Title: MiniCore Japanese-EN / Booster: Trains & the Rail Pass
Tags: MinicoreJapanese-EN booster-trains sentence vocab dialog-line dialog recognition

MinicoreJapanese: Midori no madoguchi wa doko desu ka.
Native: みどりの窓口はどこですか。
English: Where is the Green Window (JR ticket office)?
Literal: green window [topic] where is ?
Notes: midori no madoguchi — literally "the green window": JR's staffed ticket office, in every sizable station. This is where passes get exchanged, seats get reserved, and complicated itineraries get solved by a professional. When in doubt, start here.

MinicoreJapanese: Kyoto made, onegaishimasu.
Native: 京都まで、お願いします。
English: To Kyoto, please.
Literal: Kyoto until, please
Notes: The whole ticket purchase is Lesson 6's made plus Lesson 1's onegaishimasu — destination in, ticket out. Everything else at the window is refinement:

MinicoreJapanese: Shiteiseki, onegaishimasu.
Native: 指定席、お願いします。
English: A reserved seat, please.
Literal: reserved-seat, please
Notes: shiteiseki — a reserved seat: your name on a specific seat on a specific train. With a rail pass these are free — reserve every time (see the behavior notes).

MinicoreJapanese: Jiyuuseki wa ikura desu ka.
Native: 自由席はいくらですか。
English: How much is an unreserved seat?
Literal: unreserved-seat [topic] how-much is ?
Notes: jiyuuseki — the unreserved cars: cheaper, first-come, fine off-peak, a scrum at holidays. The shiteiseki / jiyuuseki pair is the single most useful distinction in Japanese rail travel.

MinicoreJapanese: Oufuku, onegaishimasu.
Native: 往復、お願いします。
English: Round trip, please.
Literal: round-trip, please
Notes: oufuku — round trip. Its partner:

MinicoreJapanese: Katamichi ga ii desu.
Native: 片道がいいです。
English: One-way is fine. / I'll take one-way.
Literal: one-way [ga] good is
Notes: katamichi — one-way, chosen with Lesson 5's preference frame. The window clerk will ask which you want; now you can answer either way.

MinicoreJapanese: Mado-gawa, onegaishimasu.
Native: 窓側、お願いします。
English: A window seat, please.
Literal: window-side, please
Notes: mado-gawa — window side. Reserving a seat triggers exactly one follow-up question, and this is one of its two answers. (Tokyo→Kyoto tip: Mt. Fuji is on the right.)

MinicoreJapanese: Tsuuro-gawa ga ii desu.
Native: 通路側がいいです。
English: I'd prefer the aisle.
Literal: aisle-side [ga] good is
Notes: tsuuro-gawa — aisle side, the other answer. Long ride and a fondness for coffee? This one.

MinicoreJapanese: Guriin-sha wa ikura desu ka.
Native: グリーン車はいくらですか。
English: How much is the Green Car (first class)?
Literal: green-car [topic] how-much is ?
Notes: guriin-sha — the Green Car, JR's first class: wider seats, deeper quiet. Standard passes don't cover it; the price of the upgrade is exactly one ikura away.

MinicoreJapanese: Kono densha, ii desu ka.
Native: この電車、いいですか。
English: Can I take this train (with the pass)? (pointing at the departure board or the train)
Literal: this train, good is ?
Notes: Pass in one hand, pointing with the other — Lesson 7's permission frame settles coverage before you board, which beats a conductor conversation after. Ask it at the gate, the madoguchi, or the platform staff.

MinicoreJapanese: Tokkyuu desu ka.
Native: 特急ですか。
English: Is this a limited express? (pointing at the board)
Literal: limited-express is ?
Notes: tokkyuu — limited express, the fast tier below the shinkansen. Most are pass-covered; the word also headlines departure boards, so recognizing it sorts the fast trains from the ones that stop everywhere.

MinicoreJapanese: Shinkansen de ikimasu.
Native: 新幹線で行きます。
English: I'm going by shinkansen.
Literal: shinkansen by go
Notes: shinkansen — the bullet train itself, riding Lesson 6's means-de. Announce it at a hotel desk and directions to the right station follow automatically.

MinicoreJapanese: Norikae wa doko desu ka.
Native: 乗り換えはどこですか。
English: Where do I transfer? / Where is the transfer?
Literal: transfer [topic] where is ?
Notes: norikae — the transfer, arguably the best noun in this pack. Big stations signpost transfers in English, but on a tight connection this word aimed at any uniform beats reading signs at a jog.

