From Konnichiwa to Sayonara: Your Guide to Japanese Greetings & Farewells

Translation apps got much better between 2024 and 2026, and many visitors now assume they can skip the basics. Then they walk into a quiet ryokan lobby holding a phone and say nothing, and the room feels awkward. Greetings are not about vocabulary. In Japan, they show you recognise the other person. Ten minutes spent on a handful of phrases will change how people respond to you for your whole trip.

Greetings by Time of Day

Japanese greetings change with the clock, which makes them easy to learn once you know three anchor phrases.

• Ohayou gozaimasu (oh-hah-yoh go-zah-ee-mahss): “Good morning.” Use it until about 10:30 or 11:00. Among close friends, you can shorten it to “ohayou.”
• Konnichiwa (kon-nee-chee-wah): “Hello” or “Good day.” Use it from late morning until the early evening.
• Konbanwa (kon-bahn-wah): “Good evening.” Use it once the sun goes down.

Konnichiwa is more formal than the English “hi.” Many Japanese people do not say it to coworkers or neighbours they see every day. They use it more with people they meet less often. As a visitor, you are safe using it with anyone, from a station attendant to a shop owner.

Picture a hotel breakfast room at 7:00 a.m. The air smells of miso soup and grilled fish, and a staff member says “ohayou gozaimasu” in a soft, unhurried voice. Saying it back in the same quiet tone is one of the easiest ways to feel at home.

Pairing Words With the Bow

A greeting in Japan is partly spoken and partly physical. The bow, called ojigi, comes in different depths for different situations.

• Eshaku (about 15 degrees): a light nod from the waist. Use it for everyday hellos, passing staff, or saying thanks.
• Keirei (about 30 degrees): the standard polite bow. Use it when meeting someone new or thanking someone properly.
• Saikeirei (about 45 degrees): a deep bow for serious apologies or very formal thanks. Visitors rarely need it.

Keep your back straight, look down rather than at the other person’s eyes, and keep your hands at your sides or on your thighs. You do not need to be perfect. A small, sincere nod while saying “konnichiwa” is always understood. Do not shake hands unless the other person offers first. Do not combine a handshake and a deep bow, either. Pick one.

Greetings in Shops, Restaurants, and Hotels

You will hear one phrase more than any other: irasshaimase (ee-rah-sshai-mah-seh), meaning “Welcome.” Staff say it as you step through the door, often in a chorus. In a small ramen shop at midnight, you might hear it over the sizzle of the kitchen and the steam rising from the counter.

You are not expected to reply with words. A small nod and eye contact are enough. Some visitors say “konnichiwa” back, which is fine, though not necessary.

Other phrases belong to the service moment:

• Itadakimasu (ee-tah-dah-kee-mahss): said before eating. It means “I humbly receive,” and thanks everyone who made the meal possible.
• Gochisousama deshita (go-chee-soh-sah-mah desh-tah): said after eating. It means “Thank you for the feast.” Say it to staff as you leave.
• Arigatou gozaimashita (ah-ree-gah-toh go-zah-ee-mahsh-tah): “Thank you,” in the past tense. Staff say it as you walk out, and you can say it back.
• Sumimasen (soo-mee-mah-sen): “Excuse me.” Use it to get a server’s attention, to squeeze past people, or to apologise lightly.

Meeting People for the First Time

If you are staying with a host, joining a class, or chatting with someone at a festival, you will need a short self-introduction. The standard pattern has three parts:

1. Hajimemashite (hah-jee-meh-mah-sh-teh): “Nice to meet you” or “This is our first meeting.”
2. Your name: “[Name] desu” (dess), meaning “I am [Name].”
3. Yoroshiku onegaishimasu (yoh-roh-shkoo oh-neh-gah-ee-shee-mahss): a flexible phrase that roughly means “Please treat me well.”

That last phrase has no clean English match. It asks for goodwill and cooperation, and people use it at the start of a meeting, a job, or a favour. Said with a small bow, it leaves a warm impression. After introductions, you can add “Ogenki desu ka?” (oh-gen-kee dess kah), meaning “How are you?” The usual reply is “Genki desu” (“I’m well”) or “Mah mah desu” (“So-so”).

Saying Goodbye the Way Locals Do

Sayonara (sah-yoh-nah-rah) is the word most visitors know, and it is the one locals use least. It carries a feeling of finality, like “farewell.” You might say it to a teacher at the end of a school day, or to someone you will not see for a long time. In daily life, people use softer options:

• Ja ne (jah neh) or mata ne (mah-tah neh): “See you.” Casual, for friends.
• Mata ashita (mah-tah ah-shtah): “See you tomorrow.”
• Shitsurei shimasu (sh-tsoo-ray shee-mahss): “Excuse me for leaving.” Polite, and common when leaving an office or a formal meeting.
• Oyasumi nasai (oh-yah-soo-mee nah-sah-ee): “Good night.” Use it before bed, not as a general evening goodbye.
• Odaiji ni (oh-dah-ee-jee nee): “Take care.” Used when someone is ill or travelling.

