10 Essential Japanese Airport Words You Can Use Right Away | From Immigration to Currency Exchange
We've compiled 10 essential N5 words frequently used at the airport, the first gateway to your trip to Japan.
These are highly practical words you can use immediately in real-life situations like immigration, baggage claim, and currency exchange.
We'll also cover natural pronunciation tips and expressions that are easy to confuse in similar situations.
How this bundle was curated
All items at a glance
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 空港 | くうこう | Airport |
| パスポート | パスポート | Passport |
| 搭乗券 | とうじょうけん | Boarding pass |
| 手荷物 | てにもつ | Baggage |
| 入国 | にゅうこく | Immigration |
| 出国 | しゅっこく | Leaving a country |
| 税関 | ぜいかん | Customs |
| 免税店 | めんぜいてん | Duty-free shop |
| 両替 | りょうがえ | Currency exchange |
| 出発 | しゅっぱつ | Departure |
Item by item
Reading: くうこう
Airport
This means 'airport' where you catch flights. Since the vowels are consecutive, it's natural to pronounce it with a long vowel sound like 'kuukou'.
Reading: パスポート
Passport
This means 'passport'. It's one of the words you'll hear most often at the airport, so be sure to remember it.
Reading: とうじょうけん
Boarding pass
This is the 'boarding pass' needed to get on the plane. If the pronunciation is difficult, saying the loanword 'チケット' (ticket) is generally understood as well.
Reading: てにもつ
Baggage
This word is frequently used as a comprehensive term for both carry-on baggage and checked luggage.
Reading: にゅうこく
Immigration
This means 'entering a country' or 'immigration'. You will often see it on airport signs in the form of '入国審査' (immigration control).
Reading: しゅっこく
Leaving a country
This means 'leaving a country' or 'departure'. When finishing your trip and returning home, you will mainly follow the '出国' (departure) signs.
Reading: ぜいかん
Customs
This is 'customs', where luggage is inspected and duties are assessed. It's the last place you pass through after immigration.
Reading: めんぜいてん
Duty-free shop
This means 'duty-free shop'. It's a useful word when shopping at the airport.
Reading: りょうがえ
Currency exchange
This means 'currency exchange'. It's useful when looking for an exchange counter (両替所) inside the airport.
Reading: しゅっぱつ
Departure
This means 'departure' of a plane, train, etc. It's essential when checking departure times or gates.
Practice with examples
How to decide when unsure
- Airport signs are often written in Kanji, so familiarizing yourself with the shapes of the characters for '入国' (immigration) and '出国' (departure) beforehand will make finding your way much easier.
- The word '両替(りょうがえ)' (currency exchange) is frequently used not only at airports but also at banks and hotels, making it useful throughout your entire trip.
- When referring to a plane ticket, if the word '搭乗券(とうじょうけん)' is difficult to pronounce, saying 'チケット' (ticket) is generally sufficient for communication.
Common mistakes
The word for airport, '空港(くうこう)', should be pronounced with long vowels like 'kuukou'. If you pronounce it short like 'kuko', Japanese speakers might not understand it immediately, so be mindful of the long vowels.
Wrong example: くこ (kuko)/Correct example: くうこう (kuukou)
Mini quiz
Which of the following words refers to the place at the airport where you exchange money into another country's currency?
One-line summary
By familiarizing yourself with these frequently used N5 airport words in advance, you can start your trip much more comfortably when reading signs or receiving simple instructions.
FAQ
How should I ask for directions if I get lost at the airport?
Try using the simplest pattern: 'OOはどこですか。' (OO wa doko desu ka / Where is OO?). For example, if you are looking for the duty-free shop, you can ask, '免税店はどこですか。' (Menzeiten wa doko desu ka).
Is there a specific expression used when checking in baggage?
When checking in luggage, it is common to say, '荷物を預けたいです。' (Nimotsu o azuketai desu / I would like to check in my baggage).
