About Japan and music
この動画はTwitterにて日々更新中の1分間英語塾の総集編④です。
聞き流し英語学習にご活用ください！
Lesson 47 「男女平等」を英語で言うと？
Lesson 48 何かを勧める時に使える英語表現 1:12
Lesson 49 「本当に助かりました」を英語で言うと？ 2:13
Lesson 50 「要点を言ってください」を英語で言うと？ 3:04
Lesson 51 「まさにその通り」を英語で言うと？ 4:00
Lesson 52 「私はそうは思いませんが」を英語で言うと？ 4:54
Lesson 53 「根気よく続けるといいよ」を英語で言うと？ 5:56
Lesson 54 「そんなに自分を責めないで」を英語で言うと？ 6:54
【多文化共生支援団体 Family Planet Japan】
Twitter : https://twitter.com/hidanotaka
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この動画はTwitterにて日々更新中の1分間英語塾の総集編③です。
聞き流し英語学習にご活用ください！
Lesson 37「〜に熱中している」を英語で言うと？ 0:10
Lesson 38 昔に関して話すときに使える 英語フレーズ4選 1:07
Lesson 39「would/used to」の使い分け 2:03
Lesson 40「ちなみに」を英語で言うと？ 3:04
Lesson 41「迷うなぁ」を英語で言うと？ 4:01
Lesson 42「ゆっくりしていって」を英語で言うと？ 5:02
Lesson 43「今のところ」を英語で言うと？ 5:57
Lesson 44「今向かっています」を英語で言うと？ 6:59
Lesson 45「そろそろ〜する時間だ」を英語で言うと？ 8:01
Lesson 46「それ、覚えておいてね」を英語で言うと？ 9:02
【多文化共生支援団体 Family Planet Japan】
Twitter : https://twitter.com/hidanotaka
Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/familyplanetjapan
Hi, how are you doing?
We had an online interview with Haitham-san from Egypt and asked about life in Japan. It is always fun to meet someone from different countries!
Below is what we talked about:
0:06 Introduction
0:50 When did you move to Takayama? 高山にいつから移住したの？
1:09 Where in Japan did you live before? 以前は日本のどこにいたの？
1:50 What did you study in school? 学校では何を勉強したの？
2:09 How many Egyptians are there in Japan? 日本にいるエジプト人はどれくらい？
2:23 Is learning Japanese popular in Egypt? 日本語を学んでいるエジプト人は多い？
3:15 Why did you decide to study Japanese? なぜ日本語を学んだの？
3:50 Was it hard to get used to life in Japan? 日本に慣れるのは大変だった？
5:10 Any difficulties after moving to Takayama? 高山に来てから苦労はあった？
5:50 Why did you choose to move to Takayama? 高山に来た理由は？
6:55 Any things you want the city to work on? 高山で改善して欲しい事は？
8:55 Any plans for the future? 今後やりたい事は？
11:14 Advice for new-comers! これから日本に移住予定の人にアドバイス
13:12 After the Interview インタビューを終えて
We will keep on making connections online/offline.
About our organization, Family Planet Japan, please visit our facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/familyplanetjapan
See you next time!
Taka
How’s everything?
We had another online interview with our new friend from Mexico, Uriel-san.
0:38 日本に来たのはいつ？ When did you come to Japan?
1:37 どこで日本語を学んだの？ Where did you learn Japanese?
2:08 日本に来たきっかけは？ What brought you to Japan?
3:17 メキシコでは日本語を学んでいる人は多い？ Do many people study Japanese in Mexico?
3:43 どうやって日本語を勉強したの？ How did you learn Japanese?
5:27 日本での仕事は? What do you do in Japan?
6:32 いつから高山に？ When did you move to Takayama?
6:49 地方の生活は慣れた？ How’s life in countryside?
7:18 初めて日本に来たときの苦労 Did you have any difficulties when you first came to Japan?
8:02 日本に移住してから苦労したことは？Did you have any difficulties after moving to Japan?
8:40 日本とメキシコの文化の違い Differences between Japan and Mexico.
10:52 日本の食べ物はどうですか？ How’s the food in Japan?
12:35 日本でメキシコの料理を食べる？ Do you eat Mexican food in Japan sometimes?
13:20 ホームシックになる？ Do you get homesick?
14:12 他の外国人移住者と交流はある？ Do you meet other foreign workers?
14:50 東京にいた時は交流の機会はありましたか？ How about when you were in Tokyo?
15:55 交流イベントの重要性 The importance of meetup events.
16:32 多文化共生を実現させるには？ What can we do to live in harmony?20:44 先輩移住者としてアドバイス Tips for new-comers.
21:56 これからも日本に？ Will you stay in Japan?
22:29 高山での生活における改善点 Any improvements suggested for Takayama?
25:03 今回インタビューをしてみて After the interview
I hope it will be helpful for those who are planning to move to Japan to know about what’s it like to live here.
See you next time!
Taka
*I’m a professional composer by the way.
You can listen/download my album below.
Free Somebody
Skyhigh
If you have any questions, feel free to contact me: [email protected]
Hi, How are you? I’ve been traveling in Gifu area these days!
This time I wrote about a relatively unknown area to tourists, Gujo Hachiman. It is a small, riverside town which was founded in the 16th century as a castle town.
Gujo is known for clear water, Ayu river fish, and Gujo dance festival.
Below are the 5 major places I visited and things you should check in Gujo Hachiman.
Located on top of a hill, it is one of the oldest reconstructed wooden castles in Japan.
It was founded in 1559, destroyed in the early Meiji period(1868-1912) during Japan’s attempts to modernize called the Meiji Restoration, and was reconstructed in 1933.
There is a museum inside of it, displaying a lot of materials from samurai era including the samurai armors, the heirloom of Aoyama clan, and samurai swords.
The castle keep is an important cultural property, and it was listed as one of the 100 Japanese castles in 2017. You can enjoy a panoramic view from there.During Autumn leaf season, the maple trees surrounding the area attract visitors.
You can get to the castle by car or taxi. Or, if you like hiking, you can get there on foot. It takes about 20 min to get to the top.
Time: 9:00am to 5:00pm (Mar to May, Sep to Oct)
8:00am to 6:00pm (June to Aug)
9:00am to 4:30pm (Nov to Feb)
*Closed from Dec 20th to Jan 10th
Price: 310yen (650yen for a ticket that includes the visit to the Hakurankan Museum)
It is a museum located near Hachiman castle.
It includes an exhibition, Gujo Odori demonstration, and Museum gift shop. You can learn about History and culture of Gujo-Hachiman here.
