Japan Travel Fixes
What Japanese phrase can I use to explain a problem at the hotel front desk?
"~o onegai shimasu" ("~, please") covers most requests. Specific problems — a lost key, Wi-Fi not working — often get across fine with a single word plus gestures.
Front desk staff increasingly use translation apps or basic English, so if you're not getting through, showing the screen of a translation app on your phone works well too.
Telling the front desk you have a problem
すみません、困っています。手伝ってもらえますか？
Sumimasen, komatte imasu. Tetsudatte moraemasu ka?
Excuse me, I'm having trouble. Could you help me?