Japanese Location Words: 40+ Essentials (上, 下, 中, 前...)

Ever tried to tell someone in Japanese where your keys are? Or explain how to find the bathroom? You quickly realize that "over there" and "that way" only get you so far.

Japanese doesn't really use prepositions the way English does. Instead, it uses location words (called 位置名詞いちめいし - positional nouns) combined with particles to show spatial relationships.

The good news? Once you learn the pattern, you can describe the location of anything with precision. The challenge? There are over 40 common location words to know, and they all work slightly differently depending on context.

This guide will teach you every essential Japanese location word, how to use them naturally, and give you real examples you can start using today.

Complete Location Words Table

Here's a comprehensive reference table of all the location words we'll cover:

Table of Contents

• The Basic Pattern: How Location Words Work
• Core Location Words (The Essential Six)
• Directional Location Words
• Relative Position Words
• Distance and Proximity Words
• Special Location Expressions
• Using Location Words with Different Particles
• Movement vs. Static Location
• Common Patterns and Constructions
• Real-World Conversation Examples
• Practice Scenarios

The Basic Pattern: How Location Words Work

In English, we say "on the table" or "in the box" — the preposition comes before the noun.

In Japanese, the pattern is reversed:

[Reference Point] + の + [Location Word] + に + [Thing/Action]

机つくえの上うえに本ほんがあります。
Tsukue no ue ni hon ga arimasu.
"There is a book on the desk."
(Literally: "Desk's top-surface at book exists")

Breaking Down the Pattern

の (no) — Connects the reference point to the location word (like "of" or "'s")
Location Word — Describes the spatial relationship
に (ni) — Marks the location where something exists or happens
あります/います — "exists" (あります for objects, います for living things)

Important Grammar Note

Location words in Japanese are actually nouns, not prepositions. That's why they need の to connect to another noun and に to mark them as locations.

Think of 上うえ (ue) not as "on" but as "the top surface" or "the upper part."

Core Location Words (The Essential Six)

These six location words form the foundation. Master these first, and you can describe most basic positions.

1. 上うえ (ue) — On, Above, Top

Meaning: The top surface or area above something

机つくえの上うえにコップがあります。
Tsukue no ue ni koppu ga arimasu.
"There is a cup on the desk."

空そらに星ほしが見みえます。
Sora ni hoshi ga miemasu.
"You can see stars in the sky."

棚たなの一いち番ばん上うえに箱はこがあります。
Tana no ichiban ue ni hako ga arimasu.
"There's a box on the very top shelf."

Usage Notes:

• Use for physical contact with a surface OR for things floating/hovering above
• Can also mean "more than" in quantity: 三さん十じゅう歳さい以い上じょう (30 years old or more)

2. 下した (shita) — Under, Below, Beneath

Meaning: The bottom surface or area beneath something

机つくえの下したに猫ねこがいます。
Tsukue no shita ni neko ga imasu.
"There is a cat under the desk."

橋はしの下したを川かわが流ながれています。
Hashi no shita o kawa ga nagarete imasu.
"A river flows under the bridge."

木きの下したで休やすみましょう。
Ki no shita de yasumimashō.
"Let's rest under the tree."

Usage Notes:

• Can mean physical underneath OR hierarchical "lower than"
• 以い下か means "below/less than" in quantities

3. 前まえ (mae) — In front of, Before

Meaning: The space in front of something; also used for "before" in time

駅えきの前まえで待まっています。
Eki no mae de matte imasu.
"I'm waiting in front of the station."

家いえの前まえに車くるまが止とまっています。
Ie no mae ni kuruma ga tomatte imasu.
"A car is parked in front of the house."

授じゅ業ぎょうの前まえにトイレに行いきます。
Jugyō no mae ni toire ni ikimasu.
"I go to the bathroom before class."

Usage Notes:

• Spatial "in front of" vs. temporal "before" — context determines meaning
• Can refer to the immediate front area or the general forward direction

4. 後うしろ (ushiro) — Behind, Back

Meaning: The space behind something; the rear area

Important: 後ろ has two readings:

• 後うしろ (ushiro) for spatial "behind"
• 後あと (ato) for temporal "after"

建物たてものの後うしろに駐車場ちゅうしゃじょうがあります。
Tatemono no ushiro ni chūshajō ga arimasu.
"There's a parking lot behind the building."

