Translation guide
In Japanese, how you refer to 'visitors' depends on the context: guests at home, customers at a business, tourists, or attendees at an event. The most common and versatile word is お客さん (おきゃくさん), which can mean guest, customer, or visitor. For tourists, 観光客 (かんこうきゃく) is standard. In formal or business settings, 来訪者 (らいほうしゃ) is used. Note that Japanese often uses specific terms based on the relationship and situation rather than a single generic word.
ここには多くの観光客が訪れます。
Many tourists visit here.
Referring to people who visit a home, shop, or establishment in a general sense.
Polite and common word for guest, customer, or visitor. Used in homes, shops, and many everyday situations.
今日はお客さんが来る。
We have visitors coming today.
お客さんがたくさん来た。
Many visitors came.
More formal and respectful than お客さん. Used in business settings, such as by staff addressing customers.
Plain word for guest or customer. Can sound blunt or impersonal; often used in compounds or written language.
客の入りが悪い。
The number of visitors/customers is low.
Referring to people visiting a place for sightseeing or travel.
Referring to people who come to a company, school, hospital, etc., often for a specific purpose.
Referring to people who come to an exhibition, concert, conference, etc.
Used for visitors to a venue, such as an event, exhibition, or concert. Common in announcements and reports.
来場者数は1万人を超えた。
The number of visitors exceeded 10,000.
Referring to people who access a website or digital content.
お客さん is the everyday word for guests or customers, suitable for homes and shops. 来訪者 is formal and used in business or official settings, like office visitors. Using お客さん in a formal business report would sound too casual.
家にお客さんが来た。
A visitor came to the house.
来訪者用の駐車場があります。
There is parking for visitors.
English 'visitor' can be translated many ways. Using a generic word like ビジター (bijitā) is possible but often sounds unnatural or limited to specific contexts (e.g., sports teams). Choose the word that fits the situation.
その博物館には昨日500人の来場者があった。
The museum had 500 visitors yesterday.
ここにはあまりお客さんが来ない。
We don't get many visitors out here.
お客様、いらっしゃいませ。
Welcome, honored guests.
Standard word for tourist or sightseer. Used for visitors to a city, landmark, or country.
京都には多くの観光客が訪れる。
Many tourists visit Kyoto.
観光客向けの地図をもらった。
I got a map for tourists.
Means traveler or tourist. Slightly broader, can include people on any kind of trip.
旅行者が増えている。
The number of travelers is increasing.
Formal term for a visitor, often used in business or official contexts. Implies someone coming to a specific location.
来訪者は受付で名前を記入してください。
Visitors, please sign in at the reception.
Also means visitor, with a nuance of paying a visit. Common in formal contexts, similar to 来訪者 but slightly more general.
訪問者は事前に予約が必要です。
Visitors need to make a reservation in advance.
Refers to a visitor or caller, often used in business settings. Can be used for guests arriving at a company.
今日は来客の予定が入っている。
I have a visitor scheduled today.
We thank all the visitors.
Specifically refers to people entering a venue, often used for paid events or attractions.
入場者数は制限されています。
The number of visitors is limited.
Commonly used for website visitors in analytics and IT contexts.
今月の訪問者数は増加した。
The number of visitors this month increased.
Often used for users or visitors in a digital context, especially for apps or services.
新規ユーザーが増えている。
New visitors/users are increasing.
ビジターチーム
visiting team (sports)
ビジターチーム
visiting team (sports)