こちら・そちら・あちら
this way, that way (and polite here, there)
こちら / そちら / あちら / どちら
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こちら・そちら・あちら・どちら started out as directions: "this way, that way, that way over there, which way". They're also the polite versions of ここ, そこ, あそこ and どこ, which is why you hear them all day in shops, stations and hotels: お手洗いはあちらです, "the restrooms are over there".
こちら also introduces people politely: こちらは田中さんです, "this is Mr Tanaka". これ would treat him like an object.
どちら is the polite "where": お国はどちらですか, "where are you from?"
Among friends, the casual versions are こっち, そっち, あっち and どっち.
Register: Polite. Casual versions: こっち, そっち, あっち, どっち.
Examples
お手洗いはあちらです。
The restrooms are over there.
こちらは田中さんです。
This is Mr Tanaka.
お国はどちらですか。
Where are you from?
出口はこちらです。
The exit is this way.
駅はそちらですか。
Is the station that way, where you're pointing?