20 Essential Japanese Airport Phrases Every Traveler Should Know

Introduction

Airports can be stressful, especially when you need to communicate in another language. A few simple Japanese airport phrases can help you check in, find your boarding gate, ask about delays, collect your luggage, and reach your next destination.

Many international airport signs in Japan include English, and major airports often have English-speaking staff. However, basic Japanese is still useful when asking quick questions or dealing with unexpected problems.

This guide introduces 20 practical expressions for complete beginners, travelers, and JLPT N5 learners. Each phrase includes its meaning, pronunciation, natural usage, and a realistic example.

Understanding Japanese Airport Phrases

Polite language is the safest choice when speaking to airline, immigration, customs, and airport information staff. Expressions ending in です, ます, or お願いします sound appropriate in most airport situations.

Start questions with すみません to politely get someone’s attention. When asking about a flight, baggage, or gate, showing your boarding pass or itinerary can make communication much easier.

Beginners should first memorize チェックインをお願いします, 搭乗口はどこですか, この便は遅れていますか, 荷物受取所はどこですか, and 荷物が見つかりません.

20 Essential Japanese Airport Phrases

The following expressions cover common airport situations before departure, during a connection, and after arriving in Japan.

1. チェックインをお願いします

Meaning

I’d like to check in, please

Pronunciation

Romaji: Chekku in o onegaishimasu

chek-koo een oh oh-neh-gai-shee-mas

Japanese	Romaji	Meaning	When to Use
チェックインをお願いします	Chekku in o onegaishimasu	I’d like to check in, please	Use this at the airline check-in counter.
パスポートです	Pasupōto desu	Here is my passport	Use this when handing your passport to airline or immigration staff.
荷物は一つです	Nimotsu wa hitotsu desu	I have one piece of luggage	Use this when airline staff ask how many bags you are checking in.
この荷物を預けたいです	Kono nimotsu o azuketai desu	I’d like to check this bag	Use this when you want to place luggage in the aircraft’s checked baggage hold rather than carry it on board.
これは機内に持ち込めますか	Kore wa kinai ni mochikomemasu ka	Can I take this onto the plane?	Use this to check whether an item can be carried into the cabin.
窓側の席をお願いします	Madogawa no seki o onegaishimasu	A window seat, please	Use this during check-in if you would like a window seat.
通路側の席をお願いします	Tsūrogawa no seki o onegaishimasu	An aisle seat, please	Use this during check-in if you prefer an aisle seat.
搭乗口はどこですか	Tōjōguchi wa doko desu ka	Where is the boarding gate?	Use this when you need directions to your gate.
搭乗は何時からですか	Tōjō wa nanji kara desu ka	What time does boarding start?	Use this when you want to confirm the boarding time.
この便は遅れていますか	Kono bin wa okureteimasu ka	Is this flight delayed?	Use this when the departure time appears to have changed or when passengers are waiting longer than expected.
乗り継ぎがあります	Noritsugi ga arimasu	I have a connecting flight	Use this when asking staff for help with a transfer.
乗り継ぎ時間は十分ですか	Noritsugi jikan wa jūbun desu ka	Do I have enough time for my connection?	Use this if your first flight is late or your transfer time is short.
入国審査はどこですか	Nyūkoku shinsa wa doko desu ka	Where is immigration?	Use this after arriving on an international flight if you cannot find the immigration area.
荷物受取所はどこですか	Nimotsu uketorijo wa doko desu ka	Where is baggage claim?	Use this after arrival when you need directions to the baggage collection area.
荷物が出てきません	Nimotsu ga dete kimasen	My luggage has not come out	Use this at the baggage service counter if your checked bag does not appear on the carousel.
荷物が見つかりません	Nimotsu ga mitsukarimasen	I cannot find my luggage	Use this if your baggage is missing or you cannot locate it after arrival.
税関はどこですか	Zeikan wa doko desu ka	Where is customs?	Use this after collecting your luggage when you need directions to the customs inspection area.
空港バスの乗り場はどこですか	Kūkō basu no noriba wa doko desu ka	Where is the airport bus stop?	Use this after arrival when looking for a limousine bus or other airport bus service.
電車の駅はどこですか	Densha no eki wa doko desu ka	Where is the train station?	Use this when leaving the airport by train.
両替所はどこですか	Ryōgaejo wa doko desu ka	Where is the currency exchange?	Use this when you need to exchange foreign currency at the airport.

