What Japanese do you need on the trains in Tokyo?

Expect to hear 三番線です。 (sanban-sen desu, "It's platform 3"), 次で乗り換えです。 (tsugi de norikae desu, "Change at the next stop"), 次は渋谷、渋谷です。 (tsugi wa Shibuya, Shibuya desu, "The next stop is Shibuya"). Useful things to say: すみません、渋谷はどっちですか? (sumimasen, Shibuya wa docchi desu ka, "Excuse me, which way to Shibuya?") and この電車は新宿に行きますか? (kono densha wa Shinjuku ni ikimasu ka, "Does this train go to Shinjuku?").

The whole conversation: Trains and the Yamanote line

From the airport you ride into the city, then use the green Yamanote loop line to get around.

  1. You say
    すみません、渋谷はどっちですか? sumimasen, Shibuya wa docchi desu ka Excuse me, which way to Shibuya?

    The most useful word in Japan: excuse me, sorry, and thank you for the trouble, all in one.

  2. You hear
    三番線です。 sanban-sen desu It's platform 3.
  3. You say
    この電車は新宿に行きますか? kono densha wa Shinjuku ni ikimasu ka Does this train go to Shinjuku?
  4. You hear
    次で乗り換えです。 tsugi de norikae desu Change at the next stop.
  5. You hear
    次は渋谷、渋谷です。 tsugi wa Shibuya, Shibuya desu The next stop is Shibuya.

    The on-train announcement. It is repeated in English, but the Japanese comes first.

  6. You hear
    ドアが閉まります。ご注意ください。 doa ga shimarimasu. go-chūi kudasai The doors are closing. Please take care.
  7. You say
    出口はどこですか? deguchi wa doko desu ka Where is the exit?

    Big stations have dozens of exits. Check the map app for the exit name or number (like A3) before you get off.

  8. You hear
    東口を出てください。 higashi-guchi o dete kudasai Go out of the east exit.
Is this what people really say here?

Questions about this scene

What Japanese do you need on the trains in Tokyo?

Expect to hear 三番線です。 (sanban-sen desu, "It's platform 3"), 次で乗り換えです。 (tsugi de norikae desu, "Change at the next stop"), 次は渋谷、渋谷です。 (tsugi wa Shibuya, Shibuya desu, "The next stop is Shibuya"). Useful things to say: すみません、渋谷はどっちですか? (sumimasen, Shibuya wa docchi desu ka, "Excuse me, which way to Shibuya?") and この電車は新宿に行きますか? (kono densha wa Shinjuku ni ikimasu ka, "Does this train go to Shinjuku?").