UNIT 6
Trains, Stations & Directions
Trains, Stations & Directions
Lesson 2: Buying Tickets and Using IC Cards
きっぷをかいたいです — Paying for Your Journey
⏱️ About 25 minutes ／ 📊 Level: Beginner (N5) ／ 🗣️ Speaking + Reading
Before You Start
Japan’s train system uses two main ways to pay: paper tickets bought from a machine, and IC cards that you tap at the gate. IC cards (Suica, manaca, ICOCA, and others depending on the region) are the most convenient option — you can charge them with cash and use them on trains, buses, and even at some convenience stores. In this lesson, you’ll learn all the Japanese you need to navigate either option confidently.
What you’ll learn:
- Ask where to buy a ticket — 切符はどこで買えますか
- Buy a ticket to a destination — 〇〇までの切符をください
- Ask the fare — 〇〇までいくらですか
- Ask if you can use an IC card — ICカードは使えますか
- Top up your IC card — チャージしたいです
- Check your balance — 残高はいくらですか
1. Key Phrases ／ きほんのフレーズ
切符はどこで買えますか。
Kippu wa doko de kaemasu ka.
Where can I buy a ticket?
切符を買いたいです。
Kippu o kaitai desu.
I want to buy a ticket.
〇〇までの切符をください。
〇〇 made no kippu o kudasai.
A ticket to 〇〇, please.
〇〇までいくらですか。
〇〇 made ikura desu ka.
How much is it to 〇〇?
ICカードは使えますか。
Ai shii kaado wa tsukaemasu ka.
Can I use an IC card?
チャージしたいです。
Chaaji shitai desu.
I want to charge my IC card.
残高はいくらですか。
Zandaka wa ikura desu ka.
How much balance is left?
残高が足りません。
Zandaka ga tarimasen.
The balance is not enough.
2. Phrase Notes ／ ポイント
① 〇〇までの切符をください — buying a ticket
The key pattern is destination + までの切符をください. The の connects “destination” to “ticket” — it means “a ticket for going to 〇〇.”
名古屋までの切符をください。A ticket to Nagoya, please.
東京までの切符をください。A ticket to Tokyo, please.
京都までの切符をください。A ticket to Kyoto, please.
② IC cards in Japan — which one?
IC cards are regional but interoperable across most of Japan. Suica and PASMO work in Tokyo. manaca is used in Nagoya. ICOCA covers Osaka and the Kansai region. All can be used for trains, buses, and many convenience stores. When in doubt, just ask: ICカードは使えますか.
③ チャージしたいです — topping up
チャージ is the Japanese word for “charging” or “topping up” an IC card. You can add a specific amount: 1,000円チャージしたいです. Charging is done at ticket machines (券売機) throughout the station.
④ 残高が足りません — what happens when your balance is low
If your IC card doesn’t have enough balance, the ticket gate won’t open and the machine will display 残高不足. A station staff member may say 残高が足りません. Your response: チャージしたいです — then head to the nearest 券売機.
⚠️ Common Mistake
Don’t confuse 切符 (kippu = paper ticket) and ICカード (IC card). At ticket machines, look for the 「切符購入」button to buy a ticket, or the 「チャージ」button for IC card top-up. When buying a ticket, you look at the fare map above the machine to find the price for your destination.
Don’t confuse 切符 (kippu = paper ticket) and ICカード (IC card). At ticket machines, look for the 「切符購入」button to buy a ticket, or the 「チャージ」button for IC card top-up. When buying a ticket, you look at the fare map above the machine to find the price for your destination.
3. Ticket & IC Card Words ／ きっぷとICカードのことば
🎫 Ticket Words ／ きっぷ
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| 切符 / きっぷ | kippu | ticket |
| 券売機 | kenbaiki | ticket machine |
| 運賃 | unchin | fare |
| 片道 | katamichi | one way |
| 往復 | oofuku | round trip |
| 大人 | otona | adult |
| 子ども | kodomo | child |
💳 IC Card Words ／ ICカードのことば
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| ICカード | ai shii kaado | IC card |
| チャージ | chaaji | charge / top up |
| 残高 | zandaka | balance |
| タッチ | tacchi | tap |
| 使えます / 使えません | tsukaemasu / tsukaemasen | can use / cannot use |
💡 Common IC cards by region
Suica / PASMO — Tokyo & East Japan
manaca / TOICA — Nagoya region
ICOCA / PiTaPa — Osaka / Kansai region
4. Conversation Practice ／ かいわ
💬 Conversation 1 — Buying a Ticket
💬 Conversation 2 — Ticket to Nagoya + Asking the Fare
💬 Conversation 3 — Asking the Fare
💬 Conversation 4 — Using an IC Card
💬 Conversation 5 — Charging an IC Card
💬 Conversation 6 — Not Enough Balance
5. Vocabulary ／ たんご
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| 切符 | kippu | ticket |
| 券売機 | kenbaiki | ticket machine |
| 駅員 | ekiin | station staff |
| 運賃 | unchin | fare |
| ICカード | ai shii kaado | IC card |
| チャージ | chaaji | charge / top up |
| 残高 | zandaka | balance |
| タッチ | tacchi | tap |
| 片道 | katamichi | one way |
| 往復 | oofuku | round trip |
| 使えます | tsukaemasu | can use |
| 足りません | tarimasen | not enough |
6. Check Your Understanding ／ クイズ
Think about each question first. The answer and explanation are shown below each one.
