Japanese Signs & Words Every Tourist Should Recognize (2026)
Recognizing about twenty recurring Japanese signs — exit, entrance, prohibited, push/pull, restroom, yen — solves most “standing there confused” moments. Start here, then open the topic guides.
Recognizing about twenty recurring Japanese signs solves most “standing there confused” moments. Icons are helpful, but they are not always present — and the same characters repeat constantly in stations, shops, and streets. This hub is Japanese signs for tourists and the common kanji travelers actually need in 2026; each card opens a deeper spoke.
Highest-value words (start here)
Click a character to open its topic guide.
でぐち · deguchi
Exit
Stations and buildings
いりぐち · iriguchi
Entrance
Stations and buildings
きんし · kinshi
Prohibited
Warnings and bans
おす · osu
Push
Doors
ひく · hiku
Pull
Doors
おとこ · otoko
Men
Restrooms
おんな · onna
Women
Restrooms
えん · en
Yen
Price tags
| Sign | Romaji | Meaning | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| 出口 | deguchi | Exit | Stations |
| 入口 | iriguchi | Entrance | Stations |
| 禁止 | kinshi | Prohibited | Warnings |
| 押 / 引 | osu / hiku | Push / pull | Doors |
| 男 / 女 | otoko / onna | Men / women | Restrooms |
| 円 | en | Yen | Prices |
All sign guides
Station signage
出口, 入口, 改札, 乗り換え, platforms, and fare machines.
Read station signs →
Restroom signs
男/女, 和式 vs 洋式, and accessible 多目的トイレ.
Read restroom signs →
Push, pull & stop
押, 引, 止まれ, and 徐行 on doors and shared streets.
Read door signs →
Warnings & bans
禁止, 危険, 禁煙, 喫煙所, 撮影禁止 — then into smoking maps.
Read warning signs →
Restaurant & konbini
お会計, takeout vs eat-in, 温める, tax on the receipt.
Read food-counter words →
Yen & price tags
円 vs ¥, discounts, free vs paid, tax-included tags.
Read price signs →
FAQ
Do I need to learn kanji to visit Japan?
No — recognize a short list of high-frequency signs. Use the spoke guides when you want the full set.
What is the difference between kanji, hiragana, and katakana?
Kanji carry core meanings; hiragana and katakana are phonetic scripts. This hub stays on practical wall signs, not a full language course.
What Japanese words should I know when traveling?
Exit/entrance, prohibited/no smoking, push/pull, restroom genders, and yen — then expand by topic above.
For more guides, see Tokyo smoking areas, warning & prohibition signs, and Japan travel tips for first-timers.
Tags: japanese signs tokyo travel tips tourist guide japan
関連ガイド
Japanese Push & Pull Signs: Osu, Hiku & Stop (2026)
Short cheat sheet for Japanese door and movement signs — 押 (push), 引 (pull), 止まれ (stop), and 徐行 (slow) — so you stop wrestling shop doors and shared streets.
Japanese Restaurant & Konbini Words Tourists Need (2026)
Practical Japanese restaurant and convenience-store words — お会計, 持ち帰り, 店内, 食べ放題, 温める, 税込み/税抜き — so checkout and konbini counters stop feeling like a quiz.
Japanese Restroom Signs: Otoko, Onna, Washiki & Yoshiki (2026)
How to read Japanese toilet signs — 男/女, お手洗い, 和式 (squat), 洋式 (Western), and 多目的トイレ — so you pick the right door and know what is inside before you go in.