Finding the right floor and section
Electronics stores are organised by uriba, sales sections, spread over several floors. Floor guides near the escalators list them, but it is often quicker to ask the first staff member you see. The question pattern is simple: the item plus uriba wa nan-gai desu ka, which floor is the section on.
If you are looking for a specific product, show a photo or model number on your phone. Staff can check stock, zaiko, and may offer to order it in, toriyose, if it is not on the shelf.
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| カメラ売り場は何階ですか。 | Kamera uriba wa nan-gai desu ka. | Which floor are the cameras on? |
| イヤホンはどこにありますか。 | Iyahon wa doko ni arimasu ka. | Where are the earphones? |
| この商品を探しているんですが。 | Kono shōhin o sagashite iru n desu ga. | I'm looking for this product. |
| 在庫はありますか。 | Zaiko wa arimasu ka. | Do you have it in stock? |
| 取り寄せはできますか。 | Toriyose wa dekimasu ka. | Can you order it in? |
| 見ているだけです。ありがとうございます。 | Mite iru dake desu. Arigatō gozaimasu. | I'm just looking, thank you. |
Words on shelves and price tags
Price tags in Japanese electronics stores carry a lot of information in a small space: the model number, the price with and without tax, the points you earn, and sometimes a note that the item is a display model or last year's version.
| Label | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 家電 | kaden | Home appliances |
| 税込 / 税抜 | zeikomi / zeinuki | Tax included / tax excluded |
| ポイント還元 | pointo kangen | Points given back on purchase |
| 型番 | kataban | Model number |
| 新製品 | shinseihin | New product |
| 型落ち | kataochi | Previous year's model |
| 展示品 | tenjihin | Display item |
| 在庫限り | zaiko kagiri | While stocks last |
| 売り切れ | urikire | Sold out |
Tenjihin, display items, are sometimes sold at a discount. They may have been handled by many customers, so it is reasonable to ask whether accessories and the box are included: fuzokuhin wa zenbu arimasu ka.
Asking about specs
Spec questions use a handful of words that come up again and again: yōryō, capacity or storage; ōkisa, size; omosa, weight; batterī no mochi, battery life; and kinō, features. Many product words are loanwords, so try the English word in katakana if you do not know the Japanese.
When you want a recommendation, describe how you will use the item rather than naming a spec. Shop staff are often good at matching a model to a need, such as something light for travel or quiet enough for a small flat.
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 容量はどのくらいですか。 | Yōryō wa dono kurai desu ka. | What's the capacity? |
| バッテリーはどのくらい持ちますか。 | Batterī wa dono kurai mochimasu ka. | How long does the battery last? |
| これは防水ですか。 | Kore wa bōsui desu ka. | Is this waterproof? |
| もっと軽いのはありますか。 | Motto karui no wa arimasu ka. | Do you have a lighter one? |
| 旅行用におすすめはありますか。 | Ryokō-yō ni osusume wa arimasu ka. | What would you recommend for travel? |
| ノイズキャンセリング機能はついていますか。 | Noizu kyanseringu kinō wa tsuite imasu ka. | Does it have noise cancelling? |
| 試してみてもいいですか。 | Tameshite mite mo ii desu ka. | May I try it? |
Voltage, plugs and using it abroad
This is the most important check for visitors. Japan uses 100 volts, lower than most countries, and the plug has two flat pins. Phone and laptop chargers are often designed for a wide range of voltages, but many hair dryers, rice cookers, kettles and beauty devices are made for Japan's supply only and may not work, or may be unsafe, on a different voltage.
Look for labels such as kaigai taiō, overseas compatible, or a range like 100 to 240 volts on the device or its adapter. If you are unsure, ask directly. Staff at stores popular with tourists are used to this question and may point you to models made for export.
