忠元公園
 * Number of cherry trees: 1000
 * Typical blossom season: late March to early April
 * Cherry blossom festival: April 1

100. Nago Castle Park (Nago, Okinawa)
 * Japanese Name: 名護城公園
 * Number of cherry trees: 20,000
 * Typical blossom season: late January to early February
 * Cherry blossom festival: late January

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Japan's Top 100 Cherry Blossom Spots


text:
Japan's Top 3

After the Three Views were composed in the 17th century, many authors have come up with their own lists of Japanese sites and attractions. While there are countless lists and variations thereof, here is a selection of the best-known ones:

Three Views

 * Amanohashidate, Kyoto
 * Matsushima, Miyagi
 * Miyajima, Hiroshima

New Three Views
日本新三景
 * Onuma, Hokkaido
 * Miho no Matsubara, Shizuoka
 * Yaba Valley, Oita

Three Great Night Views

三大夜景 Sandaiyakei
 * Hakodate seen from Mount Hakodate
 * Kobe and Osaka Bay seen from Mount Rokko
 * Nagasaki seen from Mount Inasa

New Three Great Night Views
新三大夜景 Shin-sandaiyakei

 * Kitakyushu seen from Mount Sarakurayama
 * Nara seen from Mount Wakakusayama
 * Yamanashi seen from Fuefuki River Fruit Park

Three Famous Castles
三名城 Sanmeijō. A list written by Ogyu Sorai in the Edo Period. He chose these three castles as the top among those designed by Kato Kiyomasa and Todo Takatora who he considered to be the best castle designers. All three are modern reconstructions, since Kumamoto Castle burned down during the 1877 Satsuma Rebellion and Nagoya and Osaka Castles were destroyed during World War II. Himeji Castle, widely recognized as Japan's greatest surviving castle, didn't make the cut back in the late 1600s.

 * Nagoya Castle Nagoya, Aichi
 * Osaka Castle Osaka, Osaka
 * Kumamoto Castle Kumamoto, Kumamoto

Three Great Mountain Castles
三大山城 Sandaiyamajiro

 * Bitchu Matsuyama Castle Takahashi
 * Iwamura Castle Iwamura
 * Takatori Castle Takatori

Three Great Flatland Mountain Castles
三大平山城 Sandaihirayamajiro.

 * Himeji Castle in Himeji, Hyogo
 * Matsuyama Castle in Matsuyama, Ehime
 * Tsuyama Castle in Tsuyama, Okayama

Three Famous Gardens

三名園 Sanmeien

It is unclear when these gardens were chosen or by whom. The first recorded list dates back to 1899, but a postcard bought by Shiki Masaoka from his visit to Korakuen Garden in 1891 has "Korakuen Garden, Number 1 of the Top 3 Gardens" written on the back. It is widely believed that the gardens follow the "Snow-Moon-Flower" (雪月花) aesthetic coined by a famous Chinese poem by Bai Juyi. Kenrokuen Garden, famous for its snowy scenery, represents the "Snow" (雪), Korakuen Garden, which to this day has an autumn moon-viewing event, represents the "Moon" (月), and Kairakuen, known for its early spring plum blossoms, represents the "Flower" (花). In addition, each of the gardens are strolling gardens built by famous daimyo (The Tokugawa built Kairakuen, the Ikeda built Korakuen, and the Maeda built Kenrokuen) which is also believed to have played a role in which gardens were given the prestigious designation.

 * Kairakuen, Mito, Ibaraki
 * Kenrokuen, Kanazawa, Ishikawa
 * Kōrakuen, Okayama, Okayama

Three Great Festivals
三大祭り Sandai Matsuri
 * Gion Matsuri, Kyoto
 * Tenjin Matsuri, Osaka
 * Kanda and Sannō Matsuri, Tokyo

Three Beautiful Festivals
日本三大美祭り Nihon Sandai bimatsuri The beauty list is often referenced interchangeably with the Three Great Float Festivals (日本三大曳山祭り Nihonsandai hikiyamamatsuri), which sometimes features Nagahama's Hikiyama Festival in place of the Chichibu Yomatsuri.
 * Gion Festival (Kyoto, Kyoto)
 * Takayama Festival (Takayama, Gifu)
 * Chichibu Yomatsuri (Chichibu, Saitama)

Three Great Obon Festivals
日本三大盆踊り Nihon Sandai Bon-odori
 * Nishimonai Festival (Ugo, Akita)
 * Gujo Odori (Gujo, Gifu)
 * Awa Odori (Tokushima, Tokushima)

Three Great Naked Festivals
日本三大裸祭り Nihon Sandai Hadakamatsuri Some lists replace the Konomiya Naked Festival with the Hadakabo Festival in Hofu, Yamaguchi or the Furukawa Festival in Hida, Gifu.
 * Saidaiji Eyo (Okayama, Okayama)
 * Wakamiya Shrine Autumn Festival (Bungotakada, Oita)
 * Konomiya Naked Festival (Inazawa, Aichi)

Three Great Fireworks
日本三大花火 Nihon Sandai Hanabi
 * Omagari Fireworks (Daisen, Akita)
 * Tsuchiura All Japan Fireworks (Tsuchiura, Ibaraki)
 * Nagaoka Fireworks (Nagaoka, Niigata)

Hot Springs
Certainly one of the more hotly contested categories. (No pun intended).

Three Great Hot Springs
三大温泉 Sandaionsen

 * Atami Onsen, Shizuoka
 * Beppu Onsen, Oita
 * Shirahama Onsen, Wakayama

Three Famous Springs
三名泉 Sanmeisen. Authored by Hayashi Razan, father of Hayashi Gahō.

 * Arima Onsen, Hyogo
 * Gero Onsen, Gifu
 * Kusatsu Onsen, Gunma

Three Old Springs

三古湯 Sankotō, Three Old Hot Springs.

 * Dogo Onsen, Ehime
 * Arima Onsen, Hyogo
 * Shirahama, Wakayama

Three Baths of Fusō
扶桑三名湯 Fusō-sanmeitō. Fusō is a poetic name for Japan and this one is credited to traveling haiku poet Matsuo Basho.
 * Arima Onsen, Hyogo
 * Yamanaka Onsen, Ishikawa
 * Kusatsu Onsen, Gunma

Three Great Inari Shrines

三大稲荷 Sandai Inari

As the head of all Inari shrines, Fushimi Inari Shrine is naturally one of the top three, but there is little historical or present consensus on the others. After Fushimi Inari, the list varies depending on the source. Takekoma Shrine in Iwanuma and Kasama Inari Shrine in Kasama are also suggested by some. To further confuse things, there is a "Top 5 Inari Shrines" (五大稲荷) list that doesn't contain any shrines in the "Top 3" list

 * Fushimi Inari Shrine, Kyoto
 * Toyokawa Inari Shrine, Aichi
 * Saijō Inari, Okayama or Yūtoku Inari Shrine, Kashima

Three Great Tenjin Shrines
三大天神 Sandai Tenjin

All Tenjin (Tenmangu) shrines are dedicated to the worship of Sugawara Michizane. This top three list actually highlights his exile from Kyoto to Dazaifu. Along the way, he stopped in Hofu and built the first Tenjin shrine. Official dedication of shrines to him began after his death when a series of natural disasters and tragedies in the capital were believed to be caused by his restless soul seeking vengeance for his unjust exile. Kitano Tenmangu was built to pacify him.

 * Kitano Tenman-gū in Kyoto, Kyoto
 * Dazaifu Tenman-gū in Dazaifu, Fukuoka
 * Hōfu Tenman-gū in Hofu, Yamaguchi

Three Great Hachiman Shrines
三八幡 San Hachiman

 * Usa Hachimangu Shrine (Usa, Oita)
 * Iwashimizu Hachimangu Shrine (Yawata, Kyoto)
 * Hakozaki Hachimangu Shrine (Fukuoka, Fukuoka)

Three Great Torii
三大鳥居 Sandai Torii
 * Omiwa Shrine (Sakurai, Nara)
 * Itsukushima Shrine (Miyajima, Hiroshima)
 * Kehi Shrine (Tsuruga, Fukui)

Three Sacred Grounds
三大霊場 sandai-reijo

 * Mount Koya
 * Mount Hiei
 * Mount Osore

Three Famous Big Buddhas
三大大仏 Sandai-daibutsu

 * Todaiji, Nara
 * Kotokuin, Kamakura
 * Daibutsuji, Takaoka

Three Pagodas
三名塔 Sanmeitō
 * Horyuji, Ikaruga, Nara
 * Daigoji, Kyoto, Kyoto
 * Rurikoji, Yamaguchi, Yamaguchi

Three Hase Temples
三長谷 Sanhase
 * Hasedera (Sakurai, Nara)
 * Hasedera (Kamakura, Kanagawa)
 * Hasedera (Nagano, Nagano)

Three Kannon Temples
三大観音 Sandai Kannon
 * Asakusa Kannon (Tokyo, Tokyo)
 * Osu Kannon (Nagoya, Aichi)
 * Tsu Kannon (Tsu, Mie)

Three Famous Mountains
三名山 Sanmeizan (Three Famous Mountains), also 三霊山 Sanreizan (Three Sacred Mountains)

 * Mount Fuji
 * Mount Haku
 * Mount Tate

Three Clear Water Rivers
三大清流 Sandai seiryū
 * Kakita River, Shizuoka
 * Nagara River, Gifu
 * Shimanto River, Kochi

Three Gorges
三大渓谷 Sandai Keikoku
 * Kiyotsu Gorge (Tokamachi, Niigata)
 * Kurobe Gorge (Kurobe, Toyama)
 * Osugi Gorge (Odai, Mie)

Three Rapid Tides
三大急潮 Sandai kyūchō
 * Kurushima Strait off Imabari
 * Naruto Strait between Awaji Island and Naruto (Tokushima)
 * Kanmon Strait between Shimonoseki and Kitakyushu

Three Caves
三大鍾乳洞 Sandai-shōnyūdō
 * Akiyoshi-do (Akiyoshidai, Yamaguchi)
 * Ryuga-do (Kami, Kochi)
 * Ryusen-do Cave (Iwaizumi, Iwate)

Three Waterfalls
日本三名瀑 Nihon San-meibaku
 * Nachi Falls
 * Kegon Falls
 * Fukuroda Falls (Ibaraki Prefecture)

Three Pine Groves
三大松原 Sandai-matsubara
 * Miho no Matsubara (Shizuoka, Shizuoka)
 * Niji no Matsubara (Karatsu, Saga)
 * Kehi no Matsubara (Tsuruga, Fukui)

Three Snow Monsters
三大樹氷 Sandai-juhyo

Certain mountains in northern Japan have the right trees and weather conditions to cover the trees completely in snow to transform them into Juhyo (樹氷) or "Snow Monsters" (also sometimes called "Ice Monsters" in Japanese). These sites were chosen because they feature a good number of snow monsters along with having a ski lift for easy access.
 * Mount Zao (Zaō Onsen, Yamagata)
 * Mount Hakkoda (Aomori, Aomori)
 * Mount Moriyoshi (Kitaakita, Akita)

Cherry Blossom Spots
三大桜名所 Sandai Sakura Meisho

 * Mount Yoshino (Yoshino, Nara)
 * Hirosaki Park (Hirosaki, Aomori)
 * Takato Castle (Ina, Nagano)

