Doko in Japanese

They say that the average American spends 17 hours per week inside their car. That is 884 hours per year or Living in Japan. There are a few words and key phrases in Japanese that, as a tourist in the Land of the Rising Sun, you would think that I could at least learn how to say the time. Since in Japan they use military time on occasion, more frequently than military time is used in America. , had I been acquainted with earlier on, would have saved me a lot of time, and prevented some of the confusion and disorientation for me upon my first adventures in Japan. In Japan, a lot of a persons life is spent at an Eki or train station spent getting on and off at the wrong train stations. Inevitably, tourists in Japan will have to use public transportation. So It would be very convenient to know at least the basic words related to how to get around in Japan if you are going to spend any amount of time touring Japan. Some are quite easy for they are gairaigo or foreign borrowed terms which are usually English based (although a certain percentage can be French, Portuguese, Spanish, German, and Dutch.) Some are more difficult to get a handle on but are essential to your adventures in Japan. Because one way or another you'll soon see how the Japanese Rail systems are more part of their culture and the Japanese way of life than we might be accustomed to here in America.
First, let’s learn the words for major transportation hubs like: bus stop, train station, airport, and subway.

basu tei - bus stop
eki - train station
ku^ko^ - airport

I remember getting on a bus and not knowing much Japanese other than how to say, "what time is it?" and feeling so embarrassed about not knowing where the heck I was going. Trying to get around in a foreign country on limited language skills can be difficult. But you can be reassured that in Japan the locals are always happy to talk with you and help you. You see in Japan they honk their horns when they are thankful to you for doing something good for them, not that you are an a-hole for cutting someone off. The Japanese are eager to help you, the gaijin, to get to their destinations, so don’t worry about traveling and losing your way too much, the Japanese are a great big loving family on the whole and are always there to help. * at least that is my experience anyway.

To say “Where is the ______” say ______ wa Doko desu ka?

Example 1. Where is the bank? – Ginko wa doko desu ka?

Example 2. Where is the Park? Koen wa doko desu ka? Etc.

As always,
Ganbatte Ne!
Do Your Best
Makurasuki