私わたしの後うしろに誰だれかいますか？
Watashi no ushiro ni dareka imasu ka?
"Is there someone behind me?"

山やまの後うしろに太たい陽ようが沈しずんでいます。
Yama no ushiro ni taiyō ga shizunde imasu.
"The sun is setting behind the mountain."

Usage Notes:

• Specifically refers to the back/rear position
• Different from 奥おく (oku) which means "deep inside" or "back interior"

5. 中なか (naka) — Inside, In, Within

Meaning: The interior or inside of something

箱はこの中なかに何なにが入はいっていますか？
Hako no naka ni nani ga haitte imasu ka?
"What's inside the box?"

冷蔵庫れいぞうこの中なかに牛乳ぎゅうにゅうがあります。
Reizōko no naka ni gyūnyū ga arimasu.
"There's milk in the refrigerator."

今いま電車でんしゃの中なかです。
Ima densha no naka desu.
"I'm inside the train right now."

Usage Notes:

• Can refer to physical interior or abstract "within" (like within a time period)
• Often used with 外そと (outside) as opposites

6. 外そと (soto) — Outside, Exterior

Meaning: The exterior or outside area of something

犬いぬは家いえの外そとにいます。
Inu wa ie no soto ni imasu.
"The dog is outside the house."

外そとは寒さむいですから、中なかに入はいりましょう。
Soto wa samui desu kara, naka ni hairimashō.
"It's cold outside, so let's go inside."

建たて物ものの外そとで写しゃ真しんを撮とりました。
Tatemono no soto de shashin o torimashita.
"I took photos outside the building."

Usage Notes:

• Can also mean "other than" or "excluding": 日に本ほん以い外がい (other than Japan)

Directional Location Words

These words describe position based on cardinal directions and sides.

右みぎ (migi) — Right (side)

信号しんごうを右みぎに曲まがってください。
Shingō o migi ni magatte kudasai.
"Please turn right at the traffic light."

私わたしの右みぎに座すわっているのは田た中なかさんです。
Watashi no migi ni suwatte iru no wa Tanaka-san desu.
"The person sitting to my right is Tanaka-san."

右側みぎがわに銀行ぎんこうが見みえます。
Migigawa ni ginkō ga miemasu.
"You can see a bank on the right side."

左ひだり (hidari) — Left (side)

次つぎの角かどを左ひだりに曲まがってください。
Tsugi no kado o hidari ni magatte kudasai.
"Please turn left at the next corner."

左ひだり手てにコンビニがあります。
Hidarite ni konbini ga arimasu.
"There's a convenience store on the left-hand side."

北きた (kita) — North

北きたの方ほうに山やまが見みえます。
Kita no hō ni yama ga miemasu.
"You can see mountains to the north."

駅えきは北きた口ぐちから出でてください。
Eki wa kitaguchi kara dete kudasai.
"Please exit from the north exit of the station."

南みなみ (minami) — South

南みなみの島しまに行いきたいです。
Minami no shima ni ikitai desu.
"I want to go to a southern island."

東ひがし (higashi) — East

東京とうきょうは日本にほんの東部とうぶにあります。
Tōkyō wa Nihon no tōbu ni arimasu.
"Tokyo is in the eastern part of Japan."

太たい陽ようは東ひがしから昇のぼります。
Taiyō wa higashi kara noborimasu.
"The sun rises from the east."

西にし (nishi) — West

西にしに向むかって歩あるいてください。
Nishi ni mukatte aruite kudasai.
"Please walk toward the west."

大おお阪さかは東とう京きょうの西にしにあります。
Ōsaka wa Tōkyō no nishi ni arimasu.
"Osaka is west of Tokyo."

Relative Position Words

These describe relationships between two or more objects.

横よこ (yoko) — Side, Next to, Beside

駅えきの横よこにスーパーがあります。
Eki no yoko ni sūpā ga arimasu.
"There's a supermarket next to the station."

彼かれの横よこに座すわってもいいですか？
Kare no yoko ni suwatte mo ii desu ka?
"May I sit next to him?"

横よこから見みるともっと大おおきく見みえます。
Yoko kara miru to motto ookiku miemasu.
"It looks bigger when viewed from the side."

