Point-and-show Japanese cards
Can't say it in Japanese? Show it. Each card has polite Japanese in large type for staff, and the English meaning for you. Open this page on your phone and hold it up. These 15 cards are free. They were made by a small team in Japan: drafted with AI and checked for natural, polite Japanese.
Eating out
英語のメニューはありますか?
Do you have a menu in English?
2人です。
Table for two, please.
Hold up the number of fingers too.
クレジットカードは使えますか?
Can I pay by credit card?
この券売機の使い方を教えてください。
How do I use this ticket machine?
お会計をお願いします。
The bill, please.
Diet and allergies
Small restaurants may not know every ingredient, and kitchens are shared. If an allergy is serious, ask staff to confirm and decide for yourself; these cards cannot guarantee a safe meal.
私はベジタリアンです。肉と魚介類(えび・いか・貝も含みます)は食べられません。かつおだし・煮干し・鶏ガラ・コンソメなど、肉や魚からとっただし・スープ・エキスも食べられません。
I am vegetarian. I cannot eat meat or seafood (including shrimp, squid and shellfish), or any stock, soup or extract made from meat or fish, such as bonito dashi or chicken stock.
豚肉と、豚から作ったもの(ハム・ベーコン・チャーシュー・ラード・豚骨スープ・ポークエキス・ゼラチンなど)は食べられません。
I cannot eat pork or anything made from pork, including ham, bacon, char siu, lard, pork-bone soup, pork extract and gelatin.
食物アレルギーがあります。ごく少量でも重い症状が出ます。この料理に次のものが入っていないか、調味料・だし・ソース・揚げ油も含めて確認していただけますか?
I have a food allergy. Even a tiny amount can cause a serious reaction. Could you check whether this dish contains the following, including seasonings, stock, sauces and frying oil?
次のどれかを指してください:入っています / 入っていません / わかりません
Please point to one: it contains it / it does not / not sure
Getting around
この場所に行きたいです。何番線に乗ればいいですか?
I want to go to this place. Which platform should I use?
Show the place name on your phone.
この住所までお願いします。
Please take me to this address.
For taxi drivers. Show the address in Japanese if you can.
Shopping and tax-free
これは免税になりますか?
Is this tax-free?
At the hotel
チェックインまで荷物を預かってもらえますか?
Could you keep my luggage until check-in?
Help and emergencies
In an emergency in Japan, call 119 for an ambulance or fire, and 110 for the police; 119 can connect an interpreter. The Japan Visitor Hotline run by JNTO (050-3816-2787, 24 hours) offers help in English.
救急車を呼んでください。
Please call an ambulance.
日本語があまりわかりません。ゆっくり話すか、書いていただけますか?
I don't understand much Japanese. Could you speak slowly or write it down?
Diet and allergy cards cannot guarantee a safe meal: small restaurants may not know every ingredient, and kitchens are shared. In an emergency in Japan call 119 (ambulance, fire) or 110 (police).