Time: 9:00am to 5:00pm (During Gujo-Odori event, it is open until 6:00pm)
Price: 540yen to enter. *Closed from Dec 24th to Jan 2nd
It is held from mid-July to early Sep (over 30 nights every day) every year.
It is designated as a significant intangible cultural folk asset by the Japanese government.
It was originally started to encourage the town’s citizens to get together, and it has a history of over 400 years.
Dancers make a big circle and perform to the traditional music of Shamisen, Bamboo flute, and Taiko Drums.
During Obon season in the summer, the festival continues all night and over 30,000 people gather.
There is a small canal called Igawa Komochi located near the river (Yoshida river) close to Hachiman castle.
Big Koi fish swim there peacefully and it really is a beautiful canal.
Although it is small and short, the canal is very unique and worth visiting to take pictures!
Gujo hachiman is known as the home town of food replicas.
You can not only enjoy watching very realistic food replicas, but also make them and take home as souveniors!
Samples are from Japanese food like temple and sushi to other kinds like pizza, curry, cake, etc.
There are many places where you can make your own, but one of the most popular is Sample Kobo. The main shop (Honkon) is open from 9:00am to 17:00pm (closed on Tuesdays).
Access
Take JR Tokaido Line or Meitetsu Konsen Line to Gifu station.
Then, take JR Takayama Line to Mino Ota Station, and use Nagaragawa Railway to Gujo Hachiman Station.
(It is about 2 hours and 50 min travel)
Take Nohi express bus to Gujo-Hachiman station.
(It is about 1 hour and 45 min travel)
The city is very compact and rural, so you can see things just walking around. If you would like to enjoy a quiet, country side of Japan (and less touristy area), Gujo Hachiman is a great place to visit!
See you next time!
Taka
*I’m a professional composer by the way.
You can listen/download my album below.
Free Somebody
Skyhigh
Hi, how’s eveything?
We just had a terrible typhoon a few days ago.
It didn’t hit Takayama, the area where I live now, but a lot of places in Nagano have damaged seriously.
I hope nothing bad will happen this year any more…
Last month I climbed Mt. Norikura, which is 3,026m meters above sea level and is one of Japan’s 100 famous mountains.
It was my first time to get there and I really enjoyed my trip so I would like to share about it here.
To get there, it is the best to take a bus.
Private cars are not allowed in the area.
Bus goes to a station at 2,702 meters above sea level (which is the highest bus stop in Japan).
You can use Nohi bus from Takayama, Hirayu, or Honoki-daira(takes about 90min, 60min, 45min respectively).
From the bus station, you can choose to climb different areas as shown on the map below.
To its highest peak, Mt.Kegamine, it takes about 90 min on foot.
Although you could wear casual clothes and shoes, you are strongly advised to wear climbing shoes as the way to get there is really steep and can be slippery if it rains.
You can enjoy watching beautiful ponds, flowers, and wild life such as Ptarmigans in Mt.Norikura.
From mid-July to mid-September, you can take early morning bus to see the sunrise, and Norikura is particularly popular during September to October when visitors can enjoy beautiful Autumn leaves.
If you are planning to visit Mt. Norikura this year, you need to be hurry because it will be closed at the end of Oct. The opening day is on May 15th every year.
Mt. Norikura is a perfect place to hike in Japan!
Enjoy visiting there and taking pictures of beautiful nature.
See you next time!
Taka
*I’m a professional composer by the way.
You can listen/download my album below.
Hi, How are you doing?
I went to Gifu Castle a few weeks ago and I really enjoyed visiting the place so here’s some info to share. You can not only enjoy the view of the city from the top, but also learn the history (especially about the Warring/Samurai period in Japan).
If you have a chance, be sure to check this majestic castle!
Gifu castle was originally named Inabayama Castle.
It is believed that Nikaido Yukimasa(a butler to the Kamakura Shogunate) was the first one to build fortress on the top of the Mt. Kinka in 1201.
Saito Dosan was the castle lord during the Warring period, and later on in 1567, Oda Nobunaga became the lord and subjugated the area.
He also renamed the area from Inokuchi to Gifu ,and the name of the castle became Gifu castle. With this castle as his base, Nobunaga fought to unify Japan for over 10 years. The castle fell just before the war of Sekigahara, when Nobunaga’s grandson, Nobuhide became a member of the West Squad, and the East Squad invaded the castle.
The castle was destroyed in 1601 ,and some of the structures (castle towers and turrets) were moved to Kano Castle.
The present castle we can visit is the one that was reconstructed in 1956.
You can enjoy the sight as Nobunaga had once viewed the world from the top of the castle(at 329m above sea level).
You can take a view of Nagara River(famous for cormorant fishing), city of Gifu, and tall mountains including the Japan Alps.
The observation area is open at night time occasionally from Spring until December.
He was one of the most powerful feudal lords in the late 16th century.
He tried to unify Japan and gained control over most Honshu(main island).
Nobunaga was born on June 23, 1534, as the 2nd son of Oda Nobuhide, a daimyo in Owari (now part of Aichi prefecture).
Through his childhood, he was known for his strange behavior and people called him Outsuke (meaning, the Great Fool).
In 1551 Nobuhide died unexpectedly. It is said that Nobunaga threw ceremonial incense at Nobuhide’s funeral, acting outrageously.
To take responsibility for his misbehaviors and to teach Nobunaga the right way of serving as a samurai, his menter Hirate Masahide committed Harakiri (suicide to show obligation).
Some of the Oda clan were against him for his misbehaviors but Nobunaga destroyed those who came against him including his younger brother, Oda Nobuyuki (He had eliminated all opposition groups within the clan and Owari area by 1559).
Among a lot of legendary battles he had during the Warring period, one of the most famous is the Battle of Okehazama.
In 1560, he fought against Imagawa Yoshimoto (he was a powerful lord based in Suruga, present-day Shizuoka prefecture).
Yoshimoto had over 25,000 men, and they were marching toward Kyoto to expand his territories. One day at the narrow gorge of Dengaku-hazama, they were celebrating their victories.
Nobunaga, with only about 2,500 warriors, set some flags and dummy troops some distance away to get attention ,and at the same time, carried out a surprise attack from behind.
This led him to the victory and he became known by many warriors throughout Japan.
Later on, he changed the way people fight from using horses and swords to firearms and that brought him great success in conquering many areas in Japan.
At Gifu, he instituted Rakuichi Rakuza (Free market, free guild).
With this, he eliminated barriers such as taxes, unions, and trade guilds.
This stimulated the economy and the castle town flourished.
On June 23rd when he was 47, his retainer Akechi Mitsuhide rebelled against him at Honoji temple in Kyoto and Nobunaga killed himself in the burning temple.
He is still remembered as one of the most powerful, innovative historical figures.
To visit the castle, it is the best to use a bus from the train stations.
