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Japanese for “Tickets & transfers at the station”
You are at a big station in Tokyo and want to get to Narita Airport. You ask a station staff member which train to take, where to change, and which platform to use.
Sample dialogue
You (Passenger)
すみません、成田空港に行きたいんですが、どの電車に乗ればいいですか。sumimasen, naritakuukou ni ikitai n desu ga, dono densha ni nore ba ii desu ka.
Excuse me, I want to go to Narita Airport. Which train should I take?
Station staff
成田空港ですね。この電車で東京駅まで行って、そこで成田エクスプレスに乗り換えてください。naritakuukou desu ne. kono densha de toukyoueki made itte, sokode narita ekusupuresu ni norikaetekudasai.
Narita Airport, right? Take this train to Tokyo Station, then transfer to the Narita Express there.
You (Passenger)
東京駅で乗り換えですね。何番線ですか。toukyoueki de norikae desu ne. nanbansen desu ka.
So I transfer at Tokyo Station. Which platform is it?
Station staff
成田エクスプレスは、地下の3番線ですよ。narita ekusupuresu wa, chika no 3bansen desu yo.
The Narita Express is on Platform 3, underground.
You (Passenger)
地下の3番線ですね。ここから遠いですか。chika no 3bansen desu ne. koko kara tooi desu ka.
Platform 3 underground, got it. Is it far from here?
Station staff
いいえ、階段で下りて、まっすぐ行けば着きますよ。iie, kaidan de orite, massugu ike ba tsukimasu yo.
No, go down the stairs and walk straight, and you'll get there.
どの電車に乗ればいいですかどのでんしゃにのればいいですかdono densha ni nore ba ii desu ka
Which train should I take?
Use this when you want to ask which train to board for your destination.
どのバスに乗ればいいですか。dono basu ni nore ba ii desu ka.
Which bus should I take?
乗り換えてくださいのりかえてくださいnorikaetekudasai
Please transfer (change trains).
Staff use this to tell you to switch to another train or line.
新宿で乗り換えてください。shinjuku de norikaetekudasai.
Please transfer at Shinjuku.
何番線ですかなんばんせんですかnanbansen desu ka
Which platform is it?
Ask this when you need to know the platform number for your train.
この電車は何番線ですか。kono densha wa nanbansen desu ka.
Which platform is this train on?
～ですね～ desu ne
...right? / ..., got it?
Add ね after a statement to confirm what someone just told you.
明日の10時ですね。ashita no 10ji desu ne.
Tomorrow at 10, right?
Casual vs polite
Casualちょっとごめん、成田空港に行きたいんだけど。chotto gomen, naritakuukou ni ikitai n da kedo.
Politeすみません、成田空港に行きたいんですが。sumimasen, naritakuukou ni ikitai n desu ga.
Use the casual version only with friends. In a station, always use the polite version with staff.
Casualありがとう。arigatou.
Politeありがとうございます。arigatougozaimasu.
Casual ありがとう is for friends. ありがとうございます is the standard polite thanks to staff.
Casual何番線？nanbansen?
Polite何番線ですか。nanbansen desu ka.
The casual form drops the ending. Use the polite です／ですか form when talking to station staff.
Culture tip
In Japanese stations, staff are very used to helping travelers, so asking is completely normal. Start with すみません to get their attention politely, and it's a good idea to check the platform number on the signs too.
Ready to say it out loud?
On Tuned you can practice this scene in 3 steps: copy the model, build it up bit by bit, then role-play with an AI partner — at your level.