At a museum ticket window in Japan, a short polite request is usually enough. In this workshop you will practice asking for one ticket, asking whether a discount exists, and understanding the cashier's quantity question and price information. You will hear each native line, learn what it means in English, and then use it in three short speaking tasks. You can play both the customer and the staff role, so you get practice speaking and listening. Work through the sections first, then try the exercises without looking back at the answers.
Asking for one ticket
The basic pattern is the ticket type, then a number with the counter for flat items, then a polite request. The counter -mai is used for tickets. The phrase onegai shimasu makes the request polite and natural at a counter. To ask for one adult ticket, say «大人一枚お願いします。». The word otona means adult, and ichi-mai means one flat item, so the whole line means one adult ticket, please. If you are a student, you can use the same pattern with a different ticket type: «学生一枚お願いします。». Here gakusei means student. For a senior ticket, the pattern stays the same: «シニア一枚お願いします。». Shinia is a common loanword for senior. Some museums print a different word or set a minimum age, so it is useful to check the sign before you speak.
Asking about a discount
If you want to know whether a cheaper ticket exists, you can ask a simple yes-or-no question. The key word is waribiki, which means discount. To ask about a student discount, say «学生割引はありますか。». This line means is there a student discount? Practise the recorded student-discount question; other discount types are outside this exercise. Listen carefully to the answer, because the staff member may confirm the price and then mention the discount on their own. In the recorded exchange, the staff member greets the customer and asks how many tickets are wanted: «いらっしゃいませ。チケットは何枚ですか。». The customer answers with the adult ticket request: «大人一枚お願いします。». The staff member confirms the order, gives the price, and adds that a student discount is also available: «はい、大人一枚ですね。千円です。学生割引もありますよ。». The customer then adds one student ticket and mentions a student ID: «あ、では学生一枚もお願いします。学生証があります。». Notice that the customer does not need a long sentence. A short polite request plus one extra detail is enough.
Understanding the cashier's questions
The staff usually speaks first. A greeting such as irasshaimase means welcome. Then a question about quantity follows. In «いらっしゃいませ。チケットは何枚ですか。», the staff asks chiketto wa nan-mai desu ka, which means how many tickets? The answer uses the same -mai counter you practiced. If you want one ticket, you can answer with the full request line, as in «大人一枚お願いします。». The staff may then repeat your order to confirm it, as in «はい、大人一枚ですね。千円です。学生割引もありますよ。». This is your chance to check that they heard you correctly. If you also want a discount ticket, you can add it after the confirmation, as in «あ、では学生一枚もお願いします。学生証があります。». When you hear a price, listen for the number and the word en, which means yen. The recorded 1,000 yen is the adult-ticket price. The dialogue does not give a final total after the student ticket is added. If you are not sure, you can repeat your request slowly and politely.
Listen once, then say the phrase yourself. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Checking available voices…
大人一枚お願いします。
One adult ticket, please.
Otona ichi-mai onegai shimasu.
学生一枚お願いします。
One student ticket, please.
Gakusei ichi-mai onegai shimasu.
シニア一枚お願いします。
One senior ticket, please.
Shinia ichi-mai onegai shimasu.
学生割引はありますか。
Is there a student discount?
Gakusei waribiki wa arimasu ka.
Read one side aloud, then answer in your own words. The goal is to make the exchange yours.
いらっしゃいませ。チケットは何枚ですか。
Welcome. How many tickets?大人一枚お願いします。
One adult ticket, please.はい、大人一枚ですね。千円です。学生割引もありますよ。
Yes, one adult ticket. That's 1,000 yen. There is also a student discount.あ、では学生一枚もお願いします。学生証があります。
Oh, then one student ticket as well, please. I have my student ID.Your turn
Try each prompt out loud. Choose a guided start, the full sequence, or a challenge pass after your first attempt.
Guided exchange: one adult ticket
Imagine you are at a museum ticket window. The staff member has just greeted you and asked how many tickets you want. You want one adult ticket.
Your task: Play the staff audio first, then respond as the customer. Use the recorded line for one adult ticket. Say it out loud at a natural speed. Then play the staff confirmation and listen for the price.
Reply comprehension: discount question
Listen to the recorded staff confirmation after the adult-ticket request. The staff mentions a student discount, and the customer then adds a student ticket.
Your task: First rehearse «学生割引はありますか。» as a separate useful question. Then listen to «はい、大人一枚ですね。千円です。学生割引もありますよ。». Does this staff line say a student discount exists? Next listen to «あ、では学生一枚もお願いします。学生証があります。». Does the customer add a student ticket or cancel the adult ticket? Answer in English.
Recall with correct roles
This time, cover the English meanings. You will hear the full ticket window exchange and then reproduce both roles from memory.
Your task: Listen to the whole exchange once. Then play the staff lines and respond as the customer without looking at the text. After that, play the customer lines and respond as the staff. Try to keep the same order: greeting and quantity question, adult ticket request, confirmation and price, then the student ticket addition.
Common questions
Do I need to say the full request line every time?
At a ticket window, a short polite request is normal. The recorded line for one adult ticket is a complete and natural way to ask. You can use the same pattern with a different ticket type, such as student or senior, by changing only the first word. Keep the counter and the polite ending the same.
What if the staff asks a question I do not understand?
Listen for key words. The staff may ask how many tickets with the word nan-mai, or mention a price with the word en. If you are not sure, you can repeat your request slowly. The recorded exchange shows that the staff often confirms the order, so you can check your understanding from their reply.
Sources and further reading
- japanese: buy a museum ticketChecked September 2026
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