Asking for Directions to Sensō-ji in Asakusa — JLPT N5 Japanese Conversation
The situation
Yattan (ヤッタン), a lost tourist, stops a passerby (通りの人) near the station to ask the way to Sensō-ji.
すみません、浅草寺はどこですか。
すみません、せんそうじは どこですか。
Excuse me, where is Sensō-ji?
浅草寺ですか。この道をまっすぐ行ってください。
せんそうじですか。この みちを まっすぐ いってください。
Sensō-ji? Please go straight down this street.
まっすぐですね。
まっすぐですね。
Straight ahead, right?
はい。そして、あの信号を右に曲がってください。
はい。そして、あの しんごうを みぎに まがってください。
Yes. And then please turn right at that traffic light.
右ですね。大きい門はありますか。
みぎですね。おおきい もんは ありますか。
Right, got it. Is there a big gate?
はい、雷門です。門を通って、まっすぐ行くと浅草寺です。
はい、かみなりもんです。もんを とおって、まっすぐ いくと せんそうじです。
Yes, it's the Kaminarimon. Go through the gate and straight on, and there's Sensō-ji.
わかりました。ありがとうございます！
わかりました。ありがとうございます！
I understand. Thank you so much!
いいえ、気をつけて。
いいえ、きをつけて。
Not at all — take care.
Key expressions
- 〜はどこですか — "Where is ~?" The single most useful travel question. どこ is the question word for "where," and は marks the thing you're looking for: トイレはどこですか、駅はどこですか.
- まっすぐ・右・左 — the core direction words: まっすぐ ("straight"), 右 (みぎ, "right"), 左 (ひだり, "left"). Turning is 曲がる, so "turn right" is 右に曲がる, with に marking the direction of the turn.
- まっすぐ行ってください — "Please go straight." A clean example of the て-form + ください request; see 〜てください and polite requests for the pattern the passerby uses to guide you.
- 〜ですね — the confirmation tag. Repeating まっすぐですね / 右ですね back shows you've understood and lets the other person correct you if not.
About Asakusa & Sensō-ji
Asakusa (浅草) is old-town Tokyo, and Sensō-ji (浅草寺) — founded in 645 — is the city's oldest temple. You enter through the Kaminarimon (雷門), the giant red "Thunder Gate" with its enormous paper lantern, then walk the Nakamise (仲見世), a centuries-old shopping street of snack and souvenir stalls, straight up to the temple. It's easy to get turned around in the crowd, so if the passerby talks too fast, the survival phrase to memorize is 「もう一度お願いします」 ("One more time, please").
Frequently asked questions
How do I ask where something is in Japanese?
Use 〜はどこですか. Put the place before は: 浅草寺はどこですか ('Where is Sensō-ji?'), トイレはどこですか ('Where is the toilet?'). It works for almost anything you're trying to find.
How do I say 'turn right' and 'turn left'?
右に曲がる (migi ni magaru) is 'turn right' and 左に曲がる (hidari ni magaru) is 'turn left.' The particle に marks the direction. As a polite instruction it becomes 右に曲がってください.
Why does Yattan keep saying 〜ですね?
It's a confirmation tag. Repeating a direction back with ね (まっすぐですね, 右ですね) says 'that's right, isn't it?' and shows you understood. Japanese uses this readback a lot when receiving directions.