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Japan · Phrasebook

Japan — Phrasebook for Adult Engagements

Essential phrases for navigating Japan: greetings, pricing, safety, and exit vocabulary. Japan primarily speaks Japanese; English limited.

Currency

Japanese Yen (JPY)

Emergency

110 police, 119 medical

Languages

Japanese; English limited

Core Phrases

English Local Pronunciation
Hello Konnichiwa kon-nee-chee-WAH
Thank you Arigato ah-ree-GAH-toh
How much? Ikura desu ka? ee-KOO-rah des-kah
Yes / No Hai / Iie high / EE-eh

Adult-Engagement Phrases (Translate Locally)

These phrases need to be translated in your destination — most providers and translation apps handle them fine. Showing what you want communicated, not the local form.

  • "How much for one hour?"

    Negotiate full duration up front; "one hour" is the universal unit.

  • "I want to use a condom."

    Non-negotiable; if pushed back, walk.

  • "Can I see your ID?"

    Standard provider screening. The floor is 18.

  • "Where is the bathroom?"

    Useful at every venue.

  • "Is the price all-inclusive?"

    Stops surprise extras-charges.

  • "I want to leave now."

    Non-confrontational exit phrase.

  • "Please call me a taxi."

    Many providers will use their preferred local app/firm.

  • "Thank you, that was nice."

    Universal exit; tipping is bonus, not expected everywhere.

Pricing Tip

Always confirm price in Japanese Yen (JPY) directly, not USD/EUR equivalent. Tourist-rate providers will quote in your currency and pocket the conversion margin. Standard 1-hour pricing in Japan: JPY 25,000–60,000 (USD 165–400) for the typical band.

Related

Last verified April 2026. Phrases curated to match real local usage; pronunciation hints written in English-speaker phonetics. For full-language travel basics, the Tatoeba corpus (CC-BY) is a free open-source resource.