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.
I'm going on a trip to Hokkaido next month.
Specifically a sightseeing trip. Emphasizes visiting tourist spots and landmarks.
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.
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.
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'.
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.
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.
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.
Traveling is my hobby.
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.
We took a pleasure trip to the mountains.
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.
天気がいいので、公園にピクニックに行こう。
The weather is nice, so let's go on a picnic to the park.
I traveled around Europe on my vacation trip.