Escape to Tokyo – Japan’s Metropolitan Wonder

OverviewTokyo

If you decide to travel to Japan, you must stop by the largest metropolitan area in the world–Tokyo! This massive city is the capital of Japan and makes up the prefecture of Tokyo Metropolis. The metropolitan area of Tokyo has a population of thirteen million people; the surrounding Tokyo area has roughly thirty-five million with even more in the outskirts. This city is incredibly busy and full of life, so there are plenty of things to see and do!

History

Tokyo began as a fishing village named Edo more than 500 years ago. Tokyo started to grow during Japan’s medieval period once it became home to the shogun (who was in charge of the samurai). Eventually, many sub-cultures, surrounding cities, and people morphed and transformed the area into the Tokyo it is today. The Tokyo of today is a hub for technology and business, but it also has many great tourist attractions for you to enjoy!

Attractions

Tokyo Tower

This tower is for communication purposes, but it also has observation decks. It is 1,091 feet tall, making it the second tallest man-made structure in Japan. The tower gets it appearance from the Effiel Tower. At this magnificent structure, visitors can stop by the first observation deck (490 feet up in the air), the second observation deck (at 820 feet in the air), and the four-storey structure at the bottom of the tower (which has restaurants, museums, and shops). The sight, even from the first observation deck, is truly amazing. For miles around, all you can see are the huge buildings of Tokyo. There are even a couple of clear windows built into the floor that let you get a look at the ground down below! Needless to say, if you’re afraid of heights, you should probably not enter the tower!

Asakusa

Asakusa is actually a district of Tokyo. This area is famous thanks to its Buddhist temple–Senso-ji. Besides visiting the temple, you can also sometimes see religious festivals. There is also a small amusement park, theatres that show classic Japanese films, and plenty of shops.

AkihabaraAkiba denkigai in Akihabara-Tokyo

Akihabara is also a district of Tokyo. This district is also known as “Akihabara Electric Town” because it specializes in the sale of computers and all things electronic. You can purchase many types of new and used electronics here. You can visit brand name stores such as Laox, or you can venture a little further into Akihabara to find better prices!

Shinjuku

Shinjuku is considered one of the special wards of Tokyo. This area is a huge center for business–it also has the busiest station in the world! The goverment administration for Tokyo is also located here. There are tons of skyscrapers here, so it really does look like a business capital; however, Shinjuku is also a center for nightlife. The areas of Golden Gai and Kabukicho are full of restaurants, bars, clubs, and other similar establishments.

Shibuya

If you’re interesting in a youthful center of Japan that specializes in fashion and nightlife, check out Shibuya. Shibuya is another special ward of Tokyo. The district of Harajuku in Shibuya is a fashion capital that attracts many styles and types of people who are interested in fashion. Some Japanese youths dress very extravagantly, almost like they are dressing up in costumes, in order to visit this area. The Shibuya crossing is a famous intersection that you have probably seen on TV or in a movie at some point. This area is located in front of the Shibuya Station, a very busy station in Japan. When the traffic stops, this intersection becomes filled with hundreds of people, all crossing the street in different directions.

Tokyo Bay

Tokyo Bay is a beautiful area to visit. Here you can see a replica of the Statue of Liberty as well as the Rainbow Bridge (modeled after the Golden Gate Bridge). You can walk right down to the water and enjoy the view of Tokyo across the bay (you can even remove your shoes and dip your feet in the water if you want!). There are also many barges in the water, and most of them (along with the buildings and the bridge) light up at night, making for one very beautiful display. There are also many shops and restaurants nearby, so you can enjoy a meal while looking out over the water. Although this place gets crowded and busy, it is a much calmer place than the rest of Tokyo to relax and enjoy the scenery.

Eateries

Since Tokyo is so huge with many different districts and wards, it can be difficult to find specific restaurants. Rest assured that there is a wide variety of cuisine available in Tokyo. There are traditional Japanese restaurants as well as many Western places to dine. If you love Italian food, check out Vinoteca. Although the food may not be considered authentic Italian food (you are in Japan, remember), it is still one of the best Italian places in Tokyo. For some amazing sushi, check out Daiwa Sushi. This restaurant is usually very crowded, but it is worth the wait!  For some of the best Chinese food in the city, check out the China Room restaurant, located in the Grand Hyatt Tokyo at Roppongi Hills. If you’re in to Asian fusion, check out Daidaiya where you can dine on Thai, Chinese, and Japanese dishes.

Tokyo has a little bit of something for everyone. No matter what part of Tokyo you are in, you are never very far away from any of the wards or districts. A simple ride on the subway will have you there in no time so you can enjoy everything that Tokyo has to offer. There are always plenty of restaurants, a variety of shops, magnificent structures, and interesting sights to see in this marvelous city. If you don’t like crowds of people, Tokyo may not be the best place for you; however, if you’re willing to step out of your comfort zone for a while, you can take advantage of all there is to do in the capital city of Japan!

Small City Himeji – A Wonderful Getaway!

Overview of Himeji

The city of Himeji is located in the Hyogo Prefecture of Japan. This city is fairly small when compared to cities like Kyoto and Tokyo, so it makes for a calmer, quieter getaway! Even though the city itself if not as large and sprawling as some of Japan’s most famous cities, Himeji still has plenty to offer all types of travelers. Whether you have a deep interest in the history of Japan or just want to visit a different type of city on your vacation, Himeji is a great travel destination.

