Question
I’m traveling to Kyoto and plan to visit some temples. I want to make sure I’m being respectful, especially when taking photos. How do I ask “Is it okay to take pictures here?” in Japanese?
Japango Editor Team
ここで写真（しゃしん）を撮（と）ってもいいですか。
Koko de shashin o tottemo iidesuka?
Is it okay to take pictures here?
When visiting temples or other cultural sites in Japan, it’s important to check if photography is allowed as some places have restrictions. The phrase “Koko de” means “here” and “shashin o tottemo iidesuka?” translates to “is it okay to take pictures?”
You can adjust this expression to ask about other actions by replacing “shashin o toru” (to take pictures) with another verb in te-form. Always be respectful and follow the rules at sacred sites.
