How can I politely ask for directions to a specific product in a Japanese supermarket

Must-Know Japanese Phrases for Shopping in Japan: How can I politely ask for directions to a specific product in a Japanese supermarket

To politely ask for directions to a specific product in a Japanese supermarket, you can follow these steps:

This means “Excuse me” and is a polite way to get the attention of staff or someone nearby.

Use the following structure:

[Product] wa arimasu ka? ([Product] はありますか？)
This translates to “Do you have [product]?” Example: Sumimasen, gyuunyuu wa arimasu ka? (すみません、牛乳はありますか？) – “Excuse me, do you have milk?”²^{, 8}.

If you want to know where the product is located, you can use:

[Product] wa doko desu ka? ([Product] はどこですか？)
This means “Where is [product]?”
Example: Sumimasen, gyuunyuu wa doko desu ka? (すみません、牛乳はどこですか？) – “Excuse me, where is milk?”⁴^{, 7}.

Alternatively:

[Product] wa dochira desu ka? ([Product] はどちらですか？)
This is slightly more formal and polite than “doko desu ka” and works well in customer service situations⁴.

After receiving help, thank the person by saying:

By following these polite phrases and etiquette, you’ll make a positive impression while efficiently finding what you need!

References