How to Ask for a Wake-Up Call in Japanese (Beginner)
Learn to request a wake-up call at a hotel in Japanese, confirm the time, and understand why this differs from setting a phone alarm.
By SofiaGetting around · Yapr Learn
In Japan, hotels still offer a wake-up call service called モーニングコール (mōningu kōru). This lesson teaches you to ask for one at a specific time, confirm it, and respond politely. You will use the request pattern 〜をお願いします (o onegaishimasu), which works in many service situations. Note that this is different from setting an alarm on your phone, which is アラーム (arāmu). Here you are asking hotel staff to call your room, so you need clear time expressions and a polite request.
By the end, you can…
- ask for a wake-up call at a specific time in Japanese.
- confirm the time and say thank you politely.
- distinguish a hotel wake-up call from a phone alarm.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
モーニングコールをお願いします。
I'd like a wake-up call, please.
mōningu kōru o onegaishimasu
Standard polite request at a hotel front desk or by phone. お願いします makes it a service request.
朝7時にモーニングコールをお願いします。
I'd like a wake-up call at 7 AM, please.
asa shichi-ji ni mōningu kōru o onegaishimasu
Use に after the time. 朝 (asa) means morning; 7時 (shichi-ji) is 7 o'clock.
7時でお願いします。
7 o'clock, please.
shichi-ji de onegaishimasu
Short answer when the staff asks what time. で marks the chosen time.
はい、大丈夫です。
Yes, that's fine.
hai, daijōbu desu
Use to confirm the time the staff repeats back to you.
ありがとうございます。
Thank you very much.
arigatō gozaimasu
Polite thanks after confirming. Suitable for hotel staff.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The core pattern is [time] に モーニングコールをお願いします。 For example, 朝6時にモーニングコールをお願いします (asa roku-ji ni mōningu kōru o onegaishimasu) means 'I'd like a wake-up call at 6 AM.' If the staff asks 何時ですか (nan-ji desu ka, 'What time?'), you can answer 7時でお願いします (shichi-ji de onegaishimasu). Use に when giving the full request, and で when answering a time question. Both are natural; で often sounds like choosing from options.
When to use it
Use these phrases at a hotel front desk, by room phone, or when checking in. For example, at check-in you can say 明日の朝7時にモーニングコールをお願いします (ashita no asa shichi-ji ni mōningu kōru o onegaishimasu, 'I'd like a wake-up call tomorrow at 7 AM'). If you want to be clear it is not a phone alarm, you can add ホテルのモーニングコールです (hoteru no mōningu kōru desu) but usually the context is enough. Avoid using アラーム for a hotel service; アラーム refers to an alarm device or app.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
すみません、モーニングコールをお願いします。
Excuse me, I'd like a wake-up call, please.sumimasen, mōningu kōru o onegaishimasuはい、何時ですか。
Yes, what time?hai, nan-ji desu ka明日の朝7時でお願いします。
Tomorrow at 7 AM, please.ashita no asa shichi-ji de onegaishimasu7時ですね。承知しました。
7 o'clock, right? Understood.shichi-ji desu ne. shōchi shimashitaA little context goes a long way
Hotel wake-up calls are a normal service in Japan, and staff may repeat the time to confirm. A brief はい、大丈夫です (hai, daijōbu desu) or お願いします (onegaishimasu) is enough. Politeness matters more than long sentences. If you are unsure, you can ask モーニングコールはありますか (mōningu kōru wa arimasu ka, 'Do you have wake-up calls?').
One thing to watch for
Using アラームをお願いします (arāmu o onegaishimasu) to ask the hotel for a wake-up call.
Try this instead: アラーム means an alarm device or phone alarm, not the hotel service. Say モーニングコールをお願いします (mōningu kōru o onegaishimasu) instead. If you mean your phone, say スマホのアラームをセットします (sumaho no arāmu o setto shimasu).
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you ask for a wake-up call at 6 AM?
Show a sample answer
朝6時にモーニングコールをお願いします。
This uses the time + に + モーニングコールをお願いします pattern. You could also say 6時でお願いします if answering a time question.
2The staff asks 何時ですか. How do you answer '7 o'clock, please'?
Show a sample answer
7時でお願いします。
で marks the time you choose. 7時にしてください is also possible, but でお願いします is common and polite.
3What is the difference between モーニングコール and アラーム?
Show a sample answer
モーニングコール is a hotel wake-up call service; アラーム is an alarm on a device or phone.
Use モーニングコール when asking hotel staff. Use アラーム for your own phone alarm, as in スマホのアラーム.
Ask for a hotel wake-up call with モーニングコールをお願いします, add the time with に or で, and confirm politely. Remember: モーニングコール is the hotel service, not your phone alarm.
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