Translation guide
A trip taken for enjoyment, relaxation, or sightseeing rather than business or obligation.
A trip taken for fun, sightseeing, or relaxation.
The most common and general word for travel or a trip, including pleasure trips. Can be used for both domestic and international travel.
来月、北海道に旅行に行きます。
I'm going on a trip to Hokkaido next month.
Specifically a sightseeing trip. Emphasizes visiting tourist spots and landmarks.
京都へ観光旅行に行く予定です。
I plan to go on a sightseeing trip to Kyoto.
A trip for fun or play, often used in casual contexts. Less common than 旅行.
友達と遊び旅行に出かけた。
I went on a fun trip with friends.
A brief trip for enjoyment, often a day trip or short getaway.
A short trip or excursion, often a day trip or overnight trip to a nearby place.
週末に箱根へ小旅行に行きませんか。
How about a short trip to Hakone this weekend?
An excursion or outing, often used for school trips or group outings. Can imply a day trip for pleasure.
A picnic, often a short outdoor pleasure trip involving food. Borrowed from English.
A longer trip taken for relaxation, often during holidays.
Vacation, often implying a longer, relaxing trip, typically to a resort or overseas. Borrowed from French 'vacances'.
夏はハワイでバカンスを楽しみたい。
I want to enjoy a vacation in Hawaii this summer.
A trip taken during one's vacation or leave from work. More formal and less common in casual speech.
A trip by car taken for enjoyment rather than necessity.
A drive taken for pleasure, often a day trip by car. Very common in Japanese.
日曜日に海までドライブに行った。
I went for a drive to the sea on Sunday.
A road trip or driving trip, combining 'drive' and 'travel'. Used for longer car trips.
夏休みに家族でドライブ旅行をした。
We went on a road trip as a family during summer vacation.
旅行 is the general term for travel and can include business trips, but in context it often implies a pleasure trip. 観光旅行 explicitly means sightseeing trip and is used when the main purpose is visiting tourist attractions.
旅行が趣味です。
Traveling is my hobby.
観光旅行で京都の寺を巡った。
I toured Kyoto's temples on a sightseeing trip.
The direct translation '娯楽旅行' (ごらくりょこう) is rarely used and sounds unnatural. Use 旅行 or 観光旅行 instead.
私たちは山へ旅行に行きました。
We took a pleasure trip to the mountains.
彼女は週末の小旅行を楽しんでいます。
She enjoys short pleasure trips on weekends.
子供たちは遠足で動物園に行った。
The children went on an excursion to the zoo.
The weather is nice, so let's go on a picnic to the park.
休暇旅行でヨーロッパを回った。
I traveled around Europe on my vacation trip.