UNIT 6
Trains, Stations & Directions
Trains, Stations & Directions
Lesson 1: Going to the Station
えきはどこですか — Finding Your Way
⏱️ About 25 minutes ／ 📊 Level: Beginner (N5) ／ 🗣️ Speaking + Reading
Before You Start
Japan’s train network is one of the best in the world — but getting to the station and finding your way around it requires its own vocabulary. In this lesson, you’ll learn how to ask where the station is, get simple directions, and navigate inside the station to the ticket gate and platform.
What you’ll learn:
- Ask where the station is — 駅はどこですか
- Say you want to go to the station — 駅に行きたいです
- Use the phrase in a taxi — 駅までお願いします
- Ask how to get there — 駅までどう行きますか
- Understand direction words — まっすぐ / 右 / 左
- Ask where the ticket gate is — 改札はどこですか
1. Key Phrases ／ きほんのフレーズ
駅はどこですか。
Eki wa doko desu ka.
Where is the station?
駅に行きたいです。
Eki ni ikitai desu.
I want to go to the station.
駅までお願いします。
Eki made onegaishimasu.
To the station, please.
駅までどう行きますか。
Eki made doo ikimasu ka.
How do I get to the station?
まっすぐ行ってください。
Massugu itte kudasai.
Please go straight.
右に曲がってください。
Migi ni magatte kudasai.
Please turn right.
左に曲がってください。
Hidari ni magatte kudasai.
Please turn left.
駅は近いですか。
Eki wa chikai desu ka.
Is the station near?
改札はどこですか。
Kaisatsu wa doko desu ka.
Where is the ticket gate?
2. Phrase Notes ／ ポイント
① 〇〇はどこですか — the universal “where” pattern
Replace 〇〇 with any place to ask where it is. This is one of the most useful patterns in everyday Japanese — you’ll use it constantly at stations, in cities, and in buildings.
駅はどこですか。Where is the station?
改札はどこですか。Where is the ticket gate?
出口はどこですか。Where is the exit?
トイレはどこですか。Where is the restroom?
② 〇〇に行きたいです — saying where you want to go
Use this when you need help finding a place. It’s especially useful when you’re lost — just say the place name and add に行きたいです.
駅に行きたいです。I want to go to the station.
ホテルに行きたいです。I want to go to the hotel.
バス停に行きたいです。I want to go to the bus stop.
③ 〇〇までお願いします — in a taxi
This is the key phrase for taxis. Say the destination + までお願いします. You can use a station name, hotel name, or area name.
名古屋駅までお願いします。To Nagoya Station, please.
東京駅までお願いします。To Tokyo Station, please.
このホテルまでお願いします。To this hotel, please.
④ Direction phrases
When someone gives you directions, you’ll hear these. The most common instruction is a combination: まっすぐ行って、右に曲がってください (“Go straight and turn right”).
⚠️ Common Mistake
Don’t confuse 右 (migi = right) and 左 (hidari = left). A reliable trick: the kanji 左 has more strokes and takes longer to write — just like taking the “longer way” to the left. Practice both until they’re automatic before arriving in Japan.
Don’t confuse 右 (migi = right) and 左 (hidari = left). A reliable trick: the kanji 左 has more strokes and takes longer to write — just like taking the “longer way” to the left. Practice both until they’re automatic before arriving in Japan.
3. Direction & Station Words ／ ほうこうとえきのことば
🧭 Direction Words ／ ほうこう
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| まっすぐ | massugu | straight ahead |
| 右 | migi | right |
| 左 | hidari | left |
| 前 | mae | front / ahead |
| 後ろ | ushiro | behind / back |
| あちら | achira | over there |
| こちら | kochira | this way |
🚉 Station Words ／ えきのことば
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| 駅 | eki | station |
| 改札 | kaisatsu | ticket gate |
| ホーム | hoomu | platform |
| 入口 | iriguchi | entrance |
| 出口 | deguchi | exit |
| 電車 | densha | train |
| 地下鉄 | chikatetsu | subway |
| バス停 | basutee | bus stop |
| トイレ | toire | restroom |
💡 Directions you may hear
5分ぐらいです。About 5 minutes away.
近いです。It is near.
少し遠いです。It is a little far.
4. Conversation Practice ／ かいわ
💬 Conversation 1 — Where Is the Station?
💬 Conversation 2 — How Do I Get to the Station?
💬 Conversation 3 — Turn Right
💬 Conversation 4 — Where Is the Ticket Gate?
💬 Conversation 5 — Taxi to the Station
5. Vocabulary ／ たんご
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| 駅 | eki | station |
| 電車 | densha | train |
| 地下鉄 | chikatetsu | subway |
| 改札 | kaisatsu | ticket gate |
| ホーム | hoomu | platform |
| 入口 | iriguchi | entrance |
| 出口 | deguchi | exit |
| バス停 | basutee | bus stop |
| まっすぐ | massugu | straight ahead |
| 右 | migi | right |
| 左 | hidari | left |
| 近い | chikai | near |
| 遠い | tooi | far |
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 is the station?” in Japanese?