Q1. How do you ask “Where can I buy a ticket?”
A. 切符はいくらですか。 B. 切符は何時ですか。 C. 切符を買いたいです。 D. 切符はどこで買えますか。
Answer: D
切符はどこで買えますか = “Where can I buy a ticket?” Note: どこで買えますか = “where CAN I buy” (possible). C says “I want to buy” — different meaning.
切符はどこで買えますか = “Where can I buy a ticket?” Note: どこで買えますか = “where CAN I buy” (possible). C says “I want to buy” — different meaning.
Q2. How do you say “A ticket to Nagoya, please”?
A. 名古屋はどこですか。 B. 名古屋までの切符をください。 C. 名古屋に住んでいます。 D. 名古屋までいくらですか。
Answer: B
Pattern: destination + までの切符をください. The の connects the destination to the ticket noun. D asks the fare, not requests a ticket.
Pattern: destination + までの切符をください. The の connects the destination to the ticket noun. D asks the fare, not requests a ticket.
Q3. How do you ask the fare to Tokyo?
A. 東京は辛いですか。 B. 東京は何歳ですか。 C. 東京までいくらですか。 D. 東京までお願いします。
Answer: C
〇〇までいくらですか = “How much is it to 〇〇?” D uses the same まで but is a taxi phrase, not a fare question.
〇〇までいくらですか = “How much is it to 〇〇?” D uses the same まで but is a taxi phrase, not a fare question.
Q4. What does 「ICカードは使えますか。」 mean?
A. Where can I get an IC card? B. Can I use an IC card? C. I want to charge my IC card. D. My IC card is not working.
Answer: B
使えますか = “Can I use…?” The potential form of 使います (to use). If yes: はい、使えます. If no: 使えません.
使えますか = “Can I use…?” The potential form of 使います (to use). If yes: はい、使えます. If no: 使えません.
Q5. What does 「残高が足りません。」 mean?
A. The station is far. B. The train is late. C. The balance is not enough. D. The ticket is expensive.
Answer: C
残高 = balance, 足りません = not enough. When you hear this, say チャージしたいです and head to the nearest 券売機.
残高 = balance, 足りません = not enough. When you hear this, say チャージしたいです and head to the nearest 券売機.
Q6. You want to top up your IC card with 2,000 yen. What do you say?
A. 2,000円チャージしたいです。 B. 2,000円の切符をください。 C. 残高は2,000円です。 D. 2,000円使えますか。
Answer: A
〇〇円チャージしたいです = “I want to charge 〇〇 yen.” You can also just say チャージしたいです and the machine will show you options.
〇〇円チャージしたいです = “I want to charge 〇〇 yen.” You can also just say チャージしたいです and the machine will show you options.
7. Match the Meaning ／ れんしゅう
Match each phrase with its English meaning. Check your answers below.
切符はどこで買えますか。 → ______
切符を買いたいです。 → ______
名古屋までの切符をください。 → ______
名古屋までいくらですか。 → ______
ICカードは使えますか。 → ______
チャージしたいです。 → ______
残高はいくらですか。 → ______
Choices: A. I want to buy a ticket. B. Can I use an IC card? C. How much balance is left? D. A ticket to Nagoya, please. E. Where can I buy a ticket? F. I want to charge my IC card. G. How much is it to Nagoya?
Answers: 切符はどこで買えますか = E ／ 切符を買いたいです = A ／ 名古屋までの切符をください = D ／ 名古屋までいくらですか = G ／ ICカードは使えますか = B ／ チャージしたいです = F ／ 残高はいくらですか = C
🚀 Mini Mission
Today’s mission: Practice buying tickets and using IC cards in Japanese.
Try these with your teacher or practice aloud before your next train journey:
切符を買いたいです。／ 〇〇までいくらですか。／ ICカードは使えますか。／ チャージしたいです。
📘 Review ／ まとめ
In this lesson, you learned how to pay for train travel in Japan — both with paper tickets and IC cards.
切符を買いたいです。(I want to buy a ticket.)
〇〇までいくらですか。(How much to 〇〇?)
ICカードは使えますか。(Can I use an IC card?)
チャージしたいです。(I want to top up.)
〇〇までいくらですか。(How much to 〇〇?)
ICカードは使えますか。(Can I use an IC card?)
チャージしたいです。(I want to top up.)
💡 If your IC card shows 残高不足 at the gate, just say チャージしたいです to the nearest staff member and they’ll direct you to the 券売機.
FAQ
Q. Which IC card should I get as a visitor to Japan?
If you’re visiting Tokyo, get a Suica (available at major JR stations). In Nagoya, manaca is the local card. In Osaka or Kyoto, ICOCA is common. All are interoperable across most of Japan. You can also buy a Welcome Suica designed specifically for tourists — no deposit required.
Q. What if I pay too much because I bought the wrong ticket?
There is a 精算機 (fare adjustment machine) near the exit gates at most Japanese stations. Insert your ticket and pay the difference. If you’re confused, go to the 駅員室 (station office) and the staff will help you — say すみません、間違えました (“Sorry, I made a mistake”).
Q. Can I use an IC card for more than just trains?
Yes — most IC cards in Japan can be used on buses, subways, some taxis, and at convenience stores, vending machines, and select shops. Just look for the IC card logo (a radio wave symbol) at the register. It’s one of the most convenient cards to carry while traveling in Japan.
🚃 Practice with a real teacher
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