Usage Notes:

• Emphasizes being alongside or parallel to something
• Different from となり which specifically means "next door" or "adjacent"

となり (tonari) — Next door, Adjacent, Neighboring

隣となりの部屋へやの人ひとはうるさいです。
Tonari no heya no hito wa urusai desu.
"The person in the next room is noisy."

私わたしの隣となりに座すわってください。
Watashi no tonari ni suwatte kudasai.
"Please sit next to me."

隣となりの席せきは空あいていますか？
Tonari no seki wa aite imasu ka?
"Is the seat next to this one available?"

Usage Notes:

• More specific than 横 — implies immediate adjacency
• Often used for neighbors: 隣となりの人ひと (next-door neighbor)

間あいだ (aida) — Between, Among

銀行ぎんこうは郵便局ゆうびんきょくとコンビニの間あいだにあります。
Ginkō wa yūbinkyoku to konbini no aida ni arimasu.
"The bank is between the post office and the convenience store."

木きの間あいだを歩あるくのが好すきです。
Ki no aida o aruku no ga suki desu.
"I like walking among the trees."

授業じゅぎょうの間あいだは静しずかにしてください。
Jugyō no aida wa shizuka ni shite kudasai.
"Please be quiet during class."

Usage Notes:

• Spatial "between/among" or temporal "during"
• When between two specific things, use と to connect them

向むこう (mukō) — Opposite side, Over there, Beyond

川かわの向むこうに橋はしが見みえます。
Kawa no mukō ni hashi ga miemasu.
"You can see a bridge on the other side of the river."

道みちの向むこう側がわにカフェがあります。
Michi no mukōgawa ni kafe ga arimasu.
"There's a café on the opposite side of the street."

向むこうから誰だれか来きています。
Mukō kara dareka kite imasu.
"Someone is coming from over there."

反はん対たい側がわ (hantaigawa) — Opposite side

駅えきの反はん対たい側がわにホテルがあります。
Eki no hantaigawa ni hoteru ga arimasu.
"There's a hotel on the opposite side of the station."

Distance and Proximity Words

近ちかく (chikaku) — Near, Close by, Vicinity

駅えきの近ちかくに住すんでいます。
Eki no chikaku ni sunde imasu.
"I live near the station."

この近ちかくにコンビニはありますか？
Kono chikaku ni konbini wa arimasu ka?
"Is there a convenience store near here?"

家いえの近ちかくに公こう園えんがあって便べん利りです。
Ie no chikaku ni kōen ga atte benri desu.
"There's a park near my house, which is convenient."

遠とおく (tōku) — Far, Distant

駅えきから遠とおくないです。
Eki kara tōku nai desu.
"It's not far from the station."

遠とおくに山やまが見みえます。
Tōku ni yama ga miemasu.
"You can see mountains in the distance."

そば (soba) — Right beside, Very close, Immediate vicinity

学校がっこうのそばに図書館としょかんがあります。
Gakkō no soba ni toshokan ga arimasu.
"There's a library right by the school."

私わたしのそばに来きてください。
Watashi no soba ni kite kudasai.
"Please come to my side."

Usage Notes:

• そば implies closer proximity than 近ちかく
• Literally means "buckwheat," but used as location word too

Special Location Expressions

奥おく (oku) — Back, Interior, Deep inside

店みせの奥おくにトイレがあります。
Mise no oku ni toire ga arimasu.
"The restroom is in the back of the store."

森もりの奥おくに小ちいさな家いえがあります。
Mori no oku ni chiisana ie ga arimasu.
"There's a small house deep in the forest."

Usage Notes:

• Different from 後うしろ — 奥おく emphasizes being deep inside or far back
• Often implies something hidden or less accessible

手て前まえ (temae) — Before, This side, Near side

駅えきの二につ手て前まえで降おりてください。
Eki no futatsu temae de orite kudasai.
"Please get off two stops before the station."

橋はしの手て前まえに信しん号ごうがあります。
Hashi no temae ni shingō ga arimasu.
"There's a traffic light just before the bridge."

先さき (saki) — Beyond, Further ahead, Tip

この先さきを真まっ直すぐ行いってください。
Kono saki o massugu itte kudasai.
"Please go straight ahead from here."

道みちの先さきに大おおきな建たて物ものが見みえます。
Michi no saki ni ōkina tatemono ga miemasu.
"You can see a large building further down the road."