History

Himeji was established as a castle town many long years ago. This city was also the capital of Himeji Prefecture before that prefecture was merged into Hyogo in 1876. The city of Himeji was considered as a possible relocation for the capital of Japan after the 1923 Kanto earthquake, but this move never took place. In fact, Himeji saw its own share of destruction. Typhoons and the 1995 Great Hanshin earthquake all shook Himeji but did not destroy it. During World War II, Himeji was the target of over 700 tons of bombs; this destroyed the majority of the city. Himeji has since recovered and is able to share its culture and past with the world.

Attractions

Himeji Castle

Himeji Castle has remained mostly intact since 1346, despite its exposure to the bombs of World War II and natural disasters. This castle is considered one of the best surviving examples of feudal Japanese castle architecture. Visitors today can explore the castle grounds that house 83 buildings as well as walk through the castle itself. Himeji Castle has seen several expansions and has been extensively remodeled throughout its long life. This castle is also the largest and most visited castle in Japan. Its history shows that it passed through the hands of several samurai, including the famous Toyotomi Hideyoshi.

Engyo-ji

This temple may look familiar to anyone who has seen The Last Samurai. The Western-made movie, starring Tom Cruise, actually filmed some of its scenes at this Buddhist temple. Engyo-ji was established in 966 and is located at the top of Mt. Shosha. The temple complex has multiple buildings that tourists and pilgrims can visit. Several of the buildings are considered very important to the culture of Japan.

Himeji Central Park

Although the name may be a bit misleading, Himeji Central Park is actually a combination between a safari park and an amusement park. In the safari section, visitors can see many types of animals including: cheetahs, lions, tigers, giraffes, hippos, elephants, bison, zebras, monkeys, bears, birds, and kangaroos. The park has both walking tours and driving tours. There is also a sky safari that will let visitors view the animals from above! The amusement park has theme rides, a swimming pool area, and an ice rink. Keep in mind that the pool is only open in the summer and the ice rink is only open in the winter.

Gardens

There are several gardens in Himeji. One of them is located right next to Himeji castle. This garden is made up of nine sections and was built to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Himeji’s establishment as a municipality. This garden was established on top of ground where there were once samurai houses. Another beautiful garden is the Himeji City Tegarayama Botanical Garden. This garden is located in Tegarayama Central Park.

Hyogo Prefectural Museum of History

Although this museum has little to do with the actual history of the prefecture, if you are interested in Japanese history, consider stopping by. The museum has displays of festivals, replicas of castles, and an art gallery. Entry is cheap but may cost more during special events.

Eateries

Himeji has a wide selection of foods and levels of dining. You can eat casually in Western or Japanese themed fast food places or dine a bit formally at some of the nicer restaurants. Many foreigners really enjoy Koba and More. This ramen shop boasts a unique dish: milk ramen. Vegetarians will really enjoy Sakura-saku, a restaurant with many different types of vegetarian friendly food. If you want something a little more familiar, there is a McDonald’s (open twenty-four hours a day) in the Himeji JR station as well as a Subway restaurant on a street nearby. For bars that are great for foreigners, check out Nobu. This bar is small but has English speaking staff. Hosanna Irish Pub is also a common spot for foreigners.

Nightlife

Himeji, because it is smaller, does not have as many clubs and activities for after-hours. There are, however, several popular clubs that both locals and foreigners flock to. Check out Club Roxy Himeji if you are interested in nightlife. This club has good drink specials, a mix of old and new music, and free admission for women (before 11pm). The club is a short walk from the Himeji JR station.If you have a hard time finding nightlife in Himeji, remember that bigger cities such as Kobe and Osaka are very close by. You can get to either of those cities easily and enjoy the multitude of clubs and bars there.

Himeji is a wonderful place to visit because of its history, culture, and atmosphere. The city is big, but not too big. If you have traveled to some of the larger cities in Japan, you will appreciate the less crowded city (that still has green spaces!) of Himeji. The weather is similar to that of the rest of Honshu, so the spring months are ideal for traveling to Himeji. Depending on what time of year you visit Himeji, you may be able to participate in one of the many festivals they have. No matter what your interests in Japan are, you are sure to enjoy your time in this beautiful, historical city.

Destination Kyoto – Japan's Ancient Capital

Introduction

Looking for a cultural getaway? A great place for anyone to visit, especially if you have never visited Asia, is Kyoto. The name “Kyoto” in Japanese literally translates to “capital city.” Although Kyoto is not the modern day capital of Japan, it was once the imperial capital of this ancient country. Due to its long and intricate history, Kyoto is a beautiful (and culturally rich) city that will delight adventurers, honeymooners, historians, and more!

Location

Kyoto is located in the Kyoto Prefecture on Japan’s largest island, Honshu. With around 1.5 million people as permanent residents and many year-round tourists, this city is a busy place. The atmosphere is different from a typical big city; Kyoto gives you plenty of space so you hardly realize just how many people traverse the ancient capital daily. The climate of Kyoto varies depending on which time of year you chose to travel—the summers can get really humid and the winters can be freezing! However, Kyoto has very nice weather in the spring months.

History

Kyoto has seen so much throughout its long and vibrant life. Natural disasters, wars, rebellions, samurai fights, and other negative events have taken place on the same soil that you can tread on today. Although the city suffered a great deal of damage several times throughout its history, Kyoto’s magnificent temples and buildings still stand—some restored, some ancient. The traditional economy of Kyoto was sake brewing. In the modern world, this gave way to information technology. Despite Kyoto’s modernization, there are still plenty of remnants of the old world for you to explore.

Attractions

Temples

Kyoto has an abundance of religious sites including temples, palaces, and shrines. Some of the very famous sites include Kinkaku-ji, Ginkaku-ji, and Kiyomizu-dera.

