Directions in Japanese: A Complete Guide to Giving and Understanding Directions

Whether you are navigating a train station, looking for a restaurant to eat at, or helping someone find a nearby landmark, knowing directions in Japanese can make everyday communication much easier. Japanese directions use a relatively small set of core words, but understanding how those words work in sentences is important.

For beginners, the most useful concepts are: left, right, straight, turn, near, far, and location. Once you learn the basic vocabulary and a few sentence patterns, you can understand many of the directions you hear in Japan and give simple directions yourself.

The guide below focuses on practical Japanese directions that travelers and Japanese learners can use in real situations.

Directions in Japanese: Essential Words and Phrases to Know

Japanese direction words become much easier to remember when you learn them in groups. Start with the basic direction words, then add vocabulary for places and landmarks. Finally, learn a few complete phrases that you can use when asking for or giving directions.

The Most Important Japanese Direction Words

Several Japanese words appear repeatedly when people give directions. Learning the core vocabulary first will help you understand longer sentences.

The most important four words for beginners are 左 (hidari) for “left,” 右 (migi) for “right,” まっすぐ (massugu) for “straight,” and 曲がる (magaru) for “to turn.”

You will also hear 前 (mae) and 後ろ (ushiro) when someone describes where one location is in relation to another. For example, 駅の前 (eki no mae) means “in front of the station,” while 駅の後ろ (eki no ushiro) means “behind the station.”

Japanese also uses 近く (chikaku) to describe something nearby. If someone says 駅の近く (eki no chikaku), they mean “near the station.”

One useful point for learners is that Japanese direction vocabulary can describe both physical movement and relative location. The exact meaning often becomes clear from the surrounding sentence. To master these concepts for giving directions, check out our guide on using Kono（この）, Sono（その）, Ano（あの）, Dono（どの） for location and placement.

Japanese Words for Places and Landmarks

Giving directions is not only about saying “left” or “right.” People usually need to know where to go and what landmarks to look for along the way.

Here are some common words that are useful when navigating Japan:

Knowing 駅 (eki), meaning “station,” is particularly useful in Japan because train and subway stations are common reference points when giving directions.

出口 (deguchi) means “exit,” while 入口 (iriguchi) means “entrance.” At a large station, you may need to identify a particular exit before continuing to your destination.

交差点 (kōsaten) means “intersection,” and 信号 (shingō) means “traffic light.” A person giving directions might tell you to continue straight until you reach a traffic light or turn at an intersection.

Landmarks like convenience stores, bridges, or buildings make directions much easier to follow. For example, a person might describe a destination as being near a convenience store rather than giving an exact street address. When pointing these landmarks out, you can use それ (sore — that), or あれ (are — that over there) to identify them quickly. 

Useful Japanese Direction Phrases for Beginners

Once you know the individual vocabulary words, the next step is learning complete phrases. Memorizing a few common patterns can help you communicate even if your Japanese grammar is still developing.

Here are some useful examples:

• 左に曲がってください。 (Hidari ni magatte kudasai.) ー Please turn left.
• まっすぐ行ってください。 (Massugu itte kudasai.) ー Please go straight.
• 駅はどこですか？ (Eki wa doko desu ka?) ー Where is the station?
• 駅までどうやって行きますか？ (Eki made dō yatte ikimasu ka?) ー How do I get to the station?

The pattern 〜てください (~te kudasai) is particularly useful when giving instructions. The て-form of a verb followed by ください (kudasai) creates a polite request.

For example:

• 曲がってください (magatte kudasai) ー Please turn.
• 行ってください (itte kudasai) ー Please go.
• 見てください (mite kudasai) ー Please look.

When you are listening to directions, recognizing 右 (migi), 左 (hidari), まっすぐ (massugu), and 曲がってください (magatte kudasai) can give you a strong foundation for understanding the basic route.

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Pro Tip: If you want to learn more about the phrase kudasai in various contexts, check out our article: Yoroshiku Onegaishimasu vs Kudasai: Meanings & Context.

Using Koko, Soko, and Asoko for Pointing and Directions

Another essential tool for giving and receiving directions is knowing how to point out locations using ここ (koko), そこ (soko), and あそこ (asoko). These words allow you to refer to places relative to where you and the speaker are standing.

Here are some common phrases for pointing and directing:

• ここです。 (Koko desu.) — It is here.
• そこを曲がってください。 (Soko o magatte kudasai.) — Please turn there.
• あそこです。 (Asoko desu.) — It is over there.
• あそこに行ってください。 (Asoko ni itte kudasai.) — Please go over there.

Understanding these words depends on a simple rule of distance:

• ここ (koko) refers to a place close to the speaker (here).
• そこ (soko) refers to a place close to the listener (there).
• あそこ (asoko) refers to a place far from both the speaker and the listener (over there).

When giving directions, combining these words with gestures—like pointing to a landmark in the distance and saying あそこです (Asoko desu)—makes your meaning immediately clear.