Cherry Blossom Trees
三大桜 Sandai-zakura
 * Miharu Takizakura (Miharu, Fukushima)
 * Neodani Usuzumi-zakura (Motosu, Gifu)
 * Yamataka Jindai-zakura (Hokuto, Yamanashi)

Night Cherry Blossoms
三大夜桜 Sandai-yozakura

 * Takada Park (Joetsu, Niigata)
 * Hirosaki Park (Hirosaki, Aomori)
 * Ueno Park (Tokyo)

Three Autumn Colors
三大紅葉の里 Sandai-momiji-no-sato
 * Nikko, Tochigi
 * Arashiyama, Kyoto
 * Yaba Gorge, Oita

Three Hidden Regions
三大秘境 Sandaihikyō
 * Shirakawa-go, Gifu
 * Iya Valley, Tokushima
 * Shiiba, Miyazaki

Three Sake Towns
日本三大酒処 Sandai Sakedokoro
 * Fushimi, Kyoto/South
 * Nada, Kobe
 * Saijō, Higashihiroshima

Three Historical Battlefields
三大古戦場　Sandai-kosenjō

 * Dan-no-ura 1185 (Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi)
 * Okehazama 1560 (Nagoya, Aichi)
 * Sekigahara 1600 (Sekigahara, Gifu)

Three Historic Warehouse Towns
日本三大蔵の町 Sandai Kuranomachi
 * Kitakata, Fukushima
 * Kawagoe, Saitama
 * Kurashiki, Okayama

Three Ceramicware Areas
三大焼き物 Sandai-yakimono
 * Mino-yaki (Tajimi and other eastern Gifu)
 * Seto-yaki (Seto, Aichi)
 * Arita-yaki (or Imari-yaki) (Arita and Imari, Saga)

Three Lacquerware Towns
日本三大漆器 Sandai Shikki
 * Kainan, Wakayama
 * Aizu-Wakamatsu, Fukushima
 * Wajima, Ishikawa

Three Chinatowns
三大中華街　Sandai-chūkagai

 * Yokohama Chūkagai, Yokohama
 * Shinchi-Chūkagai, Nagasaki
 * Nankinmachi, Kobe

Three Beautiful Ports
三大美港 Sandai-bikō
 * Shimizu, Shizuoka, Shizuoka
 * Kobe, Hyogo
 * Nagasaki, Nagasaki

Three Fishery Ports
三大漁港　Sandai-gyokō

 * Kushiro, Hokkaido
 * Choshi, Chiba (prefecture)
 * Yaizu, Shizuoka (prefecture)

Three morning markets
三大朝市　Sandai-asaichi

 * Wajima, Ishikawa - (Unfortunately devastated by a great fire after the earthquake Jan 2024)
 * Katsuura, Chiba
 * Takayama, Gifu

Soba
三大そば Sandai-soba, buckwheat noodles
 * Wanko Soba (Morioka/Hanamaki, Iwate)
 * Izumo Soba (Izumo, Shimane)
 * Togakushi Soba (Nagano, Nagano)

Ramen
三大ラーメン Sandai-raamen
 * Sapporo Ramen (Sapporo, Hokkaido) - miso soup based
 * Kitakata Ramen (Kitakata, Fukushima) - soy sause based
 * Hakata Ramen (Fukuoka, Fukuoka) - pork broth based

Udon
三大うどん Sandai-udon
 * Sanuki Udon (Takamatsu, Kagawa)
 * Inaniwa Udon (Yuzawa, Akita)
 * Mizusawa Udon (Shibukawa, Gunma)

Beef
三大和牛 Sandai-wagyu Some sources also claim Yonezawa Beef (Yonezawa) is one of the top three beefs.
 * Kobe Beef (Kobe, Hyogo)
 * Omi Beef (Shiga)
 * Matsusaka Beef (Matsusaka, Mie)

Green Tea
三大銘茶 Sandai-meicha
 * Shizuoka
 * Uji (Kyoto prefecture)
 * Sayama (Saitama prefecture), or more recently Kagoshima

Others
三大美人県 sandai bijin ken

The three prefectures which produce the most beautiful women: Akita, Kyoto and Fukuoka - sorry, no photos.

title: Japan's Top 3


text:
Japan Alps

The Japan Alps (日本アルプス Nihon Arupusu) is the common name of the mountain range that runs down the spine of the main Japanese island, Honshu.

The name is only somewhat hyperbolic, as the Alps include nearly all of Japan's tallest mountains (with the notable exception of Mount Fuji), many of them over 3000 meters and capped with snow well into the summer. The Japan Alps are typically divided into three sections, which also have their own alternative names:

 * The Northern Alps (北アルプス Kita Arupusu), aka the Hida Mountains (飛騨山脈 Hida-sanmyaku), in the Oku-Hida region of Gifu
 * The Central Alps (中央アルプス Chūō Arupusu), aka the Kiso Mountains (木曽山脈 Kiso-sanmyaku), mostly in Nagano
 * The Southern Alps (南アルプス Minami Arupusu), aka the Akashi Mountains (赤石山脈 Akashi-sanmyaku) in Nagano, Yamanashi and Shizuoka prefectures

title: Japan Alps


text:
Japanese phrasebook

Japanese (日本語 nihongo) is spoken in Japan, and essentially nowhere else other than areas of Micronesia, Brazil, Peru, the United States and Taiwan where some use it as a second language, with sizeable Japanese-speaking foreign communities in South Korea and China. Japanese may be distantly related to Korean, but is entirely unrelated to Chinese, though it uses a large amount of imported Chinese vocabulary. The written form uses a combination of Katakana, Hiragana and Kanji characters which were all derived from Chinese characters.

Japanese is a language with many distinct dialects, and while standard Japanese (標準語 hyōjungo), which is based on the Tokyo dialect, is universally taught and understood, you may get an interesting reply from some when travelling around the country. The dialect you are most likely to encounter is the Kansai dialect, which is spoken in the region around Osaka and Kyoto (with slight dialectal differences between the two cities), and is often heard in the Japanese mass media. This might make it harder for you to understand them if you have just started learning Japanese, though locals will usually be able to switch to standard Japanese if you ask them politely.

Pronunciation guide
Japanese is not a tonal language like Chinese or Thai, and is comparatively easy to pronounce. The vowels are pronounced virtually identical to the "Italian way" and there are very few consonants that do not exist in English. All syllables are to be pronounced equal in length. Long vowels take the length of two syllables. Combinations like kya are treated like one syllable and are the only occurrence of glides (semivowels), all other syllables are to be pronounced rather separately.

Also avoid placing too much emphasis on particular words or syllables. Although Japanese does have a form of stress and intonation, it is significantly flatter than English. Word stress is much more subtle and neglecting it at this point should not interfere with meaning. Trying to keep your intonation flat will make your attempts to speak Japanese more comprehensible to local listeners. When asking questions, you can raise the tone at the end, as in English.

Vowels
Japanese has only five basic vowels, but the distinction between short and long vowels is important. For example, 少女 (shōjo, with a long first vowel) means "teenage girl", while 処女 (shojo, with a short first vowel) means "virgin woman". The sounds below are first given in romanized Japanese, then hiragana and finally katakana.

The short vowels are:
 * a, あ, ア : like 'a' in "palm"
 * i, い, イ : like 'i' in "marine"
 * u, う, ウ : like 'oo' in "hoop", but short (said without rounded lips)
 * e, え, エ : like 'e' in "set"
 * o, お, オ : like 'o' in "rope", but less round

Note that "u" is often weak at the end of syllables. In particular, the common endings desu and masu are usually pronounced as des and mas respectively. Also, the kana "do" and "to" are sometimes pronounced with a weak "o".

The long vowels are generally the same sound as the short vowels, only held approximately 60% longer. The long vowels, marked with a macron (¯) or by two adjacent vowels, are:
 * ā, ああ, アー : like 'a' in "father"
 * ii or ī, いい, イー : like 'ee' in "cheese"
 * ū, うう, ウー : like 'oo' in "hoop"
 * ei or ē, えい, エー : like the 'ay' in "pay"
 * ō, おお, おう, オー : stretch out the 'o' in "soap"

All descriptions above are approximations, it's best to practice with a native speaker.

Consonants
With the solitary exception of "n" (ん・ン), consonants in Japanese are always followed by a vowel to form a syllable. Consonants and vowels are not freely combinable as in English, see table on the right for all possible syllables and note irregularities like し shi or ふ fu. Certain syllables can be marked with diacritics, which alters the pronunciation of the consonant part. The list below first gives the consonant part of the syllable in romanized Japanese, then the Japanese syllables that the sound occurs in first in Hiragana, then Katakana.

 * k in かきくけこ・カキクケコ (ka ki ku ke ko): like 'k' in "king"
 * g in がぎぐげご・ガギグゲゴ (ga gi gu ge go): like 'g' in "go"
 * s in さすせそ・サスセソ (sa su se so): like 's' in "sit"
 * z in ざずぜぞ・ザズゼゾ・づ・ヅ (za zu ze zo) (dzu) (zu): like 'z' in "haze"
 * t in たてと・タテト (ta te to): like 't' in "top"
 * d in だでど・ダデド (da de do): like 'd' in "dog"
 * n in なにぬねの・ナニヌネノ (na ni nu ne no): like 'n' in "nice"
 * ng : like 'ng' in "ching"
 * h in はひへほ・ハヒヘホ (ha/wa hi fu/hu he/e ho): like 'h' in "help"
 * p in ぱぴぷぺぽ・パピプペポ (pa pi pu pe po): like 'p' in "pig"
 * b in ばびぶべぼ・バビブベボ (ba bi bu be bo): like 'b' in "bed"
 * m in まみむめも・マミムメモ (ma mi mu me mo): like 'm' in "mother"
 * y in やゆよ・ヤユヨ (ya yu yo): like 'y' in "yard"
 * r in らりるれろ・ラリルレロ (ra ri ru re ro): no equivalent in English, a sound between 'l', 'r' and 'd', but close to a very soft 'r'
 * w in わを・ワヲ (wa wo/o): like 'w' in "wall"

 * sh in し・シ (shi): like 'sh' in "sheep"
 * j in じ・ジ・ぢ・ヂ (ji): like 'j' in "jar"
 * ch in ち・チ (chi): like 'ch' in "touch"
 * ts in つ・ツ (tsu): like 'ts' in "hot soup"
 * f in ふ・フ (fu/hu): no equivalent in English, somewhere between 'h' and 'f', but you will be understood if you pronounce it either way

 * n, ん, ン (-n): short 'n', slides towards 'm' in some cases

Small symbols
The symbols つ・ツ and やゆよ・ヤユヨ, as well as あいうえお・アイウエオ can be written in a smaller size. In the latter group, this is almost always seen only in katakana, as it is only used for loan words. The small つ・ツ indicates a glottal stop, as listed below, while for the rest of the symbols, indicates that they are to be pronounced as part of the same syllable of the preceding symbol. For instance, in the loan word フォーク (fōku), from English "fork", note the smaller size of the オ, which is why it is not pronounced fuōku. To highlight the importance of this distinction, びょういん (byōin, with the small よ) means hospital, and びよういん (biyōin, with the big よ pronounced as a separate syllable from the び) means beauty salon.

