How to Talk to Strangers in Japanese: Lessons from the Shikoku Pilgrimage
A stranger, they say, is just a friend you haven't met yet.
And talking to strangers is a great way to get plenty of Japanese speaking practice. I had lots of opportunities to do this while walking the first section of the Shikoku pilgrimage this spring.
But how do you start a conversation with someone you don’t know?
Here are a few ideas to get you talking, even if you’re a beginner.
1. Talk about the weather
Brits love talking about the weather. Luckily, people in Japan do too. It can almost feel like a greeting.
Try one of these to start a conversation:
暑いですね。
atsui desu ne
“Hot, isn’t it?”
寒いですね。
samui desu ne
“Cold, isn’t it?”
You’ll quite possibly hear そうですね。 (sou desu ne), meaning something like, “Yes, isn’t it?” Then you can take the conversation from there.
2. Comment on something you can see
Imagine you’ve reached the top of a hill and sat down on a bench. The person sitting nearby turns and greets you.
You can easily start a conversation by commenting on something around you:
すごいですね。
sugoi desu ne
“Amazing, isn’t it?”
きれいですね。
kirei desu ne
“Isn’t it lovely?”
いい景色ですね。
ii keshiki desu ne
“What a lovely view!”
3. Ask simple questions
What if you don't know what you're looking at? Just ask!
すみませんが、それは何ですか。
sumimasen ga, sore wa nan desu ka
“Excuse me, but what’s that?”
これは日本語で何と言いますか。
kore wa nihongo de nan to iimasu ka
“What do you call this in Japanese?”
4. Start in Japanese
If your Japanese is limited and you speak English, it can be tempting to walk into a hotel or restaurant and start the conversation in English, or to ask whether the other person speaks English.
Even if you’re a beginner, try starting with a simple Japanese greeting:
こんにちは！
konnichiwa!
“Hello!”
こんばんは！
konbanwa!
“Good evening!”
おはようございます！
ohayou gozaimasu!
“Good morning!”
If you begin the conversation in English, it’s more likely to continue in English. Starting in Japanese lets the other person know that you’d like to communicate in Japanese, even if you only know a few words.
5. Smile!
You might feel nervous about speaking Japanese, but a smile can make a big difference.
Smiling helps show that you’re friendly and open to a conversation. It can also help put the other person at ease, especially if you’re both feeling a little unsure about how the conversation will go.
After all, they’re just a friend you haven’t met yet.
And you’re one too.
Ready to practise speaking Japanese?
Knowing a few useful phrases is a great start, but confidence comes from using them.
If you’d like more opportunities to practise speaking Japanese in a friendly, supportive environment, take a look at my Japanese courses and one-to-one lessons.
👉 Find a Japanese course that’s right for you
Related posts:
Walking the Shikoku 88 Pilgrimage (Part 1) - Plan, plan, plan!
Walking the Shikoku 88 Pilgrimage (Part 2) - The Best First Day in Japan
First published June 2018. Updated 31st July 2026.