端はし (hashi) — Edge, End, Corner

道みちの端はしを歩あるいてください。
Michi no hashi o aruite kudasai.
"Please walk along the edge of the road."

机つくえの端はしに置おいてください。
Tsukue no hashi ni oite kudasai.
"Please put it on the edge of the desk."

角かど (kado) — Corner (of a street/building)

次つぎの角かどを右みぎに曲まがってください。
Tsugi no kado o migi ni magatte kudasai.
"Please turn right at the next corner."

角かどの家いえが私わたしの家いえです。
Kado no ie ga watashi no ie desu.
"The house on the corner is my house."

隅すみ (sumi) — Corner (interior), Nook

部屋へやの隅すみに机つくえがあります。
Heya no sumi ni tsukue ga arimasu.
"There's a desk in the corner of the room."

隅すみから隅すみまで掃そう除じしました。
Sumi kara sumi made sōji shimashita.
"I cleaned from corner to corner (thoroughly)."

Note: 角かど is for external/street corners, 隅すみ is for internal/room corners

真まん中なか (mannaka) — Dead center, Right in the middle

部屋へやの真まん中なかにテーブルがあります。
Heya no mannaka ni tēburu ga arimasu.
"There's a table right in the middle of the room."

道みちの真まん中なかに立たたないでください。
Michi no mannaka ni tatanai de kudasai.
"Please don't stand in the middle of the road."

周まわり (mawari) — Around, Surroundings, Perimeter

駅えきの周まわりに店みせがたくさんあります。
Eki no mawari ni mise ga takusan arimasu.
"There are many shops around the station."

家いえの周まわりを散さん歩ぽしました。
Ie no mawari o sanpo shimashita.
"I took a walk around the house."

向むかい (mukai) — Across, Facing, Opposite

駅えきの向むかいに病びょう院いんがあります。
Eki no mukai ni byōin ga arimasu.
"There's a hospital across from the station."

彼かれは私わたしの向むかいに座すわっています。
Kare wa watashi no mukai ni suwatte imasu.
"He is sitting across from me."

Using Location Words with Different Particles

The particle you use with location words changes the meaning significantly.

With に (ni) — Static Location

Pattern: [Location] に + あります/います

Indicates where something exists or is located (no movement).

机つくえの上うえに本ほんがあります。
Tsukue no ue ni hon ga arimasu.
"There is a book on the desk."

箱はこの中なかに何なにがありますか？
Hako no naka ni nani ga arimasu ka?
"What's inside the box?"

With で (de) — Location of Action

Pattern: [Location] で + [Action verb]

Indicates where an action takes place.

図と書しょ館かんの中なかで勉べん強きょうします。
Toshokan no naka de benkyō shimasu.
"I study inside the library."

木きの下したで休やすみました。
Ki no shita de yasumimashita.
"I rested under the tree."

With を (o) — Movement Through/Past

Pattern: [Location] を + [Movement verb]

Indicates movement through, past, or away from a location.

橋はしの下したを通とおります。
Hashi no shita o toorimasu.
"I pass under the bridge."

角かどを右みぎに曲まがってください。
Kado o migi ni magatte kudasai.
"Please turn right at the corner."

With から (kara) — Starting Point

Indicates where something comes from or starts.

箱はこの中なかから猫ねこが出でてきました。
Hako no naka kara neko ga dete kimashita.
"A cat came out from inside the box."

右みぎから二に番ばん目めが私わたしです。
Migi kara ni-banme ga watashi desu.
"I'm the second from the right."

With へ (e) — Direction

Indicates direction of movement (often interchangeable with に for destinations).

前まえへ進すすんでください。
Mae e susunde kudasai.
"Please move forward."

右みぎへ曲まがります。
Migi e magarimasu.
"I turn to the right."

Want to learn more about these particles? Check our detailed guides:

• Complete Guide to Japanese Particles は・が・を・に・で
• に vs で: When to Use Which for Locations

Movement vs. Static Location

Understanding when to use に vs. で is crucial for location words.

Static Existence — Use に

When describing where something is or exists (no action).

本ほんは机つくえの上うえにあります。
Hon wa tsukue no ue ni arimasu.
"The book is on the desk."

猫ねこは椅い子すの下したにいます。
Neko wa isu no shita ni imasu.
"The cat is under the chair."

