While this blog focuses mainly on lives and things related to lives, I thought a post about shopping in Japan might be useful for some people. Customer service in Japan can be quite different than that of other countries, and even if you know some basic Japanese, when the shop staff speak in keigo (respectful type of Japanese), it can be quite frustrating to try and understand what is being said, as words can completely change based on how polite they are trying to be.
That being said, let's dive into a typical Japanese shopping experience!
Shopping / Conversing With Shop Staff
いらっしゃいませ！/ "Irasshaimase!" "Welcome!" This is just a polite greeting that the shop staff will say (or shout, rather) at customers who come into the shop. It doesn't require a reply.
何かをお探しでしょうか？ / "Nani ka wo osagashi deshou ka?" "Are you looking for something in particular?" There are variations on ways staff will ask if you need help, but this is a common question in many clothing stores or specialty stores such as cosmetic stores or some music shops.
If you're just browsing, you can reply: "いいえ、見てるだけです" / "Iie, miteru dake desu." / "No, I am just looking." Or, honestly, most of the time a simple "大丈夫です" ("Daijoubu desu." / "I'm fine.") is also acceptable.
___いかがでしょうか？/ "___ ikaga deshou ka?" "What do you think of ____?" Often this is said when they are suggesting a product that you might like.
___がありますか？ / "___ ga arimasu ka?"
"Do you have ____?"
This is how you would ask a shop staff whether or not they have a certain item.
___はどこにありますか？ / "___ wa doko ni arimasu ka?"
"Where is/are ___?"
If you are looking for a specific item at a store you know should have it (for example, milk at a supermarket) then you can use this phrase to ask for its location.
いくらですか？ / "Ikura desu ka?"
"How much is this?"
Simple way of asking the price of an item.
これにします。/ "Kore ni shimasu." "I would like to buy this." (lit. "I will do this.")
This is what you can say to a shop staff when you would like to purchase an item. If you are on the shop floor, they may ask you if you would like to keep shopping. If so, they may bring the item up to the register for you until you are all done.
___ください。/ "___ kudasai."
"I would like ___ please."
This is often used when buying multiples of something. Counters are a nightmare in Japanese, so you can just use the general hitotsu, futatsu, etc. in this setting if you don't know the specific counter for the item you are buying.
Example: これを三つください。 / "Kore wo mitsu kudasai." / I would like three of these, please."
Asking To Try On Clothes
This is a bit tricky, because different types of clothing have different verbs for putting them on, but I'll give you two of the most common ones, which will be for tops/jackets and bottoms/shoes.
Tops (Dresses, jackets, etc.) これを着てみてもいいですか？ / "Kore wo kite mite mo ii desu ka?"
Bottoms & Shoes
これを履いてみてもいいですか？ / "Kore wo haite mite mo ii desu ka?"
Often when trying on clothes, the staff will ask you take off your shoes outside the dressing room. It's very rare that you are allowed to wear shoes inside the changing stalls they have set up. Sometimes, there is also a box (almost like a tissue box) of soft, thin fabric that is meant to be worn over your face when trying on tops so you don't get any makeup on the clothing.
At The Register
Once you have decided on your purchase, you can head up to the register and begin the payment process. Before we get into some phrases, I'd like to point out that in Japan, they have little trays for your money and cards. In many instances, it is considered rude to directly hand money to the cashier and vice verse. While this isn't really a big deal, it tends to make the transaction go smoother as it makes it easier to present cash and count it correctly. It's usually a plastic or metal tray that is on the counter next to the register, or, as is the case in many supermarkets, a plastic tray attached to the actual register itself.
Note: While it's best to use these trays for giving money, it's not some terrible tragedy if you happen to forget and offer up your money to the clerk. :) Some shops may not even have one, though this is rare.