A. 駅はいくらですか。 B. 駅は何時ですか。 C. 駅はどこですか。 D. 駅は何人ですか。
Answer: C
駅はどこですか = “Where is the station?” どこ = where. Use this same pattern for any place: 〇〇はどこですか.
駅はどこですか = “Where is the station?” どこ = where. Use this same pattern for any place: 〇〇はどこですか.
Q2. How do you say “I want to go to the station” in Japanese?
A. 駅は高いです。 B. 駅に行きたいです。 C. 駅は月曜日です。 D. 駅まで来てください。
Answer: B
〇〇に行きたいです = “I want to go to 〇〇.” Use this when you need help getting somewhere.
〇〇に行きたいです = “I want to go to 〇〇.” Use this when you need help getting somewhere.
Q3. What does 「駅までお願いします。」 mean?
A. Is the station near? B. Where is the station? C. To the station, please. D. The station is over there.
Answer: C
〇〇までお願いします = “To 〇〇, please.” The essential taxi phrase — say the destination and add までお願いします.
〇〇までお願いします = “To 〇〇, please.” The essential taxi phrase — say the destination and add までお願いします.
Q4. What does 「まっすぐ行ってください。」 mean?
A. Please turn right. B. Please wait a moment. C. Please go straight. D. Please turn left.
Answer: C
まっすぐ = straight ahead. 行ってください = “please go.” Often combined: まっすぐ行って、右に曲がってください.
まっすぐ = straight ahead. 行ってください = “please go.” Often combined: まっすぐ行って、右に曲がってください.
Q5. How do you ask “Where is the ticket gate?”
A. 改札はいくらですか。 B. 改札はどこですか。 C. 改札は何人ですか。 D. 改札は何時ですか。
Answer: B
改札 = ticket gate. Use the same 〇〇はどこですか pattern: 改札はどこですか.
改札 = ticket gate. Use the same 〇〇はどこですか pattern: 改札はどこですか.
Q6. You receive directions: 「まっすぐ行って、右に曲がってください。」 What do you do?
A. Turn right immediately. B. Turn left and then go straight. C. Go straight then turn right. D. Wait at the station.
Answer: C
まっすぐ行って = go straight (first), 右に曲がってください = then turn right. The て-form connects the two actions in sequence.
まっすぐ行って = go straight (first), 右に曲がってください = then turn right. The て-form connects the two actions in sequence.
7. Match the Meaning ／ れんしゅう
Match each phrase with its English meaning. Check your answers below.
駅はどこですか。 → ______
駅に行きたいです。 → ______
駅までお願いします。 → ______
駅までどう行きますか。 → ______
まっすぐ行ってください。 → ______
右に曲がってください。 → ______
改札はどこですか。 → ______
Choices: A. I want to go to the station. B. Please turn right. C. Where is the ticket gate? D. Where is the station? E. To the station, please. F. How do I get to the station? G. Please go straight.
Answers: 駅はどこですか = D ／ 駅に行きたいです = A ／ 駅までお願いします = E ／ 駅までどう行きますか = F ／ まっすぐ行ってください = G ／ 右に曲がってください = B ／ 改札はどこですか = C
🚀 Mini Mission
Today’s mission: Practice asking for directions to the station in Japanese.
Try these with your teacher or practice aloud at home:
駅はどこですか。／ 駅までどう行きますか。／ 改札はどこですか。／ ありがとうございます。
📘 Review ／ まとめ
In this lesson, you learned how to find your way to a Japanese train station and navigate inside it. The most important set of phrases is:
駅はどこですか。(Where is the station?)
駅までどう行きますか。(How do I get there?)
改札はどこですか。(Where is the ticket gate?)
駅までどう行きますか。(How do I get there?)
改札はどこですか。(Where is the ticket gate?)
💡 Key patterns: 〇〇はどこですか (where is it), 〇〇に行きたいです (I want to go), 〇〇までお願いします (taxi). Directions: まっすぐ・右・左.
FAQ
Q. What is 改札 exactly? Is it the same as a ticket barrier?
Yes — 改札 is the ticket gate or fare barrier at a Japanese train station. You pass through it by tapping an IC card (like Suica) or inserting a paper ticket. Most Japanese stations have multiple 改札口 (ticket gate exits) labeled by direction — 北口 (north), 南口 (south), etc. Asking 改札はどこですか inside a station always gets a helpful response.
Q. What if someone gives me directions too fast and I don’t understand?
Say すみません、もう一度お願いします (“Sorry, please say it again”) or ゆっくり話してください (“Please speak slowly”). People in Japan are patient and will often repeat or even walk you to your destination. Don’t be afraid to ask twice — it happens to everyone.
Q. Can I use 駅まで and 駅に interchangeably?
Not quite. 駅まで focuses on the destination as an endpoint (“up to / as far as the station”) — used in taxis and when asking how to get there. 駅に focuses on the destination itself (“to / at the station”) — used with 行きたいです. In casual conversation they often overlap, but these distinctions matter as your Japanese improves.
🚃 Practice with a real teacher
Want to Practice with a Teacher?
Getting around Japan’s train network confidently starts with the right vocabulary. Try a free trial lesson with a professional teacher and be ready to navigate any station in Japan.
Online or in-person — both available on request.