 * っ・ッ (small tsu) : glottal stop; the following consonant is prepared, held and stopped for the duration of one syllable. For example, にっぽん nippon is pronounced "nip-(pause)-pon". (Note that the double consonants nn, mm, which are not written with っ, do not have this pause.)

Examples

 * kon'nichiwa → kon-nee-chee-wa (not kounneeCHEEua)
 * sumimasen → soo-mee-mah-sen (not sue my maysen)
 * onegai shimasu → oh-neh-gigh shee-mahss (not ouneeGAY SHYmessu)

Katakana

Katakana are used to write foreign and loanwords (except for those from Chinese, which are written in kanji) and are hence a good choice for travellers to learn. The katakana set of characters encompasses exactly the same sounds as hiragana; they only look different. The table on the left only reproduces the basic character set and diacritics (カ → ガ). Combinations (キャ) apply just as for hiragana. One additional sound though is ヴ vu and combinations like ヴェ ve based on it, accommodating additional foreign sounds. Every once in a while you may spot additional ingenious combinations or use of diacritics.

Since Japanese doesn't very well accommodate rapid successions of consonants, the katakana transcription can often only approximate the actual pronunciation of a foreign word. While some words like café (カフェ kafe) can be represented quite gracefully, other words like beer (ビール bīru) or rent-a-car (レンタカー rentakā) seem slightly strange to the native English speaker. Nonetheless, many English expressions and concepts are used in everyday life, as are a number of German, French, Dutch and Portuguese loanwords. In many cases, the original words are often abbreviated when used in Japanese, such as supermarket (スーパー sūpā), department store (デパート depāto), remote control (リモコン rimokon) or television (テレビ terebi). Oftentimes the exact meaning of a word has changed in Japanese (German: Arbeit → アルバイト arubaito is used only for part-time work, and Russian: икра ikra → イクラ ikura is used only for salmon roe) or a completely new meaning was invented (ワンマンカー wanmankā → "one-man car", trains and buses without an inspector, only one driver), but you can usually at least guess at the meaning. Due to post World War II American influences, by far the largest number of non-Chinese loan words in the Japanese language come from American English.

To identify a katakana word, it's usually helpful to repeat it out loud a few times and to leave out superfluous vowels, especially the 'u' in ス su and 'o' in ト to. That way ライス raisu quickly becomes "rice" and チケット chiketto becomes "ticket". Don't try too hard though, as sometimes original Japanese words are written in katakana as well, similar to the use of uppercase or italic letters in English. In addition, some words were not derived from English but from other languages such as German, French or Dutch.

Grammar
Japanese sentence structure is very similar to that of Korean, so speakers of Korean will find many aspects of Japanese grammar familiar, and vice versa.

Unlike English, which uses the subject-verb-object syntax, Japanese syntax is subject-object-verb. Japanese uses postpositions instead of prepositions (Japan in and not in Japan). However, unlike many European languages, it has no gender, declensions or plurals. Nouns never decline while adjectives follow a generally standard conjugation pattern. However, verbs have extensive conjugation patterns and many Japanese lessons for foreign language learners are about getting these conjugations right. Verbs and adjectives also conjugate by politeness level, though, and in a rather peculiar way.

Japanese is an agglutinative language, meaning several morphemes which have purely grammatical functions are glued to the end of a word stem to express the grammatical function. The more the intended meaning differs from the basic form of the word, the more morphemes are glued together.

Forming sentences
Japanese grammar generally employs a subject-object-verb order, but is very modular and flexible since the grammatical meaning of a word is expressed by the morphemes glued to its end and special marker particles. The two most important particles are the topic marker は wa and the object marker を o.

 * I saw the movie.
 * 私は映画を見ました.
 * Watashi-wa eiga-o mimashita.
 * I-[topic] movie-[object] seen.

It becomes a little more complicated if both objects and subjects are mixed within a sentence and the subject marker が ga is thrown in.

Watashi-wa kanojo-ga ocha-o sukinakoto-ga wakatta.
 * I discovered that she likes tea.
 * 私は彼女がお茶を好きな事が分かった.
 * I-[topic] she-[subj.] tea-[obj.] like-[subj.] understood.

Students of the language can spend years wrapping their heads around the difference between the topic of a sentence (marked by は wa) and the subject of a sentence (marked by が ga). However, as a beginner, you can fairly safely always use は wa to mark the person doing the action and get your message across.

Some other useful particles are:

 * の no : possessive marker
 * The mother's child
 * 母の子
 * haha no ko

 * で de, に ni : indicating places and times
 * in Tokyo
 * 東京で
 * Tōkyō-de
 * at 2 o'clock
 * ２時に
 * niji-ni

 * から kara, へ e, まで made : from, towards, to
 * From here...
 * ここから...
 * ''koko kara...
 * towards Osaka
 * 大阪へ
 *  Ōsaka-'e''
 * to Nara.
 * 奈良まで
 * ''Nara-made.

 * と to, か ka : and, or
 * This and that.
 * これとそれ
 * kore to sore
 * This or that.
 * これかそれ
 * kore ka sore

 * か？ ka? : question forming particle
 * Are you going to Tokyo?
 * 東京に行きますか？
 * Tōkyō ni ikimasu ka?

The verb "to be"
Japanese does not have an exact equivalent to the English verb "to be". Instead, the easiest way to form "A equals B" type expressions like "I am ..." or "This is ..." is the pattern A wa, B desu.

 * 私は、山田です. Watashi wa, Yamada desu ("I [am] Yamada.")
 * これは、りんごです. Kore wa, ringo desu ("This [is] apple.")
 * それは、赤いです. Sore wa, akai desu ("That [is] red.").

The word です　desu here is not a verb, it's a polite copula (linking word), which can be omitted in colloquial speech or replaced with other copulas including でした deshita (polite past), でしょう deshō (polite suggestion) or だ da (plain). The topic indicated by は wa is also optional and is often implied by context:

 * あなたはだれですか？ Anata wa dare desu ka? ("Who [are] you?")
 * 山田です. Yamada desu. ("[I am] Yamada.")
 * これは何ですか？ Kore wa nan desu ka? ("What [is] this?")
 * りんごです. Ringo desu. ("[This is] an apple.")
 * それは何色ですか？ Sore wa nani-iro desu ka? ("What color [is] that?")
 * 赤いです. Akai desu. ("[That is] red.")

The two verbs いる iru > imasu and ある aru > arimasu express the physical presence of a person or animal in the former case, or an object in the latter case. To say "A is located in B", use the pattern A ga B ni imasu/arimasu :

 * 山田さんがここにいます. Yamada-san ga koko ni imasu. ("Mr. Yamada is [physically located] here.")
 * 本が棚にありますか？　Hon ga tana ni arimasu ka? ("Is there a book on the shelf?")
 * はい、あります. Hai, arimasu. ("Yes, [the book] is [on the shelf].")

Addressing others
More a cultural than a grammatical problem is the problem of addressing somebody. Even though there exist a multitude of words with the meaning "you", it is generally avoided to address somebody directly. The closest equivalent to "you" is あなた anata, but it's only used among close friends, or people of lower status than you. It is usually preferred to address somebody by family name, title or status, applying appropriate honorifics.

Note that in Japan, it is generally rude to address people by first name, and last names are almost always used instead. The exception to this rule are children of elementary school age or younger, and friends you are very close to. When names are written in Japanese, they always follow the Eastern name order (like Chinese and Korean names), with the last name always written before the first name, which is contrary to common practice in English-speaking countries. This means that someone known as Taro Yamada in English will have his name written as 山田太郎 (yamada tarō) in Japanese.

 * さん -san : The most basic honorific, about equivalent to Mr. or Ms. (no distinction between the two in Japanese). 山田さん Yamada-san: Mister Yamada
 * 様 -sama : Politer than -san, used to address people ranking higher on the social ladder, such as your supervisor or boss, or even deities. It is also used by shop assistants to address customers.
 * ちゃん -chan : Usually used to address young children. Also used to address (usually female) close friends.
 * 君 -kun : Used to address young boys and male close friends.
 * お客様 okyaku-sama : "Honored Mr/Ms customer", used by hotel or shop employees to address you.
 * 店長さん tenchō-san : The way to address the manager of a shop, though not the other employees.
 * お兄さん onīsan, お姉さん onēsan : Literally "big brother" and "big sister" respectively, is used to address young people who you're having a hard time finding a better honorific for.
 * お爺さん ojīsan, お婆さん obāsan : "Grandpa" and "grandma", very popular to address old people. Cuter when used with -chan.
 * そちら sochira : Means something like "on your side" and is used when absolutely no better honorific can be found.

There are also several different words for "I", with 私 watashi being the most commonly used. Grammatically it's often unnecessary to use the words "you" or "I" as the intended meaning is obvious from context, so they should generally be avoided. Sometimes people will also call themselves by their own name. When doing so they must not add any additional honorifics though; one only does this when addressing others.

There's no specific form for "we" or the plural "you". To address groups of people you add the plural particle たち -tachi to somebody within the group or the group designator.

 * 私たち watashi-tachi : lit. "the group around myself", meaning "we"
 * 我々 ware-ware : a less formal way of saying "we"
 * あなたたち anata-tachi : "the group around you", plural "you"
 * 子供たち kodomo-tachi : "a group of children", meaning "the children"
 * 山田さんたち Yamada-san-tachi : "the group around Yamada-san", everybody you'd associate with Mr. Yamada, based on context

Reading and writing
Reading and writing Japanese are advanced skills which take years of work to gain much real proficiency. Japanese people use three different writing systems of various complexity, two of which (hiragana and katakana) are syllabic and relatively easy to learn with 50 characters each.

The clincher is the set of Chinese characters known as kanji, roughly 2,000 of which are in daily use while many more exist. The components of kanji originated as pictures representing concepts, and even though kanji have since evolved dramatically and many have long since jettisoned any connection to the original concept, the meaning of a few simple kanji can still be guessed at (see below).

One difficulty in reading Japanese lies often in the fact that a kanji can have several different pronunciations. The kanji 人 for example has the meaning of "person", and by itself it may be pronounced hito. The kanji 大 means "big" (imagine a person with outstretched arms) and can be pronounced as dai or ō. Together they form the word 大人 "adult" (lit. big person), which is pronounced otona — a pronunciation that has no relation to dai, ō, or hito. In the word 外国人 gaikokujin ("foreigner", lit. outside country person) the same kanji 人 is pronounced jin. These pronunciations exist because a single kanji may be used to write one or more different words, or parts of words. These "readings" are normally categorized as either Sino-Japanese (音読み on'yomi, a Japanese approximation of the Chinese pronunciation of the character at the time it was introduced to Japanese) or native Japanese (訓読み kun'yomi, based on the pronunciation of a native Japanese word). Generally, kanji are read with their native Japanese reading when on their own (eg. 話,  hanashi ) and with Sino-Japanese readings when part of compound words (eg. 電話, den wa ), though there are many exceptions.

While knowing Chinese will give one a huge advantage in tackling kanji, and someone who knows Chinese would generally be able to guess the meanings of new kanji with about 70% accuracy, one should still be careful. While most characters have similar meanings in both Japanese and Chinese, there are a few which have drastically different meanings. For example, the word 手紙, literally "hand paper", means "toilet paper" (shǒuzhǐ) in China, but "letter" (tegami) in Japan. A list of these terms with different meanings can be referred in this Wiktionary page.

