Visiting an onsen town in Japanese: words and phrases

How Yoko opens the conversation

Yoko always speaks first. This is the scene's own opening line, with a reply you could give back at the same level:

• 

  長旅ながたびお疲つかれさまでした。よろしければ、足湯あしゆはいかがですか？

  Nagatabi otsukaresama deshita. Yoroshikereba, ashiyu wa ikaga desu ka?

  Thank you for bearing with the long ride. If you like, how about trying the footbath?

  You could say

  ぜひ入はいってみたいです。温泉おんせんは初はじめてなんです。

  Zehi haitte mitai desu. Onsen wa hajimete nan desu.

  I'd love to try it. It's my first time at a hot spring.

Other ways it can begin

No two conversations go the same way, and the first line changes too. Each of these can open the scene:

• 

  湯ゆけむりがきれいですね。お写真しゃしんをお撮とりしましょうか。

  Yukemuri ga kirei desu ne. O-shashin o o-tori shimashō ka.

  The steam from the springs is lovely, isn't it? Shall I take a photo for you?

  You could say

  はい、ぜひお願ねがいします。

  Hai, zehi onegai shimasu.

  Yes, please do.

• 

  このあたりは、温泉おんせんのにおいがしますね。

  Kono atari wa, onsen no nioi ga shimasu ne.

  Around here it smells of hot springs, doesn't it?

  You could say

  はい、いいにおいですね。

  Hai, ii nioi desu ne.

  Yes, it smells wonderful.

• 

  お客様きゃくさまは、どちらからいらっしゃいましたか。

  Okyakusama wa, dochira kara irasshaimashita ka.

  And where have you come from, if I may ask?

  You could say

  東京とうきょうから来きました。

  Tōkyō kara kimashita.

  I came from Tokyo.

• 

  よろしければ、温泉おんせんまんじゅうをお一ひとつどうぞ。

  Yoroshikereba, onsen manjū o o-hitotsu dōzo.

  If you like, please have a hot spring bun.

  You could say

  ありがとうございます。いただきます。

  Arigatō gozaimasu. Itadakimasu.

  Thank you very much. I'll have one.

• 

  今日きょうは少すこし肌寒はだざむいですね。温泉日和おんせんびよりでございます。

  Kyō wa sukoshi hadazamui desu ne. Onsen-biyori de gozaimasu.

  It's a bit chilly today, isn't it? Perfect hot spring weather.

  You could say

  そうですね。温泉おんせんが楽たのしみです。

  Sō desu ne. Onsen ga tanoshimi desu.

  It is. I'm looking forward to the bath.

Phrases worth knowing here

Lines for what you do at the hot spring town, each with when you'd say it.

• 足湯あしゆはこの近くちかくにありますか。Ashiyu wa kono chikaku ni arimasu ka.Is there a foot bath near here?Ask the guide while strolling the hot spring street before dinner.
• 外湯そとゆめぐりのおすすめを教おしえていただけますか。Sotoyu-meguri no osusume o oshiete itadakemasu ka.Could you recommend which public baths to visit?Use when you want the guide's advice on which of the town's baths to try.
• 浴衣ゆかたのまま出でかけても大丈夫だいじょうぶでしょうか。Yukata no mama dekakete mo daijōbu deshō ka.Is it all right to go out in the inn's yukata?Say this before leaving the inn for a walk around town.
• 集合しゅうごうは何時なんじにどちらでしょうか。Shūgō wa nanji ni dochira deshō ka.What time and where do we meet up?Confirm the meeting time and place with the tour guide before free time.
• お土産屋みやげやさんは何時なんじまで開あいていますか。Omiyageya-san wa nanji made aite imasu ka.How late are the souvenir shops open?Handy when deciding whether to shop before or after dinner.

Words you'll hear

How polite to be

formal Here Yoko speaks keigo: the respectful and humble forms staff use with customers, and everyone uses with clients and superiors, and the replies suggested to you match the level you'd use back. The guide to keigo explains the three levels, and when each is right.

More scenes with Yoko

• First day at the office陽子（ようこ） · Officepolite
• Planning a trip陽子（ようこ） · Travel agencyformal
• Celebrating a finished project陽子（ようこ） · Izakayacasual
• Opening an account陽子（ようこ） · Bankpolite
• Registering where you live陽子（ようこ） · Ward officepolite
• A stain before a meeting陽子（ようこ） · Dry cleanerpolite
• A trip to the dentist陽子（ようこ） · Dental clinicpolite
• Checking in陽子（ようこ） · Airportformal
• A job interview陽子（ようこ） · Interview roomformal

Or see every scene, with all four characters.