Booking a shinkansen ticket in Japanese

How Kenji opens the conversation

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

• 

  窓側まどがわと通路側つうろがわ、どちらがいいですか？

  Madogawa to tsūrogawa, dochira ga ii desu ka?

  Window or aisle — which would you like?

  You could say

  窓側まどがわでお願ねがいします。富士山ふじさんが見みたいです。

  Madogawa de onegai shimasu. Fujisan ga mitai desu.

  Window, please. I want to see Mount Fuji.

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:

• 

  窓口まどぐち、すいてますね。今日きょうはラッキーです。

  Madoguchi, suitemasu ne. Kyō wa rakkī desu.

  The ticket window's empty, isn't it? We're lucky today.

  You could say

  本当ほんとうですね。よかったです。

  Hontō desu ne. Yokatta desu.

  It really is. That's a relief.

• 

  実じつは、この予約よやく、毎月まいつきしているんですよ。

  Jitsu wa, kono yoyaku, maitsuki shite iru n desu yo.

  Actually, I make this booking every month.

  You could say

  毎月まいつきですか。すごいですね。

  Maitsuki desu ka. Sugoi desu ne.

  Every month? That's impressive.

• 

  新幹線しんかんせん、よく乗のりますか。

  Shinkansen, yoku norimasu ka.

  Do you ride the bullet train often?

  You could say

  いいえ、あまり乗のりません。

  Iie, amari norimasen.

  No, not very often.

• 

  三号車さんごうしゃがおすすめです。静しずかですよ。

  Sangōsha ga osusume desu. Shizuka desu yo.

  I recommend car number three. It's quiet.

  You could say

  じゃあ、三号車さんごうしゃにします。

  Jā, sangōsha ni shimasu.

  Then I'll go with car three.

• 

  席せきは真剣しんけんに選えらびましょう。新幹線しんかんせんだけに。

  Seki wa shinken ni erabimashō. Shinkansen dake ni.

  Let's pick our seats seriously — "shinken," like "shinkansen."

  You could say

  山本やまもとさん、うまいですね。

  Yamamoto-san, umai desu ne.

  Nice one, Yamamoto-san.

Phrases worth knowing here

Lines for what you do at the ticket office, each with when you'd say it.

• 金曜きんようの朝あさ、大阪おおさかまで二枚にまいお願ねがいします。Kin'yō no asa, Ōsaka made nimai onegai shimasu.Two tickets to Osaka, Friday morning, please.Your opening request at the window, once it's your turn.
• 指定席していせきでお願ねがいします。Shiteiseki de onegai shimasu.Reserved seats, please.When the clerk asks reserved or non-reserved.
• 窓側まどがわの二席にせき、並ならびで取とれますか。Madogawa no niseki, narabi de toremasu ka.Can we get two window-side seats together?Looking at the seat map with Kenji, asking for seats side by side.
• もう少すこし早はやい便びんはありますか。Mō sukoshi hayai bin wa arimasu ka.Is there a slightly earlier train?When the suggested departure time doesn't work for your meeting.
• 経費けいひなので、領収書りょうしゅうしょをいただけますか。Keihi na node, ryōshūsho o itadakemasu ka.It's a work expense, so could I have a receipt?At payment, since this is a business trip.

Words you'll hear

How polite to be

polite Here Kenji speaks polite Japanese: です and ます, the way people talk with strangers, neighbors, and coworkers, 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 Kenji

• Running into a neighbor健二（けんじ） · Convenience storepolite
• A sales meeting健二（けんじ） · Meeting roomformal
• Yakitori under the tracks健二（けんじ） · Yakitori barcasual
• Picking up a prescription健二（けんじ） · Pharmacypolite
• Bargains at the supermarket健二（けんじ） · Supermarketpolite
• Buying a rice cooker健二（けんじ） · Electronics storepolite
• Signing up at the gym健二（けんじ） · Gympolite
• Picking up the rental car健二（けんじ） · Car rentalpolite
• A night at the ballpark健二（けんじ） · Baseball stadiumpolite

Or see every scene, with all four characters.