Translation guide
A trip taken for enjoyment, relaxation, or sightseeing rather than business or obligation.
A trip taken for fun, sightseeing, or relaxation.
The most common and general word for travel or a trip, including pleasure trips. Can be used for both domestic and international travel.
来月、北海道に旅行に行きます。
I'm going on a trip to Hokkaido next month.
Specifically a sightseeing trip. Emphasizes visiting tourist spots and landmarks.
京都へ観光旅行に行く予定です。
I plan to go on a sightseeing trip to Kyoto.
A trip for fun or play, often used in casual contexts. Less common than 旅行.
友達と遊び旅行に出かけた。
I went on a fun trip with friends.
A brief trip for enjoyment, often a day trip or short getaway.
A short trip or excursion, often a day trip or overnight trip to a nearby place.
週末に箱根へ小旅行に行きませんか。
How about a short trip to Hakone this weekend?
An excursion or outing, often used for school trips or group outings. Can imply a day trip for pleasure.
子供たちは遠足で動物園に行った。
The children went on an excursion to the zoo.
A picnic, often a short outdoor pleasure trip involving food. Borrowed from English.
A longer trip taken for relaxation, often during holidays.
Vacation, often implying a longer, relaxing trip, typically to a resort or overseas. Borrowed from French 'vacances'.
夏はハワイでバカンスを楽しみたい。
I want to enjoy a vacation in Hawaii this summer.
A trip taken during one's vacation or leave from work. More formal and less common in casual speech.
A trip by car taken for enjoyment rather than necessity.
A drive taken for pleasure, often a day trip by car. Very common in Japanese.
日曜日に海までドライブに行った。
I went for a drive to the sea on Sunday.
A road trip or driving trip, combining 'drive' and 'travel'. Used for longer car trips.
夏休みに家族でドライブ旅行をした。
We went on a road trip as a family during summer vacation.
旅行 is the general term for travel and can include business trips, but in context it often implies a pleasure trip. 観光旅行 explicitly means sightseeing trip and is used when the main purpose is visiting tourist attractions.
旅行が趣味です。
Traveling is my hobby.
観光旅行で京都の寺を巡った。
I toured Kyoto's temples on a sightseeing trip.
The direct translation '娯楽旅行' (ごらくりょこう) is rarely used and sounds unnatural. Use 旅行 or 観光旅行 instead.
私たちは山へ旅行に行きました。
We took a pleasure trip to the mountains.
彼女は週末の小旅行を楽しんでいます。
She enjoys short pleasure trips on weekends.
The weather is nice, so let's go on a picnic to the park.
休暇旅行でヨーロッパを回った。
I traveled around Europe on my vacation trip.