Last updated: November 11, 2025
Essential Japanese for Travelers: Simple Phrases for the Convenience Store
Introduction
Convenience stores in Japan are part of everyday life, and travelers often visit them for food, drinks, or daily items. With just a few simple Japanese phrases, you can shop smoothly and respond politely to staff. This guide introduces essential Japanese for travelers, focusing on convenience store phrases you can use right away.
💬 Core Phrase: Asking at the convenience store
Romaji: ___ o kudasai
English: “Please give me ___.” This is the most essential phrase when asking for something at the convenience store. It works for bags, chopsticks, receipts, and more. Polite, simple, and widely used.
📦 Useful Item Vocabulary
レジ袋 / 袋 (rejibukuro / fukuro)
Plastic bag / Bag
レシート (reshīto)
Receipt
おはし (ohashi)
Chopsticks
ストロー (sutorō)
Straw
フォーク (fōku)
Fork
スプーン (supūn)
Spoon
おしぼり (oshibori)
Individually wrapped wet tissue
🗣 Sample Sentences
Japanese: 袋をください。
Romaji: Fukuro o kudasai.
English: Please give me a bag.
Japanese: おはしをください。
Romaji: Ohashi o kudasai.
English: Please give me chopsticks.
Japanese: レシートをください。
Romaji: Reshīto o kudasai.
English: Please give me the receipt.
💬 Useful Phrases & Responses at Convenience Stores
Japanese: 温めますか?
Romaji: Atatamemasu ka?
English: Shall I heat it up?
Japanese: はい、お願いします。/いいえ、そのままで大丈夫です。
Romaji: Hai, onegaishimasu. / Iie, sono mama de daijōbu desu.
English: Yes, please. / No, it’s fine as is.
Japanese: 袋はご利用ですか?
Romaji: Fukuro wa go-riyō desu ka?
English: Would you like a bag?
Japanese: はい、お願いします。/いいえ、いりません。
Romaji: Hai, onegaishimasu. / Iie, irimasen.
English: Yes, please. / No, I don’t need one.
Japanese: このままでよろしいですか?*
Romaji: Kono mama de yoroshii desu ka?
English: Is it okay as is?
Japanese: はい。
Romaji: Hai.
English: Yes, as is, please.
Japanese: 画面のタッチお願いします。/ボタンを押してください*
Romaji: Gamen no tacchi onegaishimasu. / Botan o oshite kudasai.
English: Please touch the screen. / Please press the button.
Japanese: はい。
Romaji: Hai.
English: Okay. (while pressing the button or touching the screen)
*“Kono mama de yoroshii desu ka?” is asked when the cashier wants to confirm if you are fine without a bag, usually sealing the item with tape instead.
*“Gamen no tacchi onegaishimasu / Botan o oshite kudasai” is not only used for age verification. Sometimes it is required to press a button for payment or other checkout operations. When buying alcohol or tobacco, however, you will specifically be asked to touch the age‑confirmation button.
🙋 Asking to Repeat at Convenience Stores
Romaji: Mō ichido onegaishimasu.
English: Please say it again.
Romaji: Yukkuri onegaishimasu.
English: Slowly, please.

