Particles · N5
に vs へ with movement
Both can mark direction, but their emphasis is slightly different.
In short
With movement verbs, に commonly marks the concrete destination while へ highlights direction toward a place.
How it works
日本に行きます and 日本へ行きます are both normal. In many everyday sentences the difference is small; に is more generally useful because it has many additional roles that へ does not.
Useful contrast
へ is pronounced え when used as a particle.
Examples
東京に行きます。
I am going to Tokyo.
北へ進みます。
Proceed northward.
Common pitfall
Do not replace every に with へ. へ cannot take over roles such as time, recipient, existence location, or result target.