Lesson 3.2: Being Specific

If you've ever asked someone for directions when you have no clue what the place looks like, you'd probably get super pissed when they just point to something in the distance and say "Over there". Since I'm assuming you'll want a better understanding of your path, the knowledge of what it is in Japanese will be needed. To start, let's work on your general sense of presence:

前《まえ》(Can't read it?)
[front]

後《うし》ろ
[back]

上《うえ》
[up]

下《した》
[down]

左《ひだり》
[left]

右《みぎ》
[right]

If it helps, look around and point out each place in Japanese so it better sticks(or if you have a box, write the different directions on it). On the off chance, someone ever asks you for some directions, one helpful phrase may be:

"(place)の(direction)"
[(direction) of the (place)]

So if you want to tell a friend you're in front of the McDonald's, you can say "マクドナルドの前"At times, however, there may be other words that may help you find the right distance between you and your desired destination:

反対《はんたい》
[opposite]

向い《むかい》
[across the street]

外《そと》
[outside]

中《なか》
[inside]

間《あいだ》
[between]

近《ちか》く
[nearby(meaning you can see it, but not quite touch it yet)]

側《そば》
[right near(as in close enough to touch, or taze)]

横《よこ》
[next to something different(like a piece of pizza near a small tub of ranch)]

隣《となり》
[neighboring something similar(1 house near another, 1 seat near another, etc )]

間 is used when describing when a location is between two others. Take for example this sentence:

(place)は博物館《はくぶつかん》と駅《えき》の間があります
[(place)is between the museum and the station]

Lesson 3.1: Finding Your Way 'Round

Although everyone knows what happens when you assume, I'm sure many of you reading this many want to visit the island nation at some point in your lives so you can apply your knowledge of the language and culture, regardless of how much or how little you know. If you've ever traveled some place unfamiliar, like, say, a restaurant your friend said you gotta try that's tucked away among a mass of grey brick boxes and neon, you'll soon realize that a key piece of knowledge is how to ask for directions; for a place with as many grey brick boxes and neon as the cities of Japan, this is especially important to have with you.

Travel guides and phrase books do help, but I wouldn't rely too heavily on them, as they can and will get lost in the shuffle of going place to place to try and fit in as much as one trip allows. So if wanna you know which way leads to what you wanna see, set your pride aside, humble up and get ready to ask some directions. When the time comes, find someone friendly looking(gut instincts should be trusted on this part), approach and say the following:

失礼《しつれい》しますが 。。。(Can't read it?)
(Excuse me, but...)

To indicate you're looking for help, follow it up with this phrase:

助《たす》けてくれませんか。
(Could you lend me a hand with something?)
[Note: you can also use 助けて by itself to request assistance, such as when you see someone suddenly having a seizure/choking/going through other tough stuff, and need immediate help]

If you're not lucky, they won't know enough English/have the time to help you out and will either wave their hand in front of their face (like this) or say something among the lines of 難《むずか》しいけど。(It's a bit tough for me) or いそがしいけど。(I'm busy right now), or anything else, really, before they move on, implying that you gotta keep it moving and find someone else.

However, if they don't turn you down, ask one of the following:

 "(place) はどこですか。[note: since はis used as a particle in this instance, it's pronounced like 'わ'. More on this later]"
(where is [place]?)

Or

"(place)はどこでが有《あ》りますか。"
[where is (place) at?]