When you meet someone near a station, a clear landmark helps you find each other. In this workshop, you will practice asking for a good landmark, asking about specific places like a bank or convenience store, and understanding short answers about where those places are. You will use polite question forms and common location words. The recordings give you natural model lines. Listen, repeat, and then try the three tasks. You can play both roles with the audio, but there is no automatic check, so use the answer keys to check yourself.
Asking for a Landmark
Start with a polite question. «駅の近くにいい目印はありますか。» means 'Is there a good landmark near the station?' The word 'mejirushi' means landmark or marker. 'Eki no chikaku ni' means 'near the station'. Use this when you need a clear meeting point. A shorter version is «目印は何がいいですか。», which means 'What would be a good landmark?' This is useful when you already know the area but want a specific suggestion. Both questions are polite and natural. Practice saying them slowly, then a little faster. Pay attention to the rising intonation at the end, which shows it is a question.
Asking About Specific Places
You can also ask about a specific type of place. «銀行はありますか。» means 'Is there a bank?' Replace 'ginkō' with other landmark words you know, such as 'konbini' for convenience store or 'yūbin-kyoku' for post office. If you want to know where something is, use «コンビニはどこにありますか。», which means 'Where is the convenience store?' The pattern 'wa doko ni arimasu ka' asks where an inanimate thing exists. For people or animals, you would use 'imasu' instead, but for places and buildings, 'arimasu' is correct. Practice these questions with different landmark words.
Understanding Answers About Location
When someone answers, listen for location words. In «はい、駅の前に大きい銀行がありますよ。», the speaker says there is a big bank in front of the station. The key phrase is 'eki no mae ni', meaning 'in front of the station'. In «いいえ、コンビニは銀行の隣にあります。», the speaker says the convenience store is next to the bank. The key phrase is 'ginkō no tonari ni', meaning 'next to the bank'. Notice that 'no' connects two nouns, and 'mae' means front, while 'tonari' means next to. Also listen for 'mo', which means 'also', as in «銀行の前にコンビニもありますか。», where the speaker asks if there is also a convenience store in front of the bank. The answer in «いいえ、コンビニは銀行の隣にあります。» starts with 'iie', meaning 'no', and then gives the correct location.
Listen once, then say the phrase yourself. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Checking available voices…
駅の近くにいい目印はありますか。
Is there a good landmark near the station?
Eki no chikaku ni ii mejirushi wa arimasu ka.
目印は何がいいですか。
What would be a good landmark?
Mejirushi wa nani ga ii desu ka.
銀行はありますか。
Is there a bank?
Ginkō wa arimasu ka.
コンビニはどこにありますか。
Where is the convenience store?
Konbini wa doko ni arimasu ka.
Read one side aloud, then answer in your own words. The goal is to make the exchange yours.
すみません、駅の近くにいい目印はありますか。
Excuse me, is there a good landmark near the station?はい、駅の前に大きい銀行がありますよ。
Yes, there is a big bank in front of the station.銀行の前にコンビニもありますか。
Is there also a convenience store in front of the bank?いいえ、コンビニは銀行の隣にあります。
No, the convenience store is next to the bank.Your turn
Try each prompt out loud. Choose a guided start, the full sequence, or a challenge pass after your first attempt.
Guided Exchange: Ask for a Landmark
Imagine you are meeting a friend near a station. You need a clear landmark. You will play the role of the person asking. Use the recordings as your model.
Your task: Listen to «駅の近くにいい目印はありますか。» and repeat it aloud. Then listen to «目印は何がいいですか。» and repeat it. Now imagine you are speaking to a station staff member. Say the line from «駅の近くにいい目印はありますか。» to ask for a good landmark near the station. Then say the line from «目印は何がいいですか。» to ask what would be a good landmark. Record yourself if you can, or say it aloud clearly.
Reply Comprehension: Where Is It?
Now you will listen to answers about locations. You will hear someone describe where a bank and a convenience store are. Your job is to understand the location words.
Your task: Listen to «はい、駅の前に大きい銀行がありますよ。». What place is in front of the station? Then listen to «いいえ、コンビニは銀行の隣にあります。». Where is the convenience store? Choose the correct answer: (a) in front of the station, (b) next to the bank, (c) near the convenience store. After choosing, say the location phrase from «いいえ、コンビニは銀行の隣にあります。» aloud: 'ginkō no tonari ni arimasu'.
Recall with Correct Roles: Ask and Answer
In this task, you will play both roles from the dialogue. First you are the person asking, then you are the person answering. Use the recordings to guide you.
Your task: Listen to «すみません、駅の近くにいい目印はありますか。» and «はい、駅の前に大きい銀行がありますよ。». «すみません、駅の近くにいい目印はありますか。» is the question: 'Excuse me, is there a good landmark near the station?' «はい、駅の前に大きい銀行がありますよ。» is the answer: 'Yes, there is a big bank in front of the station.' Now say «すみません、駅の近くにいい目印はありますか。» as if you are the asker. Then say «はい、駅の前に大きい銀行がありますよ。» as if you are the answerer. Next, listen to «銀行の前にコンビニもありますか。» and «いいえ、コンビニは銀行の隣にあります。». «銀行の前にコンビニもありますか。» asks if there is also a convenience store in front of the bank. «いいえ、コンビニは銀行の隣にあります。» answers no, the convenience store is next to the bank. Say «銀行の前にコンビニもありますか。» as the asker, then «いいえ、コンビニは銀行の隣にあります。» as the answerer.
Common questions
What is the difference between 'arimasu' and 'imasu'?
'Arimasu' is used for inanimate things like places, buildings, and objects. 'Imasu' is used for people and animals. In this lesson, you ask about a bank and a convenience store, so you use 'arimasu'. For example, «銀行はありますか。» uses 'arimasu ka' to ask if there is a bank.
How do I say 'next to' and 'in front of' in Japanese?
'Next to' is 'tonari'. 'In front of' is 'mae'. You connect them to a place with 'no', as in 'ginkō no tonari' meaning 'next to the bank', or 'eki no mae' meaning 'in front of the station'. You can hear these in «はい、駅の前に大きい銀行がありますよ。» and «いいえ、コンビニは銀行の隣にあります。».
Sources and further reading
- japanese: ask for landmarksChecked September 2026
Practice real time conversations on Yapr for faster learning.
Take today's Japanese into a conversation with a Yapr AI tutor. Speak, make mistakes, and try again.
Practice on Yapr