Japanese for Hotels — Check-In, Check-Out & Room Requests | Nihongo to Japan

Staying at a hotel is a key part of any independent trip in Japan. From check-in to check-out, the right Japanese not only makes the paperwork go smoothly but also lets you communicate effectively when something comes up — a broken fixture, or a request for extra service. Here are the most useful phrases for the whole hotel-stay process.

Check-in

• チェックインをお願いします。 (ちぇっくいんをおねがいします) — Check-in, please
• 予約した〜です。 (よやくした〜です) — I'm ~, I have a reservation (state your name)
• 〜泊です。 (〜はくです) — Staying ~ nights
• 部屋をアップグレードできますか？ (へやをあっぷぐれーどできますか) — Can I upgrade the room?
• 禁煙室をお願いします。 (きんえんしつをおねがいします) — A non-smoking room, please
• 高層階をお願いします。 (こうそうかいをおねがいします) — A high floor, please

The reading of 〜泊 (nights) changes with the number: 1 = いっぱく, 3 = さんぱく, 6 = ろっぱく, 8 = はっぱく — don't read them all as はく.

Asking about facilities & services

• Wi-Fiのパスワードを教えてください。 (わいふぁいのぱすわーどをおしえてください) — Could you tell me the Wi-Fi password?
• 朝食はついていますか？ (ちょうしょくはついていますか) — Is breakfast included?
• 大浴場はありますか？ (だいよくじょうはありますか) — Is there a large communal bath (in the hotel)?
• コインランドリーはどこですか？ (こいんらんどりーはどこですか) — Where is the coin laundry?
• 自動販売機はどこですか？ (じどうはんばいきはどこですか) — Where is the vending machine?
• エレベーターはどこですか？ (えれべーたーはどこですか) — Where is the elevator?

Storing luggage

• 荷物を預けてもいいですか？ (にもつをあずけてもいいですか) — May I leave my luggage?
• チェックイン前に荷物を預けたいのですが。 (ちぇっくいんまえににもつをあずけたいのですが) — I'd like to leave my luggage before check-in
• チェックアウト後も預かってもらえますか？ (ちぇっくあうとごもあずかってもらえますか) — Could you hold my luggage after check-out too?
• 荷物を取りに来ました。 (にもつをとりにきました) — I've come to pick up my luggage

Most Japanese hotels offer luggage storage, which is very handy for sightseeing after check-out.

Room issues & extra service

• タオルを追加でお願いします。 (たおるをついかでおねがいします) — Could I have some extra towels?
• エアコンの使い方を教えてください。 (えあこんのつかいかたをおしえてください) — Could you show me how to use the air conditioner?
• お湯が出ません。 (おゆがでません) — There's no hot water
• 部屋の電気がつきません。 (へやのでんきがつきません) — The room light won't turn on
• 隣の部屋がうるさいです。 (となりのへやがうるさいです) — The room next door is noisy
• モーニングコールをお願いします。 (もーにんぐこーるをおねがいします) — A wake-up call, please

Check-out

• チェックアウトをお願いします。 (ちぇっくあうとをおねがいします) — Check-out, please
• 明細を確認させてください。 (めいさいをかくにんさせてください) — Let me check the itemized bill
• この料金は何ですか？ (このりょうきんはなんですか) — What is this charge for?
• クレジットカードで払えますか？ (くれじっとかーどではらえますか) — Can I pay by credit card?

Travel tips

• Check-in in Japan is usually 15:00 and check-out 11:00; if you arrive early, you can leave your luggage first
• Hot-spring inns (ryokan) usually have fixed dinner times — confirm meal times at check-in
• Some high-end inns communicate mainly in Japanese; it helps to write important requests in Japanese beforehand
• At check-out, return your key card, yukata and slippers to their places — lodging etiquette matters in Japan

FAQ

What documents do I need to check in at a Japanese hotel?

Usually your passport (foreign guests must show it) and your booking confirmation (paper or a phone screenshot both work). Some hotels collect an accommodation tax or a deposit (a credit-card pre-authorization) — check how it's refunded.

Can I ask for early check-in at a Japanese hotel?

You can ask, but it usually costs extra or depends on whether the room was free the night before. If you just need to drop off luggage, most hotels store it for free — no need to wait until check-in time.

What's the difference between a Japanese ryokan and a hotel?

A hotel (ホテル) is Western-style, with beds and a private bathroom. A ryokan (旅館) is traditional Japanese lodging with tatami and yukata, usually including dinner (kaiseki) and breakfast — a more authentic experience, but pricier.