Skip to content

Read the signs in Japan

83 words you'll see on signs in Japan: in stations, shops and restaurants, on the street, and on toilets and other facilities. Pick what each sign says, read it, or find the Japanese for it.

Could you find your way by the signs alone?

Which
How

About this quiz

Signs are short and full of kanji, and the same few come back again and again. Here, 行 is in 6 (急行、行き、一方通行), 止 is in 6 (立入禁止、撮影禁止、駐車禁止) and 禁 is in 5 (禁煙、立入禁止、撮影禁止). Learn those and many signs read themselves.

Each word is asked with the reading signs use, and what it means on a sign: 行き on a train is ゆき, "bound for".

What's in it

Toilets & facilities 22
喫煙所、お手洗い、化粧室、男、女、多目的トイレ、駐車場、駐輪場、エレベーター、エスカレーター、非常階段、喫煙室、授乳室、案内、コインロッカー、病院、交番、郵便局、銀行、温泉、男湯、女湯
All 83 answers
Signs in Japan: every word with its reading and meaning
JapaneseReadingMeaningPart
駅えきrailway station; train stationStations & trains
出口でぐちexit; way outStations & trains
入口いりぐちentrance; entry; gateStations & trains
改札かいさつticket gate; ticket barrierStations & trains
乗り換えのりかえtransfer (trains, buses, etc.); change; connectionStations & trains
乗り場のりばplace for boarding vehiclesStations & trains
切符きっぷticketStations & trains
券売機けんばいきticket machine; ticket-vending machineStations & trains
精算機せいさんきfare adjustment machine; ticket adjustment machineStations & trains
番線ばんせんtrack number; platform numberStations & trains
各駅停車かくえきていしゃtrain that stops at every station; local trainStations & trains
快速かいそくrapid-service train (not as fast as express)Stations & trains
急行きゅうこうexpress (train)Stations & trains
特急とっきゅうlimited express (train for which a limited-express ticket is required)Stations & trains
終電しゅうでんlast train (of the day)Stations & trains
始発しはつfirst departure (of the day); first train; first busStations & trains
指定席していせきreserved seatStations & trains
自由席じゆうせきunreserved seat; non-reserved seatStations & trains
優先席ゆうせんせきpriority seat; courtesy seatStations & trains
女性専用車じょせいせんようしゃwomen-only carriage (e.g. on a train)Stations & trains
到着とうちゃくarrivalStations & trains
出発しゅっぱつdeparture; leaving; setting offStations & trains
方面ほうめんdirection; district; areaStations & trains
行きゆきbound for ...Stations & trains
階段かいだんstairs; stairway; staircaseStations & trains
地下鉄ちかてつsubway; metro; underground (railway)Stations & trains
連絡通路れんらくつうろ(connecting) passageway; accessway; walk-throughStations & trains
営業中えいぎょうちゅうopen (for business)Shops & restaurants
準備中じゅんびちゅうin preparation; (shop) not yet open for businessShops & restaurants
閉店へいてんclosing up shop (for the day)Shops & restaurants
開店かいてんopening a shop (for the day); opening a new shopShops & restaurants
定休日ていきゅうびregular holiday; fixed day off; regular closing dayShops & restaurants
本日休業ほんじつきゅうぎょうClosed TodayShops & restaurants
営業時間えいぎょうじかんbusiness hours; opening hours; office hoursShops & restaurants
自動ドアじどうドアautomatic doorShops & restaurants
受付うけつけreception (desk); information desk; receptionistShops & restaurants
案内所あんないじょinformation deskShops & restaurants
両替りょうがえchange; money exchangeShops & restaurants
免税めんぜいtax exemption; duty exemptionShops & restaurants
売り切れうりきれsold-outShops & restaurants
割引わりびきdiscount; reduction; rebateShops & restaurants
無料むりょうfree (of charge); gratuitousShops & restaurants
有料ゆうりょうfee-charging; paid; not freeShops & restaurants
危険きけんdanger; peril; hazardWarnings & rules
注意ちゅういcaution; attentionWarnings & rules
禁煙きんえんNo Smoking; Smoking ProhibitedWarnings & rules
喫煙所きつえんじょsmoking area; smoking cornerToilets & facilities
立入禁止たちいりきんしNo Entry; No Trespassing; No AdmittanceWarnings & rules
撮影禁止さつえいきんしno photographs; no photographyWarnings & rules
駐車禁止ちゅうしゃきんしNo Parking; Parking ProhibitedWarnings & rules
止まれとまれStopWarnings & rules
一方通行いっぽうつうこうone-way trafficWarnings & rules
非常口ひじょうぐちemergency exitWarnings & rules
非常ボタンひじょうボタンemergency buttonWarnings & rules
消火器しょうかきfire extinguisherWarnings & rules
避難場所ひなんばしょemergency evacuation site (typically outdoors); refuge shelterWarnings & rules
工事中こうじちゅうunder constructionWarnings & rules
頭上注意ずじょうちゅういWatch Your HeadWarnings & rules
関係者以外立入禁止かんけいしゃいがいたちいりきんしNo Unauthorized Persons; No Unauthorized Entry; Authorized Personnel OnlyWarnings & rules
通行止めつうこうどめRoad Closed; No Through Road; closed to trafficWarnings & rules
徐行じょこうgoing at a reduced speed; slowing downWarnings & rules
横断歩道おうだんほどうpedestrian crossing; crosswalkWarnings & rules
お手洗いおてあらいtoilet; restroom; lavatoryToilets & facilities
化粧室けしょうしつtoilet; lavatory; powder roomToilets & facilities
男おとこman; maleToilets & facilities
女おんなwoman; femaleToilets & facilities
多目的トイレたもくてきトイレaccessible toilet; accessible restroomToilets & facilities
駐車場ちゅうしゃじょうparking lot; car park; carparkToilets & facilities
駐輪場ちゅうりんじょうparking area for bicycles; bicycle parkingToilets & facilities
エレベーターエレベーターelevator; liftToilets & facilities
エスカレーターエスカレーターescalatorToilets & facilities
非常階段ひじょうかいだんemergency staircase; fire escapeToilets & facilities
喫煙室きつえんしつsmoking room; smoking compartmentToilets & facilities
授乳室じゅにゅうしつroom for breast-feeding; nursing roomToilets & facilities
案内あんないinformation; guidanceToilets & facilities
コインロッカーコインロッカーcoin-operated lockerToilets & facilities
病院びょういんhospital; clinic; doctor's officeToilets & facilities
交番こうばんpolice box; koban; small neighborhood police stationToilets & facilities
郵便局ゆうびんきょくpost officeToilets & facilities
銀行ぎんこうbank; banking institutionToilets & facilities
温泉おんせんhot springToilets & facilities
男湯おとこゆmen's bath; men's section in a public bathToilets & facilities
女湯おんなゆwomen's bath; women's section in a public bathToilets & facilities

Train this in KanaMastery

Mix the signs with anything else in Free play. Signed in, the ones you miss come back in Smart Review.

Play in Free play

These words use 138 kanji with their own pages: readings, stroke order and more words.

Learn the kanji

Build your own quiz from these words and send it to friends.

Make a quiz from these

Words: JMdict · © EDRDG, CC BY-SA 4.0 · All sources · This page's kanji and word data is shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.