You can take a but at JR Gifu station or Meitetsu Gifu station and get off at Gifu Koen Mae(is is about 15 min travel) ,and walk to Mt. Kinka ropeway.
From there, you can get to the station near the top of the mountain.
You can then take a walk to Gifu castle.
Ropeway fare are 620yen for one way and 1,080yen for both ways.
To enter Gifu castle and Gifu castle museum located nearby, you need to pay the admission fee of 200yen.
Opening hours are 8:30am to 5:30pm during May 12 to Oct 16th, 9:30am to 4:30pm during Oct 17th to Mar 15th, 9:30am to 5:30pm during Mar 16th to May 11th.
There’s Gifu City Museum of History located near the Ropeway station, in Gifu park. You can learn about the culture and history of Gifu city there.
It has the permanent exhibition focused on Oda Nobunaga.
It hosts special exhibitions throughout the year displaying some historical art works. It is a good place to stop by before/after visiting Gifu castle.
・Hours: 9:00am to 5:00pm (closed on Mondays, the day after national holidays, and during end of the year and new year holidays)
・Price: 300yen to enter
Just below the Mt.Kinka, there’s a temple called Shobo-ji, where a big Buddha is enshrined.
It is 13.63m in height and is the largest dry lacquer Buddha statue and also one of Japan’s Three Great Buddhas (others are Nara and Kamakura’s Buddhas. Some people claim that Takaoka’s Buddha to be one of the greatest).
It is a shrine beloved as the tutelary shrine of Gifu.
It is over 1,900 years old and it is believed that it was moved to its current location from Mt. Kinka by Saito Dosan.
By visiting Gifu castle, you can learn what the life during Samurai era was like.
Many festivals are held throughout the year in the area as well.
Among them, the most famous is Ngara river fireworks festival in the summer(on the last Saturday of July and 1st Saturday of August).
Over 30,000 fireworks are set of at the event and it is breathtaking.
Have fun visiting Gifu!
See you next time,
Taka
*I’m a professional composer by the way.
You can listen/download my album below.
Free Somebody
Skyhigh
Hi, how’s it going?
I went on a trip to Toyama city the other day.
It is one of the closest and the biggest city areas from Takayama city in Gifu prefecture, where I currently live.
Toyama city takes one-third of the land of Toyama prefecture, and is the capital of the area. It flourished as a castle town and the production of medicine was the major business during Edo period.
There still remains a lot of drug stores, and you can enjoy visiting many museums and great sushi restaurants.
Here is the list of must-see places and things in Toyama prefecture.
Kurobe Gorge is one of the deepest gorges in Japan.
You can enjoy the natural scenic beauty as well as some hot springs around.
There is a slow-moving train which was originally made for the construction of Kurobe Dam during 1920s to 1930s.
It connects Unazuki and Keyakidaira stations (takes about 80 min to travel and goes through over 40 tunnels and across over 20 bridges).
The train runs from April to November and is especially popular during Autumn when visitors can enjoy beautiful Autumn leaves.
It is a mountain sightseeing route between Tateyama(Toyama) and Omachi(Nagano), which goes through the Japanese Northern Alps.
The highest point is 1975m, and it includes 7 different transports such as a trolleybus, funicular, and ropeway.
You can enjoy panoramic view of the mountains, ponds, as well as famous Kurobe Dam, which is 186 m high and the biggest dam in Japan.
Until the end of May, the wall of snow (that is about 20 m high) can be seen on the road.
The area is closed for private vehicles. Be careful not to get confused with Kurobe Gorge which is located in the different area.
It is a traditional style village designated as a world heritage site along with Shirakawa-go.
Traditional architectural style (called Gassho-Zukuri) can be seen there together with beautiful nature around.
Many of the houses are over 300 years old and you can learn how people managed to live in the countryside of Japan.
Located near JR Toyama station, Toyama Castle Park covers the former grounds of Toyama Castle.
Although the castle keep is a reconstructed building, the area has a Japanese garden and an art museum.
You can enjoy the view of the city from an observation deck located on the top floor.
The park is popular during April when people gather to enjoy the cherry blossom.
The Sato Memorial Art Museum is located across the park, which has paintings, local lacquerware, ornaments, and some traditional Japanese tea rooms.
Located about 9 min walk away from the North exit of JR Toyama Station, Fugan Canal Kansui Park is a popular spot to relax.
It has a spring, waterfall, playground and bridge.
Starbucks coffee there won the best store design award in 2008, and is known as one of the most beautiful Starbucks buildings in the world.
This museum has a large collection of both traditional and modern glass art works and is also a library inside.
The building was beautifully designed by world-renowned architect, Kengo Kuma.
On the 6th floor is a glass garden produced by Dale Chihuly, a famous contemporary glass artist.
・Open from 9:30am to 6:00pm (until 8:00pm on Sat).
・Closed first and 3rd Wednesdays each month, on Dec 31st ,and Jan 1st.
・Price: 200 yen for permanent exhibition, 700-1,000yen for temporary exhibitions.
It is a festival which is usually held on the second weekend of June.
Giant lantern floats (a big one can go over 7 meters in height) go around the city.
After the procession, they are bashed into each other to destroy the opponent.
It is said that the tradition of fighting started over hundreds years ago when the roads were narrow.
Each group that carry lantern floats wouldn’t give way to the other, and they fought to show which one was stronger.
The tradition is kept to this date but the festival is not just for the fighting of people merely competing for winning.
It is to vitalize the city and the communities, and energize the people who participate and view the event.
In May, pre-festival event, Fukuno Yotaka Festiva is held.Lanterns are displayed and lit up during the night time.
Traditional music and dance are performed and people sing Yotaka song.
It is an annual traditional dance performance event held during the night of Sep 1st to 3rd and has a history of about 300 years.
It is said that the festival was started to appease typhoons and hope for good harvest of rice.
As many as 250,000 visitors come during the event every year.
People wear Kimono and a hat (dancers hide their faces from the wrath of the god) ,and dance to the traditional music played by instruments like Shamisen and Kokyu. The performance lasts all night.
Fish, Shrimp(Shiroebi) ,and squid(Firefly squid) caught in Toyama bay are really fresh and tasty especially between March and June.
Masu-zushi (pressed-trout sushi) is a speciality of Toyama.
It is kind of sushi which is made using traditional food-preservation skills. Slices of trout are prepared on vinegered rice and wrapped with bamboo leaves. It is then pressed for several hours.
There are a lot of sushi and sashimi places in the city where you can enjoy these fresh seafood and Masu-zushi.
Toyama city is near Gifu and Ishikawa prefectures and is a great place to stop by.
You can enjoy amazing nature, inspiring museums, and delicious seafood as well as exciting festivals.