Japanese

Romaji

Meaning

When to Use

チェックインをお願いします

Chekku in o onegaishimasu

I’d like to check in, please

Use this at the airline check-in counter.

パスポートです

Pasupōto desu

Here is my passport

Use this when handing your passport to airline or immigration staff.

荷物は一つです

Nimotsu wa hitotsu desu

I have one piece of luggage

Use this when airline staff ask how many bags you are checking in.

この荷物を預けたいです

Kono nimotsu o azuketai desu

I’d like to check this bag

Use this when you want to place luggage in the aircraft’s checked baggage hold rather than carry it on board.

これは機内に持ち込めますか

Kore wa kinai ni mochikomemasu ka

Can I take this onto the plane?

Use this to check whether an item can be carried into the cabin.

窓側の席をお願いします

Madogawa no seki o onegaishimasu

A window seat, please

Use this during check-in if you would like a window seat.

通路側の席をお願いします

Tsūrogawa no seki o onegaishimasu

An aisle seat, please

Use this during check-in if you prefer an aisle seat.

搭乗口はどこですか

Tōjōguchi wa doko desu ka

Where is the boarding gate?

Use this when you need directions to your gate.

搭乗は何時からですか

Tōjō wa nanji kara desu ka

What time does boarding start?

Use this when you want to confirm the boarding time.

この便は遅れていますか

Kono bin wa okureteimasu ka

Is this flight delayed?

Use this when the departure time appears to have changed or when passengers are waiting longer than expected.

乗り継ぎがあります

Noritsugi ga arimasu

I have a connecting flight

Use this when asking staff for help with a transfer.

乗り継ぎ時間は十分ですか

Noritsugi jikan wa jūbun desu ka

Do I have enough time for my connection?

Use this if your first flight is late or your transfer time is short.

入国審査はどこですか

Nyūkoku shinsa wa doko desu ka

Where is immigration?

Use this after arriving on an international flight if you cannot find the immigration area.

荷物受取所はどこですか

Nimotsu uketorijo wa doko desu ka

Where is baggage claim?

Use this after arrival when you need directions to the baggage collection area.

荷物が出てきません

Nimotsu ga dete kimasen

My luggage has not come out

Use this at the baggage service counter if your checked bag does not appear on the carousel.

荷物が見つかりません

Nimotsu ga mitsukarimasen

I cannot find my luggage

Use this if your baggage is missing or you cannot locate it after arrival.

税関はどこですか

Zeikan wa doko desu ka

Where is customs?

Use this after collecting your luggage when you need directions to the customs inspection area.

空港バスの乗り場はどこですか

Kūkō basu no noriba wa doko desu ka

Where is the airport bus stop?

Use this after arrival when looking for a limousine bus or other airport bus service.

電車の駅はどこですか

Densha no eki wa doko desu ka

Where is the train station?

Use this when leaving the airport by train.

両替所はどこですか

Ryōgaejo wa doko desu ka

Where is the currency exchange?

Use this when you need to exchange foreign currency at the airport.

20 Essential Japanese Airport Phrases Every Traveler Should Know

Table of Contents

Introduction

Understanding Japanese Airport Phrases

20 Essential Japanese Airport Phrases

1. チェックインをお願いします

Meaning

Pronunciation

When to Use

Example

2. パスポートです

Meaning

Pronunciation

When to Use

Example

3. 荷物は一つです

Meaning

Pronunciation

When to Use

Example

4. この荷物を預けたいです

Meaning

Pronunciation

When to Use

Example

5. これは機内に持ち込めますか

Meaning

Pronunciation

When to Use

Example

6. 窓側の席をお願いします

Meaning

Pronunciation

When to Use

Example

7. 通路側の席をお願いします

Meaning

Pronunciation

When to Use

Example

8. 搭乗口はどこですか

Meaning

Pronunciation

When to Use

Example

9. 搭乗は何時からですか

Meaning

Pronunciation

When to Use

Example

10. この便は遅れていますか

Meaning

Pronunciation

When to Use

Example

11. 乗り継ぎがあります

Meaning

Pronunciation

When to Use

Example

12. 乗り継ぎ時間は十分ですか

Meaning

Pronunciation

When to Use

Example

13. 入国審査はどこですか

Meaning

Pronunciation

When to Use

Example

14. 荷物受取所はどこですか

Meaning

Pronunciation

When to Use

Example

15. 荷物が出てきません

Meaning

Pronunciation

When to Use