Japanese Directions for Left, Right, and Straight

Left, right, and straight are the three most important concepts for understanding simple Japanese directions. Fortunately, the vocabulary is straightforward once you know the basic words.

A common Japanese direction sequence might look something like this:

• まっすぐ行って、右に曲がってください。 (Massugu itte, migi ni magatte kudasai.) ー Please go straight and turn right.

The sentence combines two basic actions. First, the person goes straight. Then, the person turns right.

Learning how to recognize each part makes longer directions much easier to follow.

How to Say Left and Right Side in Japanese

While the two base words, hidari and migi are essential, you will very often hear them combined with the suffix 側 (gawa), which means “side.”

By adding this suffix, you get 左側 (hidari-gawa) for “left side” and 右側 (migi-gawa) for “right side.” These terms are incredibly helpful for describing exactly where a building or landmark is located.

For example:

• 左側にあります。 (Hidari-gawa ni arimasu.) ー It is on the left side.
• ビルは右側にあります。 (Biru ha migi-gawa ni arimasu.) ー The building is on the right side.

A simple memory trick is to practice hidari and migi together rather than learning each word separately. When you hear one word, try to recall its opposite immediately.

How to Say Straight Ahead and Turn in Japanese

The most common Japanese word for “straight” or “straight ahead” when giving directions is まっすぐ (massugu).

For example:

• まっすぐ行ってください。 (Massugu itte kudasai.) ー Please go straight.

The word 行く (iku) means “to go.” Its て-form is 行って (itte), so 行ってください (itte kudasai) means “please go.”

You may also hear まっすぐ進んでください (massugu susunde kudasai), meaning “please continue straight ahead.” The verb 進む (susumu) means “to proceed” or “to move forward.”

For turning, the key verb is 曲がる (magaru), meaning “to turn.”

Common combinations include:

• 右に曲がる (Migi ni magaru.) ー Turn right.
• 左に曲がってください。 (Hidari ni magatte kudasai.) ー Please turn left.

The word まっすぐ (massugu) can also be combined with a landmark or destination.

For example:

• まっすぐ駅まで行ってください。 (Massugu eki made itte kudasai.) ー Please go straight to the station.

A more natural route description may specify a point where the traveler needs to turn:

• まっすぐ行って、次の角を左に曲がってください。 (Massugu itte, tsugi no kado o hidari ni magatte kudasai.) ー Go straight and turn left at the next corner.

Here, 次の角 (tsugi no kado) means “the next corner.”

How to Describe Direction Changes Clearly

When giving directions in Japanese, it helps to think of the route as a sequence of simple actions. Rather than trying to construct a complicated sentence, describe one movement at a time.

A basic pattern is:

For example:

• [direction]に曲がってください。 ([Direction] ni magatte kudasai.) ー Please turn [direction].

Another useful pattern is:

For example:

• まっすぐ行って、左に曲がってください。 (Massugu itte, hidari ni magatte kudasai.) ー Go straight and turn left.

The て-form can connect actions that happen in sequence. Learning the pattern makes multi-step directions easier to understand.

You can also add landmarks or reference points:

• 信号を右に曲がってください。 (Shingō o migi ni magatte kudasai.) ー Please turn right at the traffic light.
• 次の角を左に曲がってください。 (Tsugi no kado o hidari ni magatte kudasai.) ー Please turn left at the next corner.

The particle を (o) in 信号を右に曲がる (shingō o migi ni magaru) marks the point at which the turn is made. In practical directions, you will encounter expressions like 交差点を右に曲がる (kōsaten o migi ni magaru), meaning “turn right at the intersection.”

When someone gives you several instructions, listen for the direction words and landmarks separately. You don’t need to understand every grammatical detail to follow a route.

How to Ask for Directions in Japanese

Knowing basic direction words is useful, but travelers also need to know how to ask for help. If you get lost in Japan, a short and polite question is often enough to start a conversation.

Japanese has several ways to ask where a place is or how to get there. For beginners, the easiest approach is to memorize a few complete patterns rather than trying to build every sentence from scratch.

Key Phrases for Asking Directions in Japanese

When asking a stranger for directions, starting with a polite opener helps set a respectful tone. To get someone’s attention, use:

• すみません (Sumimasen) — “Excuse me.”

Once you have their attention, you can use these two common patterns to ask where to go.

1. Asking for Location: [Place] はどこですか？ ([Place] wa doko desu ka?)

This pattern translates to “Where is [place]?” and is the most straightforward way to ask for a location.

• 駅はどこですか？ (Eki wa doko desu ka?) — “Where is the station?”
• 入口はどこですか？ (Iriguchi wa doko desu ka?) — “Where is the entrance?”
• 出口はどこですか？ (Deguchi wa doko desu ka?) — “Where is the exit?”

You can also replace the place with an object when looking for a specific item. For example, when ordering food, you can say:

• メニューはどこですか？ (Menyū wa doko desu ka?) — “Where is the menu?”