Take your camera with you and enjoy your visit to Toyama city!
See you next time,
Taka
*I’m a professional composer by the way.
You can listen/download my album below.
Free Somebody
Skyhigh
It seems that the rainy season this year is going to last longer than usual in Japan.
As the temperature is going high, I already started missing the cool weather.
So, this time I wrote about Hokkaido, which is the Japan’s northernmost area and it is one of the best destinations during hot summer time.
Hokkaido is known for its tremendous land with great nature, landscape, and food culture.
22% Japanese land belong to Hokkaido and many parts of it are unspoiled.
Hokkaido attracts many outdoor lovers from all over the world like hikers, campers, and cyclists in summer, skiers and snowboarders in winter.
Here are 12 places you should visit in Hokkaido with info about food culture there.
It is the capital city of Hokkaido and there are about 2 million people there.
Combining both Japanese and foreign cultures, this place has unique atmosphere.
Many foreign cultures were introduced to this area during the Meiji Restoration period, when Japanese people started learning from overseas.
Sapporo Clock Tower, which was build it 1869, is a historical and cultural symbol of Sapporo.
This place was originally used as the first institution for Agricultural Studies in Japan, and students conducted their military training and physical education here. It is now a museum of history and the iconic tower of Sapporo. The bell rings every hour and tells the time to the city.
Beer is a popular product in Sapporo. Sapporo beer, which is the oldest Japanese beer brand is popular all over the areas in Japan. You can find Sapporo beer easily (the one with a Star label on) at any convenience stores or supermarkets. The technique of beer brewery was introduced to Japan from Germany in the late 1860s and the very first one was brewed in Sapporo in 1876 by a Japanese brewer, Seibei Nakagawa, who trained in Germany. At the Sapporo beer museum, you can take a guided tour of the history and brewing methods and taste fresh beer after the tour.
The must-see event in Sapporo is the Sapporo Snow Festival.
It is an annual event held in February. It features about 250 snow/ice sculptures on display outside in Odori Park, Tsudome, and Susukino.
At night, some of them are lit up and you can enjoy viewing/taking pictures of the beautiful art works.
It is a harbor city which can be reached by train from Sapporo within an hour. This area thrived as a port city, and many western style buildings were made during Meiji era.
Glassware and music boxes are popular products here, and it is also known for its picturesque city view. There are many museums and shops, so this area is a good place to buy souvenirs!
In February, the Otaru Snow light path festival is held every year, when snow lanterns and illuminations light up the city during from 17:00 to 21:00 everyday.
Hakodate is the southernmost city of Hokkaido.
This city is the first port to open up to foreign trade, so you’ll find a lot of international influence in this area.
The Hakodate Morning Market (open from 5:00am until 3:00pm everyday), which is just a minute walk away from Hakodate Station is a great place to enjoy fresh seafood.
Major sightseeing spots are the Motomachi area, the Kanamori Red Brick Warehouses, and Goryokaku park with its historic relics.
At night, you can enjoy the amazing view. The night view here is considered one of the most beautiful in Japan along with Kobe and Nagasaki.
This place is a very popular ski resort that attracts people from all over the world. The powder snow in this area is high in quality and there are a lot of hotels and Onsen spots.
If you like outdoor activities like hiking or skiing, you should definitely check this are out!
This is the 2nd largest city in Hokkaido after Sapporo. There is a popular Zoo called Asahiyama Zoo, which has a glass tunnel through the penguin pool. You can learn about wild animals in Hokkaido such as eagles, deer, wolves, cranes. polar bears, etc.
Asahikawa ramen is a popular local food there. The broth is soy sauce based and a little more oily compared to most ramen in Japan.
Eating the ramen seeing the beautiful nature in Hokkaido will surely be a great experience!
This lake is known for its spectacular view with the active volcano Mt. Usu and the nature around it. Lake Toya is one of the most popular hot spring areas in Hokkaido as well. In 2008, G8 summit was held here.
Furano and Biei are best-known for their lavender fields.
In Biei area, there is a popular blue pond called Shirogane blue pond and a spectacular waterfall called Shirahige Falls (it means “white beard waterfall”) , where you can see white curtains of water there and from November to April, light-up events take place from 6:00pm until 9:00pm. Biei Shirogane Onsen is another popular spot where you can relax taking a hot spring watching majestic nature around.
Located in south-western Hokkaido, it is the most popular hot spring town in Hokkaido.
There are 9 different kinds of hot-springs.
Among them, the most impressive one is Jigokudani, or Hell Valley.
The valley is 450 m wide, and 3,000 liters of hot water is produced per minute. In the north of the town, there are various hiking courses around.
Virgin forests in the area are designated as Japan’s natural monument.
It is the largest national park in Japan (226,764 ha, more than 3 times bigger than Tokyo).
It is a great place for hikers. There are many different hiking courses, so any levels of hikers can enjoy walking in the beautiful nature seeing wild animals and flowers.
Asahi-Dake (2,291m) is the tallest mountain in the area, and there is a ropeway which goes up to 1,600m above the sea level.
This lake is considered as one of the clearest caldera lakes in the world.
Visitors are not allowed to go down to the lake, but there are two observation decks from which you can enjoy the views on a fine day.
It is the best if you could rent a car to get there, but you could take infrequent buses that run between Mashu station and the Observation deck 1 (until November).
This national park in the Shiretoko Peninsula in eastern Hokkaido was added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 2005.
The nature there is unspoiled and it can be accessed only by foot or boat.
It is a home to many wild animals such as beers, foxes, deers, etc.
Just like in all national parks, you are not allowed to feed or throw away trash in the area so you need to follow the rules strictly if you are going.
In winter, drift ice can be seen in the Shiretoko Peninsula.
During winter (from January to March only), there will be a snow village at the highest elevation lake in Hokkaido, which is 800 m above the sea level. This is called Shikaribetsu Kotan and it features numbers of attractions such as ice bars, ice hot springs, and ice concert halls.
At night, some buildings are lighten up.
If you would like to enjoy the winter in Hokkaido, make sure that you check Shikaribetsu Kotan!
There are basically four different kinds of ramen soup in Hokkaido: Miso (Sapporo), Soy-sauce (Asahikawa), Salt (Hakodate), and Curry (Muroran).
You can enjoy locally grown, fresh vegetables with delicious soup and noodles. Eating ramen is great especially during cold winter!
Hokkaido is known for its daily product.
Cool summers and snowy winters in Hokkaido is great for farming and agriculture. The quality of milk and cheese produced there is very high and rich in taste.
Thanks to the surrounding seas, there are a lot of tasty seafood in Hokkaido such as salmon roes, squids, sea urchins, shrimps, crabs, sea shells, and various Sashimis. All of them are very fresh and taste great!