Kinkaku-ji literally translates to “The Temple of the Golden Pavilion.” The name is very literal—the top portion of this Zen Buddhist temple is shielded in pure gold. The temple complex was originally established in 1397 and suffered damage during the Onin War. The original building was later burned down by accident. The current structure was raised in 1955. Tourists can visit the grounds of this magnificent temple and explore the beautiful surrounding gardens.

Ginkaku-ji is another scenic temple in Kyoto. The same of this temple, although very similar to Kinkaku-ji, means “The Temple of the Silver Pavilion.” This temple is also known as “The Temple of Shining Mercy.” Like Kinkaku-ji, it is a Zen Buddhist temple. The original idea for the temple grounds and gardens was initiated around 1460, and the actual construction of the temple began around 1482. Since this temple was meant to imitate Kinkaku-ji, the exterior was supposed to be covered in silver; however, these plans fell through. The temple and its gardens are still a beautiful and serene sight to visit while in Kyoto.

For a different temple experience, consider visiting Kiyomizu-dera (“The Temple of Clear Water”). This temple was originally founded in 798, but the current buildings date back to only 1633. Kiyomizu-dere is also a Buddhist temple, but there are several unique characteristics of this holy place. First, there are absolutely no nails in the temple structure. Second, there is a natural waterfall that runs through the temple complex. The water from this waterfall is clean and safe to drink, thus giving the temple its name of “clear water.” Visitors to Kiyomizu-dera can climb up to this waterfall and, with the help of a metal pole with a cup on the end, drink some of the refreshing water. It is said that the water of the Kiyomizu-dera waterfall grants the drinker his or her wishes.

Museums

A great way to explore Kyoto’s culture and history is to take a trip to one of the many museums. You can find art museums, history museums, and even some museums with a very specific focus.

The Kyoto National Museum specializes in pre-modern Japanese art. This museum has been open since 1897, but recently went through renovations. Archaeology, Fine Arts, and Handicrafts are the main divisions of this museum. Visitors can see displays of calligraphy, sculptures, pottery, fabrics, and other items from years past at this museum.

Kyoto is also home to some history museums including the Ryozen Museum of History. This particular museum has exhibits from the Meiji Restoration and Bakumatsu period.

Two very unique museums are the Kyoto International Manga Museum and the Iwatayama Monkey Park. The aim of the Kyoto International Manga Museum is to collect every manga title ever printed (and if you know anything about Japan, you know that manga is very popular)! The museum current has around 200,000 manga books. After paying the entrance fee, visitors can relax around the museum and read as much manga as they want.

The Iwatayama Monkey Park, while not a traditional museum, allows visitors a unique experience. Here, Japanese macaque monkeys walk about as they please. There is a special area for visitors to feed the monkeys. Although they are wild animals, these monkeys are used to human interaction, so they will not hesitate to take food from you!

Nightlife and Eateries

There are plenty of clubs in Kyoto, including international pubs. For a quiet atmosphere during the week, try out the bar Rub-A-Dub. This same club offers a livelier atmosphere on weekends. Want a cheap bar with an extensive menu? Give A-Bar a chance. If you are looking for something international, you can pay a visit to Gael Irish Pub. This is a great place to meet other English speakers! One of Kyoto’s most popular clubs is Metro. This club offers themed events and sometimes has live music.

As far as restaurants go, you have ample choices in Kyoto. There are plenty of international places to eat (including many Italian restaurants with superb food), but there are also lots of great Japanese restaurants to check out. Ramen shops and other noodle shops (such as soba and udon shops) are easy to find and always worth checking out. Visits to sushi places are a must! One traditional Kyoto-style restaurant to check out is Uosue. Uosue offers great lunches for around 1000 yen (that’s roughly $10 USD). Fujino-ya is also a good place to stop by for dishes such as tempura and yakisoba. One unique restaurant is Cocohana. This café serves Korean cuisine and is known for its friendly staff.

Kyoto is an enchanting, historical, and cultural getaway for any type of visitor. Whether you travel to Kyoto for business, pleasure, or school, there is something for everyone to enjoy. Make the most of your stay in Kyoto by getting out of your hotel and exploring the city!

Lesson 19: Supplementary Vocabulary and Practice Part 2

Here is another lesson that will cover some supplementary vocabulary and practice. Some of this may be review, and some of it you may have never seen before. It is good to practice new words so that you will be prepared for future lessons, but it is also good to revisit some of the vocabulary you have used previously. It can be hard to learn and remember all of the vocabulary words you are taught in a lesson, especially if you do not use them on a regular basis.

It is also a good idea to make flash cards for new words that you learn. You should write the Japanese script on one side and the English on the other. Try not to write the romaji on the flash card. You can then test yourself by looking at the English side of the card and saying the Japanese word. You can also look at the Japanese and see if you can translate it into English. Flash cards are a useful tool, and you can sometimes find online programs to make flash cards with!

Look at the table of vocabulary words below. Study them over, and then complete the exercises that follow. You should be able to complete the exercises without looking at the chart. It may take you a while to remember all of the words; do not worry, this is completely normal!

Japanese Romaji English
クラス Kurasu Class
おみやげ Omiyage Souvenir
かく Kaku To write (verb)
びょういん Byouin hospital
かう Kau To buy (verb)
わかる Wakaru To understand (verb)
アルバイト Arubaito Part time job
こども Kodomo Child
せんしゅう Senshuu Last week
ホテル Hoteru hotel
ひと Hito Person
スーパー Suupaa Supermarket
本や Honya bookstore
かいもの Kaimono shopping
あした Ashita tomorrow
まち Machi Town/city
しゃしん Syashin Picture/photo
バスてい Basutei Bus stop
こうえん Kouen Park
きのう Kinou Yesterday
ごはん Gohan Meal (or rice)
きょう Kyou today
てがみ Tegami Letter (to someone)
おてら Otera temple
とる Toru To take a picture

 

Practice

Translate the following sentences into English.

