Question
I’m traveling around Japan and planning to use public transportation a lot. It’s my first time here, and I’m worried about getting lost if I catch the wrong bus. How do I ask the driver if the bus goes to a specific place, like Tokyo Station, in Japanese?
Japango Editor Team
このバスは東京駅（とうきょうえき）に行（い）きますか。
Kono basu wa Tookyoo eki ni ikimasuka?
Does this bus go to Tokyo Station?
This is a handy phrase to confirm the destination of any bus or train while you are traveling in Japan. “Kono basu” means “this bus”; “wa” is a particle marking the subject of the sentence; “Tookyoo eki” translates to “Tokyo Station”; “ni” indicates the direction; and “ikimasuka?” means “does it go?”.
You can modify the destination by replacing “Tookyoo eki” with another place you want to visit. When using other modes of transportation like a train or a taxi, simply adjust the sentence to fit. For example, using it with a train would be: “Kono densha wa Tookyoo eki ni ikimasuka?” (Does this train go to Tokyo Station?).
With this expression in hand, navigating the complex transportation systems in Japan will be a breeze!
