へ

へ after a place marks where a movement is headed: "to". As a particle it is read "e", not "he". The verb is usually one of going, coming or going back.

へ and に

With verbs of movement へ and に both mark the destination, and you can use either.

へ leans towards the direction you set off in, に towards the place you arrive at. In everyday sentences the difference is too small to matter.

に has jobs that へ does not share: it also marks a time and the place where something is.

• × 部屋へ机があります → 部屋に机があります
• × 七時へ起きます → 七時に起きます

Written へ, never え

The particle sounds like え and is always written へ. Inside a word へ keeps its usual sound: へや (room) is "heya".

• × 学校え行きます → 学校へ行きます

Usage notes

These go beyond the plain destination.

Directions and set phrases

へ also follows a word for a direction rather than a place.

The person something is sent to

へ can mark the person a letter or a present is going to. It is how a card or a message is addressed: たなか田中さんへ, "To Tanaka".

Before の, only へ is possible: はは母へのてがみ手紙 is "a letter to my mother". に cannot stand in front of の.