観光
kankō[kã̠ŋko̞ː]
Sightseeing in Japanese is 観光 (kankō). Wiktionary also lists 見物 (kenbutsu) and サイトシーイング (saitoshīingu).
Meaning: tourism (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 観光 | kankō | [kã̠ŋko̞ː] (narrow) |
| 見物 | kenbutsu | [kẽ̞mbɯ̟t͡sɨ] (narrow) [mʲimo̞no̞] (narrow) |
| サイトシーイング | saitoshīingu |
The standard word for tourism or sightseeing is 観光. You can use it to refer to the activity of tourism in general, such as when discussing 'tourist attractions' or 'tourist visas'. To describe a specific location or area that is a destination for sightseeing, use the term 観光地.
Which one should you use?
観光 is the standard term for tourism and sightseeing. 見物 is another way to express the concept. Additionally, the English loanword サイトシーイング is used in Japanese, although it is less common in daily conversation than the native terms.
How do you pronounce it?
kankō
Did you know?
- When visiting religious sites like Shinto shrines, using the word 観光 can actually sound slightly disrespectful to locals, as it implies you are only there for entertainment.
- While 観光 is used for travel, the word 見物 (kenbutsu) is frequently used to describe 'rubbernecking' at a car accident or a street fight.
- The term 観光客 (kankōkyaku) uses the character 客, which can mean 'guest', reflecting a cultural emphasis on the hospitality shown to visitors.
Examples in context
- 観光ビザを取りたいのですが。I want to get a sightseeing visa.This sentence is useful for expressing a desire to obtain a visa for the purpose of 観光.Tatoeba #183804 by small_snow, translation #20927 by CK
- カナダは観光にはすばらしい所だ。Canada is a great place for sightseeing.This sentence is useful for describing a country as a great place for 観光.Tatoeba #226294 by arnab, translation #63634 by CN
- 観光地では地元ならではのものを食べたい。I want to eat some local food where we're sightseeing.This sentence is useful for expressing a desire to eat local food in a 観光 area.Tatoeba #11025020 by bunbuku, translation #11502077 by pip
- 名所を巡るときは、地元の人におすすめを聞くと良いですよ。When going around famous places, it's good to ask the locals for recommendations.
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Misaki and Ren are planning their trip to Kyoto.
- 美咲 Misaki京都で観光するなら、どこが良いかな？Kyoto de kankō suru nara, doko ga ii kana?If we're doing some sightseeing in Kyoto, where would be good?
- 蓮 Renやっぱり、金閣寺は外せないと思うよ。Yappari, Kinkakuji wa hazusenai to omou yo.I think Kinkakuji is a must-see, after all.
- 美咲 Misakiそうだね。観光客が多くて混んでるかな？Sō da ne. Kankōkyaku ga ōkute konderu kana?True. I wonder if it'll be crowded with tourists?
- 蓮 Ren朝早くに行けば大丈夫だと思うよ。Asa hayaku ni ikeba daijōbu da to omou yo.I think it'll be fine if we go early in the morning.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sightseeing” translations and entries 観光, 見物, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
