In this workshop you will practice asking how to get to the airport in polite Japanese and understanding a simple answer. You will use recorded lines from a short exchange between a traveler and a station attendant. First, read the English meaning of each recorded line. Then try the three speaking tasks: a guided exchange, a reply comprehension choice, and a recall task where you play both roles. You can play both roles with the audio, but there is no automatic assessment, so check your answers with the self-checks provided.
Useful Lines for Asking About the Airport
Start with a general polite question. «空港へはどう行けばいいですか。» means "What's the best way to get to the airport?" This is a safe, polite way to ask for the best route or method. You can also ask more directly for the best method. «空港まで一番いい方法は何ですか。» means "What is the best way to the airport?" Here, the phrase for "the best" is included. If you want to ask about a specific type of transportation, use «電車で行けますか。», which means "Can I go by train?" The word for train is in the line. You can replace it with the word for bus or taxi to ask about those. To compare two options politely, use «バスと電車とどちらが速いですか。», which means "Which is faster, the bus or the train?" This question uses a polite way to ask "which one" between two choices.
Understanding a Simple Answer
Now listen to a short exchange. A traveler asks a station attendant for help. The traveler says «すみません、空港へはどう行けばいいですか。», which means "Excuse me, what's the best way to get to the airport?" The attendant answers «電車が便利ですよ。バスより速いです。», which means "The train is convenient. It's faster than the bus." The traveler responds with «そうですか。どのくらいかかりますか。», which means "I see. About how long does it take?" The attendant gives a time and adds a comparison with taxi: «四十分ぐらいです。タクシーより安いですよ。», which means "About forty minutes. It's cheaper than a taxi." Notice how the attendant gives a recommendation and then a reason. The traveler asks a follow-up about time. This pattern is common when asking for directions or transportation advice.
Playing Both Roles
You can practice both the traveler and the attendant. When you are the traveler, use the polite questions from the recordings. When you are the attendant, use the answers from the recordings. Pay attention to the roles: the traveler asks for information, and the attendant gives a recommendation and a reason. In the exchange, the attendant recommends the train and compares it to the bus and taxi. The traveler asks about time. Try to keep the same polite tone. You do not need to invent new phrases; use the recorded lines as your model. If you want to ask about a different transportation, you can replace the word for train in «電車で行けますか。» with the word for bus or taxi, but keep the rest of the line the same.
Listen once, then say the phrase yourself. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Checking available voices…
空港へはどう行けばいいですか。
What's the best way to get to the airport?
Kuukou e wa dou ikeba ii desu ka.
空港まで一番いい方法は何ですか。
What is the best way to the airport?
Kuukou made ichiban ii houhou wa nan desu ka.
電車で行けますか。
Can I go by train?
Densha de ikemasu ka.
バスと電車とどちらが速いですか。
Which is faster, the bus or the train?
Basu to densha to dochira ga hayai desu ka.
Read one side aloud, then answer in your own words. The goal is to make the exchange yours.
すみません、空港へはどう行けばいいですか。
Excuse me, what's the best way to get to the airport?電車が便利ですよ。バスより速いです。
The train is convenient. It's faster than the bus.そうですか。どのくらいかかりますか。
I see. About how long does it take?四十分ぐらいです。タクシーより安いですよ。
About forty minutes. It's cheaper than a taxi.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 and Answer About the Airport
Imagine you are at a station information counter. You want to go to the airport. You will play both the traveler and the attendant using the recorded lines.
Your task: First, play the traveler. Say the polite question from «空港へはどう行けばいいですか。». Then play the attendant. Answer with the recommendation from «電車が便利ですよ。バスより速いです。». Then play the traveler again and ask the follow-up from «そうですか。どのくらいかかりますか。». Finally, play the attendant and give the answer from «四十分ぐらいです。タクシーより安いですよ。». Repeat the exchange until you can say all four lines smoothly.
Reply Comprehension: Choose the Correct Response
You will hear or read a question and choose the best reply from the recorded lines. This checks if you understand the meaning of the answers.
Your task: Read the traveler's question «すみません、空港へはどう行けばいいですか。». Which recorded line is the best reply: «電車が便利ですよ。バスより速いです。» or «四十分ぐらいです。タクシーより安いですよ。»? Then read the traveler's follow-up «そうですか。どのくらいかかりますか。». Which recorded line answers it: «電車が便利ですよ。バスより速いです。» or «四十分ぐらいです。タクシーより安いですよ。»? Say your choices aloud, then check with the self-check below.
Recall and Role-Play: Traveler and Attendant
Now try to recall the lines without looking. You will play both roles in the exchange. Use the recorded lines as your guide.
Your task: Start as the traveler. Say the polite question from «空港へはどう行けばいいですか。» or «すみません、空港へはどう行けばいいですか。». Then as the attendant, give the recommendation from «電車が便利ですよ。バスより速いです。». As the traveler, ask the follow-up from «そうですか。どのくらいかかりますか。». As the attendant, give the answer from «四十分ぐらいです。タクシーより安いですよ。». Try to do this without reading the lines. If you forget, peek and try again.
Common questions
Can I replace the word for train in «電車で行けますか。» with bus or taxi?
Yes. «電車で行けますか。» means "Can I go by train?" The word for train is in the line. You can replace it with the word for bus or taxi to ask about those. Keep the rest of the line the same. This is a simple way to ask about different transportation.
What is the difference between «空港へはどう行けばいいですか。» and «空港まで一番いい方法は何ですか。»?
Both ask for the best way to the airport. «空港へはどう行けばいいですか。» is a general polite question: "What's the best way to get to the airport?" «空港まで一番いい方法は何ですか。» directly asks for the best method: "What is the best way to the airport?" You can use either at a station or hotel. «空港まで一番いい方法は何ですか。» includes the phrase for "the best" explicitly.
Sources and further reading
- japanese: ask how to get to the airportChecked September 2026
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