Hokkaido’s huge land is great for making vegetables.
You can enjoy fresh vegetables throughout the year.
The easiest way to go there is by an airplane. The price varies depending on the season and the airline you use, but it usually costs from around 10,560yen to 25,000yen for a round trip. It takes about 1 hour and a half.
As an alternative way, you could take Hotoku Shinkansen (bullet train) from Tokyo station to Shinhakodate Hokuto station. It takes about 4 hours and costs around 22,690yen for one way(reserved seat), but you can enjoy the beautiful view during the train ride.
Enjoy traveling there and embrace the nature!
If you need more info about Japan, give me a comment here or send me a message to[email protected]
See you next time,
Taka
*I’m a professional composer by the way.
You can listen/download my album below.
Free Somebody
Skyhigh
Chopsticks were originally from China, and they became popular in Japan and Korea by 500 A.D. Back then, people used chopsticks made from trees and bamboos but nowadays we see many different kinds of them.
Japanese chopsticks are generally shorter than Chinese or Korean chopsticks and we use them when we eat Asian cuisines (and sometimes even when we have food from western countries).
They are hard to use at first but once you get used to them, you will be amazed to know how useful they are.
Here is the easy, 3 steps guide on how to use chopsticks.
Put the lower chopstick under your thumb, resting it on palm.
The end of your lower chopstick should be sticking out about 1 inch.
Lightly grip the upper chopstick with your thumb, index, and middle fingers just like holding a pencil.
The tips of chopsticks need to be lined up.
Lower chopstick remains stationary, and only upper one is moved to pinch and control the food. Be careful not to cross them or force too much.
Not everyone follow these rules strictly these days, but it is always good to know manners to show your politeness.
Here are 9 things you should avoid doing while using chopsticks in Japan.
Do not stub food with chopsticks.
There is another Sashi Bashi with different writing, “差し箸” ,which is to point someone with your chopsticks. This is also considered rude.
Do not use chopsticks grabbing.
Do not hold your chopsticks in your mouth.
Do not leave chopsticks vertically in the bowl of rice as this is only done at the funeral as an offering to the deceased.
Passing food from one pair of chopsticks to another is rude as this is related to a funeral.
This is done when placing the bone of the deceased in a cinerary urn.
Do not lick or suck on your chopsticks.
Do not use chopsticks to sift through the contents of a dish (or dishes) in search of something. This is considered greedy and rude.
Do not pull a dish using chopsticks.
Do not play with chopsticks like drumming.
It is also important to place chopsticks across your plate or dish after eating. This is the sign to tell that you are done eating and show appreciation to the one(s) who prepared your meal.
Many restaurants and markets in Japan provide you with a pair of wooden chopsticks that need to be broken apart.
They are called waribashi (割り箸). These are disposable ones.
If they are in a plastic bag, be careful when opening it.
There is usually a tiny toothpick with them and you may hurt yourself if you don’t know it!
Enjoy your Asian food with chopsticks!
See you next time,
Taka
*I’m a professional composer by the way.
You can listen/download my album below.
Free Somebody
Skyhigh
How’s it going? It is the rainy season in Japan now, but it’s already getting hot! It feels like summer already.
Any plans for the summer this year?
I’m thinking about traveling a lot!
This time I wrote about some of the most important annual events and national holidays in Japan.
Hope this article will help you understand more about my country and culture!
In Japan, when a national holiday is on Sunday, the following Monday will be a holiday and a day between holidays will also be a holiday.
Some events below are from western countries and you can see how much we are influenced by different cultures (but at the same time we do keep some traditional events, which is very cool I think!).
Jan 1st is the first day of the new year in Japan and many businesses are closed until Jan 3rd. Most people go back to their parents’ place and celebrate eating Osechi (An assortment of small dishes. Each dish has meaning, and people traditionally eat it to wish for good health and prosperity for the family for the year) ,and Mochi (rice cake).
Young men and women who are turning 20 are celebrated on this day.
They wear traditional Japanese clothes and celebrate together (legal drinking age is 20 in Japan, so many of them enjoy drinking).
It is the day to celebrate the mythological foundation of Japan.
According to the earliest Japanese history record, the first Japanese emperor was crowned on this day in the year 660 BC.
It was brought from western countries and it became a tradition in the late 1970s (Chocolate companies ran advertisement and it became popular. Most Japanese chocolate companies make half their annual sales during Valentine season).
In Japan, women give chocolate to men (Chocolate that is given to a loved one is called “Honmei-Choko”, to co-workers/bosses is called “Giri(obligation)-Choko, and to friends is called “Tomo(Friend)-Choko”). March 14th is called “White Day”, when men are expected to return the favor to the ones who gave them chocolates on Feb 14th.
It is the birthday of the current emperor, Emperor Naruhito.
It is the day to pray for good health and happiness of young girls in Japan. It is a tradition to display Japanese dolls dressed in decorative robes of the ancient imperial court at home.
Traditional food like Hishi-mochi (diamond shaped rice cakes) ,Chirashi sushi (many ingredients and raw fish are mixed and they are put on top of sweet vinegared rice) are displayed and served on the day.
It is the day around Mar 20th, when the March equinox occurs.
It is less popular now but people traditionally ate Botamochi on this day (rice cake covered with pasted red beans).
It is the birthday of the former Emperor Showa.
It is the day to celebrate the promulgation of the 1947 Constitution of Japan.
It is the day to be thankful for nature’s blessings (it was on April 29th until 2006 as Showa Day. It was moved to this date and celebrated as a day of Golden week now).
It is a day to celebrate children’s happiness.
As the counterpart to Hinamatsuri, this day is also known as Boy’s Day.
On this day, Koinobori (carp-shaped windsock) is displayed (there’s a Chinese legend that a carp that swims upstream becomes a dragon).
Traditionally, the big black carp represents father, red one represents mother, and small ones are children.
As it was originally the day for boys, some people display Samurai dolls at home on this day.
Kashiwa Mochi (Rice cake wrapped in Oak leaves), and Chimaki (Sweet rice wrapped in a bamboo leaf) are served on the day (although this tradition is less popular now).
It is a Japanese festival originating from Chinese Qixi festival.
It is believed that the Milky Way separates Orihime and Hikoboshi (Vega and Altair stars), and they are allowed to meet once a year on this day.
People write wishes on colored paper and hang them on bamboo trees.
This is the day to give thanks to the ocean.
It was designated in 1995 as the first holiday in the summer months.
Many schools start Summer vacation around this time.
This is another relatively new holiday set in 2016 to appreciate blessings from mountains.
It is a Buddhist event for commemorating ancestors.
