How do you say good evening in Japan?

When visiting Japan, making an effort to learn a few basic Japanese phrases can go a long way in showing respect for the culture and people. While not knowing 'good evening' in Japanese might not be crucial, understanding basic customs like bowing or using formal language (keigo) can significantly improve your interactions with locals. For example, saying 'konnichiwa' (hello) or 'ohayou gozaimasu' (good morning) demonstrates consideration for the cultural norms. However, even a simple 'konbanwa' (good evening) will be appreciated as an attempt to communicate in the local language.

In Japan, when meeting someone for the first time, especially if they've traveled from afar, it's customary to use a polite greeting that acknowledges their journey. A fitting phrase could be 'irasshaimase' (, lit. 'entrance welcome') or 'ohayou gozaimasu' (, lit. 'good day'), depending on the time of day. For those who have just arrived in the evening, a suitable response to 'konnichiwa' (, hello) could be 'konbanwa' (, good evening), which literally translates to 'evening greeting'.

While it's understandable to want to use a familiar greeting, using a casual phrase like 'hi, how are you?' might come across as too informal in Japan. Instead, consider using more formal greetings such as '' (ohayou gozaimasu) for morning, '' (konbanwa) for evening, or '' (okyaku-sama) which is a more general greeting suitable for most situations. Additionally, when responding to someone's greeting with 'hi' in Japan, it's common to use the word 'saihai' (ohayou gozaimasu) instead of a casual 'hi'.