What is the greeting that is heard when entring restaurants and stores in Japan? -

Unlike the USA in Japan it seems like everywhere you go someone is greeting you when you walk into a restaurant or shop. I would like to know what the greeting is in Japanese and if posssible what it translates to in English. Also, what is the proper response if any?

Perhaps you mean いらっしゃいませ (irasshaimase)? It just means quot;welcome!quot; I don t really think a response is needed because it s not really a thing you can respond to, now is it? Maybe if you feel guilty about not knowing how to respond, a bow of the head in their direction will work for you.

ENGLISH JAPANESE How do you do? Hajime-mashite How are you? O-genki-desu-ka? Good morning Ohayo gozai-masu Good afternoon Kon-nichi-wa Good evening Komban-wa Good night Oyasumi-nasai Goodbye Sayo-nara ENGLISH JAPANESE Thank you Arigato You re welcome Do-itashi-mashite Excuse me Sumi-masen I m sorry Gomen-nasai Please (When offering something) Do-zo Please (When requesting something) Kudasai Do you understand? Wakari-masu-ka? Yes Hai No Ii-e What is this? Kore-wa nan-desu-ka? How much? Ikura-desu-ka? Where is the toilet? Toire-wa doko-desu-ka?

Irrashimashe or something similar, it is a traditional greeting, a slight bow would be a good response.

Irashaimase (いらしゃいませ）Welcome As far as I know the most natural response is to ignore it!

yea as all answers say its irashaimase (means Welcome) and then maybe they gonna ask how many( Nanmei sama desuka?)? as American restaurants do.(I think they understand numbers in english like one or two etc...lol) You don t have to be very friendly or overy nice at entrance...Japan s such a busy country ,no one has time to pay so much attention to anyway, so don t worry about that. I m jap whos living US and i think there is no such a big defference about walkin into . And U don t need to tip. yeah!!^^

irrashaimase and a slight bow

The word is quot; IRASSHAIMASE quot; . It means WELCOME All resto, clubs, shop..any establishments that deals with customers or clients say this word. Possible reply can be quot;hai, domo!quot;

The greeting you hear is quot;irashaimasequot; which means welcome in Japanese. You don t have to respond.

Irasshaimase. It means quot;welcome!quot; you don t need to respond to it, or if you want to, just smile and say quot;dohmoquot;(hi)

quot;Shang-Hiquot; maybe?

itterasshai

yes, it is irrashaimashe it means welcome. i gues you dont have to respond. cos the japanese is very kind. maybe a quick smile is enough. i once came in to a store and the cashier says irashaimashe lots of time cos the guest who came in to the store is many, but that is the japanese.