It is said that the spirits of ancestors return to visit relatives during this time of the year.
People visit graves and Obon dance is performed at many temples and shrines.
Some people hang lanterns in front of houses to welcome those spirits.
At the end of Obon season, people float lanterns down the rivers for ancestors’ spirits to go back to their world safely.
This is the day to honor and respect the elder people.
Events to assist the elders are held on this day.
People reconnect with their families by visiting temples, shrines, and graves on this day. It is also the day to celebrate autumn harvest.
In 1964, Tokyo Olympics was held on this day.
Most schools have an annual sports festival around this time of the year.
In 2020, it will be on July 24th when the opening ceremony of 2020 Tokyo Olympics is held.
After 2020 on, the name of this holiday will be changed to Sports Day.
It was originally Emperor Meiji’s birthday.
It is a day to promote culture, art, and academic endeavor now.
Festivals are held in schools and at many places in Japan, and selected artists receive awards. In 1946, post-war constitution was announced on this day.
It is a traditional rite of passage and a festival day to celebrate girls of 3 and 7 years old and boys of 5 years old.
Children wear traditional Japanese style clothes and people celebrate the growth and well-being of them.
Chitose ame (kind of a red and white, long candy) is served to hope for their long, healthy life (a crane and a turtle ,which represent long life in Japan, are drawn on the bag of it).
This is the day to commemorate labor and production.
Labor festival is held in Nagano each year to think about the environment, peace, and human rights.
It is not a national holiday, but Japanese people celebrate Christmas just like in many western countries (these days in city areas, people even enjoy Halloween wearing costumes on Oct 31st).
Christmas trees are displayed and decorated at stores and stations ,and people get busy buying presents (and cakes!).
Families get together and most people clean the house to welcome the coming year. Watching some special TV programs while eating Soba noodle is a typical thing people do on this day.
At midnight, you hear the sound of Joya No Kane (New Year’s Bell).
Monks at temples ring the bell 108 times to remove worldly passions such as anger and pain ,and purify everyone’s minds.
By the way, Japan has as many as 16 national holidays (on average) and a worker can take 20 paid days off a year.
However, because the work environment is very competitive and the number of employees are declining in Japan (due to the aging population combined with the diminishing number of children), most people take only about 10 paid holidays.
Reference: https://welove.expedia.co.jp/press/40915/
We do need to improve the work environment to enjoy holidays and event more!
How about in your country?
Do people have enough time to enjoy national holidays and events?
Give me some comments below!
See you next time.
Taka
*I’m a professional composer by the way.
You can listen/download my album below.
Free Somebody
Skyhigh
Hi, How are you?
I’ve been busy working as usual… But I’m making my living doing what I love so I have no complaint! Life is great.
I teach Music and English every week, and I’m getting ready for new music project.
Oh, and me and my friend are planning to start a Youtube channel.
I will inform here when we are ready!
This time I listed some of the most popular Japanese proverbs.
I like learning proverbs because we can learn important teachings.
While I was doing some research, I found that there are a lot of similar sayings in English.
It is very interesting to know different words (often animals or objects) are used to express the same meaning, and see the different way of seeing the world.
Here is the list of them.
Have fun learning Japanese and expressions!
Too many cooks spoil the broth.
Sendou means “A leader on a ship”.
If there are too many leaders on a ship, it will sail to a wrong place.
Many drops make a shower.
Chiri means “Dust” and Yama means “A mountain”.
Even a very small/little thing like dust, it will be like a mountain if it piles.
It is used to talk about either good or bad result that a habit/practice brings.
Let sleeping dogs lie.
Yabu means “Bush”, and Hebi means “a snake”.
If you do unnecessary thing like poking at the bush, a snake (or a trouble) will come out, so just let well alone.
Good fortune and happiness will come to the home of those who smile.
Lying leads to stealing (and it gets worse, so don’t form a bad habit).
What happens “Nido” (twice) will happen “Sando” (three times).
Tomorrow is another day.
The direct translation is, “There will be different wind blowing tomorrow”.
This is often used to tell someone to take it easy and be optimistic.
All is well that ends well or It will all come good in the end.
A picture is worth a thousand words or Seeing is believing.
He who runs after two hares will catch neither.
There is fortune in leftovers.
It is often used to tell someone that there is unexpected good in what others have left behind, so don’t give up/let’s be positive even if you are (or something is) left behind.
Ups and downs.
The direct translation is, “Fall seven times, stand up eight times”. Even if you fall seven times, you can be successful by standing up eight times and keep on going, so never give up.
Perseverance prevails.
The direct translation is, “Three years on a stone (will make the stone warm)”. Be patient and you will achieve your goal.
Even homer sometimes nods.
Saru means “A monkey”. The direct translation is, “Even monkeys fall from trees”.
Art brings bread.
Gei means “Art”. Mi wo tasukeru means, “Help someone”.
Do not shoot straight for the top (instead, see things well first and start with something that will lead to success/goal).
The direct translation is, “If you want to shoot the general, first shoot his horse”.
Don’t forget your first resolution or Never lose your humility.
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
Sen means “A thousand”, and Ri is an old unit of measure which is about 4 kilometers.
So, Senri is 4,000 kilometers. “Senri” is used to talk about a long journey.
It never rains but it pours.
The direct translation is, “A bee comes to someone crying”.
One misfortune rides upon another’s back.
Well, that happens a lot, doesn’t it?
A nail that stands will be hammered down.
This one explains Japanese society well I think.
If you don’t conform to the rest, you’ll get hammered down….Ouch
Cast pearls before swine.
Neko is “A cat”, and Koban is “Gold”, so the Japanese version is “Cast gold before cat”.
Thank you for reading!
If there’s anything that you want me to write, let me know!
Have a great month,
Taka
*I’m a professional composer by the way.
You can listen/download my album below.
Free Somebody
Skyhigh
So many people, and so many narrow streets… It’s very easy to get lost in Japan! Things are very convenient and safe here, but the transportation system is a bit complicated and if you can not read/speak Japanese, you might have hard time finding the best way to get to your destination even using Google map.
Here are some of the useful phrases that you can use when you get lost and want some help in Japan. Learn these expressions and enjoy your travel in Japan!
Excuse me.
Where is this place/am I now?
Where is -?
I’m lost my way. “Michi” means “Way”.
What is a good way to get to -? “Douyatte” means “How to”.
When you don’t know how to do something, you could ask like, “どうやってするのですか？Douyatte suru no desuka?”
Please tell me how to get to -. “Oshiete” means “Tell me” or “Teach me”.
I can’t find -. This phrase can be used when you lost something and you are looking for it. For example, “Tokei ga mitsukari masen” meaning, “I can’t find my watch.”
