Translation guide
The English word "visiting" can refer to going to see a person, a place, or attending an event. In Japanese, the appropriate expression depends on the purpose, destination, and level of formality. This guide covers common ways to express visiting someone's home, a place for sightseeing, a hospital, a grave, and more.
To go to see someone, usually at their place, for social or business reasons.
A general verb meaning to visit someone, often with a purpose. Can be used for homes, offices, etc.
友達を訪ねた。
I visited a friend.
来週、先生を訪ねる予定です。
I plan to visit my teacher next week.
A more formal verb for visiting, often used in business or official contexts.
明日、取引先を訪問します。
I will visit a client tomorrow.
Literally 'go to play', used for casual visits to friends or family.
週末、友達の家に遊びに行く。
I'm going to visit a friend's house this weekend.
A humble expression used when visiting someone's home, literally 'to intrude'. Often said upon entering.
お邪魔します。
Thank you for having me. (said when entering someone's home)
To go to a place for tourism or to see a famous site.
A somewhat literary verb for visiting a place, often used for tourist destinations or memorable locations.
京都を訪れる観光客が多い。
Many tourists visit Kyoto.
To go sightseeing, specifically for tourism.
東京を観光した。
I went sightseeing in Tokyo.
The simple verb 'to go' is often sufficient when the context is clear.
先週、浅草に行った。
I visited Asakusa last week.
To go to see someone who is ill or in the hospital.
The standard expression for visiting a sick person, either at home or in the hospital.
入院している友達を見舞いに行った。
I visited a friend in the hospital.
A polite version of '見舞いに行く', often used in formal situations.
社長が入院されたので、お見舞いしました。
The company president was hospitalized, so I paid a visit.
To go to a grave to pay respects.
The common expression for visiting a grave, especially during holidays like Obon.
お盆に墓参りに行きます。
I will visit the grave during Obon.
A slightly more polite version of '墓参りに行く'.
先祖のお墓参りをしました。
I visited my ancestors' graves.
To access or browse a website.
The most direct translation for visiting a website, borrowed from English.
当サイトにアクセスしてください。
Please visit our website.
Can be used for websites in a slightly more formal or written context.
多くの人がこのサイトを訪れる。
Many people visit this site.
Casually means 'to look at' a website.
昨日、面白いサイトを見た。
I visited an interesting website yesterday.
訪ねる (tazuneru) is for visiting people, 訪れる (otozureru) is for visiting places (often with a literary nuance), and 訪問する (houmon suru) is formal and used for both people and places in official contexts.
While 訪ねる can technically be used for places, it sounds unnatural. Use 訪れる or simply 行く for visiting locations.