In addition, many kanji used in Japanese have since become less used in Chinese (e.g. 犬 inu, meaning "dog"), meaning that while a native speaker of Chinese would likely recognize them, foreign language learners of Chinese may not be familiar with these characters as they are rarely used outside of idioms, proverbs and compound words. Moreover, the difference between Chinese and Japanese syntax means that different combinations of kanji can also result in drastically different meanings with amusing results. For instance, the kanji for the Japanese surname Inukai (犬飼), which means "someone who raises dogs" in Japanese, will be interpreted as "to be raised by a dog" by a Chinese speaker.

Kanji are mixed with hiragana and katakana in everyday writing for historical reasons. Japan adapted the Chinese hanzi system into man'yōgana, which is using the characters for their sounds rather than their meaning. Cursive form of man'yōgana was later on simplified into hiragana by women and its printed form into katakana by Buddhist monks. Until 1900 there were several hiragana characters to write each syllable. There are also several competing systems for rendering Japanese in the Latin alphabet, although the Hepburn romanization system is the most common and is used on Wikivoyage as well. Do not be surprised if you see these words romanized differently elsewhere.

Also note that there are many homophones in Japanese, i.e. words with different meanings that have the same pronunciation (like "there", "they're" and "their"). This can be confusing even to native speakers, to the extent that words have to be explained with an alternative reading or need to be drawn. These words may also employ a pitch-accent system to distinguish them, which speakers of non-tonal languages may have difficulty learning to understand.

Basics

 * Good afternoon. : こんにちは. Konnichiwa. (kon-nee-chee-wah)
 * How are you? : お元気ですか？ O-genki desu ka? (Oh-GEN-kee dess-ka?)
 * Fine, thank you. : はい、元気です. Hai, genki desu. (Ha-ee, gen-kee dess)
 * How about you? : ~さんは？ -san wa? (-san wa) (insert the person's last name before "san")
 * What's your name? (lit. "Your name is...") : お名前は？ O-namae wa? (Oh-nah-mah-eh wah?)
 * My name is ... . : ... です. ... desu. (... dess.)
 * Nice to meet you. (formal) : 始めまして. どうぞ宜しくお願いします. Hajimemashite. Dōzo yoroshiku onegaishimasu. (Hah-jee-meh-mash-teh dohh-zoh yoh-roh-sh-ku oh-neh-gah-ee shee-mah-ss)
 * Please. (request) : お願いします. Onegai shimasu. (oh-neh-gah-ee shee-mahs)
 * Please. (offer) : どうぞ. Dōzo. (Dohh-zoh)
 * This person is ... . (when introducing somebody) : こちらは ... Kochira wa ... (ko-chi-rah wah...)
 * Thank you very much. (formal) : どうもありがとうございました. Dōmo arigatō gozaimashita. (doh-moh ah-ree-GAH-toh go-ZAh-ee-mah-shi-tah)
 * Thank you. (less formal) : ありがとうございます. Arigatō gozaimasu. (ah-ree-GAH-toh go-ZAh-ee-mahs)
 * Thank you. (normal) : ありがとう. Arigatō. (ah-ree-GAH-toh)
 * Thanks. (informal) : どうも. Dōmo. (doh-moh)
 * Thanks. (informal, Kansai) : おおきに. Ōkini (ohh-KEE-nee)
 * You're welcome. : どういたしまして. Dō itashimashite. (doh EE-tah-shee mah-shteh)
 * yes : はい. hai (High)
 * no : いいえ. iie (EE-eh)
 * Excuse me. : すみません. Sumimasen. (soo-mee-mah-sen)
 * I'm sorry. : ごめんなさい. Gomen nasai. (goh-men-nah-sah-ee)
 * I'm sorry. (informal) : ごめん Gomen. (goh-men)
 * Goodbye. (long-term) : さようなら. Sayōnara. (sa-YOHH-nah-rah)
 * Goodbye. (informal) : じゃね. Ja ne. (Jah-neh)
 * I can't speak Japanese (very well). : 日本語が（よく）話せません. Nihongo ga (yoku) hanasemasen. (nee-hohn-goh gah (yo-koo) hah-nah-seh-mah-sen)
 * Do you speak Japanese? : 日本語が話せますか？ Nihongo ga hanasemasu ka? (ni-HON-go gah hah-nah-se-mahs-KAH?)
 * Yes, a little. : はい、少し. Hai, sukoshi. (HIGH sko-shee)
 * Do you speak English? : 英語が話せますか？ Eigo ga hanasemasu ka? (EHH-goh gah hah-nah-seh-mahs-KAH?)
 * Is there someone here who speaks English? : 誰か英語が話せますか？ Dareka eigo ga hanasemasu ka? (dah-reh-kah EHH-goh gah hah-nah-seh-moss-KAH?)
 * Please speak slowly. : ゆっくり話してください. Yukkuri hanashite kudasai. (YOO-kuree hanash-teh koo-dah-sah-ee)
 * Please say it again. : もう一度言ってください. Mō ichido itte kudasai. (mo EE-chee-doh ee-te koo-dah-sah-ee)
 * Please help! : 助けて！ Tasukete! (tahs-keh-teh!)
 * Look out! : 危ない！ Abunai! (ah-boo-NIGH!)
 * Good morning. : お早うございます. Ohayō gozaimasu. (oh-hah-YOH go-zah-ee-mahs)
 * Good morning. (informal) : おはよう. Ohayō.
 * Good evening. : こんばんは. Kombanwa. (kohn-bahn-wah)
 * Good night (to sleep) : お休みなさい. Oyasuminasai. (oh-yah-soo-mee-nah-sigh)
 * Good night (to sleep) (informal) : お休み. Oyasumi.
 * I don't understand. : 分かりません. Wakarimasen. (wah-kah-ree-mah-sen)
 * I am not Japanese. : 日本人ではありません. Nihonjin dewa arimasen. (nee-hon-jin deh-wah a-ree-ma-sehn)
 * Where is the toilet? : お手洗い・トイレはどこですか？ Otearai/toire wa doko desu ka? (Oh-teh-ah-rah-ee/toh-ee-reh wah DOH-koh dess kah?)
 * What? : 何？Nani? (nah-nee)
 * Where? : どこ？ Doko? (doh-koh)
 * Who? : 誰？ Dare? (dah-reh)
 * When? : いつ？ Itsu? (it-soo)
 * Which? : どれ？ Dore? (doh-reh)
 * Why? : どうして Dōshite (doh-sh'teh)
 * How? : どうやって？ Dōyatte (dohh-yah-teh)
 * How much? : いくら？ Ikura? (ee-koo-rah)
 * What type of? : どんな？ Donna? (dohn-nah)

Problems

 * Leave me alone. : ほっといてくれ. Hottoitekure.
 * Don't touch me! : さわらないで！ Sawaranaide!
 * I'll call the police. : 警察をよぶよ！ Keisatsu o yobu yo!
 * Police! : 警察！ Keisatsu!
 * Stop! Thief! : 動くな！泥棒！ Ugokuna! Dorobō!
 * I need your help. : 手伝ってください. Tetsudatte kudasai.
 * It's an emergency. : 緊急です. Kinkyū desu.
 * I'm lost. : 道に迷っています. Michi ni mayotte imasu.
 * I lost my bag. : 鞄をなくしました. Kaban o nakushimashita.
 * I dropped my wallet. : 財布をおとしました. Saifu o otoshimashita.
 * I'm sick. : 病気です. Byōki desu.
 * I don't feel well. : 具合がわるいです. Guai ga warui desu.
 * I've been injured. : 怪我をしました. Kega o shimashita.
 * Please call a doctor. : 医者を呼んでください. Isha o yonde kudasai.
 * Can I use your phone? : 電話を使わせていただけますか？ Denwa o tsukawasete itadakemasu ka?

Medical emergencies
shorter: 救急室に行かないと. Kyūkyūshitsu ni ikanai to.
 * I need a doctor. : 医者に見てもらいたいです. Isha ni mite moraitai desu.
 * Is there a doctor who can speak English? : 英語の出来る医者はいますか？ Eigo no dekiru isha wa imasu ka?
 * Please take me to a doctor. : 医者に連れていって下さい. Isha ni tsurete itte kudasai.
 * My wife/husband/child is sick. : 妻・旦那・子供が病気です. Tsuma/danna/kodomo ga byōki desu.
 * Please call an ambulance. : 救急車を呼んで下さい. Kyūkyūsha o yonde kudasai.
 * I need first aid. : 応急手当をして下さい. Ōkyū teate o shite kudasai.
 * I need to go to the emergency room. : 救急室に行かなければなりません. Kyūkyūshitsu ni ikanakereba narimasen.
 * How long will it take to get better? : 治るのにどの位かかりますか？ Naoru no ni dono kurai kakarimasu ka?
 * Where is a pharmacy? : 薬局はどこですか？ Yakkyoku wa doko desu ka?

Allergies

 * I'm allergic to ... . : 私は ... アレルギーです. Watashi wa ... arerugii desu.
 * antibiotics : 抗生物質 kōsei busshitsu
 * aspirin : アスピリン asupirin
 * codeine : コデイン kodein
 * dairy products : 乳製品 nyūseihin
 * food coloring : 人工着色料 jinkō chakushokuryō
 * fungus : 菌類 kinrui
 * MSG : 味の素 ajinomoto
 * mushrooms : キノコ kinoko
 * peanuts : ピーナッツ pīnattsu
 * penicillin : ペニシリン penishirin
 * pollen : 花粉 kafun
 * seafood : 魚介類 gyokairui
 * sesame : ゴマ goma
 * shellfish : 貝類 kairui
 * tree nuts, fruits or berries : 木の実 kinomi
 * wheat : 小麦 komugi

Explaining symptoms

 * ... hurts. : ... が痛い. ... ga itai.
 * Feeling unwell. : 気分が悪い. Kibun ga warui.
 * Having a fever. : 熱があります. Netsu ga arimasu.
 * Coughing a lot. : 咳がでます. Seki ga demasu.
 * Feeling listless. : 体がだるい. Karada ga darui.
 * Feeling nauseated. : 吐き気がします. Hakike ga shimasu.
 * Feeling dizzy. : めまいがします. Memai ga shimasu.
 * Having the chills. : 寒気がします. Samuke ga shimasu.
 * Swallowed something. : 何かを呑んでしまいました. Nanika o nonde shimaimashita.
 * Bleeding. : 出血です. Shukketsu desu.
 * Broken bone. : 骨折です. Kossetsu desu.
 * He/she is unconscious. : 意識不明です. Ishiki fumei desu.
 * Burned. : 火傷です. Yakedo desu.
 * Trouble breathing. : 呼吸困難です. Kokyū konnan desu.
 * Heart attack. : 心臓発作です. Shinzō hossa desu.
 * Vision worsened. : 視力が落ちました. Shiryoku ga ochimashita.
 * Cannot hear well. : 耳がよく聞こえません. Mimi ga yoku kikoemasen.
 * Nose bleeds a lot. : 鼻血がよくでます. Hanaji ga yoku demasu.

Extreme weather
Japan has more than its fair share of natural disasters.