  1. わたしはおてらにいきます。
  2. わたしのいぬはこうえんにいます。
  3. こどもがいますか。
  4. あしたはとしょかんでにほんごをべんきょうします。
  5. かいものにいきませんか。
  6. とこどきおみやげをかいます。
  7. げつようびクラスがありますか。
  8. なにをかいますか。
  9. えいごをわかりますか。
  10. わたしはおかあさんにてがみをかきます。
  11. どんなまちにいきますか。
  12. いっしょにごはんをたべましょう。
  13. きのうはどうようびでした。
  14. あのひとはだれですか。
  15. わたしはバスていにまちます。
  16. びょういんはがっこうのみぎです。
  17. このまちで本やがありますか。
  18. せんしゅうテニスをしました。
  19. たくさんしゃしんをとります。
  20. スーパーでコーラがありますか。
  21. わたしはいそがしいです。アルバイトがありますから。
  22. そのホテルはとてもきれいですね。
  23. このしゃしんはたかいです。
  24. あなたのてがみは本のうえです。
  25. きょうはわたしのたんじょうびです。

Now take a look at the following conversation. You should read the conversation out loud to practice your pronunciation. It is also good to practice this conversation with a partner. You can change some of the phrases around to get some more practice, but first just read the conversation as it is written. Then translate the entire conversation into English. The answer key is at the bottom of this lesson!

A: B-さん, こんばんは! おげんきですか。

B: こんばんは! はい、げんきです。あなたは?

A: はい、わたしもげんきです。いっしょになにかをしましょう。

B: はい。でも、わたしはとてもいそがしいです。アルバイトがあるますから。

A:そうか。あの、すいようびはどうですか。

B:すいようびクラスがあります。もくようびはどうですか。

A: いいえ、もくようびはテストをべんきょうします。

B: そうか。きにょうびはどうですか。

A:きにょうび?わたしはきょうとにいきます。

B:わたしもきょうとにいきます。いっしょにいきませんか。

A: はい、いきましょう。きょうとでなにをしますか。

B:あの、かいものにいきます。おてらもいきます。

A:わたしはあなたとかいものにいきます。じゃあ、またね。

B: じゃあ、きにょうびに!

 

 

Answer Key

  1. I am going to a temple.
  2. My dog is in the park.
  3. Do you have children?
  4. Tomorrow I will study Japanese at the library.
  5. Would you like to go shopping?
  6. I sometimes buy souvenirs.
  7. Do you have class on Monday?
  8. What are you going to buy?
  9. Do you understand English?
  10. I am writing a letter to my mother.
  11. What kind of city are you going to?
  12. We should eat a meal together.
  13. Yesterday was Saturday.
  14. Who is that person?
  15. I am waiting at the bus stop.
  16. The hospital is to the right of the school.
  17. Is there a bookstore in this town?
  18. I played tennis last week.
  19. I am taking a lot of photos.
  20. Does the supermarket have soda?
  21. I am busy because I have a part time job.
  22. That hotel is very pretty, isn’t it?
  23. This picture is expensive.
  24. Your letter is on top of the book.
  25. Today is my birthday.

 

A: B-san, good evening. How are you?

B: Good evening! I am well. And you?

A: Yes, I am also well. We should do something together.

B: Yes. But, I am very busy because I have a part time job.

A: I see. Um, how is Wednesday?

B: Wednesday I have class. How is Thursday?

A: No, Thursday I have to study for a test.

B: I see. Then, how is Friday?

A: Friday? I’m going to Kyoto.

B: I am also going to Kyoto. Shouldn’t we go together?

A: Yes, let’s go. What are you going to do in Kyoto?

B: Um…I’m going shopping. I’m also going to a temple.

A: I will go shopping with you. See you later!

B: See you Friday!

Traveling to Japan

Do you want to travel to Japan?

Japan is an ancient country with loads of history and culture to share with you. If you have never traveled to Asia before, you will be awed and intrigued by the many historical sites and temples located in Japan. You can also experience unique culture, cuisine, and entertainment while in Japan. Even if you are not particularly interested in Japanese culture or history, Japan’s sprawling cities will keep you occupied!

Getting There

It is a good idea to prepare and research thoroughly before traveling to Japan, especially if you have never traveled internationally. It is important to make sure you acquire your passport in advance! It can take several weeks to get a new passport, so make sure you fill out the required forms, have your picture taken, and mail the request at least eight weeks before you depart. If you are leaving from the United States, you will likely have the option of flying via Japanese airlines or USA airlines. Research both airlines to figure out while flight and price works best for you.

Your airline should have guidelines posted on their websites. Even Japanese airlines such as ANA (All Nippon Airways) have English guidelines posted. Make sure to read these before you pack—many airlines have strict regulations on luggage size, carry-ons, and liquids. Pack accordingly!

If you are going to be in Japan for a while, it is a good idea to pack your clothes in travel vacuum bags. These bags allow you to pack more clothes because you have to push the air out of the bags. This condenses the space your clothes will take up in your suitcase. Also, it is a good idea to buy small travel bottles for your liquids.

The flight itself can be up to fourteen hours (if you are flying out of the United States). It’s a good idea to sleep as much as you can on the flight! When you get to Japan, it will seem like you have lost an entire day!

