How to Say "Is That" in Japanese

あれは

are wa

The Japanese phrase for "is that" is あれは (are wa).

あれは is a phrase used to ask for the identity of something that is located far away from both the speaker and the listener.

Which one should you use?

While あれは refers to something over there (far from both people), the phrase それは is used when referring to an object that is near the listener.

are wa

The word あれ is often used as a filler word, similar to saying 'um' or 'er' in English, when someone is trying to remember a name or a fact.
The phrase あれは can be used to refer to a past event or a situation that is no longer happening, treating the memory as a distant object.
When using あれは to point to a person, it is considered quite blunt or rude. To be polite, speakers use the more formal version あの方は to refer to 'that person'.

あれはトムの？
Is that Tom's?
This example shows how to use あれは to ask if something belongs to Tom.
Tatoeba #3496705 by arnab, translation #2244575 by CK
あれは鳥なの？
Is that a bird?
This example uses あれは to ask if something is a bird.
Tatoeba #8732923 by bunbuku, translation #4747435 by AlanF_US
あれは犬かな？
Is that a dog?
This example uses あれは to wonder if something is a dog.
Tatoeba #8738070 by bunbuku, translation #5350443 by mailohilohi
それ、本？
Is that a book?
24 more sentences on Tatoeba

Two siblings are looking at a distant mountain on a clear day.

陽太 Yota

あれは富士山かな？
Are wa Fujisan kana?
Is that Mount Fuji, I wonder?
陽葵 Himari

そうだよ、陽太君！
Sou da yo, Youta-kun!
It is, Youta!
陽太 Yota

すごく大きいね。
Sugoku ookii ne.
It's really big.
陽葵 Himari

本当だね、陽葵もびっくりだよ。
Hontou da ne, Himari mo bikkuri da yo.
It really is, even Himari is surprised.

Sources

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