Romaji Converter
Convert hiragana and katakana to Hepburn romaji, with passport-style long-vowel omission.
About this tool
This tool converts hiragana and katakana into romaji (Latin letters). It helps when you want an English spelling of a name or place, or when a filename or URL cannot contain Japanese. Conversion runs entirely in your browser and your input is never sent anywhere.
Hepburn vs. Kunrei-shiki
There are two main romanization systems, Hepburn and Kunrei-shiki, and the spelling of the same sound differs. For example ใ is shi (Hepburn) vs. si (Kunrei), ใก is chi vs. ti, ใค is tsu vs. tu, and ใต is fu vs. hu.
- Hepburn โ easier for English speakers to pronounce; used for passport names, station and road signs, and most public signage. This is what you almost always see in practice.
- Kunrei-shiki โ faithful to the regular structure of the kana table; taught in schools.
Mind the long vowels
Long vowels are the tricky part. A lengthened sound like "ou" or "oo" may be written with a macron (ล), doubled (oo), spelled out (ou), or simply as o. Passports, as a rule, do not mark long vowels (e.g. ใใจใ โ SATO). Rules differ by destination and purpose, so for official documents check the required system.
When to use it
- Preparing an English spelling of a name or place
- When filenames, URLs, or identifiers cannot contain Japanese
- Adding a reading alongside text on materials or slides for overseas audiences
How to use
- Type hiragana or katakana to convert it to romaji instantly.
- Switch between Hepburn and Passport style, optionally uppercase, then copy.
FAQ
Are the characters I enter sent to a server?
No. All conversion runs in your browser, so the kana you enter never leaves your device.
What is the difference between Hepburn and Kunrei?
Hepburn uses spellings closer to English pronunciation (shi, chi, tsu, fu) and is common for official uses like passports and road signs. Kunrei emphasizes the regularity of the kana table and spells some sounds differently.
What is passport long-vowel omission?
In passport Hepburn, long vowels are written without a mark and, as a rule, omitted. For example, ใใจใ becomes SATO and ใใใฎ becomes ONO. The tool supports this omission.
Are "n" and the small tsu handled correctly?
Yes, they follow Hepburn rules. "ใ" is generally n (sometimes m), and the small tsu doubles the following consonant (for example, ใใฃใท becomes kippu).
Can it convert katakana and loanwords?
Katakana is supported. Note that loanwords may prefer their original-language spelling, so check the receiving organization's rules for proper nouns.
Can I use the result directly on official documents?
It is useful as a draft or guide, but for official procedures like passports the receiving organization's spelling rules take precedence. Always verify the final spelling against the official standard.