How to say "alley" in Japanese

• 路地ろじCommon
  nounYour first choice for 'alley' in its basic sense: a narrow lane or alleyway between houses and buildings in a town or neighborhood.
  市しの北きたのはずれは路地ろじの迷路めいろである。↗

  The northernmost part of the city is a maze of alleys.
• 小路こうじCommon
  nounAlso a narrow lane or alley, but with a quaint, old-town flavor; it often appears in the names of small streets, so for an everyday alley 路地 is usually the safer pick.
  その町まちには狭せまい小路こうじが多おおい。↗

  The town has many narrow lanes.
• 裏通りうらどおりCommon
  nounUse this for 'alley' meaning a back street behind or running parallel to a main road; what matters is the position relative to the main street, not narrowness.
  強盗ごうとうは裏通うらどおりで彼女かのじょを襲おそった。↗

  The robber attacked her on a back street.
• 横丁よこちょうCommon
  nounA side street branching off a main road, often lined with small bars and eateries; it is really 'side street' or 'back street', seldom the word for a plain narrow alley.
  この横町よこちょうは人ひとの通とおりが多おおい。↗

  This cross street is busy with pedestrian traffic.

Choose 路地 for a narrow alley between buildings, 小路 for a quaint lane, 「裏通り」 for a back street behind or parallel to a main road, and 横丁 for a side street branching off a main road.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 路地ろじalley
• 小路こうじlane
• 裏通りうらどおりside street (often parallel to a main street)
• 横丁よこちょうbystreet
• アレーalley