MinicoreJapanese: Homu wa doko desu ka.
Native: ホームはどこですか。
English: Where is the platform?
Literal: platform [topic] where is ?
Notes: homu — platform (from "platform," trimmed the Japanese way). Your ticket says the number; this question finds the stairs.

MinicoreJapanese: Eki-ben wa arimasu ka.
Native: 駅弁はありますか。
English: Do you have station bento?
Literal: station-bento [topic] exists ?
Notes: eki-ben — the station bento: regional, beautiful, engineered to be eaten on a train. Buy it on the platform or in the station before boarding — then see the behavior notes for the good news about eating it.

MinicoreJapanese: Kono nimotsu, ii desu ka.
Native: この荷物、いいですか。
English: Is this luggage okay (here)? (pointing at the rack or space)
Literal: this luggage, good is ?
Notes: nimotsu — luggage. Shinkansen overhead racks fit carry-ons; big suitcases have rules (behavior notes). Pointing plus the permission frame keeps you legal in any car.

MinicoreJapanese: Pasu, ii desu ka.
Native: パス、いいですか。
English: Is the pass okay? / Can I use the pass (here / for this)?
Literal: pass, good is ?
Notes: pasu — the rail pass, in the two-word question that makes it work. Pointed at a ticket gate, a train, a bus, a ferry — anything JR-adjacent — it asks "is this covered?" and gets you a hai or a redirect before mistakes get expensive. Memorize whole; deploy at every ambiguity.

MinicoreJapanese: shinkansen
Native: 新幹線
English: bullet train
Notes: *Shinkansen de ikimasu.*

MinicoreJapanese: shiteiseki
Native: 指定席
English: reserved seat
Notes: free with a pass — always reserve

MinicoreJapanese: jiyuuseki
Native: 自由席
English: unreserved seat
Notes: first-come cars

MinicoreJapanese: guriin-sha
Native: グリーン車
English: Green Car (first class)
Notes: usually not pass-covered

MinicoreJapanese: midori no madoguchi
Native: みどりの窓口
English: JR ticket office
Notes: when in doubt, start here

MinicoreJapanese: pasu
Native: パス
English: (rail) pass
Notes: *Pasu, ii desu ka.*

MinicoreJapanese: norikae
Native: 乗り換え
English: transfer
Notes: *Norikae wa doko desu ka.*

MinicoreJapanese: homu
Native: ホーム
English: platform
Notes: the ticket has the number

MinicoreJapanese: eki-ben
Native: 駅弁
English: station bento
Notes: buy before boarding

MinicoreJapanese: nimotsu
Native: 荷物
English: luggage
Notes: *Kono nimotsu, ii desu ka.*

MinicoreJapanese: tokkyuu
Native: 特急
English: limited express
Notes: headline word on departure boards

MinicoreJapanese: katamichi
Native: 片道
English: one-way
Notes: *Katamichi ga ii desu.*

MinicoreJapanese: oufuku
Native: 往復
English: round trip
Notes: *Oufuku, onegaishimasu.*

MinicoreJapanese: mado-gawa
Native: 窓側
English: window side
Notes: Fuji is on the right, going west

MinicoreJapanese: tsuuro-gawa
Native: 通路側
English: aisle side
Notes: the coffee-drinker's seat

MinicoreJapanese: Kippu o haiken itashimasu.
Native: 切符を拝見いたします。
English: tickets, please
Notes: hold up the pass — no words needed

MinicoreJapanese: Mamonaku, san-ban-sen ni densha ga mairimasu.
Native: まもなく、三番線に電車がまいります。
English: train arriving at platform 3
Notes: step behind the painted line

