Translation guide
A travel guide can refer to a book, a person, or a digital resource that provides information for travelers. This entry covers how to express these concepts naturally in Japanese.
旅行ガイド
travel guide (book)
A book or publication with travel information, maps, and recommendations.
The most common and general term for a travel guidebook. Often used for both printed and digital guides.
旅行ガイドを買って、計画を立てた。
I bought a travel guide and made a plan.
A common loanword for guidebook, often used interchangeably with 旅行ガイド. Slightly more specific to books.
このガイドブックには、おすすめのレストランが載っている。
This guidebook lists recommended restaurants.
A more formal or literary term for a travel guidebook. Less common in everyday speech.
図書館で古い旅行案内書を見つけた。
I found an old travel guidebook in the library.
A person who leads or advises travelers, such as a professional guide.
Can also mean a person who guides travelers. Context usually clarifies whether it's a book or a person.
旅行ガイドが歴史について詳しく説明してくれた。
The travel guide explained the history in detail.
Specifically a tour guide, often for group tours. More precise than 旅行ガイド when referring to a person.
ツアーガイドが旗を持って先頭を歩いた。
The tour guide walked at the front holding a flag.
A more traditional or formal term for a guide, often used for local guides or in historical contexts.
A website, app, or digital resource providing travel information.
Also used for digital guides. The context (e.g., アプリ, サイト) makes it clear.
この旅行ガイドアプリはオフラインでも使える。
This travel guide app works offline too.
Literally 'travel information site', used for websites that serve as travel guides.
旅行情報サイトで口コミをチェックした。
I checked reviews on a travel guide website.
旅行ガイド is the most versatile, covering both books and people. ガイドブック is strictly a book. ツアーガイド is strictly a person leading a tour. Use context to clarify.
旅行ガイドを読む (book) / 旅行ガイドに聞く (person)
read a travel guide / ask a travel guide
案内人 sounds formal or old-fashioned. In modern conversation, ガイド or ツアーガイド is preferred for a person.
A local guide showed us the mountain path.