Action Location — Use で

When describing where an action takes place.

公こう園えんの中なかで遊あそびます。
Kōen no naka de asobimasu.
"I play in the park."

机つくえの上うえで勉べん強きょうします。
Tsukue no ue de benkyō shimasu.
"I study at the desk."

Comparison Examples

Static (に):
箱はこの中なかに鍵かぎがあります。
Hako no naka ni kagi ga arimasu.
"The key is in the box."

Action (で):
箱はこの中なかで何なにか音おとがします。
Hako no naka de nanika oto ga shimasu.
"There's some sound coming from inside the box."

Common Patterns and Constructions

Giving Directions Pattern

[Location Word] に/を + [Direction Verb]

次つぎの角かどを左ひだりに曲まがってください。
Tsugi no kado o hidari ni magatte kudasai.
"Please turn left at the next corner."

まっすぐ行いって、三さんつ目めの信しん号ごうを右みぎに曲まがってください。
Massugu itte, mittsu-me no shingō o migi ni magatte kudasai.
"Go straight and turn right at the third traffic light."

Asking "Where is...?" Pattern

[Question word] の [Location Word] に ありますか？

トイレはどこの近ちかくにありますか？
Toire wa doko no chikaku ni arimasu ka?
"Where (near what) is the restroom?"

駅えきの前まえに何なにがありますか？
Eki no mae ni nani ga arimasu ka?
"What is in front of the station?"

Describing Relative Position

[Object A] は [Object B] の [Location Word] にあります

コンビニは駅えきの横よこにあります。
Konbini wa eki no yoko ni arimasu.
"The convenience store is next to the station."

郵ゆう便びん局きょくは銀ぎん行こうの向むかいにあります。
Yūbinkyoku wa ginkō no mukai ni arimasu.
"The post office is across from the bank."

Combined Location Expressions

You can combine multiple location words for precision:

机つくえの右みぎ側がわの上うえ
Tsukue no migigawa no ue
"On the upper right side of the desk"

部屋へやの奥おくの左ひだりの隅すみ
Heya no oku no hidari no sumi
"The back left corner of the room"

Real-World Conversation Examples

At a Train Station

A: すみません、トイレはどこですか？
Sumimasen, toire wa doko desu ka?
"Excuse me, where is the restroom?"

B: この先さきを真まっ直すぐ行いって、階段かいだんの手て前まえの右みぎ側がわにあります。
Kono saki o massugu itte, kaidan no temae no migigawa ni arimasu.
"Go straight ahead, and it's on the right side just before the stairs."

Finding an Address

A: このレストランはどこにありますか？
Kono resutoran wa doko ni arimasu ka?
"Where is this restaurant?"

B: 駅えきを出でて左ひだりに曲まがってください。二につ目めの角かどを右みぎに曲まがると、左ひだり側がわにあります。
Eki o dete hidari ni magatte kudasai. Futatsu-me no kado o migi ni magaru to, hidarigawa ni arimasu.
"Exit the station and turn left. When you turn right at the second corner, it will be on your left side."

In an Office

A: 田た中なかさんはどこにいますか？
Tanaka-san wa doko ni imasu ka?
"Where is Tanaka-san?"

B: 会議室かいぎしつの向むかいの部屋へやにいます。
Kaigishitsu no mukai no heya ni imasu.
"He's in the room across from the meeting room."

At Home

A: リモコンを見みませんでしたか？
Rimokon o mimasen deshita ka?
"Have you seen the remote control?"

B: ソファの下したにあったと思おもいます。
Sofa no shita ni atta to omoimasu.
"I think it was under the sofa."

A: あ、見みつかりました！クッションの間あいだにありました。
A, mitsukari mashita! Kusshon no aida ni arimashita.
"Oh, I found it! It was between the cushions."

Shopping

A: 牛ぎゅう乳にゅうはどこにありますか？
Gyūnyū wa doko ni arimasu ka?
"Where is the milk?"

B: 一いち番ばん奥おくの冷れい蔵ぞう庫この中なかにあります。
Ichiban oku no reizōko no naka ni arimasu.
"It's inside the refrigerator at the very back."