MinicoreJapanese: At the green window
Notes: Traveler: Sumimasen. Kyoto made, onegaishimasu.
Excuse me — to Kyoto, please.
[excuse-me. Kyoto until, please]
Clerk: Hai. Shinkansen desu ka.
Certainly. By shinkansen?
[yes. shinkansen is ?]
Traveler: Hai. Shiteiseki, onegaishimasu. Pasu, ii desu ka.
Yes. A reserved seat, please — is the pass okay? (showing it)
[yes. reserved-seat, please. pass, good is ?]
Clerk: Hai, daijoubu desu. Mado-gawa desu ka.
Yes, that's fine. Window side?
[yes, fine is. window-side is ?]
Traveler: Hai, mado-gawa, onegaishimasu.
Yes — window side, please.
[yes, window-side, please]
Clerk: Juu-ji no densha desu. Ni-ban homu desu.
The 10:00 train, platform 2.
[10:00 of train is. number-two platform is]
Traveler: Norikae wa arimasu ka.
Is there a transfer?
[transfer [topic] exists ?]
Clerk: Iie, arimasen.
No, there isn't.
[no, exists-not]
Traveler: Arigatou gozaimasu.
Thank you.
[thank you (full polite form)]

MinicoreJapanese: Sumimasen. Kyoto made, onegaishimasu.
Native: すみません。京都まで、お願いします。
English: Excuse me — to Kyoto, please.
Literal: excuse-me. Kyoto until, please

MinicoreJapanese: Hai. Shinkansen desu ka.
Native: はい。新幹線ですか。
English: Certainly. By shinkansen?
Literal: yes. shinkansen is ?

MinicoreJapanese: Hai. Shiteiseki, onegaishimasu. Pasu, ii desu ka.
Native: はい。指定席、お願いします。パス、いいですか。
English: Yes. A reserved seat, please — is the pass okay? (showing it)
Literal: yes. reserved-seat, please. pass, good is ?

MinicoreJapanese: Hai, daijoubu desu. Mado-gawa desu ka.
Native: はい、大丈夫です。窓側ですか。
English: Yes, that's fine. Window side?
Literal: yes, fine is. window-side is ?

MinicoreJapanese: Hai, mado-gawa, onegaishimasu.
Native: はい、窓側、お願いします。
English: Yes — window side, please.
Literal: yes, window-side, please

MinicoreJapanese: Juu-ji no densha desu. Ni-ban homu desu.
Native: 十時の電車です。二番ホームです。
English: The 10:00 train, platform 2.
Literal: 10:00 of train is. number-two platform is

MinicoreJapanese: Norikae wa arimasu ka.
Native: 乗り換えはありますか。
English: Is there a transfer?
Literal: transfer [topic] exists ?

MinicoreJapanese: Train scripts
Notes: Conductor: Kippu o haiken itashimasu.
Tickets, please. (the conductor's rounds) → hold up your pass or ticket; no words needed
[ticket [obj] inspect (humble)]
Announcement: Mamonaku, san-ban-sen ni densha ga mairimasu.
A train is arriving shortly at platform 3. → mamonaku again — step behind the line
[soon, number-three-track [ni] train [ga] comes (polite)]

MinicoreJapanese: The transfer question
Notes: Traveler: Sumimasen. Norikae wa doko desu ka.
Excuse me — where do I transfer?
[excuse-me. transfer [topic] where is ?]
Clerk: Nagoya de zairaisen ni onorikae kudasai. Norikae jikan wa happun de, go-ban homu kara no hassha to narimasu.
Transfer at Nagoya to the local line; you have eight minutes, departing from platform 5.
[(too fast — that's the point)]
Traveler: Sumimasen. Kaite kudasai.
Sorry — please write it down.
[excuse-me. write-it, please]
Clerk: Nagoya desu. Go-ban homu desu. Hai, douzo.
(writing) Nagoya. Platform 5. Here you are.
[Nagoya is. number-five platform is. here-you-are]

MinicoreJapanese: Sumimasen. Norikae wa doko desu ka.
Native: すみません。乗り換えはどこですか。
English: Excuse me — where do I transfer?
Literal: excuse-me. transfer [topic] where is ?

MinicoreJapanese: Nagoya de zairaisen ni onorikae kudasai. Norikae jikan wa happun de, go-ban homu kara no hassha to narimasu.
Native: 名古屋で在来線にお乗り換えください。乗り換え時間は八分で、五番ホームからの発車となります。
English: Transfer at Nagoya to the local line; you have eight minutes, departing from platform 5.
Literal: (too fast — that's the point)

MinicoreJapanese: Nagoya desu. Go-ban homu desu. Hai, douzo.
Native: 名古屋です。五番ホームです。はい、どうぞ。
English: (writing) Nagoya. Platform 5. Here you are.
Literal: Nagoya is. number-five platform is. here-you-are