Learn Japanese: Asking "Is It Far From Here?" and Understanding Time Estimates
Learn to ask "Is it far from here?" in Japanese and understand answers with time estimates like "about 10 minutes on foot."
By SofiaGetting around · Yapr Learn
When you get directions in Japan, the next question is often about distance: is it far, or close enough to walk? This lesson teaches you how to ask "Is it far from here?" in natural Japanese, how to understand time-based answers such as "about ten minutes on foot," and how to ask for a rough time estimate yourself. You will learn the key question pattern with ここから (koko kara, "from here"), the common answer pattern using 分 (fun, "minutes"), and the difference between asking about distance and asking about time. All phrases use polite です/ます forms, which are safe for talking with strangers, station staff, or shop employees. Practice the phrases aloud, then try the short dialogue and quiz at the end.
By the end, you can…
- ask "Is it far from here?" in polite Japanese.
- understand and give simple time estimates such as "about 10 minutes on foot."
- ask how long it takes to get somewhere.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
ここから遠いですか。
Is it far from here?
koko kara tōi desu ka
General polite question about distance from your current location. Use it with station staff, a passerby, or a shop employee.
歩いてどのくらいですか。
About how long is it on foot?
aruite dono kurai desu ka
Asks for a rough time estimate when walking. 歩いて (aruite) means "on foot" or "walking."
歩いて十分ぐらいです。
It's about ten minutes on foot.
aruite juppun gurai desu
A typical answer. ぐらい (gurai) means "about" or "approximately."
近いですよ。
It's close.
chikai desu yo
A reassuring answer. The final よ (yo) adds friendly emphasis, like "you know" or "I'm telling you."
遠いですね。
It's far, isn't it.
tōi desu ne
Said when agreeing or confirming that something is far. ね (ne) invites agreement, similar to "right?"
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The core pattern is place + から (kara, "from") + 遠いですか (tōi desu ka, "is it far?"). For example, ここから遠いですか (koko kara tōi desu ka) means "Is it far from here?" You can replace ここ (koko, "here") with another starting point: 駅から遠いですか (eki kara tōi desu ka, "Is it far from the station?"). To ask about time instead, use どのくらい (dono kurai, "about how long") with a means of travel: 歩いてどのくらいですか (aruite dono kurai desu ka, "About how long on foot?"). Answers often use a number + counter 分 (fun, "minutes") + ぐらい (gurai, "about"): 十分ぐらいです (juppun gurai desu, "It's about ten minutes").
When to use it
Use ここから遠いですか when you want a simple yes/no sense of distance before deciding whether to walk. If the answer is はい、遠いです (hai, tōi desu, "Yes, it's far"), you can follow up with 歩いてどのくらいですか (aruite dono kurai desu ka) to get a time estimate. If the answer is いいえ、近いです (iie, chikai desu, "No, it's close"), you can simply say ありがとうございます (arigatō gozaimasu, "Thank you"). For train or bus travel, replace 歩いて with 電車で (densha de, "by train") or バスで (basu de, "by bus"): 電車でどのくらいですか (densha de dono kurai desu ka, "About how long by train?").
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
すみません、駅はここから遠いですか。
Excuse me, is the station far from here?sumimasen, eki wa koko kara tōi desu kaいいえ、近いですよ。歩いて十分ぐらいです。
No, it's close. It's about ten minutes on foot.iie, chikai desu yo. aruite juppun gurai desuそうですか。歩いてどのくらいですか。
I see. About how long is it on foot?sō desu ka. aruite dono kurai desu ka十分ぐらいです。まっすぐ行ってください。
About ten minutes. Please go straight.juppun gurai desu. massugu itte kudasaiA little context goes a long way
In Japan, distance is often expressed as travel time rather than meters or kilometers. A Japanese speaker may answer 歩いて十分です (aruite juppun desu, "It's ten minutes on foot") instead of giving a distance in meters. When asking strangers, begin with すみません (sumimasen, "excuse me") to get attention politely. The particle ね (ne) at the end of 遠いですね (tōi desu ne) shows you are sharing a feeling or seeking agreement, while よ (yo) in 近いですよ (chikai desu yo) adds helpful emphasis. These small endings are common in everyday conversation but are not required in very formal situations.
One thing to watch for
Saying ここは遠いですか (koko wa tōi desu ka) to mean "Is it far from here?"
Try this instead: Use ここから (koko kara, "from here") instead of ここは (koko wa, "as for here"). ここは遠いですか sounds like you are asking whether the place you are standing in is far, which is odd. Say ここから遠いですか (koko kara tōi desu ka) to ask about distance from your current location.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you ask "Is it far from here?" in polite Japanese?
Show a sample answer
ここから遠いですか。 (koko kara tōi desu ka)
This uses ここから (from here) + 遠い (far) + ですか (polite question). ここは遠いですか is not natural for this meaning.
2What does 歩いて十分ぐらいです mean?
Show a sample answer
It's about ten minutes on foot.
歩いて means "on foot," 十分 means "ten minutes," and ぐらい means "about." The sentence ends with です for politeness.
3How would you ask "About how long is it by train?"
Show a sample answer
電車でどのくらいですか。 (densha de dono kurai desu ka)
Replace 歩いて (on foot) with 電車で (by train). どのくらい asks "about how long." You could also say 電車でどのくらいかかりますか (densha de dono kurai kakarimasu ka) for a slightly more explicit "how long does it take" question.
To ask about distance in Japanese, use ここから遠いですか (koko kara tōi desu ka). For time estimates, ask 歩いてどのくらいですか (aruite dono kurai desu ka) and expect answers like 十分ぐらいです (juppun gurai desu).
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