 * Blizzard : 吹雪 (fubuki)
 * Earthquake : 地震 (jishin)
 * Flood : 洪水 (kōzui)
 * Landslide : 地滑り (jisuberi)
 * Tsunami : 津波 (tsunami)
 * Typhoon : 台風 (taifū)
 * Volcano eruption : 噴火 (funka)

Numbers
While Arabic (Western) numerals are employed for most uses in Japan, you will occasionally still spot Japanese numerals at eg. markets and the menus of fancy restaurants. The characters used are nearly identical to Chinese numerals, and like Chinese, Japanese uses groups of 4 digits, not 3. "One million" is thus 百万 (hyaku-man), literally "hundred ten-thousands".

There are both native Japanese and Sino-Japanese readings for most numbers, but presented below are the more commonly used Sino-Japanese readings. Note that, due to superstition (shi also means "death"), the native Japanese readings yon and nana or 4 and 7 are used instead in most situations, though the Sino-Japanese readings shi and shichi respectively are more commonly used when counting.

Where they exist, the character(s) after the slash are used in financial contexts, such as when writing cheques and printing banknotes.

 * 0 : ゼロ (zero) or 〇 (maru) / 零 (rei) in finance
 * 1 : 一 / 壱 (ichi)
 * 2 : 二 / 弐 (ni)
 * 3 : 三 / 参 (san)
 * 4 : 四 (yon or shi)
 * 5 : 五 (go)
 * 6 : 六 (roku)
 * 7 : 七 (nana or shichi)
 * 8 : 八 (hachi)
 * 9 : 九 (kyū)
 * 10 : 十 / 拾 (jū)
 * 11 : 十一 / 拾壱 (jū-ichi)
 * 12 : 十二 / 拾弐 (jū-ni)
 * 13 : 十三 / 拾参 (jū-san)
 * 14 : 十四 / 拾四 (jū-yon)
 * 15 : 十五 / 拾五 (jū-go)
 * 16 : 十六 / 拾六 (jū-roku)
 * 17 : 十七 / 拾七 ( jū-nana)
 * 18 : 十八 / 拾八 (jū-hachi)
 * 19 : 十九 / 拾九 (jū-kyū/jū-ku)
 * 20 : 二十 / 弐拾 (ni-jū)
 * 21 : 二十一 / 弐拾壱 (ni-jū-ichi)
 * 22 : 二十二 / 弐拾弐 (ni-jū-ni)
 * 23 : 二十三 / 弐拾参 (ni-jū-san)
 * 30 : 三十 / 参拾 (san-jū)
 * 40 : 四十 / 四拾 (yon-jū)
 * 50 : 五十 / 五拾 (go-jū)
 * 60 : 六十 / 六拾 (roku-jū)
 * 70 : 七十 / 七拾 (nana-jū)
 * 80 : 八十 / 八拾 (hachi-jū)
 * 90 : 九十 / 九拾 (kyū-jū)
 * 100 : 百 (hyaku)
 * 200 : 二百 / 弐百 (nihyaku)
 * 300 : 三百 / 参百 (sambyaku)
 * 600 : 六百 (roppyaku)
 * 800 : 八百 (happyaku)
 * 1000 : 千 (sen)
 * 2000 : 二千 / 弐千 (ni-sen)
 * 3000 : 三千 / 参千 (san-zen)
 * 10,000 : 一万 / 壱万 (ichi-man)
 * 1,000,000 : 百万 (hyaku-man)
 * 100,000,000 : 一億 / 壱億 (ichi-oku)
 * 1,000,000,000 : 十億 / 拾億 (jū-oku)
 * 1,000,000,000,000 : 一兆 / 壱兆 (itchō)
 * 0.5 : 〇・五 (rei ten go)
 * 0.56 : 〇・五六 (rei ten go-roku)
 * number _____ (train, bus, etc.) : _____番 (____ ban)
 * half : 半分 (hambun)
 * less (few) : 少ない (sukunai)
 * more (many) : 多い (ōi)

Time

 * now : 今 (ima)
 * later : 後で (atode)
 * before : 前に (mae ni)
 * before ___ : ___ の前に ( ___ no mae ni)
 * morning : 朝 (asa) (colloquial) / 午前 (gozen) (formal)
 * noon : 昼 (hiru or o-hiru) / 正午 (shōgo)
 * afternoon : 昼 (hiru or hiruma) (colloquial) / 午後 (gogo) (formal)
 * evening before sunset: 夕方 (yūgata)
 * night or after sunset: 夜 (yoru)
 * midnight or past 12AM: 真夜中 (mayonaka)

Clock time
Clock times are formed as Chinese numeral plus 時 ji, for example, goji 5時/五時 for five o'clock. The exception is four o'clock which is pronounced yoji (四時) instead of shiji. You will be understood if you simply substitute gozen 午前 for "AM" and gogo 午後 for PM, although other time qualifiers like 朝 asa for morning, 昼 hiru for afternoon and 夜 yoru for night sound more natural. The 24-hour clock is also commonly used in official contexts such as train schedules. TV schedules occasionally use a modified 24-hour clock, with late night showtimes counted from the previous day, e.g. Monday at 26:00 indicates Tuesday at 2:00 AM.

 * six o'clock in the morning : 朝6時 (asa rokuji)
 * nine o'clock AM : 午前9時 (gozen kuji)
 * noon : 正午 (shōgo)
 * one o'clock PM : 午後1時 (gogo ichiji.)
 * two o'clock PM : 午後2時 (gogo niji)
 * midnight : 夜12時 (yoru jūniji), 零時 / 0時 (rēji), 24時(nijū yo ji)

Duration
Confusingly, the Japanese words for "N days" (long) and "Nth day" are the same, so eg. 二日 futsuka means both "two days" and "the second day of the month". (See for the full list.)  You can tag on -間 kan at the end, eg. futsukakan 二日間, to clarify that you mean "two days long". The exception is 一日, which is read ichinichi to mean "one day/all day", but tsuitachi to mean "first day". Also note that 一日間 ichinichikan is not used, and the term for a duration of one day is simply 一日 ichinichi.

 * _____ minute(s) : _____ 分 (fun or pun)
 * _____ hour(s) : _____ 時間 (jikan)
 * _____ day(s) : _____ 日間 (nichikan or (k)kakan, see note above, except for 一日 (one day))
 * _____ week(s) : _____ 週間 (shūkan)
 * _____ month(s) : _____ ヶ月 (kagetsu)
 * _____ year(s) : _____ 年間 (nenkan)

Days

 * today : 今日 (kyō)
 * yesterday : 昨日 (kinō)
 * the day before yesterday : おととい (ototoi)
 * tomorrow : 明日 (ashita) (colloquial) / 明日 (asu) (formal)
 * the day after tomorrow : あさって (asatte)
 * _____ days after tomorrow: _____ 日後 (nichigo or (k)kago, see note above)
 * this week : 今週 (konshū)
 * last week : 先週 (senshū)
 * next week : 来週 (raishū)

Days of the week
The days of the week are named after the sun, the moon and the five elements of Chinese philosophy.
 * Sunday : 日曜日 (nichiyōbi), abbreviated 日 (nichi)
 * Monday : 月曜日 (getsuyōbi), abbreviated 月 (getsu)
 * Tuesday : 火曜日 (kayōbi), abbreviated 火 (ka)
 * Wednesday : 水曜日 (suiyōbi), abbreviated 水 (sui)
 * Thursday : 木曜日 (mokuyōbi), abbreviated 木 (moku)
 * Friday : 金曜日 (kin'yōbi), abbreviated 金 (kin)
 * Saturday : 土曜日 (doyōbi), abbreviated 土 (do)

Days of the month
The 1st through the 10th of the month have special names:

 * First day of the month :1日 (tsu'itachi)
 * Second day of the month : 2日 (futsuka)
 * Third day of the month : 3日 (mikka)
 * Fourth day of the month : 4日 (yokka)
 * Fifth day of the month : 5日 (itsuka)
 * Sixth day of the month : 6日 (mu'ika)
 * Seventh day of the month : 7日 (nanoka)
 * Eighth day of the month : 8日 (yōka)
 * Ninth day of the month : 9日 (kokonoka)
 * Tenth day of the month : 10日 (tōka)

The other days of the month are more orderly, just add the suffix -nichi to the ordinal number. Note that 14, 20, and 24 deviate from this pattern.

 * Eleventh day of the month : 11日 (jū'ichinichi)
 * Fourteenth day of the month : 14日 (jū'yokka)
 * Twentieth day of the month : 20日 (hatsuka)
 * Twenty-fourth day of the month : 24日 (nijū'yokka)

Months
Months are very orderly in Japanese, just add the suffix -gatsu to the Sino-Japanese ordinal number.

 * January : 1月 (ichigatsu)
 * February : 2月 (nigatsu)
 * March : 3月 (sangatsu)
 * April : 4月 (shigatsu)
 * May : 5月 (gogatsu)
 * June : 6月 (rokugatsu)
 * July : 7月 (shichigatsu)
 * August : 8月 (hachigatsu)
 * September : 9月 (kugatsu)
 * October : 10月 (jūgatsu)
 * November : 11月 (jūichigatsu)
 * December : 12月 (jūnigatsu)

Seasons

 * Spring : 春 (haru)
 * Summer : 夏 (natsu)
 * Rainy season : 梅雨 (tsuyu, bai'u)
 * Autumn : 秋 (aki)
 * Winter : 冬 (fuyu)

Writing time and date
Dates are written in year/month/day (day of week) format, with markers:

2007年3月21日(火)

In Japanese, the year is read as an ordinary number with exception of "9 as the last digit". 1999 was "one thousand nine hundred ninety-nine", sen kyū-hyaku kyū-jū ku nen). It can sometimes be abbreviated to the last two digits (i.e. "ninety-nine", kyū-jū ku nen), while pronouncing it kyū-jū kyū nen refers to "for the duration of 99 years", rather the year.)

Note that Imperial era years, based on the name and duration of the current Emperor's reign, are also frequently used. 2020 in the Gregorian calendar corresponds to Reiwa 2 令和2年, which may be abbreviated as "R2" or 令2. Dates like "02/03/24" (Reiwa 2, March 24) are also occasionally seen. Meiji, Taishō, Shōwa, and Heisei are used by elderly people or popular on signboards at historical sights. To convert the year into Gregorian calendar:
 * Reiwa 令和 (1 May 2019 –) : add 2018 to the year in Reiwa, i.e. Reiwa 3 nen  令和3年 is 2021 in the Gregorian calendar.
 * Heisei 平成 (8 January 1989 – 30 April 2019) : minus 12 from the year in Heisei and add 2000, i.e. Heisei 12 nen 平成12年 is 2000 in Gregorian calendar.
 * Shōwa 昭和 (25 December 1926 – 7 January 1989) : plus 1925 to the year in Shōwa, i.e. Shōwa 45 nen 昭和45年 is 1970 in Gregorian calendar.
 * Taishō 大正 (30 July 1912 – 25 December 1926) : plus 1911 to the year in Taishō, i.e. Taishō 9 nen 大正9年 is 1920 in Gregorian calendar.
 * Meiji 明治 (28 October 1868 – 30 July 1912) : minus 33 from the year in Meiji and add 1900, i.e. Meiji 33 nen 明治33年 is 1900 in Gregorian calendar.

Colors
Many of the English words for colors are widely used and understood by almost all Japanese. These are indicated after the slash.

