Japanese
Korean
Train and Shinkansen
❃ Train and Shinkansen
-
何番線ですか。
[ Nanbansen desu ka. ] -
Which platform number?
-
山手線はどこですか。
[ Yamanotesen wa doko desu ka. ] -
Where is the Yamanote line?
-
新幹線の乗り場はどこですか。
[ Shinkansen no noriba wa doko desu ka. ] -
Where is the Shinkansen platform?
-
京都行きの新幹線はどれですか。
[ Kyouto iki no shinkansen wa dore desu ka. ] -
Which Shinkansen goes to Kyoto?
-
次の電車は何時ですか。
[ Tsugi no densha wa nanji desu ka. ] -
What time is the next train?
-
特急は止まりますか。
[ Tokkyuu wa tomarimasu ka. ] -
Does the limited express stop there?
-
各駅停車に乗ってください。
[ Kakueki teisha ni notte kudasai. ] -
Please take the local train.
-
快速はここを通過します。
[ Kaisoku wa koko o tsuuka shimasu. ] -
The rapid train passes through here.
-
自由席は何両目ですか。
[ Jiyuuseki wa nanryoume desu ka. ] -
Which car numbers are unreserved?
-
一号車から三号車が自由席です。
[ Ichigousha kara sangousha ga jiyuuseki desu. ] -
Cars 1 to 3 are unreserved.
-
指定席はありますか。
[ Shiteiseki wa arimasu ka. ] -
Are there reserved seats?
-
グリーン車はどこですか。
[ Guriinsha wa doko desu ka. ] -
Where is the Green Car (first class)?
-
窓側の席をお願いします。
[ Madogawa no seki o onegaishimasu. ] -
Window seat, please.
-
通路側の席をお願いします。
[ Tsuurogawa no seki o onegaishimasu. ] -
Aisle seat, please.
-
ここは私の席だと思います。
[ Koko wa watashi no seki da to omoimasu. ] -
I think this is my seat.
-
席を倒してもいいですか。
[ Seki o taoshite mo ii desu ka. ] -
May I recline my seat?
-
次は東京に止まります。
[ Tsugi wa Toukyou ni tomarimasu. ] -
The next stop is Tokyo.
-
ドアが閉まります。
[ Doa ga shimarimasu. ] -
The doors are closing.
-
駆け込み乗車はおやめください。
[ Kakekomi jousha wa oyame kudasai. ] -
Please do not rush onto the train.
-
白線の内側までお下がりください。
[ Hakusen no uchigawa made osagari kudasai. ] -
Please stand behind the white line.
-
降りる人が先です。
[ Oriru hito ga saki desu. ] -
Let people get off first.
-
満員電車ですね。
[ Man'in densha desu ne. ] -
It's a packed train.
-
すみません、降ります！
[ Sumimasen, orimasu! ] -
Excuse me, I'm getting off!
-
終点です。
[ Shuuten desu. ] -
This is the last stop.
-
お忘れ物のないように。
[ Owasuremono no nai you ni. ] -
Please make sure you have all your belongings.
Riding a train in Japan is a masterclass in social etiquette and collective consideration. The experience begins on the platform, or "Hoomu" (ホーム), derived from the word 'platform'. Long before the train arrives, commuters form perfectly straight, orderly lines behind the painted markings on the ground. When the train doors open, those waiting step to the side and wait patiently until every single disembarking passenger has exited. Only then do they board. On commuter trains, especially during the legendary rush hour resulting in the packed "Man'in densha" (満員電車), there is a strict unwritten rule: total silence. Phone calls are considered a severe breach of manners, and mobile phones must always be set to "Manner Mode" (マナーモード), which means silent. When traveling long distances, tourists will experience the pride of Japanese engineering: the bullet train, or "Shinkansen" (新幹線). Shinkansen etiquette is slightly different; chatting softly and eating special bento boxes (Ekiben) at your seat are part of the joy of the journey. A crucial vocabulary distinction for the Shinkansen is knowing the difference between seat types. Trains are divided into cars requiring a prior reservation, known as "Shiteiseki" (指定席), and cars where seating is first-come, first-served, known as "Jiyuuseki" (自由席). If you have a basic Japan Rail Pass without a seat reservation, you must head specifically to the unreserved Jiyuuseki cars, which are usually cars numbered 1 to 3 at the front or back of the train. If you want the luxury of guaranteed seating, you must visit a ticket office beforehand to secure your Shiteiseki ticket. Being aware of these rules ensures that you glide through Japan with the same frictionless efficiency as the trains themselves.
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