Volume 1 · Chapter 06

Housing and Addresses

Hotels, apartments, addresses, check-in, and daily building words.

Housing Japanese has two jobs: prove who you are, and describe where something is. For travel, you need hotel check-in and trouble phrases. For living in Japan, you need address, room, contract, rent, and key words fast.

Check-in basics

Check-in, please.
I have a reservation.
Please tell me the address.
I lost the key.
I will show my passport.
The name is Li.
It is one night.
It is two nights.

The pattern literally says “there is a reservation.” You can reuse があります for anything you possess or have available.

I have a question.
I have time.
There is a problem.

Address and location words

住所 じゅうしょ address 部屋 へや room 家賃 やちん rent 契約 けいやく contract 保証人 ほしょうにん guarantor 鍵 かぎ key 入口 いりぐち entrance 出口 でぐち exit 管理会社 かんりがいしゃ property management company 不動産屋 ふどうさんや real estate agency

Addresses are usually read from big to small: prefecture, city/ward, area, block, building, room. Do not try to translate every part. Listen for the chunks you can confirm.

It is Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo.
The room number is 301.
Is this address correct?
I live here.

Hotel trouble phrases

I cannot enter the room.
The air conditioner does not work.
Hot water does not come out.
Is there another room?
I will call the front desk.

Apartment viewing

When you look for an apartment, you will hear polite but compressed service Japanese. Your goal is to recognize the core words, not understand every honorific.

I want to see this room.
How much is the rent?
How many minutes is it from the station?
What is needed for the contract?
Is a guarantor necessary?

Mini dialogues

Hotel

Apartment

What to listen for

five minutes on foot
deposit
key money
maintenance fee
it is available / vacant

Randomized practice

Housing Practice

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  1. Say it

    Check in at a hotel.