Note that some Japanese colors are normally suffixed with -iro (色) to distinguish between the color and the object. For example, 茶 cha means "tea", but 茶色 chairo means "tea-color" → "brown".

 * black : 黒 / ブラック (kuro / burakku)
 * white : 白 / ホワイト (shiro / howaito)
 * gray : 灰(色) / グレー (hai(iro) / gurē)
 * red : 赤 / レッド (aka / reddo)
 * blue : 青 / ブルー (ao / burū)
 * yellow : 黄(色) / イエロー (ki(iro) / ierō)
 * green : 緑 / グリーン (midori / guriin)
 * orange : 橙 / オレンジ (daidai / orenji)
 * purple : 紫 / パープル (murasaki / pāpuru)
 * pink : 桃(色) / ピンク (momo(iro) / pinku)
 * brown : 茶(色) / ブラウン (cha(iro) / buraun)
 * silver : 銀(色) / シルバー (gin(iro) / sirubā)
 * gold : 金(色) / ゴールド (kin(iro) / gōrudo)

Bus and train

 * bus : バス (basu)
 * train : 電車 (densha)
 * metro / subway : 地下鉄 (chikatetsu)
 * tram / streetcar : 路面電車 (romendensha)
 * light rail : ライトレール (raito rēru)
 * bullet train : 新幹線 (shinkansen)
 * How much is a ticket to _____? : _____ までいくらですか? (_____ made ikura desu ka?)
 * One ticket to _____, please. : _____ まで一枚お願いします. (_____ made ichimai onegaishimasu.)
 * Where does this train/bus go? : この電車・バスはどこ行きですか? (Kono densha/basu wa doko yuki desu ka?)
 * Where is the train/bus to _____? : _____ 行きの電車・バスはどこですか? (_____ yuki no densha/basu wa doko desu ka?)
 * Does this train/bus stop in _____? : この電車・バスは _____ に止まりますか? (Kono densha/basu wa _____ ni tomarimasu ka?)
 * When does the train/bus for _____ leave? : _____ 行きの電車・バスは何時に出発しますか? (_____ yuki no densha/basu wa nanji ni shuppatsu shimasu ka?)
 * When will this train/bus arrive in _____? : この電車・バスは何時に _____ に着きますか? (Kono densha/basu wa nanji ni _____ ni tsukimasu ka?)

Directions

 * How do I get to _____? : _____ はどちらですか? (_____ wa dochira desu ka?)
 * ...the train station? : 駅...? (eki...)
 * ...the bus station? : バス停...? (basu tei...)
 * ...the airport? : 空港...? (kūkō...)
 * ...downtown? : 街の中心...? (machi no chūshin...)
 * ...the youth hostel? : ユースホステル...? (yūsu hosuteru...)
 * ...the _____ hotel? : _____ ホテル...? (hoteru...)
 * ...the _____ embassy/consulate? : _____大使館/領事館...? (_____ taishikan/ryōjikan...)
 * Where are there a lot of _____ : _____が多い所はどこですか? (_____ga ooi tokoro wa doko desu ka?)
 * ...lodgings? : 宿...? (yado...)
 * ...restaurants? : レストラン...? (resutoran...)
 * ...bars? : バー...? (baa...)
 * ...sites to see? : 見物...? (mimono...)
 * Where is _____? : _____はどこですか? (_____ wa doko desu ka?)
 * Is it far from here? : ここから遠いですか? (Koko kara tooi desu ka?)
 * Please show me on the map. : 地図で指して下さい. (Chizu de sashite kudasai.)
 * street : 道 (michi)
 * Turn left. : 左へ曲がってください. (Hidari e magatte kudasai.)
 * Turn right. : 右へ曲がってください. (Migi e magatte kudasai.)
 * left : 左 (hidari)
 * right : 右 (migi)
 * in front of the _____ : _____の前 (_____ no mae)
 * behind the _____ : _____の後ろ (_____ no ushiro)
 * straight ahead : まっすぐ (massugu)
 * towards the _____ : _____ へ向かって (e mukatte)
 * past the _____ : _____ の先 (no saki)
 * before the _____ : _____ の前 (no mae)
 * Watch for the _____. : _____が目印です. (ga mejirushi desu.)
 * intersection : 交差点 (kōsaten)
 * traffic light : 信号　(shingou)
 * inside : 中 (naka)
 * outside : 外 (soto)
 * north : 北 (kita)
 * south : 南 (minami)
 * east : 東 (higashi)
 * west : 西 (nishi)
 * uphill : 上り (nobori), also used for trains heading towards Tokyo
 * downhill : 下り (kudari), also used for trains coming from Tokyo

Taxi

 * Taxi! : タクシー! (takushī!)
 * Take me to _____, please. : _____までお願いします. (_____ made onegaishimasu.)
 * How much does it cost to get to _____? : _____ までいくらですか? (_____ made ikura desu ka)
 * Take me there, please. : そこまでお願いします. (soko made onegaishimasu.)

Lodging

 * Do you have any rooms available? : 空いてる部屋ありますか? (Aiteru heya arimasu ka?)
 * How much is a room for one person/two people? : 一人・二人用の部屋はいくらですか? (Hitori/futari-yō no heya wa ikura desu ka?)
 * Is the room Japanese/Western style? : 和室/洋室ですか？ (Washitsu/yōshitsu desu ka?)
 * Does the room come with... : 部屋は ... 付きですか? (Heya wa ___ tsuki desu ka?)
 * ...bedsheets? : シーツ...? (shītsu...)
 * ...a bathroom? : 風呂場...? (furoba...)
 * ...a telephone? : 電話...? (denwa...)
 * ...a TV? : テレビ? (terebi...)
 * May I see the room first? : 部屋を見てもいいですか? (Heya o mite mo ii desu ka?)
 * Do you have anything quieter? : もっと[静かな]部屋ありますか? (Motto [shizuka na] heya arimasu ka?)
 * ...bigger? : 広い...? (hiroi...)
 * ...cleaner? : きれいな...? (kirei na...)
 * ...cheaper? : 安い...? (yasui...)
 * OK, I'll take it. : はい、これで良いです. (Hai, kore de ii desu.)
 * I will stay for _____ night(s). : _____ 晩泊まります. (____ ban tomarimasu.)
 * Do you know another place to stay? : 他の宿はご存知ですか? (Hoka no yado wa gozonji desu ka?)
 * Do you have [a safe?] : [金庫]ありますか? ([Kinko] arimasu ka?)
 * ...lockers? : 戸棚...? (todana...?)
 * Is breakfast/supper included? : 朝食・夕食は付きますか? (Chōshoku/yūshoku wa tsukimasu ka?)
 * What time is breakfast/supper? : 朝食・夕食は何時ですか? (Chōshoku/yūshoku wa nanji desu ka?)
 * Please clean my room. : 部屋を掃除してください. (Heya o sōji shite kudasai.)
 * Please wake me at _____. : _____ に起こしてください. (____ ni okoshite kudasai.)
 * I want to check out. : チェックアウトです. (Chekku auto (check out) desu.)

Money

 * Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars? : アメリカ/オーストラリア/カナダドルは使えますか? (Amerika/ōsutoraria/kanada doru wa tsukaemasu ka?)
 * Do you accept British pounds? : イギリスポンドは使えますか？ (Igirisu pondo wa tsukaemasu ka?)
 * Do you accept credit cards? : クレジットカードは使えますか？ (Kurejitto kaado (credit card) wa tsukaemasu ka?)
 * Can you change money for me? : お金両替できますか？ (Okane ryōgae dekimasu ka?)
 * Where can I get money changed? : お金はどこで両替できますか？ (Okane wa doko de ryōgae dekimasu ka?)
 * Can you change a traveler's check for me? : トラベラーズチェックを両替できますか？ (Torabarāsu chekku (traveler's check) wo ryōgae dekimasu ka?)
 * Where can I get a traveler's check changed? : トラベラーズチェックはどこで両替できますか？ (Torabarāzu chekku (traveler's check) wa doko de ryōgae dekimasu ka?)
 * What is the exchange rate? : 為替レートはいくらですか？(Kawase rēto wa ikura desu ka?)
 * Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)? : ATM はどこにありますか？ (ATM wa doko ni arimasuka?)

Eating

 * I'm hungry. : お腹がすきました. (Onaka ga sukimashita.)
 * A table for one person/two people, please. : 一人・二人です. (Hitori/futari desu.)
 * Please bring a menu. : メニューを下さい. (Menu wo kudasai.)
 * Can I look in the kitchen? : 調理場を見てもいいですか？ (Chōriba wo mite mo ii desu ka?)
 * Is there a house specialty? : お勧めはありますか？ (O-susume wa arimasu ka?)
 * Is there a local specialty? : この辺の名物はありますか？ (Kono hen no mēbutsu wa arimasu ka?)
 * Please choose for me. : お任せします. (O-makase shimasu.)
 * I'm a vegetarian. : ベジタリアンです. (Bejitarian desu.)
 * I don't eat pork. : 豚肉はだめです. (Butaniku wa dame desu.)
 * I don't eat beef. : 牛肉はだめです. (Gyūniku wa dame desu.)
 * I don't eat raw fish. : 生の魚はだめです. (Nama no sakana wa dame desu.)
 * Please do not use too much oil. : 油を控えて下さい. (Abura wo hikaete kudasai.)
 * fixed-price meal : 定食 (teishoku)
 * à la carte : 一品料理 (ippinryōri)
 * breakfast : 朝食 (chōshoku) / 朝ご飯 (asagohan)
 * lunch : 昼食 (chūshoku) / 昼ご飯　(hirugohan)
 * light meal/snack : 軽食 (keishoku) / おやつ (oyatsu)
 * supper : 夕食 (yūshoku) / 晩ご飯 (bangohan)
 * Please bring _____. : _____ を下さい. (_____ wo kudasai.)
 * I want a dish containing _____. : _____が入ってるものを下さい.  (____ ga haitteru mono wo kudasai.)
 * chicken : 鶏肉 (toriniku) / チキン (chikin)
 * beef : 牛肉 (gyūniku) / ビーフ (bīfu)
 * pork : 豚肉 (butaniku) / ポーク (pōku)
 * mutton : マトン (maton) / 羊 (hitsuji)
 * lamb : ラム(肉) (ramu(-niku)) / 子羊 (kohitsuji)
 * fish : 魚 (sakana)
 * ham : ハム (hamu)
 * sausage : ソーセージ (sōsēji)
 * cheese : チーズ (chīzu)
 * eggs : 卵 / 玉子 (tamago)
 * salad : サラダ (sarada)
 * (fresh) vegetables : (新鮮な)野菜 ( (shinsen-na) yasai)
 * (fresh) fruit : (新鮮な)果物 ( (shinsen-na) kudamono)
 * bread : パン (pan)
 * toast : トースト (tōsuto)
 * noodles : 麺類 (menrui)
 * pasta : パスタ (pasuta)
 * cooked rice : ご飯 (gohan)
 * raw rice : 米 (kome)
 * soup : スープ : (sūpu)
 * beans : 豆 (mame)
 * May I have a glass/cup of _____? :  _____ を一杯下さい.  (____ wo ippai kudasai.)
 * May I have a bottle of _____? : _____ を一本下さい. (_____ wo ippon kudasai.)
 * coffee : コーヒー (kōhī)
 * green tea : 緑茶(ryokucha) / お茶 (ocha)
 * black tea : 紅茶 (kōcha)
 * juice : ジュース(jūsu) / 果汁 (kajū)
 * milk : ミルク (miruku) / 牛乳 (gyūnyū) (The latter specifically refers to cow's milk.)
 * water : 水 (mizu)
 * beer : ビール (bīru)
 * red/white wine : 赤/白ワイン (aka/shiro wain)
 * Do you have _____? : _____ はありますか? (_____ wa arimasu ka?)
 * chopsticks : お箸 (o-hashi)
 * fork : フォーク (fōku)
 * spoon : スプーン (supūn)
 * sugar : 砂糖 (satō)
 * salt : 塩 (shio)
 * black pepper : 胡椒 (koshō)
 * soy sauce : 醤油 (shōyu)
 * ashtray : 灰皿 (haizara)
 * Excuse me, waiter? (getting attention of server) : すみません. (sumimasen)
 * (when starting a meal) : いただきます. (itadakimasu)
 * It was delicious. (when finishing a meal) : ご馳走さまでした. (Gochisōsama deshita.)
 * Please clear the plates. : お皿を下げてください. (Osara o sagete kudasai.)
 * The check, please. : お勘定お願いします. (O-kanjo onegaishimasu.) / 会計お願いします.  (Kaikei onegaishimasu)

