Question
I’m visiting a Japanese shrine and want to take a picture, but I want to make sure photography is allowed. 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 sacred places like shrines or temples in Japan, it’s courteous to ask if photography is allowed. The phrase “Koko de” means “here”; “shashin” means “picture”; and “tottemo iidesuka” means “is it okay to take”. Use this expression to politely ask for permission to take photographs in any location by changing the word “shashin” to specify things like “video” (ビデオ, bideo) or “selfie” (自撮り, jidori) if needed.
Remember, respecting the rules of sacred sites is important, so always ask before snapping that memorable photo!
