Visiting Japan · Lesson 6

Hotels, ryokan and onsen

Whether you stay in a city hotel or a traditional ryokan, these phrases cover checking in, your bags and your room. There's also a guide to hot spring baths, so you can relax without worrying about the rules. Tap to hear any line. The bar at the bottom plays a hands-free drill for walking.

14 phrases for your stay

Each card shows the phrase, how to say it in English letters, and a short line using it. Tap "Show English" for the meaning and a note on when to say it, and tap the speaker to hear it.

G01

予約よやくしていますYoyaku shite imas.hotel

スミスで予約よやくしています。
Sumisu de yoyaku shite imas.

I have a reservation · I have a reservation under Smith.
Say it at the front desk with your name.
G02

チェックインをお願ねがいしますChekkuin o onegai shimas.hotel

すみません、チェックインをお願ねがいします。
Sumimasen, chekkuin o onegai shimas.

check in, please · Excuse me, I'd like to check in.
At the front desk. Have your passport ready: hotels need to see it.
G03

荷物にもつを預あずかっていただけますかNimotsu o azukatte itadakemas ka?hotel

チェックインまで荷物にもつを預あずかっていただけますか？
Chekkuin made nimotsu o azukatte itadakemas ka?

could you keep my bags? · Could you keep my bags until check-in?
Before check-in or after check-out. Most hotels will keep them for free.
G04

チェックアウトは何時なんじまでですかChekkuauto wa nanji made des ka?hotel

チェックアウトは何時なんじまでですか？
Chekkuauto wa nanji made des ka?

what time is check-out? · What time do I need to check out by?
Check-out is often at 10 or 11 in the morning.
G05

朝食ちょうしょくは何時なんじからですかChōshoku wa nanji kara des ka?hotel

朝食ちょうしょくは何時なんじからですか？
Chōshoku wa nanji kara des ka?

what time is breakfast? · What time does breakfast start?
Hotels say 朝食ちょうしょく for breakfast.
G06

Wi-Fiのパスワードは何なんですかWi-Fi no pasuwādo wa nan des ka?hotel

すみません、Wi-Fiのパスワードは何なんですか？
Sumimasen, Wi-Fi no pasuwādo wa nan des ka?

what's the Wi-Fi password? · Excuse me, what's the Wi-Fi password?
Often written on a card in the room.
G07

タオルをもう一枚いちまいお願ねがいしますTaoru o mō ichimai onegai shimas.hotel

すみません、タオルをもう一枚いちまいお願ねがいします。
Sumimasen, taoru o mō ichimai onegai shimas.

one more towel, please · Excuse me, one more towel, please.
一枚いちまい is for flat things like towels and tickets.
G08

エアコンがつきませんEakon ga tsukimasen.hotel

すみません、部屋へやのエアコンがつきません。
Sumimasen, heya no eakon ga tsukimasen.

the air conditioning won't come on · Excuse me, the air conditioning in my room won't come on.
Call the front desk. Swap in テレビ for the TV.
G09

タクシーを呼よんでいただけますかTakushī o yonde itadakemas ka?hotel

すみません、タクシーを呼よんでいただけますか？
Sumimasen, takushī o yonde itadakemas ka?

could you call a taxi? · Excuse me, could you call me a taxi?
The front desk can call one and tell the driver where you're going.
G10

空港くうこうまで荷物にもつを送おくれますかKūkō made nimotsu o okuremas ka?hotel

空港くうこうまで荷物にもつを送おくれますか？
Kūkō made nimotsu o okuremas ka?

can I send my bags to the airport? · Can I send my luggage to the airport?
Luggage delivery is common and saves carrying big cases on trains. Allow a day or two.
G11

大浴場だいよくじょうはどこですかDaiyokujō wa doko des ka?onsen

大浴場だいよくじょうはどこですか？
Daiyokujō wa doko des ka?

where's the main bath? · Where's the main bath?
Many ryokan and some hotels have a large shared bath.
G12

タトゥーがありますが、大丈夫だいじょうぶですかTatū ga arimas ga, daijōbu des ka?onsen

タトゥーがありますが、大丈夫だいじょうぶですか？
Tatū ga arimas ga, daijōbu des ka?

I have a tattoo. Is that OK? · I have a tattoo. Is that OK?
Ask at the desk before you go in. Rules vary: some places offer cover stickers or a private bath.
G13

貸切風呂かしきりぶろはありますかKashikiriburo wa arimas ka?onsen

貸切風呂かしきりぶろはありますか？
Kashikiriburo wa arimas ka?

is there a private bath? · Is there a private bath?
A bath you book for yourself or your group. Good for families and people with tattoos.
G14

もう一泊いっぱくできますかMō ippaku dekimas ka?hotel

すみません、もう一泊いっぱくできますか？
Sumimasen, mō ippaku dekimas ka?

can I stay one more night? · Excuse me, can I stay one more night?
一泊いっぱく is one night.

Signs at the baths

Words you'll see at an onsen or a ryokan bath. Check the curtain before you go in.

You'll see	Pronunciation	It means
男おとこ	otoko	men
女おんな	onna	women
ゆ	yu	hot water: the bath is here
大浴場だいよくじょう	daiyokujō	main shared bath
露天風呂ろてんぶろ	rotenburo	outdoor bath
貸切風呂かしきりぶろ	kashikiriburo	private bath
脱衣所だついじょ	datsuijo	changing room
浴衣ゆかた	yukata	light cotton robe to wear at a ryokan

Wash first. At an onsen, wash and rinse your whole body at the showers before you get into the bath. The bath is for soaking, not washing.
No swimsuits. Baths are usually single-sex and you go in without clothes. Keep the small towel out of the water (people put it on their head), and tie long hair up.
Tattoos. Rules vary from place to place, so ask before you go in. Some places offer cover stickers or a private bath (貸切風呂かしきりぶろ).
Send your bags ahead. Hotels can often send big suitcases to your next hotel or the airport by courier, usually arriving the next day.

Three patterns to use today

〜ていただけますか

A polite way to ask someone to do something for you.

写真しゃしんを撮とっていただけますか？

Shashin o totte itadakemas ka?

Could you take a photo for us?

ここに書かいていただけますか？

Koko ni kaite itadakemas ka?

Could you write it down here?

〜は何時なんじから / 何時なんじまでですか

Ask when something opens or closes.

お風呂ふろは何時なんじまでですか？

Ofuro wa nanji made des ka?

Until what time is the bath open?

レストランは何時なんじからですか？

Resutoran wa nanji kara des ka?

What time does the restaurant open?

〜はありますか

Ask if there's something nearby or in the hotel.

近ちかくにコンビニはありますか？

Chikaku ni konbini wa arimas ka?

Is there a convenience store nearby?

コインランドリーはありますか？

Koin randorī wa arimas ka?

Is there a coin laundry?

Say it in Japanese

Say each one out loud before you reveal the answer. Getting close counts.

1. I have a reservation.
2. Check in, please.
3. Could you keep my bags?
4. Until what time is breakfast?
5. What's the Wi-Fi password?
6. Where's the outdoor bath?
7. I have a tattoo. Is that OK?
8. Could you call a taxi?
9. Is there a lift?
10. Could you take a photo for us?