In Tokyo’s fast-paced hotels, having a few Japanese hotel phrases ready will change your stay for the better. You’ll breeze through check-in, snag an extra pillow, and even handle a hiccup politely. In this ultimate guide, you’ll learn must-know Japanese hotel phrases for booking, checking in, requesting services, reporting issues, checking out, and saying thanks.

Whether you’re in a sleek city hotel or a cozy ryokan, these handy expressions will boost your confidence. For more essential expressions across daily interactions, check our basic japanese phrases tokyo travel.

Book a room

Reservation phrases

These key expressions come courtesy of Live Japan.

Japanese Romaji English
一部屋予約をしたいです Hitoheya yoyaku o shitai desu I’d like to book a room
一人/二人部屋をお願いします Hitori/futari heya o onegai shimasu Can I have a room for one/two?
ダブルベッドをお願いします Daburu beddo o onegai shimasu May I have a double bed?
お一人様いくらですか O-hitori-sama ikura desu ka What’s the price per person?

When mentioning the number of guests or price, check our japanese numbers pronunciation guide for clear pronunciation.

Check in

Key check-in phrases

Ready these essential check-in expressions from Live Japan:

Handle hotel greetings

Staff often welcome you with お帰りなさいませ, a warm “welcome home.” You don’t need to say ただいま—that sounds odd unless you’re a regular guest. A simple nod or light bow works fine (Japanese Stack Exchange). For more everyday greetings, see japanese greeting phrases. For nonverbal tips, check japanese body language.

Ask about amenities

Internet and connectivity

Service hours and policies

Learn more about telling time in Japanese at japanese time expressions.

Additional requests

(Some phrases sourced from Live Japan.)

Handle issues

Report broken equipment

If something’s not working, let staff know right away (Japan Wonder Travel):

Request missing items

When you forget something, use the “〜を忘れてしまいました” pattern from Live Japan:

Check out

Initiate checkout

Settle the bill

Use these payment phrases from Live Japan:

For more on money talk, see japanese money phrases.

Show gratitude

Thank your host

When you leave, expressing thanks helps you make a warm impression. A simple ありがとうございました (Arigatō gozaimashita) works for most hotels, but if you want to sound extra polite, add お世話になりました (Osewa ni narimashita) (Japanese Stack Exchange). For more thank-you expressions, see japanese thank you expressions.

Now you’ve got must-know Japanese hotel phrases in your toolkit. With booking, check-in, amenity requests, issue reporting, checkout, and thank-you expressions locked down, you’ll feel right at home. Give them a whirl on your next trip, then share your favorite phrase in the comments below.

Frequently asked questions

What phrase should I use to check in?
Use チェックインをお願いします (Chekku in o onegai shimasu), which means “I’d like to check in.”

How do I book a room when I arrive without a reservation?
Say 一部屋予約をしたいです (Hitoheya yoyaku o shitai desu), meaning “I’d like to book a room.”

What’s the best way to ask for extra towels?
Say タオルを追加でください (Taoru o tsuika de kudasai), which means “Please give me extra towels.”

How can I apologize if I break something in the room?
Use すみません、壊してしまいました (Sumimasen, kowashite shimaimashita), meaning “Sorry, I accidentally broke it.”

What’s a polite phrase to thank hotel staff?
A simple ありがとうございました (Arigatō gozaimashita) works perfectly, or add お世話になりました (Osewa ni narimashita) for extra politeness.

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