Translation guide
A stopover is a short stay in a place during a journey, often between flights or on a road trip. In Japanese, the most common way to express this is 途中下車 (tochu gesha) for trains or ストップオーバー (sutoppuōbā) for flights. The choice depends on the mode of transport and whether you're emphasizing the break in travel or the place itself.
To refer to a stopover as a pause or short stay during a trip, without specifying transport.
Literally 'getting off midway'. Commonly used for train travel, but can be used more broadly for any journey where you stop and get off a vehicle. It emphasizes the act of interrupting the journey.
東京から大阪まで行く途中、名古屋で途中下車した。
On the way from Tokyo to Osaka, I made a stopover in Nagoya.
Means 'stopping by' or 'dropping in'. It's more casual and implies a brief visit, often to a place of interest, rather than just a transport break.
旅行の途中で温泉に立ち寄った。
We made a stopover at a hot spring during our trip.
Loanword from English, used mainly for flights. It's understood in travel contexts but sounds a bit technical.
この航空券はストップオーバーが可能ですか？
Is a stopover possible with this ticket?
Specifically for air travel, when you have a layover or planned stop between flights.
The standard term in the airline industry. Used for intentional stops of more than 24 hours on an international ticket.
シンガポールで1泊のストップオーバーを入れました。
I included a one-night stopover in Singapore.
Means 'transit' or 'connection'. It's more general and can refer to any change of planes, but if the stop is very short, it's not really a stopover. Use this for layovers of a few hours.
乗り継ぎでドバイに6時間滞在した。
I had a 6-hour stopover in Dubai during my connection.
Literally 'disembarking midway'. A formal term used in airline rules, similar to stopover but less common in everyday speech.
途中降機は追加料金がかかります。
Stopovers incur an additional fee.
Referring to the location where you stop, rather than the act of stopping.
Means 'place to stop by'. It's a natural way to refer to a stopover point on a trip.
次の立ち寄り先はどこですか？
Where is the next stopover?
Means 'transit point' or 'waypoint'. Often used in itineraries or when discussing routes.
経由地で一泊する予定です。
We plan to stay overnight at the stopover point.
途中下車 (tochū gesha) focuses on the act of getting off a vehicle during a journey, while 立ち寄り (tachiyori) emphasizes visiting a place briefly. Use 途中下車 when the stop is part of a longer train or bus trip; use 立ち寄り when you're making a detour to see something.
ストップオーバー is only natural for flights. For trains, use 途中下車. Using ストップオーバー for a train stop sounds odd.