へ

Particle (Basic ㊦ 116)

A particle that indicates the direction toward which some directional movement or action proceeds.

Equivalent: To; towards

私は先週京都へ旅行に行った・行きました。: I went on a trip to Kyoto last week.
私は札幌のうちへ飛行機で帰った。: I went back home to Sapporo by plane.
地震だったのでいそいで外へ出た。: It was an earthquake, so I went outside quickly.
父へ手紙を出したが、まだ返事が来ない。: I sent a letter to my father, but his reply has not come yet.

Notes

【Related Expressions】

I. The particles へ, まで, and に7 focus on direction, course (up to ~), and point of contact, respectively. Thus,

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

In actuality, native speakers use へ and に7 (of point of contact) almost interchangeably except in the case of [3] (i.e., に cannot be followed by の).

II. Even the に4 of direct contact meaning 'into; onto' can be replaced by へ as in:

[5]

[6]

[7]