Translation guide
Expresses the act of traveling to Japan from the perspective of someone already in Japan or from a neutral standpoint. The most natural Japanese depends on the speaker's location and relationship to the listener.
To say that someone is coming to Japan, typically from the perspective of someone in Japan.
Standard phrase using 来る (くる, to come). Use when the speaker is in Japan or when the movement is toward the speaker's location.
My friend is coming to Japan next month.
Formal or written expression meaning 'to visit Japan'. Often used in news or official contexts.
The president came to Japan.
Honorific form of 来る, used when speaking about someone of higher status coming to Japan.
The teacher is coming to Japan.
To say that someone is coming to Japan when the speaker is not in Japan. Japanese typically uses 行く (いく, to go) instead of 来る.
Use 行く when the movement is away from the speaker. If you are outside Japan, say '日本に行く' for 'coming to Japan'.
Using 来る when the speaker is not in Japan sounds unnatural. Always consider the speaker's location.
I'm coming to Japan next year.
To emphasize that it is someone's first visit to Japan.
Add 初めて (はじめて, for the first time) before the location.
He came to Japan for the first time.
To invite someone to come to Japan or to express a desire for them to come.
In Japanese, the choice between 来る (come) and 行く (go) depends on the speaker's location relative to the destination. If you are in Japan, use 来る. If you are outside Japan, use 行く even if English would use 'come'. This is a common mistake for learners.
I'm coming to Japan next month. (speaker currently outside Japan)
My friend is coming to Japan next month. (speaker in Japan)