On the phone

 * Telephone : 電話 denwa
 * Mobile phone : 携帯(電話)　kētai(denwa)
 * Telephone number : 電話番号 denwa bangō
 * Phone book : 電話帳 denwa chō
 * Answering machine : 留守番電話 rusuban denwa
 * Hello (only on the phone) : もしもし moshi moshi
 * May I speak to ... . : ... をお願いします. ... wo onegaishimasu.
 * Is ... there? : ... はいらっしゃいますか？ ... wa irasshaimasu ka?
 * Who is calling? : どなたですか？ Donata desu ka?
 * One moment, please. : ちょっとお待ちください. Chotto omachi kudasai.
 * ... is not here right now. : ... は今いません. ... wa ima imasen.
 * I will call you again later. : 後でまた電話します. Ato de mata denwa shimasu.
 * I got the wrong number. : 間違えました. Machigaemashita.
 * The line is busy. : 話し中です. Hanashichū desu.
 * What is your phone number? : 電話番号は何番ですか？ Denwa bangō wa nanban desu ka?

Bars

 * Do you serve alcohol? : お酒ありますか? (O-sake arimasu ka?)
 * Is there table service? : テーブルサービスありますか? (Tēburu sābisu arimasu ka?)
 * A beer/two beers, please. : ビール一杯・二杯下さい. (Biiru ippai/nihai kudasai.)
 * A glass of red/white wine, please. : 赤・白ワイン一杯下さい. (Aka/shiro wain ippai kudasai.)
 * A mug (of beer), please. : (ビールの)ジョッキ下さい. ((Bīru no) jokki kudasai.)
 * A bottle, please. : ビン下さい. (Bin kudasai.)
 * _____ (hard liquor) and _____ (mixer), please. : _____ と _____ 下さい. (_____ to _____ kudasai.)
 * sake : 日本酒 (nihonshu)
 * Japanese liquor : 焼酎 (shōchū)
 * whiskey : ウイスキー (uisukii)
 * vodka : ウォッカ (wokka)
 * rum : ラム (ramu)
 * water : 水 (mizu)
 * club soda : ソーダ (sōda)
 * tonic water : トニックウォーター (tonikku wōtā)
 * orange juice : オレンジジュース (orenji jūsu)
 * cola (soda) : コーラ (kōra)
 * with ice : オンザロック (onzarokku (on the rocks))
 * Do you have any bar snacks? : おつまみありますか? (O-tsumami arimasu ka?)
 * One more, please. : もう一つください. (Mō hitotsu kudasai.)
 * Another round, please. : みんなに同じものを一杯ずつください. (Minna ni onaji mono o ippai zutsu kudasai.)
 * When is closing time? : 閉店は何時ですか? (Heiten wa nanji desuka?)

Shopping

 * Do you have this in my size? : 私のサイズでありますか？ (Watashi no saizu de arimasu ka?)
 * How much is this? : いくらですか？ (Ikura desu ka?)
 * That's too expensive. : 高過ぎます. (Takasugimasu.)
 * Would you take _____? : _____円(で)はどうですか？ (_____ yen (de) wa dō desu ka?)
 * expensive : 高い (takai)
 * cheap : 安い (yasui)
 * I can't afford it. : そんなにお金がありません. (Sonna ni okane ga arimasen.)
 * I don't want it. : 要りません. (Irimasen.)
 * You're cheating me, aren't you? : 騙してるでしょう？ (Damashiteru deshō?) Use with caution!
 * I'm not interested. : 興味ありません. (Kyōmi arimasen.)
 * OK, I'll take it. : はい、それにします. (Hai, sore ni shimasu.)
 * Can I have a bag? : 袋を貰えますか？ (Fukuro o moraemasu ka?) or 袋をください (Fukuro o kudasai)
 * Do you ship (overseas)? : 海外へ発送出来ますか？ (Kaigai e hassō dekimasu ka?)
 * I need... : ___が欲しいです. (____ ga hoshii desu.)
 * ...spectacles. : 眼鏡 (megane)
 * ...toothpaste. : 歯磨き粉 (hamigakiko)
 * ...a toothbrush. : 歯ブラシ (ha-burashi)
 * ...tampons. : タンポン (tampon)
 * ...soap. : 洗剤(senzai, liquid or powder ), 石鹸 (sekken, bar soap)
 * ...shampoo. : シャンプー (shampū)
 * ...pain reliever. (e.g., aspirin or ibuprofen) : 鎮痛剤 (chintsūzai)
 * ...cold medicine. : 風邪薬 (kazegusuri)
 * ...stomach medicine. : 胃腸薬 (ichōyaku)
 * ...a razor. : 剃刀 (kamisori)
 * ...an umbrella. : 傘 (kasa)
 * ...sunblock lotion. : 日焼け止め (hiyakedome)
 * ...a postcard. : 葉書 (hagaki)
 * ...postage stamps. : 切手 (kitte)
 * ...batteries. : 電池 (denchi)
 * ...writing paper. : 紙 (kami)
 * ...a pen. : ペン (pen)
 * ...a pencil. : 鉛筆 (empitsu)
 * ...English-language books. : 英語の本 (eigo no hon)
 * ...English-language magazines. : 英語の雑誌 (eigo no zasshi)
 * ...an English-language newspaper. : 英字新聞 (ēji shinbun)
 * ...a Japanese-English dictionary. : 和英辞典 (waē jiten)
 * ...an English-Japanese dictionary. : 英和辞典 (ēwa jiten)

Family

 * Are you married? : 結婚していますか? (Kekkon shiteimasu ka?)
 * I am married. : 結婚しています. (Kekkon shiteimasu.)
 * I am single. : 独身です. (Dokushin desu)
 * Do you have brothers and sisters? : 兄弟はいますか? (Kyōdai wa imasu ka?)
 * Do you have children? : 子供はいますか? (Kodomo wa imasu ka?)

Talking about your own family

 * Father : 父 (chichi)
 * Mother : 母 (haha)
 * Older Brother : 兄 (ani)
 * Older Sister : 姉 (ane)
 * Younger Brother : 弟 (otōto)
 * Younger Sister : 妹 (imōto)
 * Grandfather : 祖父 (sofu)
 * Grandmother : 祖母 (sobo)
 * Uncle : 叔父/伯父 (oji)
 * Aunt : 叔母/伯母 (oba)
 * Husband : 夫 (otto) / 主人 (shujin)
 * Wife : 妻 (tsuma) / 家内 (kanai)
 * Son : 息子 (musuko)
 * Daughter : 娘 (musume)
 * Grandchild : 孫　(mago)

Talking about another's family

 * Father : お父さん (otōsan)
 * Mother : お母さん (okāsan)
 * Older Brother : お兄さん (onīsan)
 * Older Sister : お姉さん (onēsan)
 * Younger Brother : 弟さん (otōtosan)
 * Younger Sister : 妹さん (imōtosan)
 * Grandfather : おじいさん (ojīsan)
 * Grandmother : おばあさん (obāsan)
 * Uncle : おじさん (ojisan)
 * Aunt : おばさん (obasan)
 * Husband : ご主人 (goshujin)
 * Wife : 奥さん (okusan)
 * Son : 息子さん (musukosan)
 * Daughter : お嬢さん (ojōsan)
 * Grandchild : お孫さん　(omagosan)

Driving

 * I want to rent a car. : レンタカーお願いします. (Rentakā (rent-a-car) onegaishimasu.) 0:01
 * Can I get insurance? : 保険入れますか? (Hoken hairemasu ka?) 0:12
 * Do you have a driver's license? : 免許証を持っていますか? (Menkyoshō wo motteimasu ka?) 0:38
 * stop (on a street sign) : 止まれ／とまれ (tomare) 0:40
 * one way : 一方通行 (ippō tsūkō) 0:51
 * caution : 徐行 (jokō) 1:05
 * road blocked : 通行止め (tsūkōdome) 1:16
 * no parking : 駐車禁止 (chūsha kinshi) 1:20
 * speed limit : 制限速度 (seigen sokudo) 1:23
 * gas (petrol) station : ガソリンスタンド (gasorin sutando) 1:40
 * petrol : ガソリン (gasorin) 52:33
 * diesel : 軽油/ディーゼル (keiyu / diizeru) 1:02:31

Authority
In Japan, you can legally be incarcerated for twenty-three (23) days before you are charged, but you do have the right to see a lawyer after the first 48 hours of detention. Note that if you sign a confession, you will be convicted.

 * I haven't done anything (wrong). : 何も(悪いことを)していません. (Nani mo (warui koto wo) shiteimasen.)
 * It was a misunderstanding. : 誤解でした. (Gokai deshita.)
 * Where are you taking me? : どこへ連れて行くのですか？ (Doko e tsurete yukuno desu ka?)
 * Am I under arrest? : 私は逮捕されてるのですか？ (Watashi wa taiho sareteruno desu ka?)
 * I am a citizen of ____. : ____　の国民です. (____ no kokumin desu.)
 * I want to meet with the ____ embassy. : ____ 大使館と会わせて下さい. (____ taishikan to awasete kudasai.)
 * I want to meet with a lawyer. : 弁護士と会わせて下さい. (Bengoshi to awasete kudasai.)
 * Can it be settled with a fine? : 罰金で済みますか？ (Bakkin de sumimasu ka?) Note: You can say this to a traffic cop, but bribery is highly unlikely to work in Japan.

