5 useful words for travelling in Japan
look here.
I dare say it would be better to have more than 5 words, but 5 is better than none!
OK editing this with comments below to form the completely unofficial Boardworld Japanese Phrasebook:
Konichiwa (hello)
Sayonara (good bye)
Sumimasen (excuse me/sorry) useful for getting off trains or attracting an somebodys attention
Arrigato (thank you)
Hai (yes/ok)
Kudasai (please)
Oishii (describing food as delicious, I used this a lot and it was well received)
Mizu (water)
“edamame onegai shimas” (i’ll have green soy beans please!”)
“o-kanjo onegai shimasu” (I’d like the bill/check please)
sugoi (amazing)
Domo (when in informal situations for Thank You)
Kore Wa Oishidesu (appreciation of good food)
Mata-ne (See Ya Later)
Doitashimashte (You’re Welcome)
Kore [pronounced “ko-ray”] (this)
Doko (where)
Wakarimasen (I don’t understand)
Nomi-h?dai (all you can drink)
That’s quite a strange top 5 they have picked based on my experience in Japan (where I try to converse in my limited Japanese as much as possible)
My most used words would probably be
Konichiwa (hello)
Sayonara (good bye)
Sumimasen (excuse me/sorry) useful for getting off trains or attracting an somebodys attention
Arrigato (thank you)
Hai (yes/ok)
Kudasai (please)
Oishii (describing food as delicious, I used this a lot and it was well received)
Mizu (water)
There’s quite a few more words you just pick up during your travels. I’m sure your most used words differ from person to person i.e Billy probably uses Biru (beer) and Kanpai (cheers) a lot!
To be honest you could get around Japan purely with English and the universal hand gestures but I think it’s polite to make an effort.
3 of those words in your list were covered in that article, drc! Anyway, I’m not disagreeing. I have travelled in Japan and if you add both those lists together I reckon you’d be pretty well covered.
Hmm I can only see two that are part of the “top 5”? Kudasai and Sumimasen
I can’t say I’ve ever needed to use Kore, Doko or Wakarimasen certainly much less than hello, goodbye and thank you. 
Arrigato is also covered in the text outside the 5 words (basically they assume everyone already knows this)
I think their list is still useful as it adds “this”, “where” and “I don’t understand”.
Haha! Yep Dave! Definitely uttered those words once or twice!!!
And “edamame onegai shimas” (i’ll have green soy beans please!”)
Also “o-kanjo onegai shimasu” is a good one (I’d like the bill/check please)
Man, I miss Japan. Countdown begins again!
I often said sugoi. Which means amazing. I picked it up from the lady who ran the hotel we stayed at. We called her mumma-san. She picked up my apres-snow boots once and started hugging them saying “sugoi sugoi”. I had to look that word up haha.
As for my most used words I agree with Dave… that top 5 list is helpful too.
I just use Domo when in informal situations for Thank You!!!!!
Kore Wa Oishidesu for appreciation of good food!!!!!
Matinee for See Ya Later!!!!!
Dozo is good for ushering people past you, and I also use a mix of others that have already been mentioned!!!!!
I get a real buzz outta “trying” to talk the native tongue!!!!!
Oh, and Doitashimashte!!!!! You’re Welcome!!!!!
I get a real buzz outta “trying” to talk the native tongue!!!!!
+1
Matinee for See Ya Later!!!!!
Dozo is good for ushering people past you
Ahh yes I used Dozo a couple of times when offering my seat or in lifts.
Matinee will be handy to know I was looking for a less formal “goodbye”
matinee is a movie (in english)
mata-ne (is see you again in japanese)
matinee is a movie (in english)
mata-ne (is see you again in japanese)
I didn’t say that I knew how to spell anythin!!!!! I even struggle with that when it comes to my own language!!!!!
And I think “Matinee” is French for a movie/play around midday!!!!!
My five most useful words I used in Japan were “Do you speak any English?”
My five most useful words I used in Japan were “Do you speak any English?”
Well bookmark this thread and you’ll have no excuses when you next visit!
check out first post - aggregated all the comments into that one for handy reference. Feel free to add more.