Question
I’m planning a trip to Japan and I’ll be taking the train a lot. Cafes and shinkansen cars get crowded, and I want to grab an empty seat without being rude. How do I say “Is this seat taken?” in Japanese?
Answer by Professional Japanese Teacher
この席（せき）は空（あ）いていますか。
Kono seki wa aiteimasuka.
Is this seat taken?
This is a polite, neutral phrase you can use in a cafe, on the shinkansen, or at a counter restaurant. 席（せき）seki means “seat,” and 空（あ）いています aiteimasu literally means “is empty” or “is available.” So you are actually asking “Is this seat available?” — which is the natural Japanese way to check before sitting down.
A quick note on word choice. English speakers often try to translate “taken” directly with 取（と）る toru, but この席は取られていますか sounds odd to Japanese ears. Stick with 空いていますか.
If the seat is free, you’ll usually hear はい、どうぞ hai, doozo (yes, please). If someone has already claimed it, the reply is often すみません、ここは… sumimasen, koko wa…, trailing off politely. Either way, a small お辞儀（じぎ）ojigi — a slight bow — pairs well with the question.