Practice Scenarios

Scenario 1: Describing Your Room

Try describing where things are in your room:

私わたしの部屋へやにはベッドが真まん中なかにあります。ベッドの右みぎ側がわに小ちいさなテーブルがあって、その上うえに時と計けいと本ほんがあります。窓まどはベッドの向むかいにあります。机つくえは窓まどの横よこにあって、その上うえにパソコンがあります。クローゼットは部屋へやの奥おくの左ひだり側がわにあります。

Watashi no heya ni wa beddo ga mannaka ni arimasu. Beddo no migigawa ni chiisana tēburu ga atte, sono ue ni tokei to hon ga arimasu. Mado wa beddo no mukai ni arimasu. Tsukue wa mado no yoko ni atte, sono ue ni pasokon ga arimasu. Kurōzetto wa heya no oku no hidarigawa ni arimasu.

"In my room, the bed is in the center. On the right side of the bed is a small table, and on top of it are a clock and books. The window is across from the bed. The desk is next to the window, and on it is a computer. The closet is on the left side at the back of the room."

Scenario 2: Finding a Lost Item

You: すみません、携けい帯たいを見みませんでしたか？
Sumimasen, keitai o mimasen deshita ka?
"Excuse me, have you seen my phone?"

Friend: さっき、ソファの横よこのテーブルの上うえにあったと思おもいますよ。
Sakki, sofa no yoko no tēburu no ue ni atta to omoimasu yo.
"I think it was on the table next to the sofa earlier."

You: そこにはなかったです...
Soko ni wa nakatta desu...
"It wasn't there..."

Friend: じゃあ、クッションの下したとか、ソファの間あいだを探さがしてみたら？
Jā, kusshon no shita toka, sofa no aida o sagashite mitara?
"Then how about checking under the cushions or between the sofa cushions?"

Scenario 3: Office Directions

Visitor: 山やま田ださんのオフィスはどこですか？
Yamada-san no ofisu wa doko desu ka?
"Where is Yamada-san's office?"

Receptionist: エレベーターで三さん階がいに上あがって、右みぎに曲まがってください。廊下ろうかの突つき当あたりの左ひだり側がわです。
Erebētā de sangai ni agatte, migi ni magatte kudasai. Rōka no tsukiatari no hidarigawa desu.
"Take the elevator to the third floor and turn right. It's on the left at the end of the hallway."

Scenario 4: Restaurant Seating

Server: お席せきはどちらがよろしいですか？
O-seki wa dochira ga yoroshii desu ka?
"Where would you like to sit?"

Customer: 窓まどの近ちかくの席せきをお願ねがいします。
Mado no chikaku no seki o onegai shimasu.
"A seat near the window, please."

Server: 窓まどの横よこのテーブルか、奥おくの隅すみのテーブルが空あいています。どちらがよろしいですか？
Mado no yoko no tēburu ka, oku no sumi no tēburu ga aite imasu. Dochira ga yoroshii desu ka?
"We have a table next to the window or a table in the back corner available. Which would you prefer?"

Conclusion

Japanese location words might seem overwhelming at first with their variety and specific uses, but they follow predictable patterns once you understand the basic structure.

Key Takeaways:

1. Location words are nouns — They need の to connect to other nouns
2. Particles matter — に for existence, で for actions, を for movement through
3. Context determines meaning — 上 (ue) can mean "on" or "above" depending on situation
4. Practice with real objects — Describe your environment in Japanese daily
5. Cardinal directions work the same way — 北, 南, 東, 西 all use the same patterns

Quick Memory Tips:

• 前 (mae) has "before" in both space AND time
• 後ろ/後 are pronounced differently: 後うしろ (spatial), 後あと (temporal)
• 角 vs 隅: Streets have 角かど, rooms have 隅すみ
• 横 vs 隣: 横よこ = general "side", 隣となり = specific "next to"

The more you use these words in real situations — giving directions, describing your room, explaining where things are — the more natural they'll become. Start with the six core words (上うえ, 下した, 前まえ, 後うしろ, 中なか, 外そと), then gradually add the others as you need them.

Soon you'll be navigating Japanese spaces — both physical and conversational — with confidence!

頑張がんばって！(Keep practicing!)

Want to learn more essential Japanese grammar?

Check out our complete Japanese lessons collection for structured learning paths covering particles, verb conjugations, sentence patterns, and more!

Related guides:

• Complete Guide to Japanese Particles