What to Bring

Depending on what country you are traveling from, your personal appliance chargers may not work in Japan. Japanese outlets have a smaller voltage than outlets in the USA, so chargers from the USA can still be used in Japan. However, if the plug on your charger has uneven prongs, you will need an adapter. Japanese outlets support two prongs that are the same size (this means that you can still plug in the charger no matter which way you flip it). Adapters can be purchased at most electronic stores.

If you are going to be in Japan for more than a week or if you just want to keep in touch with family and friends, consider purchasing a phone card before you leave. You can buy “Call Asia” cards at most supermarkets. These cards allow your family and friends to call you in Japan for a decent price. This works best if you have also rented a cell phone to use in Japan. Some US cell phones can be altered to work in Japan, so it is best to talk to your cell phone provider to see how much this would cost. Renting a Japanese cell phone to use on your trip is easy—there are many websites based in Japan that will rent cell phones to travelers for good prices. Many companies also offer free incoming calls!

The season you are traveling in is important. If you are going in the winter, be sure to bring a thick jacket! It can get really cold in Japan. Likewise, the summers can also get extremely hot. A fan and some shorts are great for the summer time. The spring time weather is mild, so light jackets as well as summer clothes are a good option.

Currency

yen dollar 300x195 Euro surges against the Japanese YenJapan is still mostly a cash-based society. Because of this, it will make it much easier for you if you exchange your currency for yen. You can do so in the airport, but for a cheaper rate, consider changing your chase through your bank before you leave. You can also change it once you get to Japan. Debit cards and credit cards are good to have on hand, but not all places will accept cards. Debit cards can sometimes be more of a hassle in Japan, especially if you are trying to use an ATM. If your card is from the US, it is not likely that it will even work on Japanese ATMs. Japan is a very safe country, so you do not have to feel wary about carrying a lot of yen on you.

Language

English is a common second language for many Japanese people, but most of the English speakers will be of the younger generations. Most businesses you go to and restaurants you eat at will not have English-speaking staff. In some of the larger cities, there are restaurants with at least one English-speaking staff person, but you should not count on this. It is best to learn some Japanese before going to Japan. Give yourself plenty of time so that you can learn basic phrases, how to order in a restaurant, and the hiragana writing system. You probably will not have time to learn kanji, but if you can learn some basic ones it will really help you! It is also a good idea to carry around a travel Japanese guide. These guides will list the most common phrases for any type of situation.

Cities and Sites to Visit

Some interesting Japanese cities are listed below, along with some great sites to check out.

Tokyo

  • Tokyo Tower
  • Akihabara
  • Shinjuku
  • Tokyo Bay
  • Roppongi Hills
  • Asakusa

Kyoto

  • Kyoto Tower
  • Kiyomizu-dera
  • Ginkaku-ji
  • Kinkaku-ji
  • Nijo Castle
  • Imperial Palace

Nara

  • Todai-ji
  • Nara Park
  • Nara National Museum

Himeji

  • Himeji Castle
  • Himeji City Zoo
  • Kokoen Garden

Osaka

  • Osaka Castle
  • Osaka Museum of History
  • Sumiyoshi Shrine

No matter where you choose to visit in Japan, you can easily travel throughout the country to take advantage of all the wonderful sights and sounds. Japan is a beautiful, peaceful destination for travelers of all kinds. Historical sites, culture, native cuisine, and entertainment all abound in this magnificent country.

Lesson 18: Location Words

Introduction

Describing where things are is an important skill to have in Japanese. Being able to describe where things are not only enhances your ability to describe locations; it also aids you in asking for and giving directions. In order to do so, there is a set of words known as “location” words. These words are used to describe where something is (a noun) in relation to other noun. These words are not used only in the scenarios described in this lesson, but we are just going to focus on their main uses for now.

First, here is a list of the location words and their English equivalent.

To the right of みぎ
To the left of ひだり
In front of まえ
Behind うしろ
Inside なか
On/above うえ
Under/beneath した
Near そば
Next to となり

 

Explanation – Part I

X は Y の “location word” です.

This is the basic sentence structure that you will follow in order to describe where something is. To start with, let’s say that you want to describe where the bank is. If the bank is in front of the library, you would say ぎんこうはとしょかんのまえです。

の must always go between the second location and the location word. As seen in the above sentence, the second location is the library, and the location word is まえ. So, when saying the bank is in front of the library, the word for library must go with the location word. That’s how we get ぎんこうはとしょかんのまえです. If the bank was behind the library instead of in front of it, you would say ぎんこうはとしょかんのうしろです. You can change the location word to any on the above list; just place it in the same place that まえ and うしろ previously occupied in the sentence.

Take a look at the following sentence pairs to see some more examples of how location words look.

A: 本はどこですか。

B: 本はテーブルのうえです。

A: デパートはどこですか。

B: デパート はぎんこうのひだりです。

A: えんぴつはどこですか。

B: 本のしたです。

As you can see, in the final sentence the subject was omitted. Keep in mind that this is acceptable in Japanese as long as the listener knows what the subject is.

Explanation – Part II    

Now that you have an idea of the basic structure for location words, let’s go a little more in depth.

You will recall from an earlier lesson (Lesson #10) the Japanese pronouns それ, これ, and あれ. You were also taught another form of these pronouns (その, この, and あの). Now we are going to learn a third form of these pronouns because these forms can be used with location words. The new forms are そこ, ここ, and あそこ. Take a look at the chart below in case this does not make sense.

それ (that) これ (this) あれ (that over there)
その (that noun) この (this noun right here) あの (that noun over there)
そこ (there) ここ (here) あそこ (over there)

*Note that where it says “noun” in the chart, a noun should be filled in.