一括払いでよろしいでしょうか？ / "Ikkatsubarai de yoroshii deshou ka?" "Is it OK for this to be made as one payment (on your card)?" In Japan, credit cards have the option to split payments onto multiple monthly statements, so when you pay with card at stores, they often ask if you would like this to be made as one lump payment on your current statement. The proper answer would just be a simple "はい" / "Hai". Or, if your card also has the same type of option, you can answer with how many payments you would like the purchase to be split into: "いいえ、＿＿ 括払いでお願いします。" / "Iie, ____katsubarai de onegaishimasu." Note: They may also ask "お支払い方法は？" / "Oshiharai houhou ha?", to which you have to respond with how many payments you would like your purchase to be made into. If you would just like it to be kept as one payment, you can answer with, "一括で大丈夫です。" / "Ikkatsu de daijoubu desu."
こちらにご署名お願いします。/ "Kochira ni goshomei onegaishimasu."
”Please sign here."
This is used when you must sign a receipt after paying with card. "Goshomei" may also be replaced with a simple "sign", becoming: "Kochira ni sign onegaishimasu."
ご自宅用・贈り物ですか？/ "Gojitakuyou ・Okurimono desu ka?" "Is this for yourself?" or "Is this a gift?"
At the register, you may be asked if what you are buying is a gift or for yourself. (Go)jitakuyou - for yourself Okurimono - a gift for someone else This is usually asked at shops that offer a gift-wrapping service. If it is a gift, you can often have it gift-wrapped at the register (sometimes this costs extra). Honestly, if it's a gift and you'd rather not have them gift wrap, you can just tell them it's jitakuyou to avoid the hassle of being asked about gift wrapping. （笑）
ポイントカードお持ちですか？ / "Point card omochi desu ka?" "Do you have a point card?"
If so, go ahead and hand it over. If not, they may ask if you would like to make one (something like 作りましょうか？ / Tsukurimashou ka?). It's up to you whether or not you would like one.
Note: There are some variations of this phrase such as:
ポイントカードご利用してますか？ / "Point card goriyou shitemasu ka?"
こちらがお釣りになります。/ "Kochira ga otsuri ni narimasu."
"Here is your change." Said when the cashier hands you your change, if applicable.
袋ご利用ですか？ / "Fukuro goriyou ka?"
"Do you need a bag?"
This one is pretty self-explanatory.
出口までお持ちします。/ "Deguchi made omochi shimasu." "I will carry this to the exit for you."
At some higher-end shops, the shop staff will often carry your purchase to the exit for you and hand it to you there while bowing and thanking you for coming. This phrase is often accompanied by a gesture towards the door.
またお待ちしております。/ "Mata omachi shite orimasu."
"We're waiting for your return!"
This is sometimes said as you leave a shop. Like "irasshaimase", it doesn't really require a response.
Bonus Section: Convenience Stores
Convenience stores (コンビニ / konbini) are on almost every corner in Japan. When shopping in a konbini, staff won't really talk to you when you're browsing, except to offer the usual "irasshaimase". However, if you're buying food and/or drinks, you may be asked some questions at the register.
温めますか？ / "Atatamemasu ka?"
"Would you like this heated up?" Can also be said as: 温めましょうか？ / "Atatamemashou ka?"
When you buy refrigerated food that is commonly heated up, the staff may ask you if you would like them to microwave it there at the register. This is done at no extra cost.
袋分けますか？ / "Fukuro wakemasu ka?"
"Would you like separate bags?"
This is often asked if you are buying hot and cold items at the same time. They are asking if you would like to keep the cold and hot items in separate bags.
Other ways of asking:
袋一緒でよろしいでうか？ / "Fukuro issho de yoroshii desu ka?" "Is it OK to put these in the same bag?"
暖かい物は別の袋に入りましょうか？ / "Atatakaimono wa betsu no fukuro ni irimashou ka?" "Should I put the hot items into a different bag?"
お箸何膳いりますか？ / "Ohashi nanzen irimasu ka?"
"How many (pairs of) chopsticks would you like?"
When you buy food, they will often ask if you would like chopsticks, and if you buy multiple food items, they will ask how many different pairs of chopsticks you would like.
They may also ask if you would like a spoon or a fork for certain dishes (soup, ice cream, etc.). In that case, it would be something like: スプーン・フォークいりますか？ / Spoon・Fork irimasu ka?" / "Do you need a spoon/fork?"
Hope this post helped! For a more detailed list of phrases you may hear and say during shopping, go ahead and check out Maggie Sensei's post on shopping in Japan.
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