A little culture with Miyabi
How to Ask the Price in Japanese: Ikura Desu Ka?
Ask how much something costs with ikura desu ka, recognize basic yen amounts, and distinguish asking a price from asking how many items there are.
Everyday Japanese
いくらですか (ikura desu ka) means “How much is it?” For a clear question while pointing to an item, use これはいくらですか (kore wa ikura desu ka), “How much is this?” Learning the question alongside a few number patterns makes the reply easier to follow.
Make the item clear
これ refers to something near you. If a product is next to the person you are speaking to, それ (sore, that near you) may fit better. Pointing or naming the item gives the question a clear target.
すみません、これはいくらですか (sumimasen, kore wa ikura desu ka) adds “Excuse me” before the price question. It is a complete, polite beginner exchange; you do not need to add an English-style subject such as “the price of” inside the Japanese sentence.
Recognize a few yen amounts
円 is read えん (en) after an amount. 百円 (ひゃくえん, hyaku en) is 100 yen, 五百円 (ごひゃくえん, gohyaku en) is 500 yen, and 千円 (せんえん, sen en) is 1,000 yen. These are sample amounts for listening practice, not quoted prices for products.
Some hundreds change sound: 三百 is さんびゃく (sanbyaku), 六百 is ろっぴゃく (roppyaku), and 八百 is はっぴゃく (happyaku). Learn these as whole forms instead of attaching hyaku unchanged after every number.
Ikura is different from ikutsu
いくら asks about price or amount of money in this setting. いくつ (ikutsu) asks how many things. Compare いくらですか, “How much is it?” with いくつですか, “How many?”
If the spoken answer is unclear, use もう一度お願いします (mou ichido onegaishimasu, one more time, please). A displayed amount can also help you connect the sound with the written number. Reading digits and hearing a price are related but separate skills.
Practice buying one item
You: これはいくらですか。 (Kore wa ikura desu ka.) Staff: 五百円です。 (Gohyaku en desu. It is 500 yen.) You: これをひとつください。 (Kore o hitotsu kudasai. One of these, please.)
Change the sample answer to 百円 or 千円 and repeat. Then cover the romaji and read the question in kana. Keep your first practice focused on understanding the amount, so you are not trying to learn prices, counters and a long conversation at the same time.