Here are the new pronouns in examples:

ぎんこうはどこですか。 (Where is the bank?)
ぎんこうはあそこです。 (The bank is over there.)

ぎんこうはどこですか。 (Where is the bank?)
そこです。(It is there.)

ぎんこうはどこですか。(Where is the bank?)
ぎんこうはここです。レストランのまえです。(The bank is here. In front of the restaurant.)

These pronouns work best when you can point to the location of the building or noun.

Finally, let’s learn how to say that something is in between two other things. You will use this structure.

X は Y と Z のあいだです.

For example, if the pencil is in between the book and the bag, you would say:

えんぴつは本とかばんのあいだです。

This structure also works for buildings.

Practice I

Translate the following from English to Japanese. If you aren’t sure of the Japanese word for a noun, look it up in a dictionary. You may want to purchase a Japanese dictionary or use one online. There is a link to a Japanese dictionary on the right hand menu of this website. Using a dictionary will help you learn new words. Don’t look at the answer key until you have finished the exercises!

  1. The umbrella is under the chair.
  2. The restaurant is near the department store.
  3. The school is next to the bank.
  4. The pen is in the bag.
  5. The book is near the bag.

Practice II

Translate the following into English.

  1. 日本の本はどこですか。
    しんぶんのしたです。
  2. じしょはどこですか。
    あそこです。つくえのうえです。
  3. としょかんはどこですか。
    (としょかんは) ゆうびんきょくとぎんこうのあいだです。
  4. えんぴつはどこですか。かばんのなかですか。
    はい、えんぴつはかばんのなかです。
  5. 水はどこですか。
    水はコーラのとなりです。

Answer Key

  1. かさはいすのしたです。
  2. レストラン はデパート のそばです。
  3. かっこうはぎんこうのとなりです。
  4. ペンはかばんのなかです。
  5. 本はかばんのそばです。

 

  1. Where is the Japanese book?
    It is under the newspaper.
  2. Where is the dictionary?
    It is over there, on top of the desk.
  3. Where is the library?
    (The library is) between the post office and the bank.
  4. Where is the pencil? Is it inside the bag?
    Yes, the pencil is inside the bag.
  5. Where is the water?
    The water is next to the soda.

Lesson 17: Elementary Kanji

In Lesson 6, we learned some very basic kanji by learning how to count. Now we can expand our kanji knowledge by learning some easy elementary level kanji symbols. Kanji is very important to the Japanese language because many of the symbols are used on a daily basis in Japan, so learning this complex writing system is essential for all serious students of Japanese.

Please keep in mind that some kanji symbols have more than one reading. Sometimes they even have more than one meaning. This is especially true for words that are made up of more than one kanji. You may recognize a kanji symbol or two, but not know the symbol before them or after them. The symbol that comes either before or after the symbol you know could change the reading of the symbols or the entire meaning of the symbol phrase. For our purposes in this lesson, I will be giving you the relevant readings and translations—just keep in mind there could be others. As you will see, some of the kanji taught in this lesson have a couple of readings and meanings, so I will explain these in more depth.

Part I – The Kanji

Study the following kanji symbols, their pronunciations, and their meanings. After the chart, there are brief comments about each symbol. After you have studied, try your hand at the exercises that follow.

1. にち/び/ひ Sun, day
2. げつ/がつ Moon, month
3. fire
4. すい water
5. もく tree
6. きん gold
7. Earth, dirt
8. ほん Book
9. にん/じん Person, people

These are the nine main kanji we will be focusing on in this lesson. Here are some more detailed explanations of these symbols.

As you can see in the chart, the symbol日 has three hiragana readings. The main meaning for this kanji is “day,” even though it has several readings. The first reading is used when this kanji symbol is referring to Sunday. The second hiragana reading is used when it comes after this symbol: 曜(よう). This is used when talking about days of the week. You will be asked to write out the days of the week in a later exercise—we have already learned how to do this, but now we are learning the kanji necessary for these words! The third reading for this symbol is used when simply talking about a day or for phrases like “that day.”

月 has two readings in the chart above. The first reading is used to mean “moon” kanji used for “Monday” (since the word is げつようび). You already know that げつ appears at the front of the Japanese word for Monday, so when writing the kanji for Monday, 月 will go first. Then, use the other two symbols taught in the explanation for 日, and you have the word “Monday” written entirely in kanji. The second reading for this kanji we have also covered in an earlier lesson. This reading is used when talking about months of the year. 月appears at the end of each month’s Japanese word (Ex: 一月for January).

火 is an easier kanji since we are only concerned with one reading and one meaning at the moment. Although the kanji means “fire,” it is used to write the Japanese word for “Tuesday.” The following kanji are used similarly to火, since they appear in the first part of the word for different days of the week: 水, 木, 金, 土.

本 looks very similar to木. This is because本 means “book” and 木 means “tree,” so you can see how they are related. 本 can be used to talk about a single book, or many books. This symbol is also used in conjunction with the symbol日to write “Japan” in kanji (日本, written in hiragana asにほん). In the kanji for “Japan,” 日is only read as に, but the reading for 本 remains the same. This is just one of the many examples of how kanji can be very complicated and confusing because any symbol can have multiple readings and meanings.

人is the symbol used when talking about people. You can be talking about one person, or several people. In order to specify how many people, simply place the kanji for the number of people before this kanji. For example, to say five people, write 五人. This is read as ごにん.  This works for most numbers, but “one person” and “two people” have a different pronunciation. Although you write them like this: 一人and二人, they are readひとりand ふたり. You can also use 人 when talking about a person’s nationality. In this case, you would use the second reading of じん.