2. Asking for a Route: [Place] までどうやって行きますか？ ([Place] made dō yatte ikimasu ka?)

If you need to know the specific route or method to reach a destination, use this phrase, which means “How do I get to [place]?”

• 駅までどうやって行きますか？ (Eki made dō yatte ikimasu ka?) — “How do I get to the station?”
• 東京駅までどうやって行きますか？ (Tōkyō-eki made dō yatte ikimasu ka?) — “How do I get to Tokyo Station?”

By combining the polite opener sumimasen with either of these patterns, you can navigate your surroundings and communicate clearly with locals.

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Pro Tip: Beginners do not need to memorize every possible variation. Start with the simplest [Place] はどこですか？ and add more expressions as your Japanese improves.

How to Give Directions in Japanese

Once you know how to ask for directions, the next step is learning how to describe a route. Japanese directions often consist of short instructions connected in sequence.

A typical route might include:

1. Go straight.
2. Turn left or right.
3. Continue until you reach a landmark.
4. Find the destination near the landmark.

You can communicate a surprising amount with a small number of verbs and direction words.

How to Tell Someone to Go Straight

The easiest way to tell someone to go straight is:

• まっすぐ行ってください。 (Massugu itte kudasai.) ー Please go straight.

The expression combines まっすぐ (massugu), meaning “straight,” with 行ってください (itte kudasai), meaning “please go.”

You can also add a destination or landmark:

• まっすぐ駅まで行ってください。 (Massugu eki made itte kudasai.) ー Please go straight to the station.

Another useful expression is:

• まっすぐ進んでください。 (Massugu susunde kudasai.) ー Please continue straight ahead.

The verb 進む (susumu) means “to proceed” or “to move forward,” so 進んでください (susunde kudasai) is useful when emphasizing continued movement.

You can also connect “go straight” with the next instruction:

• まっすぐ行って、右に曲がってください。 (Massugu itte, migi ni magatte kudasai.) ー Go straight and turn right.

The て-form 行って (itte) connects the first action to the next action. The pattern is very useful when giving multi-step directions.

How to Tell Someone Where to Turn

To tell someone where to turn, you use 曲がる (magaru) with 右 (migi) or 左 (hidari). However, you can make the instruction more specific by identifying where the turn happens.

• コンビニで右に曲がってください。 (Konbini de migi ni magatte kudasai.) ー Please turn right at the convenience store.
• 店で左に曲がってください。 (Mise de hidari ni magatte kudasai.) ー Please turn left at the shop.

The particle で (de) is used in expressions to mark the point or place where the turn is made.

Directions in Japanese Study Guide: Remember the Patterns

Learning directions in Japanese becomes much easier when you focus on a few reusable patterns instead of trying to memorize every possible sentence. The most useful words include 左 (hidari) for left, 右 (migi) for right, まっすぐ (massugu) for straight, and 曲がる (magaru) for turn.

Once you can recognize those words and combine them with a few basic sentence patterns, you can handle many everyday situations in Japan.

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Pro Tip: Focus on hidari, migi, and massugu first. Those three words appear frequently in simple walking directions and give you a strong foundation for understanding longer instructions.

Practice Giving and Understanding Directions

The best way to remember Japanese directions is to practice both sides of the conversation. Try asking where a destination is, then imagine how someone might respond.

Start with these three patterns.

Pattern 1: Place + Wa Doko Desu Ka?

• [Place] はどこですか？ ([Place] wa doko desu ka?) ー Where is [place]?

Example:

• 駅はどこですか？ (Eki wa doko desu ka?) ー Where is the station?

Replace 駅 (eki) with places you are likely to visit, such as a hotel, restaurant, convenience store, or restroom.

Pattern 2: Place + E Dō Yatte Ikimasu Ka?

• [Place] へどうやって行きますか？ ([Place] e dō yatte ikimasu ka?) ー How do I get to [place]?

For example:

• ホテルへどうやって行きますか？ (Hoteru e dō yatte ikimasu ka?) ー How do I get to the hotel?

The particle へ (e) indicates direction toward a destination. まで (made) can also be used with destinations, as in 駅までどうやって行きますか？ (eki made dō yatte ikimasu ka?).

Pattern 3: Direction + Ni Magatte Kudasai

• [Direction] に曲がってください。 ([Direction] ni magatte kudasai.) ー Please turn [direction].

Examples:

• 右に曲がってください。 (Migi ni magatte kudasai.) ー Please turn right.

Once you understand the three patterns, try combining them into a short imaginary conversation. Ask where a station is, imagine receiving directions to go straight, and then follow an instruction to turn left or right.

Conclusion

Learning directions in Japanese does not require memorizing dozens of complicated sentences. Start with the essential vocabulary, especially 左 (hidari), 右 (migi), まっすぐ (massugu), and 曲がる (magaru).

From there, practice a few reliable patterns for asking where something is, asking how to get somewhere, and giving simple instructions. With regular practice, Japanese directions will become easier to recognize and use when navigating streets, stations, and neighborhoods in Japan.