Bed bugs in Japanese are トコジラミ (tokojirami). Older people may also say 南京虫 (nankinmushi). Hotel staff in big cities usually understand the English “bed bugs” too, but showing the Japanese on your phone avoids any mix-up.
The words
| Japanese | Reading | Meaning | When to use |
|---|---|---|---|
| トコジラミ | tokojirami | bed bug | The standard word. Use this first. |
| 南京虫 | nankinmushi | bed bug | Older word, still widely understood |
| ベッドバグ | beddo bagu | bed bug | English loanword; younger staff may know it |
| 虫刺され | mushisasare | insect bite | For a pharmacy or doctor |
| ダニ | dani | mite | A different bug. Staff may guess this, so say トコジラミ clearly. |
Phrases for the hotel front desk
Show these on your phone. The Japanese is polite and clear.
| Situation | Show this | English |
|---|---|---|
| Reporting | 部屋にトコジラミがいるようです。 | I think there are bed bugs in my room. |
| Reporting bites | 寝ている間に虫に刺されました。 | I was bitten by insects while sleeping. |
| Showing proof | これが部屋で見つけた虫の写真です。 | This is a photo of a bug I found in the room. |
| Room change | 別の階の部屋に替えていただけますか？ | Could I change to a room on a different floor? |
| Inspection | 部屋を確認していただけますか？ | Could you please check the room? |
| Refund | 返金について相談できますか？ | Can we discuss a refund? |
| Written record | 今回の件を書面でいただけますか？ | Could I have this in writing? |
Save this card to your phone and show it at the front desk:
Phrases for a pharmacy or clinic
| Show this | English |
|---|---|
| 虫刺されで、とてもかゆいです。 | I have insect bites that are very itchy. |
| トコジラミに刺されたと思います。 | I think I was bitten by bed bugs. |
| ステロイドの塗り薬はありますか？ | Do you have a steroid cream? |
| 近くの皮膚科を教えてください。 | Is there a dermatologist nearby? |
For what to do about the bites themselves, read Bed Bug Bites in Japan: What to Do. Before you book, check our map for recent reports, and read Does Japan Have Bed Bugs? for how common they are.