Now that the kanji symbols have been discussed in more detail, try out the exercises below. Don’t get frustrated if you don’t get them correct on your first try. Kanji is very difficult to get used to!

Exercise I – Writing Kanji

In order to remember kanji, it is important to practice writing them. Get a sheet of paper and write each symbol several times, while focusing on what the symbols mean and how to say them. Do this until you can look at each kanji symbol and translate it without needing to look at the information above!

Exercise II – Using Kanji

1. Use the kanji symbols above to write the days of the week. Each blank stands for a kanji symbol. Don’t look at the answer key (located at the bottom of the lesson) until you have finished all the exercises!

Sunday             __ __ __          Monday           __ __ __          Tuesday           __ __ __
Wednesday     __ __ __          Thursday         __ __ __          Friday              __ __ __
Saturday          __ __ __

2. Translate the following into Japanese, using kanji where appropriate.

I have a book.

Fire

Earth

Water

Day

That book is my book.

That day

Japan

Month

Tree

Gold

Japanese person

Three people

 

Answer Key

Exercise II Part 1

日曜日            月曜日            火曜日

水曜日            木曜日            金曜日

土曜日

Exercise II Part 2

わたしは本があります。

その本はわたしのです。

あの日

日本

日本人

三人

Lesson 16: Arimasu / Imasu

The Japanese verbs ある and いる are very important and unique verbs. Neither of these verbs was presented in Lesson 13 (on verbs) because they require a bit more explanation.

Part One – ある

First, let’s look at ある. This is the dictionary form of the verb, and roughly means “to have” or “to exist.” When conjugated into present affirmative and negative, ある becomes あります and ありません. This verb is used when saying you or someone else possesses an inanimate object. The negative form of the verb would mean that you do not possess a specific item. For example, わたしはほんがあります(I have a book). The negation of this sentence would be わたしはほんがありません(I do not have a book). ある can also be used to simply state that an inanimate object exists somewhere. For example, あそこにくるまがあります(Over there, there is a car).

*Note that がis the particle that always appears with this verb.

ある can also be used to express experience. The form used for this type of sentence is ことがあります. This structure is more complicated and will be tackled in a later lesson. It involves the past tense of verbs, which will also be discussed later. Just keep that in mind: ある has more than one use!

Practice – Exercise One

Figure out how to say the following English sentences in Japanese. There is an answer key at the very end of this post for all of the exercises in this lesson. Don’t scroll down until you’re ready!! *Note: Some of the vocabulary in these sentences may not have been covered yet. If you run across a word you do not know, use a Japanese dictionary to look up the correct word.

  1. My little sister has an apple.
  2. My mom has a Japanese language book.
  3. I have a car.
  4. I do not have money.
  5. That person does not have a hat.
  6. There is a tree here.
  7. Is there a car over there?
  8. There is not a car over there.
  9. Do you have food?

10.  I do not have food.

Part Two – いる

Now, let’s move on to いる. This verb works as kind of a counterpart to ある.  The conjugated forms for this verb are います and いません. As stated previously, あるis used for inanimate objects. いる, on the other hand, is the verb that is used for living beings such as humans and animals. For example, わたしはねこがいます(I have a cat) and わたしはいぬがいません(I don’t have a dog). いる can also be used in conjunction with location words to talk about existence. が is always used with います and いません.

Practice – Exercise Two

  1. There is a cat over there.
  2. My dad is not over there.
  3. Is your mother here?
  4. My mother is not here.
  5. I have an older brother.

Part Three – The には Particle Cluster

The particles に and は can actually work together in the same sentence. Let’s look at this sentence construction: Yには X がいます/あります. This means that “In Y, there is X.” The purpose of placing は after the に phrase is that it makes the location the topic of the sentence. This can be used if the person being spoken to is familiar with the location.

Here are some examples:

わたしのへやにはつくえがあります。

In my room, there is a desk.

うちにはねこがいます。

In my house, there is a cat.

このがっこうにはにほんじんがいます。

In that school, there are Japanese people.

にほんごのクラスにはかんこくじんとアメリカじんがいます。

In Japanese class, there are Koreans and Americans.

 

ANSWER KEY

Don’t read this section until you’ve done the exercises!!

*Exercise One

1. いもうとはりんごがあります。

2. おかあさんはにほんごのほんがあります。

3. わたしはくるまがあります。

4. わたしはおかねがありません。

5. あのひとはぼうしがありません。

6. ここにきがあります。

7. くるまがあそこにありますか。

8.くるまがあそこにありません。

9.たべものがありますか。

10.わたしはたべものがありません。

*Exercise Two

1. あそこにねこがいます。

2. ちちがあそこにいません。

3. おかあさんがここにいますか。

4. おかあさんがここにいません。

5. わたしはあにがいます。

Lesson 15: Frequency Adverbs and Invitations

In the last few lessons, you learned how to conjugate verbs and use particles. Now, you can expand on that knowledge and make more complicated sentences by adding frequency adverbs. The purpose of adding frequency adverbs to your sentences is to add a description of how often you do or do not do something.

The frequency adverbs are as follows:

まいにち        every day

いつも            always

よく                often

たいてい        usually

ときどき        sometimes

あまり            not often

ぜんぜん        never

まいにち、いつも、よく、たいてい、andときどき are all positive adverbs. This means that they occur with verbs conjugated in the affirmative case. あまり and ぜんぜん are negative adverbs and must always appear with the negative conjugation of a verb.

Take a look at the following examples.

A: しゅうまつはたいていなにをしますか。

B: たいていおんがくをききます。でも、とこどきえいがをみます。

A: What do you usually do on the weekends?

