Japanese for Elementary Learners: Ask About English Guided Tours and Times
Learn to ask 'Is there a guided tour in English?' in Japanese, understand tour times, and distinguish guided tours from audio guides.
By SofiaGetting around · Yapr Learn
When you visit a Japanese temple, castle, or museum, you may want a guided tour in English. This lesson teaches you how to ask if an English guided tour is available, how to ask about tour times, and how to tell the difference between a guided tour and an audio guide. You will use the polite 〜ます form and the question pattern 〜はありますか. By the end, you can confidently ask at a ticket counter or information desk.
By the end, you can…
- ask if there is a guided tour in English.
- ask what time the guided tour starts.
- distinguish between a guided tour and an audio guide in Japanese.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
英語のガイドツアーはありますか。
Is there a guided tour in English?
Eigo no gaido tsuā wa arimasu ka.
Use this at a ticket counter or information desk to ask about an English guided tour.
ガイドツアーの時間は何時ですか。
What time is the guided tour?
Gaido tsuā no jikan wa nanji desu ka.
Ask this to find out the starting time of the guided tour.
音声ガイドはありますか。
Is there an audio guide?
Onsei gaido wa arimasu ka.
Use this if you want an audio guide instead of a guided tour.
ガイドツアーは何時に始まりますか。
What time does the guided tour start?
Gaido tsuā wa nanji ni hajimarimasu ka.
This is a more specific way to ask about the starting time.
英語のガイドはいますか。
Is there an English-speaking guide?
Eigo no gaido wa imasu ka.
Use います (imasu) for people, not あります (arimasu). This asks if a person guide is available.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
To ask if something exists, use [noun] はありますか (wa arimasu ka). For example, 英語のガイドツアーはありますか (Eigo no gaido tsuā wa arimasu ka) means 'Is there an English guided tour?' To ask about time, use [noun] は何時ですか (wa nanji desu ka). For example, ガイドツアーは何時ですか (Gaido tsuā wa nanji desu ka) means 'What time is the guided tour?' Remember: use あります (arimasu) for things and events, but います (imasu) for people. So for a person guide, say 英語のガイドはいますか (Eigo no gaido wa imasu ka).
When to use it
Use these phrases at ticket counters, information desks, or tour meeting points. For example, at a castle entrance, ask 英語のガイドツアーはありますか (Eigo no gaido tsuā wa arimasu ka). If the staff says はい、あります (Hai, arimasu), then ask 何時ですか (Nanji desu ka) to get the time. If you prefer to walk alone, ask 音声ガイドはありますか (Onsei gaido wa arimasu ka) for an audio guide. Note that ガイドツアー (gaido tsuā) is a guided tour with a person, while 音声ガイド (onsei gaido) is an audio guide device. They are different services.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
すみません、英語のガイドツアーはありますか。
Excuse me, is there a guided tour in English?Sumimasen, Eigo no gaido tsuā wa arimasu ka.はい、あります。午後2時からです。
Yes, there is. It starts at 2 p.m.Hai, arimasu. Gogo niji kara desu.音声ガイドもありますか。
Is there also an audio guide?Onsei gaido mo arimasu ka.いいえ、音声ガイドはありません。ガイドツアーだけです。
No, there is no audio guide. Only the guided tour.Iie, onsei gaido wa arimasen. Gaido tsuā dake desu.A little context goes a long way
In Japan, guided tours often require reservations, and English tours may be limited. It is polite to ask at the information desk using すみません (sumimasen) to get attention. Staff may speak slowly or use simple English. If you need to cancel, say キャンセルしたいです (kyanseru shitai desu). Note that some temples offer free volunteer guides; ask ボランティアガイドはいますか (borantia gaido wa imasu ka).
One thing to watch for
Using あります (arimasu) for a person guide, as in 英語のガイドはありますか (Eigo no gaido wa arimasu ka).
Try this instead: Use います (imasu) for people. Say 英語のガイドはいますか (Eigo no gaido wa imasu ka) to ask if an English-speaking person guide is available. あります is for objects or events, like ガイドツアーはありますか (Gaido tsuaa wa arimasu ka).
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you ask 'Is there a guided tour in English?' in Japanese?
Show a sample answer
英語のガイドツアーはありますか。 (Eigo no gaido tsuā wa arimasu ka.)
This uses 英語の (Eigo no) for 'English', ガイドツアー (gaido tsuā) for 'guided tour', and はありますか (wa arimasu ka) for 'is there'. You could also say 英語のガイドツアーはありますでしょうか (Eigo no gaido tsuā wa arimasu deshō ka) for extra politeness.
2How do you ask 'What time does the guided tour start?'
Show a sample answer
ガイドツアーは何時に始まりますか。 (Gaido tsuā wa nanji ni hajimarimasu ka.)
This uses 何時に (nanji ni) for 'at what time' and 始まりますか (hajimarimasu ka) for 'does it start'. You can also ask ガイドツアーの時間は何時ですか (Gaido tsuā no jikan wa nanji desu ka) to ask 'What time is the guided tour?'
3What is the difference between ガイドツアー and 音声ガイド?
Show a sample answer
ガイドツアー (gaido tsuā) is a guided tour with a person, while 音声ガイド (onsei gaido) is an audio guide device.
ガイドツアー involves a live guide, so you ask ガイドツアーはありますか (Gaido tsuā wa arimasu ka). 音声ガイド is a recorded device, so you ask 音声ガイドはありますか (Onsei gaido wa arimasu ka). Both are different services.
Use 英語のガイドツアーはありますか (Eigo no gaido tsuā wa arimasu ka) to ask for an English guided tour, and 何時ですか (nanji desu ka) to ask the time. Remember: ガイドツアー is a person-guided tour; 音声ガイド is an audio guide.
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