How long does it take to get there from here?
Right/Left
This place(or here)/That place(or there)/Over there
Go straight (this/that) way. “Massugu” is “Straight”.
Turn (right/left/at the corner). “Magaru” means “To turn”.
It takes about – min (on foot/by car/by bus/by train).
Far/Close
I will take you there.
Lucky you if you get this phrase from the person you are talking to!
Please transfer at -. “Norikae” means “Transfer”.
You saved me! /That was a help!
You could use this phrase to say thank you.
By the way, we don’t usually use “Block” in Japan when we talk about the directions.
So, you rarely hear someone says things like “Go straight this way for 2 blocks…”.
It is hard for Japanese people who can not speak English well to explain the direction.
But if you can use the Japanese words and phrases here, it will be much easier for you to get the right information when you are lost/looking for a place.
This reminds me of the time when I visited the U.K.
When I went to the U.K for the first time (about 4 years ago), I couldn’t find the hostel I was staying, so I asked for a help and a very friendly local drove me there.
I was very thankful for that! And I try to do the same every time I see someone who needs help in Japan now.
Japanese people are generally friendly and helpful, so don’t be afraid to talk to locals when you need some help.
If you know some Japanese, it is most likely that they will try to help you as much as they can.
Hope this post will be of your help.
If there’s anything that you want me to write, feel free to send me a message to [email protected]
Or you could simply give me a comment.
See you next time!
Taka
*I’m a professional composer by the way.
You can listen/download my album below!
Free Somebody
Skyhigh
Paying for food, transportation, shopping, and accommodation….
Traveling in Japan costs a lot of money.
If you are staying for a long time in Japan, you should plan out carefully.
There are a lot of delicious food and interesting goods, so without planning, you will end up spending too much money!
Here is an option for those who want to save some money during their trip in Japan: Staying at capsule hotels.
If you don’t care too much about the place to stay (or if you are a minimalist then definitely!), or looking for an interesting place to stay, booking capsule hotels is a great idea.
It will be a great experience staying at this unique accommodation and most of them are very comfortable and affordable.
Check the info below and learn all about capsule hotels!
Capsule hotels are cheap places to stay.
They were originally made for salarymen when they couldn’t make it home overnight.
Therefore, most capsule hotels are made only for men.
However, more and more capsule hotels are offering accommodation for women and foreigners recently.
At such places, they usually offer gender segregated sleeping floors for men and women and well maintained with security systems.
Such capsule hotels are usually found near major train stations and it only costs around 3,000yen to 5,000yen per a night to stay
(except at some premium capsule hotels that offer more space and luxurious experience).
The type of capsules are different depending on the hotels.
A typical capsule is a fiberglass unit (about 1.2 m wide, 2 m long, and 1 m high), and has a single size futon mattress with sheets, blankets , and pillows, a TV/radio ,bed light, outlet, and WiFi inside with a curtain/door to cover the entrance.
Usually, two units are stacked and lined up side by side along the corridor.
Bathroom/Shower room are shared with other guests like a hostel or guesthouse.
Some places have restaurants, laundry machines, vending machines, lounges with massage chairs, game/manga rooms, or even a Sento (Sento is the communal bathing place. About Sento, check my another post:https://hidanotaka.com/sento/).
Getting interested? But don’t rush!
Here are the things that you should know before going to a capsule hotel.
・You need to remove your shoes upon checking in.
You will be given a key with the number of the capsule you are using. You will have to return the key to check out, so don’t lose it!
・Smoking is not allowed inside of a capsule.
・You need to refrain from making too much noise or mess.
*Note that some capsule hotels are for a single stay.
At such places, you need to check out and check in again if you are staying more than a day.
Here are the recommended capsule hotels
In Tokyo
Shinjuku Kuyakusho-mae Capsule Hotel
It is located close to Shinjuku station, near Shinjuku piccadilly movie theater.
This place has a 24 hour bath and sauna with a lounge, restaurant, and coin-operated laundries.
Check in: From 4:00pm until 3:00am
Check out: 10:00am
Price: 2,500 to 3,800yen for women, 2,600 to 3,600yen for men
Capsule Value Kanda
It is a popular capsule hotel near Akihabara station.
They have luggage storages and 24 hour room service.
Check in: From 5:00pm
Check out: 10:00am
Price: 2,900 to 3,400yen
Hotel Asakusa & Capsule
This place is located near Asakusa station.
It has a large shared bath, free wi-fi, and a lounge, and each capsule has a TV and Yukata robe.
Although they don’t serve food, it is a cheap, comfortable place to stay!
Check in: From 4:00pm
Check out: 9:30am
Price: 2,200yen
*You could choose to stay at a room here. It costs 4,400yen per a night.
In Osaka
Capsule Hotel Inn Osaka
It is the first capsule hotel appeared in Japan in 1979.
I went to this place about 4 years ago and it was quite comfortable!
It has a big sauna and spa, a restaurant, laundry machines, and a spacious TV room with sofas. It’s only for men, however!
Check in: From Noon
Check out: 10:00am
Price: From 3,400yen
In Kyoto
Smart Stay Shizuku
It is a brand new (opened in 2018) capsule hotel near Kyoto Station.
It has a manga/magazine room, massage chairs, coin-operated laundry machines, a sauna, vending machines, and a restaurant.
Check in: From 4:00pm untill 5:00am
Check out: 10:00am
Price: From 3,980yen
If you would like to stay at a luxurious capsule hotel, you could stay at First Cabin Haneda.
It is fancier than average capsule hotels and is inside of the Haneda International airport.
The price is a bit higher than average capsule hotels, but you will be able to enjoy spacious single room.
Check in time is until 7:00pm, and Check out time is 10:00am.
It costs about 6,000yen per a night to stay at a first-class cabin.
Narita Airpot also has this kind of service, at the place called Nine Hours Narita Airpot.
It costs 4,900 per a night on weekdays, and 5,900yen on Friday and weekends.
Check in time is from noon to 5:00am, Check out time is 10:00am.
*There are a lot of First Cabin and Nine Hours in major city areas in Japan! If you don’t know which capsule to stay, you should always look for them.
I hope this post will make your stay in Japan easier.
There are a lot more capsule hotels all over Japan, and they are very convenient.
You will have a very comfortable stay if you can use some Japanese phrases and talk to staff.
Check my another post to learn some useful Japanese phrases: https://hidanotaka.com/17-simple-japanese-phrases-used-in-hotels/
If there’s anything that you want me to write, feel free to send me a message to [email protected]
Or you could simply give me a comment.
Have a great day!(or night)
Taka
*I’m a professional composer.
You can listen/download my album below!
Free Somebody
Skyhigh
Hi, How’s it going?
