Getting around
バス
次、止まります。
Next stop.
You hear this when the doors close or the next stop is called. It is written down too, so a missed word does not end the ride.
Kyoto
Japan
Kyoto was the imperial capital for centuries, and temples still stand among the lanes.
How the language is used
Japanese is what you use in a tea house, on a bus, and at a temple gate.
In this city
- Language
- Japanese
- Also heard
- Mostly Japanese
- A local word
- お願いします — Please.
- Writing
- Japanese script
What people say
Ordinary lines from this city: the ride, the counter, the food, and the greeting.
The counter
茶屋
お願いします。
Please.
This line is a whole order. You do not need a longer sentence.
Food
寺
ありがとうございます。
Thank you.
The order is built in short pieces like this one.
The street
店
すみません。
Excuse me.
People keep this line short. It is enough for the moment.
The language through the day
Japanese is the language from the station to the corner shop. Staff use polite forms. A shorter answer is still understood.
Around Gion, Arashiyama, the Philosopher's Path, this is the ordinary sound of the day.
A first day in Kyoto can run on four lines: “次、止まります。”, “お願いします。”, “ありがとうございます。”, and “すみません。”. Each one is already a complete moment.
If you are new here
- Stops, prices, and shop signs are written in Japanese script.
- Staff use polite forms. A shorter answer from you is still understood.
- If a spoken line goes past you, read the screen or the board. In Kyoto, the stop and the price are written down.
One local word: お願いします. It means Please..
Places you can see
- Fushimi Inari — A hillside shrine known for its long rows of torii.
- Gion — A historic district of tea houses and narrow streets.
- Kinkaku-ji — A temple whose golden pavilion stands over a pond.
Food
You try a set meal and simple tofu dishes. You order them in Japanese.
Getting around
Buses and a few rail lines cross the city. You confirm the stop in Japanese.
Daily life
You greet, ask whether you may enter, and thank someone, all in Japanese.
A few everyday phrases
Japanese
| Phrase | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| こんにちは | Konnichiwa | Hello |
| ありがとう | Arigatō | Thank you |
| おはよう | Ohayō | Good morning |
| 私の名前は… | Watashi no namae wa… | My name is… |
