Booking a trip in Japanese at a travel agency

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:

• 

  いらっしゃいませ。本日ほんじつはどちらへのご旅行りょこうをお考かんがえですか？

  Irasshaimase. Honjitsu wa dochira e no goryokō o okangae desu ka?

  Welcome. Where are you thinking of traveling?

  You could say

  京都きょうとに二泊三日にはくみっかで行いきたいんですが。

  Kyōto ni nihaku mikka de ikitai n desu ga.

  I'd like to go to Kyoto, for two nights.

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:

• 

  いらっしゃいませ。どうぞこちらのお席せきへおかけください。

  Irasshaimase. Dōzo kochira no oseki e okake kudasai.

  Welcome. Please have a seat here.

  You could say

  はい、失礼しつれいします。

  Hai, shitsurei shimasu.

  Thank you, excuse me.

• 

  こちらのパンフレットは、ご自由じゆうにどうぞ。

  Kochira no panfuretto wa, gojiyū ni dōzo.

  Please feel free to take one of these brochures.

  You could say

  では、一ひとつ頂いただきます。

  Dewa, hitotsu itadakimasu.

  Then I'll take one.

• 

  実じつは来月らいげつ、沖縄おきなわのツアーが少すこしお安やすくなります。

  Jitsu wa raigetsu, Okinawa no tsuā ga sukoshi oyasuku narimasu.

  Actually, next month the Okinawa tours get a little cheaper.

  You could say

  そうですか。詳くわしく聞ききたいです。

  Sō desu ka. Kuwashiku kikitai desu.

  Really? I'd like to hear more.

• 

  お客様きゃくさま、ご旅行りょこうは何日なんにちぐらいをお考かんがえですか？

  Okyakusama, goryokō wa nannichi gurai o okangae desu ka?

  About how many days are you thinking of traveling?

  You could say

  三日みっかぐらいを考かんがえています。

  Mikka gurai o kangaete imasu.

  I'm thinking about three days.

• 

  温泉おんせんのご旅行りょこうが今いまとても人気にんきですよ。お好すきですか？

  Onsen no goryokō ga ima totemo ninki desu yo. Osuki desu ka?

  Hot spring trips are very popular right now. Do you like them?

  You could say

  はい、温泉おんせんは大好だいすきです。

  Hai, onsen wa daisuki desu.

  Yes, I love hot springs.

Phrases worth knowing here

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

• 温泉旅館おんせんりょかんに泊とまるプランはありますか。Onsen ryokan ni tomaru puran wa arimasu ka.Do you have a plan that includes staying at a hot spring inn?Say this at the counter to tell the agent what kind of trip you want.
• 二泊三日にはくみっかで考かんがえています。Nihaku mikka de kangaete imasu.I'm thinking of three days and two nights.Use when the agent asks how long your trip will be.
• 予算よさんは一人ひとり五万円ごまんえんくらいです。Yosan wa hitori goman-en kurai desu.My budget is about 50,000 yen per person.Say this when asked about your price range, so she can narrow down the plans.
• このプランに朝食ちょうしょくは付ついていますか。Kono puran ni chōshoku wa tsuite imasu ka.Is breakfast included in this plan?Ask while looking at a brochure to check what the price covers.
• では、これでお願ねがいします。Dewa, kore de onegai shimasu.All right, I'll go with this one.Say this once you've decided and want her to book it.

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
• 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
• A hot spring getaway陽子（ようこ） · Hot spring townformal

Or see every scene, with all four characters.