How to Ask for and Buy a Round-Trip Ticket in Japanese
Learn to ask for a round-trip ticket in Japanese, including return date and time, using polite beginner-friendly phrases and counters.
By SofiaGetting around · Yapr Learn
In this lesson you will learn how to ask for and buy a round-trip ticket in Japanese. You will build on the basic one-way ticket phrase by adding a return date and time. You will practice the key pattern '～まで、おうふくでおねがいします' (～made, ōfuku de onegaishimasu), which means 'A round-trip ticket to ～, please.' You will also learn how to say 'going' and 'returning' dates, use the counter まい (mai) for tickets, and ask for a reserved seat if needed. All phrases are polite and suitable for train stations, bus terminals, and ticket counters in Japan.
By the end, you can…
- ask for a round-trip ticket to a destination in Japanese.
- state a return date and time using Japanese counters and time words.
- understand and respond to a ticket clerk's questions about departure and return.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
空港まで、往復でお願いします。
A round-trip ticket to the airport, please.
Kūkō made, ōfuku de onegaishimasu.
Use this at a ticket counter. 空港 (kūkō) means airport; replace it with your destination.
往復切符を一枚ください。
One round-trip ticket, please.
Ōfuku kippu o ichi-mai kudasai.
一枚 (ichi-mai) is the counter for flat objects like tickets. Use 二枚 (ni-mai) for two tickets.
行きは今日で、帰りは明日です。
Going today, returning tomorrow.
Iki wa kyō de, kaeri wa ashita desu.
Use 行き (iki) for the outbound trip and 帰り (kaeri) for the return trip.
帰りの電車は何時ですか。
What time is the return train?
Kaeri no densha wa nanji desu ka.
Ask this to confirm the return time. Replace 電車 (densha) with バス (basu) for bus.
指定席をお願いします。
A reserved seat, please.
Shiteiseki o onegaishimasu.
Use this if you want a reserved seat. For a non-reserved seat, say 自由席 (jiyūseki) o onegaishimasu.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The core pattern is [destination] まで、往復でお願いします。 (… made, ōfuku de onegaishimasu.) まで (made) means 'as far as' or 'to'. 往復 (ōfuku) means 'round trip'. で (de) marks the method or type. お願いします (onegaishimasu) is a polite way to say 'please.' For example: 東京まで、往復でお願いします。 (Tōkyō made, ōfuku de onegaishimasu.) To add a return date, say 帰りは[date]です。 (Kaeri wa [date] desu.) Example: 帰りは金曜日です。 (Kaeri wa kin'yōbi desu.) 'The return is Friday.' To add a time, say 帰りは[time]です。 Example: 帰りは午後六時です。 (Kaeri wa gogo roku-ji desu.) 'The return is 6 p.m.'
When to use it
Use these phrases at train station ticket offices (みどりの窓口, midori no madoguchi), bus terminals, or airport counters. Start with the destination and まで, then add 往復でお願いします。 If the clerk asks お帰りはいつですか。 (Okaeri wa itsu desu ka. 'When is your return?'), answer with 帰りは[date/time]です。 For example: 帰りは明日の午後三時です。 (Kaeri wa ashita no gogo san-ji desu.) 'The return is tomorrow at 3 p.m.' If you need a reserved seat, add 指定席をお願いします。 (Shiteiseki o onegaishimasu.) If you are not sure, you can say すみません、よくわかりません。 (Sumimasen, yoku wakarimasen.) 'Sorry, I don't understand well.'
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
すみません、空港まで、往復でお願いします。
Excuse me, a round-trip ticket to the airport, please.Sumimasen, kūkō made, ōfuku de onegaishimasu.はい、往復ですね。お帰りはいつですか。
Yes, round trip. When is your return?Hai, ōfuku desu ne. Okaeri wa itsu desu ka.帰りは明日の午後六時です。指定席をお願いします。
The return is tomorrow at 6 p.m. A reserved seat, please.Kaeri wa ashita no gogo roku-ji desu. Shiteiseki o onegaishimasu.かしこまりました。往復切符を一枚ですね。
Certainly. One round-trip ticket, right?Kashikomarimashita. Ōfuku kippu o ichi-mai desu ne.A little context goes a long way
In Japan, ticket counters often use polite set phrases. Saying お願いします (onegaishimasu) is standard and respectful. When a clerk asks a question, a short はい (hai) or いいえ (iie) is fine, but adding お願いします makes it softer. If you are unsure, it is okay to ask もう一度お願いします。 (Mō ichido onegaishimasu.) 'One more time, please.' Clerks may speak quickly, so listening for key words like 往復 (ōfuku), 帰り (kaeri), and 指定席 (shiteiseki) helps.
One thing to watch for
Using 一枚 (ichi-mai) for people or 一人 (hitori) for tickets.
Try this instead: Tickets are flat objects, so use 一枚 (ichi-mai) for one ticket and 二枚 (ni-mai) for two. For example: 往復切符を二枚ください。 (Ōfuku kippu o ni-mai kudasai.) 'Two round-trip tickets, please.' For people, use 一人 (hitori) or 二人 (futari).
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you ask for a round-trip ticket to Kyoto?
Show a sample answer
京都まで、往復でお願いします。
This uses the pattern [destination] まで、往復でお願いします。 You can also say 京都までの往復切符を一枚ください。 (Kyōto made no ōfuku kippu o ichi-mai kudasai.)
2How do you say 'The return is tomorrow at 3 p.m.'?
Show a sample answer
帰りは明日の午後三時です。
帰り (kaeri) means return, 明日 (ashita) is tomorrow, and 午後三時 (gogo san-ji) is 3 p.m. You can also use 15時 (jūgo-ji) for 3 p.m. in 24-hour time.
3What do you say if you want a reserved seat?
Show a sample answer
指定席をお願いします。
指定席 (shiteiseki) means reserved seat. For a non-reserved seat, say 自由席をお願いします。 (Jiyūseki o onegaishimasu.)
To buy a round-trip ticket in Japanese, use [destination] まで、往復でお願いします。 Add 帰りは[date/time]です。 for the return, and 指定席をお願いします。 if you want a reserved seat. Use 一枚 (ichi-mai) for one ticket.
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