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 海外でも使えますか。 | Kaigai de mo tsukaemasu ka. | Can I use it overseas? |
| 海外対応のモデルはありますか。 | Kaigai taiō no moderu wa arimasu ka. | Is there a model for use overseas? |
| 電圧は何ボルトまで対応していますか。 | Den'atsu wa nan boruto made taiō shite imasu ka. | What voltage does it support? |
| 変圧器は必要ですか。 | Hen'atsuki wa hitsuyō desu ka. | Do I need a voltage converter? |
| 変換プラグ | henkan puragu | Plug adapter |
| コンセント | konsento | Power socket, outlet |
| メニューは英語に変えられますか。 | Menyū wa eigo ni kaeraremasu ka. | Can the menu be switched to English? |
Comparing models
Electronics stores often place several versions of the same product side by side, and asking what the difference is will usually get a detailed answer. The key word is chigai, difference. Kataochi, last year's model, is often much cheaper and can be the better value if the new features do not matter to you.
When the assistant recommends something more expensive, you can steer back politely with yosan, budget, or by saying you will think about it. Chotto kangaemasu is the standard gentle exit.
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| これとこれの違いは何ですか。 | Kore to kore no chigai wa nan desu ka. | What's the difference between this one and this one? |
| 新しいモデルと古いモデル、どちらがおすすめですか。 | Atarashii moderu to furui moderu, dochira ga osusume desu ka. | Which do you recommend, the new model or the old one? |
| 型落ちでも大丈夫です。 | Kataochi demo daijōbu desu. | An older model is fine. |
| 予算は五万円くらいです。 | Yosan wa go-man en kurai desu. | My budget is around fifty thousand yen. |
| もう少し安いのはありますか。 | Mō sukoshi yasui no wa arimasu ka. | Is there anything a bit cheaper? |
| ちょっと考えます。 | Chotto kangaemasu. | I'll think about it. |
Whether you can negotiate a price varies by store and product. Some shoppers ask mō sukoshi yasuku narimasen ka, can it be a little cheaper, especially on large items, but it is not always possible, and a polite answer of no should be accepted gracefully.
At the till: warranty, points and tax-free
At the register, staff usually ask a few quick questions: whether you have a point card, whether you want the extended warranty, how you will pay, and whether you need a bag. If you are a visitor, you may be directed to a tax-free counter; the guide to tax-free shopping in Japan explains that process.
Hoshō is the warranty. The manufacturer's warranty, mēkā hoshō, usually comes with the product, and the store may offer enchō hoshō, an extended plan. Before signing up, it is worth asking whether it covers accidental damage and whether it can be used if you leave Japan.
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ポイントカードはお持ちですか。 | Pointo kādo wa omochi desu ka. | Do you have a point card? |
| ポイントカードを作れますか。 | Pointo kādo o tsukuremasu ka. | Can I make a point card? |
| 保証期間はどのくらいですか。 | Hoshō kikan wa dono kurai desu ka. | How long is the warranty? |
| 延長保証をおつけしますか。 | Enchō hoshō o otsuke shimasu ka. | Would you like to add the extended warranty? |
| 延長保証は海外でも使えますか。 | Enchō hoshō wa kaigai de mo tsukaemasu ka. | Does the extended warranty work abroad? |
| 保証書はレシートと一緒に保管してください。 | Hoshōsho wa reshīto to issho ni hokan shite kudasai. | Please keep the warranty card with your receipt. |
| 免税でお願いします。 | Menzei de onegai shimasu. | Tax-free, please. |
If something goes wrong
If a product turns out to be faulty, bring it back with the receipt and the box, and explain the problem simply. Useful words are koshō, breakdown; furyōhin, defective item; kōkan, exchange; and henpin, return. Stores usually handle defective items according to their own policy and the manufacturer's warranty, so the first question is often whether an exchange is possible.
Describe what happens rather than just saying it is broken: the left side has no sound, it will not charge, the screen goes dark. Clear descriptions make the conversation far smoother.
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 昨日買ったんですが、左から音が出ません。 | Kinō katta n desu ga, hidari kara oto ga demasen. | I bought this yesterday, but there's no sound from the left side. |
| 充電できません。 | Jūden dekimasen. | It won't charge. |
| 不良品だと思います。 | Furyōhin da to omoimasu. | I think it's defective. |
| 交換していただけますか。 | Kōkan shite itadakemasu ka. | Could you exchange it for me? |
| レシートと箱はあります。 | Reshīto to hako wa arimasu. | I have the receipt and the box. |