B: I usually listen to music. But sometimes I watch movies.

A: にくをたべますか。

B: まいにちにくをたべます。

A: Do you eat meat?

B: I eat meat every day.

A: テレビ をみますか。

B: あまりみません。

A: Do you watch television?

B: Not very often.

A: さかなをたべますか。

B: ぜんぜんさかなをたべません。

A: Do you eat fish?

B: I never eat fish.

Previously, you learned how to form the present tense affirmative and negative forms of verbs. You can also use the negative form to invite someone to do something with you. This is known as the invitation sentence structure. Please note that you cannot use the affirmative form in order to extend an invitation.

To invite someone to an event, you must conjugate the verb into the negative form and add the question particle か.

いっしょに is a good vocabulary word to know for invitations. いっしょに means “together.”

For example:

いっしょにレストランでばんごはんをたべませんか。

Would you like to have dinner together at a restaurant?

ゲム をしませんか。

Would you like to play a game?

To respond to an invitation, you can say いいですね which means “That sounds good.” If you want to decline an invitation, you can do so politely by saying ちょっと。。。

Example:

きんようびにテニスをしませんか。

Would you like to play tennis on Friday?

あの、きんようびはちょっと。。。

Um, Friday is a little… (inconvenient.)

ちょっとis a very common response when declining an invitation. The word implies the day or time is not convenient for you without giving a specific reason why. You can, if you wish, elaborate why the time is not good for you, but in most cases, ちょっとexplains enough. Japanese people are very, very polite, so that is why they reply with the politeちょっとinstead of “no,” when declining an invitation.

Check out the following invitation examples below. Try to translate them yourself before scrolling down to reveal the answers.

いっしょにひるごはんをたべませんか。

えいがをみませんか。

かいものにいきませんか。

いっしょにうちでべんきょうしませんか。

がっこうでにほんごをべんきょうしませんか。

としょかんでほんをよみませんか。

 

Would you like to eat lunch together?

Would you like to watch a movie?

Would you like to go shopping?

Would you like to study together at my house?

Would you like to study Japanese at school?

Would you like to read books at the library with me?

 

A note on sentence structure: Although Japanese is fairly lenient when it comes to sentence structure, there are patterns. The two most common patterns are listed below.

Topic, time, place, object, verb.

わたしはあしたうちでおんがくをききます。

I will listen to music at home tomorrow.

Topic, frequency, time, goal, verb.

わたしはまいにちななじごろうちにかえります。

I return home around seven every day.

Lesson 14: Particles

This lesson will focus on common Japanese particles as well as vocabulary. Particles are very important to the Japanese language. They appear before many verbs and often after the subject of the sentence.

The particles covered in this lesson are:

で に へ を

で is used to talk about where an event or action takes place. It is like the English work “at.”

For example, if you read at the library, you would say:

わたしはとしょかんでよみます。 (I read at the library.)

Many sentences often use more than one particle. If you wanted to modify the above sentence to say, “I read books at the library,” you would actually use the particle を as well.

I read books at the library. わたしはとしょかんでほんをよみます。

The place where the event takes place usually appears first in the sentence, but Japanese does not have really strict rules about sentence placement.

に and へ are both used to mean “to.” If you want to say you are going somewhere or returning somewhere, you need to use に or へ. Both particles signify movement.

Examples: わたしはうちにかえります。 I will return home. (You can also use e instead of ni here).

わたしはにほんへいきます。 I am going to Japan. (You can also use ni instead of e here).

に can also be used to say “at x time” and “on x day.”

Examples: くじにクラスがあります。. I have a class at nine.

げつようびにうちへかえります。I return home Monday.

In the above sentences, に cannot be replaced by へ.

The particle を is used to indicate the direct object of a sentence. Many verbs use this particle.

Examples: みずをのみます。 (I drink water.)

えいがをみます。 (I am watching a movie.)

おんがくをききます。 (I am listening to music.)

にくをたべます。 (I eat meat.)

The particles for verbs stay the same regardless of what form the verb is in.

Below is a vocabulary list to help you form new sentences in Japanese.

Movie えいが

Magazine ざっし

Book ほん

Music おんがく

Date デート

Television テレビ

Breakfast あさごはん

Lunch ひるごはん

Dinner ばんごはん

Alcohol おさけ

Green tea おちゃ

Water みず

Coffee コーヒー

Home うち

House いえ

School がっこう

Morning あさ

Tomorrow あした

Today きょう

Tonight こんばん

Weekend しゅうまつ

But でも

*Note: For time words such as “tomorrow,” and “today,” you do not need to use a particle with the sentence (に).

Study the sentences below to become familiar with the new vocabulary.

わたしはあさごはんをたべません。

I don’t eat breakfast.

レストランでばんごはんをたべます。

I will eat dinner at a restaurant.

しゅうまつはなにをしますか。

What will you do over the weekend?

えいがをみます。

I will watch a movie.

かようびにがっこうをいきません。

I will not go to school on Tuesday.

うちでざっしをよみます。

I will read a magazine at home.

おちゃをのみます。

I drink green tea.

なんじにかえりますか。

What time will you be returning?

なんじにねますか。

What time will you go to bed?

じゅうじにねます。

I will go to sleep at 10.

うちでテレビをみます。

I will watch television at home.

いついきますか。

When will you go?

あしたきます。

I will come/arrive tomorrow.

あさしんぶんをよみます。

I read the newspaper in the morning.

がっこうでひるごはんをたべますか。

Do you eat lunch at school?

わたしはうちでひるごはんをたべます。

I eat lunch at home.

しゅうまつおんがくをききます。

I will listen to music this weekend.