Households have their own pair of phrases. Someone leaving home says “Ittekimasu” (“I’ll go and come back”), and the family replies “Itterasshai” (“Go and come back safely”). On returning, you say “Tadaima” (“I’m home”), and they answer “Okaeri nasai” (“Welcome back”). If you stay in a homestay, using these phrases will make you feel like part of the household.

Spotting These Phrases in Writing

Japanese uses three scripts: hiragana, katakana, and kanji. Greetings mostly appear in hiragana, the curved phonetic script. You will see them on shop doors, restaurant curtains, and train station signs.

• こんにちは (konnichiwa)
• ありがとうございます (arigatou gozaimasu)
• いらっしゃいませ (irasshaimase)
• さようなら (sayonara)

One quirk: the final “wa” in konnichiwa and konbanwa is written with the character は, which normally reads “ha.” It is a grammar particle, so you pronounce it “wa.” Learning to recognise just these four strings will help you notice greetings on signs. English signage is common in major cities like Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto, but it thins out quickly in rural areas, where hiragana is much more useful.

2026 Budget Reality: What Learning Costs

Greetings themselves are free, but the tools around them vary in price. These are typical 2026 ranges.

• Budget (0–1,500 JPY): Free language apps, free offline phrase lists, and a pocket phrasebook (about 800–1,500 JPY at major bookshops).
• Mid-range (1,000–4,000 JPY): A paid app subscription (about 1,000–2,500 JPY per month) or a one-off group lesson at a language school in a large city (about 2,000–4,000 JPY).
• Comfortable (4,000–40,000 JPY): A private one-hour lesson (about 4,000–8,000 JPY) or a dedicated translation device or earbuds (about 15,000–40,000 JPY).

For greetings alone, the budget tier is enough. Spend more only if you plan to hold longer conversations.

What Has Changed Since 2024

Real-time voice and camera translation now works well enough to read menus and signs in seconds, and many hotels have added multilingual check-in screens. Even so, staff still greet every guest in person, and a greeting from you still gets a noticeably warmer response than a phone held out at the counter. Shops are also preparing for Japan’s revised tax-free shopping system, which is scheduled to move to a refund-based process from November 2026. Counter staff may explain it in busy tourist areas, so a polite “sumimasen” and a calm pace help during those conversations.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Using “sayonara” for every goodbye. Try “ja ne” with friends or “shitsurei shimasu” in formal settings.
• Saying “konnichiwa” at night. Switch to “konbanwa” after dark.
• Speaking too loudly. Greetings in Japan are warm but quiet, especially on trains and in hotels.
• Skipping the bow entirely. A small nod makes your words feel complete.
• Dropping the “gozaimasu.” “Arigatou” alone is casual. With staff or strangers, add “gozaimasu.”

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most useful Japanese greeting for tourists?

Konnichiwa is the safest all-purpose greeting, and it works from late morning to early evening. Add “sumimasen” for getting attention and “arigatou gozaimasu” for thanks. These three phrases cover most situations, from shops and stations to hotel desks, and locals genuinely appreciate the effort.

Is it rude to say sayonara in Japan?

It is not rude, but it sounds final. Japanese people rarely use it with friends or colleagues they will see again. Use “ja ne” or “mata ne” casually, and “shitsurei shimasu” in formal settings. Sayonara fits long separations or school-style farewells.

Do I have to bow when I greet someone?

Visitors are not required to bow, and nobody expects a perfect one. A small nod with your greeting is enough in most situations. Bowing shows respect and makes your words feel natural. Avoid mixing a handshake with a deep bow. Follow the other person’s lead.

How do I respond when staff say irasshaimase?

You do not need to reply. A small nod or brief eye contact is the normal response. Staff say it to everyone who enters, so it works like a greeting to the room. If you want to answer, a quiet “konnichiwa” is perfectly fine and friendly.

What is the difference between konnichiwa and ohayou gozaimasu?

Ohayou gozaimasu means “good morning” and is used until about 10:30 or 11:00. Konnichiwa means “hello” or “good day” and covers late morning through the early evening. Use “konbanwa” after dark. Matching the greeting to the time of day sounds natural and polite.

📷 Featured image by Road Ahead on Unsplash.