Question
I’m planning to buy souvenirs for my friends and family back home while I’m in Japan. I know it’s polite to ask for recommendations. How can I ask someone “Can you recommend a good souvenir shop?” in Japanese?
Japango Editor Team
お土産（おみやげ）屋（や）さんをおすすめしていただけますか。
Omiyage ya-san o osusume shite itadakemasu ka?
Can you recommend a good souvenir shop?
When you want to ask for recommendations in Japanese, you can use the phrase “o osusume shite itadakemasu ka?” This is a polite way to request someone to recommend something to you.
In this instance, “omiyage ya-san” means “souvenir shop.” Thus, the entire phrase becomes “Can you recommend a good souvenir shop?”
If you want recommendations for other types of shops or items, simply replace “omiyage ya-san” with the item or place of interest. This expression is particularly useful for travelers looking for locals’ insight.
