43502
How do you say that there is a thing (e.g.: Restaurant ) in a certain place
(e.g.: My town)? Is there a formula for this?

If someone were to ask me if there was a restaurant in my city they would say
あなたの町に日本のレストランがありますか。

They would use the particle が but in my answer do I use は? And does that have
to be in the beginning of the phrase or can I put it after the location (に
particle)?
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question
particles syntax particle-は particle-が
How to say "There is (A) in (B)(Location)."
Yes, there are formulae.

First of all, you have to understand that `は` is a topic particle and particle
`が` emphasis on what comes before it.

> Formula 1: Noun は Place に あります.  
>  Example : アメリカのレストラン は どこ に ありますか？
>
> Formula 2: Place には Noun が あります.  
>  Example : 東京 には アメリカのレストラン が あります.

**Usage of formula 1 and 2:**

> If a specific place is the topic >> use formula 2 (東京 には ~)  
>  If noun (you wanna talk about) is the topic >> use formula 1 (アメリカのレストラン は
> ~ )

Take a look at [Using location words with Subject/topic
markers](https://japanese.stackexchange.com/questions/28288/using-location-
words-with-subject-topic-markers)  
"Objects can also be the topic of a sentence (には, では, へは), but objects can't
be the subject of a sentence"
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answer
For "There is a Japanese restaurant in my city", I'd say:

> 私の町 **には** [日本食]{にほんしょく}のレストラン **が** あります。

［Place］には［Thing］があります。

("Japanese restaurant" can also be
日本食の[店]{みせ}、[日本料理]{にほんりょうり}のレストラン、日本料理の[店]{みせ}、[日本料理店]{にほんりょうりてん}、[和食]{わしょく}の[店]{みせ}、和食のレストラン,
etc.)

For "Is there a Japanese restaurant in your town?", I'd say:

> あなたの町 **に** 日本食のレストラン **は** ありますか？

［Place］に［Thing］はありますか？

* * *

Addressing [this
comment](https://japanese.stackexchange.com/questions/43490/how-to-say-there-
is-a-in-blocation/43502#comment80341_43493):

When asked 「あなたの町には何がありますか？」(What's in your town?), you'd reply:

> （私の町 **には** ）和食のレストラン **が** あります。

［Place］には［Thing］があります。

This is literally like "As for my town, a Japanese restaurant is there."  
Use the topical は for old/known/given information, and が for new/important
information.

When asked 「和食のレストランはどこにありますか？」(Where's a Japanese restaurant?), you'd reply:

> （和食のレストラン **は** ）私の町 **に** あります。

［Thing］は［Place］にあります。

This is literally like "As for a Japanese restaurant, there's one in my town."  
Use the topical は for old/known/given information.
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answer