We just had the longest vacation time Golden week in Japan, and everyone’s back to work/school now.
I met a really nice couple from Israel and showed them around.
Alright, this time I wrote about some simple, useful Japanese phrases that you can use at a hotel.
I have experience working as a front desk at a guesthouse ,so I’m sure they will be of some help.
If you know these 17 expressions below, you will have no problem staying at a hotel in Japan!
Check in, please.
Onegai Shimasu means, “Please”. It sounds formal and is a nice phrase to use when you talk to someone you meet for the first time.
I have a reservation for 1 person/ 2 people/3 people.
“Yoyaku” means a reservation. When you count the number of people, “Hitori” is used for 1 person, “Futari” is used for 2 people, and from 3 people on, “ – nin” is used.
(“San” is three. “Yon, Go, Roku, Nana, Hachi, Kyu, Jyu” are four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten respectively).
My reservation number is -.
Most hotels won’t ask you to tell your reservation number but you should have it just in case. You are required to show your passport, so don’t forget to take it out when you check in!
I’m staying from – to -.
It is great if you know how to say the dates in Japanese, but if you don’t, you could use English and say like, “ 24th kara 26th made tomarimasu” and they will understand.
Can I pay by (credit) card?
Hotels should be ok, but at some hostels/guesthouses in the countryside do not accept credit card, so you might want to bring some cash with you if you are going to such places.
You can learn more about this on my another post: https://hidanotaka.com/4-things-you-should-know-before-visiting-japan/
Check out, please.
Yes, the same expression “Onegai shimasu” works here as well.
I’m returning the (room) key.
You can say this as you return your room key to the receptionist.
It is a formal way of saying Thank you.
Hotel staff will appreciate it if you say this when you leave!
Excuse me, it seems that – is not working.
“Ugokanai” means something is “Not working”.
Excuse me, please tell me how to use -.
If you don’t know how to use an air-conditioner, a shower, or a TV, use this phrase to ask for a help!
I would like to send my luggage to – .
If you have big suitcases and want to send them to the next destination, use this phrase.
Note that you need to ask at least 2 days prior to the expected date of the arrival as it takes time to deliver suitcases.
If the hotel doesn’t have a delivery service, take your luggage to a nearest convenience store.
Most convenience stores can help you send your stuff.
How much will that be?
The price is different depending on the size and the distance, but it usually costs roughly around 3,000 yen to send one suitcase. For the detail, check the website of Yamato delivery service.
Do you know any good restaurant? /Which restaurant do you recommend?
What time does the place open?
I’d like to go to -.
How do you go to -? /How can I get to -?
Where is -?
These are the 17 most used expressions at a hotel.
Not all workers at hotels can speak English fluently (especially in the countryside).
It is the best to learn them before going to a place to stay!
By the way, there’s no tipping system in Japan.
So, you don’t need to pay anything even if a porter helped you carry your luggage or a cleaning staff came to clean up the room!
My new album, “Free Somebody” is well received all over the world and I’m really, really happy about it!
If you haven’t listened to it, check it out here: Free Somebody
My previous work, is also available: Skyhigh
Thank you for your support!
I’ll keep on posting my music and info about Japan here.
If there’s anything that you want me to write, feel free to send me a message to [email protected]
Or you could simply give me a comment below.
I’ll see you next time!
Taka
Hi, How are you doing?
We just had the Spring Festival in Takayama.
The festival lasts for 2 days but we had a rainy day on the first day so the festival floats didn’t go out.
However they did on the 2nd day.
I was able to see them and take some pics.
About Takayama City, you can check my another post:https://hidanotaka.com/about-takayama/
We have festival 2 times a year here. Come visit if you have a chance!
This time I listed useful Japanese words and phrases that you can use during your stay in Japan.
There are still many places where the staff can only use Japanese, so I’m sure these expressions here will be of some help.
If you could use some of them, it will be much easier to communicate and make friends in Japan!
Hello/Good morning. More casual way of saying it is おはよう/Ohayou.
Hello/Good afternoon.
Good evening.
Good night. More casual way of saying it is おやすみ/Oyasumi.
Thank you. More casual way of saying it is ありがとう/Arigatou.
How are you? More casual way of saying it is 元気?/Genki?
Nice to meet you.
My name is …
What is your name?
What is your favorite (Movie/Music/Sport)?
It was nice meeting you.
Take care/See you again.
See you/Goodbye. A bit more casual way of saying it is さよなら/Sayonara.
You could also say じゃあね/Jya Ne to your friends. While さようなら is polite and often used as a farewell message,
じゃあね often has the meaning “See you again soon/Let’s meet again”.
What is this/that?
How much?
Good. More casual way of saying it is いいね/Iine.
I’m fine/It’s OK (Polite way of saying No).
You could also say 結構です/Kekkou Desu to directly say “No thanks”.
Do you have Wifi/this product?
Where is a (toilet/fitting room/restaurant/menu)?
I’d like to go to 〜．
I’d like to eat 〜．
I’d like to try 〜．
Please.
This one, please (requesting).
Please (Offering)/Please go ahead/Here you are.
Please say it again.
Please speak more slowly.
Is it OK to (take a picture/touch)?
Yes.
No.
Excuse me. More polite way of saying it is ごめんなさい/Gomenasai I’m sorry.
Until what time are you open?
What do you recommend?
I can’t eat ~. If you are a vegan/vegetarian, check my another post:https://hidanotaka.com/vegetarian-and-vegan-in-japan/
Delicious.
Check, please.
Thank you for the meal.
Can I use my credit card?
It means “Welcome” or “May I help you?”
Will you be eating here?
Is this takeout?
Smoking or Non-Smoking?
I don’t feel well.
Please help me!
Thanks to the advance of technology, nowadays you can communicate using a translator even if you don’t speak any Japanese at all.
But if you know some Japanese words and phrases, your stay in Japan will be a lot more fun and you can have the “Real communication” with locals without any devices and I’m sure it will be a great experience!
People will really appreciate it if you try talking in Japanese.
If you are interested in learning some Japanese slangs, check my another post :https://hidanotaka.com/japanese-slangs/
Have fun learning and speaking Japanese!
Taka
※I’m a professional composer. My songs are available here: Skyhigh
Or, you can click on the band camp link below to listen.
*Need more info about Japan?
Give me a comment here or send me a message to
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Taka/原貴浩:Composer/Teacher
アメリカ大卒（音楽専攻） 講師歴11年、担当生徒数3,100人以上の元大手英語学校の教務主任であり作曲家。2017年六本木から高山市へ地方創生で移住。多文化共生支援団体 Family Planet Japan 代表 英検1級 TOEIC980 通訳案内士 留学アドバイザー
More about me (English): Introduction