Typical Japanese expressions
General agreement. Especially old people can be heard going sō desu ne back and forth quite a few times. Used as an excuse after any amount of downtime, even just seconds. Often also used as a starter to get things going again. To colleagues in the sense of "you gave it all, good work", but more generally at the end of almost any activity. Meant to be encouraging and motivating. 頑張れ！ Ganbare! in stronger cheering. To yourself before starting to eat or when accepting something offered to you. When entering your superiors room or an unfamiliar house, when trying to get someone's attention or generally when interrupting someone. When leaving your superiors room or an unfamiliar house or generally as "Sorry to have bothered you, carry on." For general reassurance. Used with desu ka? to inquire if something or somebody is alright. Very popular amongst girls and greatly overused. See sugoi. Almost a standard reaction to any kind of news. Can be lengthened indefinitely and is hence useful to stall for time when thinking about a real answer. Doesn't necessarily accuse one of lying, usually used in the sense of "Seriously?!"
 * そうですね. Sō desu ne. : "That's how it is, isn't it?"
 * （大変）お待たせしました. (Taihen) omataseshimashita. : "I have made you wait (terribly) long."
 * お疲れさまでした. Otsukaresama deshita. : "It's been honorably tiresome."
 * 頑張って！ Ganbatte!: "Give it your best!"
 * いただきます. Itadakimasu. : "I will receive."
 * 失礼します. Shitsurei shimasu. : "I will trouble you." or "I will be impolite."
 * 失礼しました. Shitsurei shimashita. : "I have troubled you." or "Excuse my impoliteness."
 * 大丈夫. Daijōbu. : "It is alright."
 * 凄い！ Sugoi! : "Great!", "Incredible!"
 * 可愛い！ Kawaii! : "How cute!"
 * ええぇ〜 Eee~ : "Reallyyyyyyy~?"
 * ウソ！ Uso! : "Lie!"

Honorifics
Japanese makes extensive use of honorific language (敬語 keigo) when talking to people of higher status. Keigo is famously difficult to master and even Japanese salespeople often need to take special courses to learn to speak correctly. As a foreigner, you will generally not be expected to use keigo, but it is very commonly used in situations like salespeople talking to customers and public announcements, so having at least passive familiarity with the most common keigo verbs and constructs will come in very useful.

Respectful form
When talking to someone of higher status than yourself, it is important to use a respectful form (尊敬語 sonkeigo) when talking about the other person. Generally, this follows the pattern お～になる(o ~ ni naru), where ～ represents the stem of the basic polite form: eg. to read, 読む(yomu), basic polite form 読みます(yomimasu) becomes お読みになる(o-yomi-ni-naru). The naru at the end follows the normal conjugation patterns for naru, most commonly becoming narimasu (present) or narimashita (past). The main exceptions are listed below:

 * To see: 見る becomes ご覧になる (goran-ni-naru).
 * To eat/drink: 食べる/飲む becomes 召し上がる (meshi-agaru).
 * To come/go/be at a place: 来る/行く/いる becomes いらっしゃる (irassharu). (basic polite form いらっしゃいます irasshaimasu and not いらっしゃります)
 * To know: 知る becomes ご存知だ (gozonji-da).
 * To give (to yourself): くれる becomes 下さる (kudasaru). (basic polite form 下さいます kudasaimasu and not 下さります)
 * To do: する becomes なさる (nasaru). (basic polite form なさいます nasaimasu and not なさります)
 * To say: 言う becomes おっしゃる (ossharu) (basic polite form おっしゃいます osshaimasu and not おっしゃります)

Humble form
When talking about yourself to someone of higher status than you, it is important to put yourself down by using a humble form (謙遜語 kensongo). Generally this follows the pattern お～する (o ~ suru), where ～ reprents the stem of the basic polite form: eg. to borrow, 借りる(kariru), basic polite form 借ります (karimasu) becomes お借りする (o-kari-suru). The suru at the end follows the usual conjugation pattern of suru, most commonly becoming shimasu (present) or shimashita (past); for an extra helping of humility, the verb 致す itasu > 致します itashimasu can be substituted. The main exceptions are listed below:

 * To see: 見る becomes 拝見する (haiken-suru).
 * To come/go: 来る/行く becomes 参る (mairu).
 * To eat/drink/receive: 食べる/飲む/もらう becomes いただく (itadaku)
 * To give: あげる becomes さし上げる (sashi-ageru).
 * To do: する becomes 致す (itasu)
 * To know: 知る becomes 存じる (zonjiru)
 * To say: 言う becomes 申し上げる (mōshi-ageru)
 * My name is: いう becomes 申す (mōsu)

Polite form
The third type of keigo is called simply "polite language", or teineigo (丁寧語). Whereas respectful and humble language refer to the subject (you and I), teineigo is used to simply imply respect to the listener. An example:

 * りんごをご覧になりますか？ Ringo wo goran ni narimasuka? : Can you see the apple? (respectful)
 * りんごを拝見します. Ringo wo haiken shimasu. : I see the apple. (humble)
 * 彼もりんごを見ます. Kare mo ringo wo mimasu. : He also sees the apple. (polite)

In fact, the desu copula and the -masu form taught to beginning students of Japanese are both examples of teineigo. A few verbs and adjectives have special teineigo forms:

 * to be : aru (ある) → gozaimasu (ございます)
 * to die : shinu (死ぬ) → nakunaru (亡くなる)
 * good : ii/yoi (いい/良い) → yoroshii (よろしい)

Country and territory names
Country and territory names in Japanese are generally borrowed from their English names and written in katakana. The names of languages are generally formed by adding 語 (go) to the end of the country name. Only exceptions are mentioned below. Also one-kanji abbreviation for the country name is shown in 「　」:
 * アジア Ajia :Asia　「亜」
 * 日本 Nihon/Nippon, 日本国 Nihon-koku: Japan　「日」
 * 中国 Chūgoku : China (or, confusingly, Western Honshu)　「中」
 * 台湾 Taiwan : Taiwan　「台」
 * 香港 Honkon: Hong Kong　「港」(rare)
 * 韓国 Kankoku : South Korea　「韓」
 * 北朝鮮 Kitachōsen : North Korea　「朝」
 * インド Indo : India (not an abbreviation of Indonesia)　「印」
 * インドネシア Indonesha : Indonesia
 * タイ Tai : Thailand　「泰」(rare)
 * トルコ Toruko : Turkey　「土」
 * アラブ首長国連邦 Arabu-shuchōkoku-rempō : United Arab Emirates

 * ヨーロッパ Yōroppa : Europe　「欧」
 * ドイツ Doitsu (derived from 'Deutsche'): Germany　「独」
 * イギリス Igirisu (derived from 'English'), 英国 Eikoku (written) : United Kingdom　「英」
 * フランス Furansu : France　「仏」
 * イタリア Itaria : Italy　「伊」
 * スペイン Supein : Spain　「西」
 * オランダ Oranda (derived from 'Holland'): The Netherlands　「蘭」
 * ベルギー　Berugī : Belgium　「白」(rare)
 * ハンガリー Hangarī : Hungary　「洪」(rare)
 * ロシア Roshia : Russia　「露」
 * イスラエル Isuraeru : Israel

 * アメリカ Amerika, 米国 Beikoku (written) : United States of America (not the whole American continent)　「米」

 * アフリカ Afurika : Africa
 * 南アフリカ Minami-afurika : South Africa
 * エチオピア Echiopia : Ethiopia
 * オーストラリア Ōsutoraria, 豪州 Gōshū: Australia　「豪」

Learning more
For those who want proof of their proficiency in Japanese, there is the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT, 日本語能力試験), which is endorsed by the Japanese government, and serves as the Japanese-language equivalent of the TOEFL and IELTS. The test is conducted at 5 levels, with level N5 requiring only a basic level of proficiency to pass, and N1 requiring near-native proficiency. Only reading and listening is tested, and there is no oral examination. Many private Japanese-language courses are geared towards preparing students for this exam.

 * WWWJDIC — English-Japanese-English dictionary including sentence translation, kanji lookup and place/personal name dictionary
 * Tae Kim's Guide to Japanese Grammar — Comprehensive online/printable grammar guide building up from casual Japanese using first principles (as opposed to working sideways from polite phrasebook Japanese)
 * Japanese LinguaLift — Learn, review, and practice Japanese in one easy to use package.
 * L-Lingo Japanese — A free 40 lesson online learn Japanese application
 * Charles Kelly's Online Japanese Language Study Materials — A collection of online study aids and quizzes
 * Learn Japanese by listening — Some Japanese lessons in mp3.
 * Learn to speak Japanese - One at a Time — Daily Japanese lessons.
 * Jisho.org — Another English-Japanese-English dictionary, but, with a deceptively powerful bookmarklet to assist reading kanji on websites.
 * Denshi Jisho The best resource for Japanese electronic dictionaries
 * 100 top resources to learn Japanese

 * Remembering the Kanji 1 by James W. Heisig (1977) — Extremely well-known book detailing just the meanings of most kanji and mnemonics to assist with retaining those meanings. Follow-up texts cover Chinese onyomi readings and all that again for less common naming kanji.

title: Japanese phrasebook


text:
Jar

Jar (also Car, Dzhar and Dzhary) is a village in the Sheki Region of Azerbaijan that belongs to Zaqatala.

Understand
Jar is one of the beautiful places in Zaqatala. Jar famous for its big and green mountains and winds, beautiful rivers, lakes, and birds.

History
Jar's land was Georgia's land. Then the Georgian king George the 8th divided Georgia into 3 parts; Kahetiya, Kahskoye and Imeritinskoye. Kahetia was divided into 3 parts too. That was Kahetisk Qax and Jar. In Jar there were Georgians living, but in 1618 Dagestan Lezgis attacked Jar. Who could run, ran, but who stays there became Muslims. Nowadays, in Jar there are Avars, Lezgins and other ethnic groups.

Climate
Yearly average temperature is 7 ° C. The warmest months is August, with an average 19 °C. The coldest month is January, with an average of -4 °C.

Get in
Actually, not that far from Zaqatala (max. 4.5 km) but quite a climb of up to 350 m.

 * Car: 10-15 min
 * Taxi: 30 min, 5 manat
 * Bicycle: 1-1.5 hr
 * Bus: 30 min, 1 manat

Get around
Jar can be explored on foot.

Go next

 * Qax – Another gateway into the Caucasian Mountains besides Sheki, and "base camp" for treks towards Sarıbaş.
 * Zaqatala – The city is populated by different ethnic groups, each with its own language that is not linguistically tied to others throughout the region. And like Qax, a gateway into the Caucasian Mountains, and conveniently located for onward travel into Georgia.
 * Danachi (Danaçı) – On the bank of Alazan river, with main ethnic group, the Avarians. There are beautiful gardens, green forests and creeks.

title: Jar


text:
Jarabacoa

Jarabacoa is in the Dominican Republic.

Get around
Motorcycle taxis are the most common form of transportation, though the local buses to La Vega double as taxis when not on duty.

See

 * Salto de Jimenoa

Do

 * Monastery Waterfalls

Go next

 * Los Calabazos is a village about 30 minutes from Jarabacoa on the road to Manabao. The village peasant association runs a small guest house consisting of 5 2-room cabins with running water and electricity.
 * Pico Duarte, which is the tallest peak in the Caribbean with a height of 3,087 meters.

title: Jarabacoa


text:
Jaracuaro

Jaracuaro is a village on the shores of Lake Patzcuaro in the state of Michoacan, Mexico.

The old mission of San Pedro stands on the site which was a shrine to the Tarascan moon goddess Xaratanga.

By car
Take the turn off from Patzcuaro in Arocutin.

Do not drive cars into town as the streets are narrow and getting out is difficult.

Festivals
Day of the Dead - Native dances on a stage.

Buy
Best place to buy well made straw hats for $40 pesos.

Go next

 * Patzcuaro

title: Jaracuaro