In this day and age, smartphones are our new maps, translators, and guides. It is the most useful tool that helps us navigate when traveling to a foreign country like Japan. However, for your smartphone to be useful, we have compiled the most useful apps to download before you go to Japan. As the interface of each app differs, a few apps are included under each category where possible. It is best to play around with them to find out which one you like the best before departing for Japan.
The Best Apps for Traveling in Japan
- Japan WiFi Auto-Connect
- Safety Tips
- The Most Useful Japan Transport App
- The Most Useful App to Search for a Spot to Charge Your Phone
- The Most Useful Food Apps for Traveling in Japan
- The Most Useful Translation Apps for Traveling in Japan
- Ecbo Cloak – The Most Useful Baggage Storage App for Traveling in Japan
- mymizu: The Most Useful Free Water Refill App for Traveling in Japan
- Taxi GO: Japan’s Best Taxi App
Japan WiFi Auto-Connect
Obviously, having free WiFi to use would be the best. However, just like any country in the world, the free service in Japan is mostly available only at accommodations, restaurants, cafes, and shopping malls. Once you leave these facilities, you will likely have no other free internet connection to rely on.
If you are comfortable without internet access when you are away from a hotspot, a convenient app to download is Japan WiFi Auto-Connect. The phone app notifies you if a secure, trustworthy, free WiFi hotspot is nearby. You can then connect your device to that hotspot. The network will be saved on your device, and the app will automatically connect to it via the hotspot in the future.
Important: Please refrain from entering sensitive personal information, including credit card details, while connected to a free WiFi network.
Tips:
☛ If you want to know where to enjoy free WiFi access in Japan, refer to Japan WiFi Auto-Connect’s WiFi Spot Map.
☛ Refer to our SIM Card, eSIM, or Pocket WiFi: Which One to Use in Japan article that answers all your questions about how to stay connected to the internet when you are in Japan!
Safety Tips
As you may be aware, Japan is a country where natural disasters, such as earthquakes and typhoons, occur frequently. While there is no need to be overly concerned, installing the country’s official travel app on your phone will help you prepare for the worst-case scenario. Because the Japan Official Travel App was terminated in September 2023, you can download the Safety Tips app, an alternative developed by the Japanese government.
When you first open the app, it will ask where you come from. Set it as your home country for the Emergency Contacts screen to show your country’s embassy. The app will also ask you to input up to five destinations you plan to visit. This can be changed later on in the settings screen. We recommend enabling the “Automatic location setting” on the settings screen, so you won’t need to update the attractions you plan to visit in the next few days.
If any warnings are issued in your chosen area, they will show at the top of the screen. The app also offers information on medical institutions and evacuation, as well as helpful phrases if needed.
Download to Your iPhone | Download to Your Android Phone
The Most Useful Japan Transport App
Trains, whether the metro or bullet train, are one of the best ways to travel around cities and between prefectures in Japan. However, because Japan’s train system is one of the most confusing and complicated networks in the world, relying only on Google Maps would not be sufficient to determine which train line is best for you to catch. So we recommend downloading a transportation app specifically for Japan’s public transportation system.
Google Maps
Google Maps are great for finding out the closest stations to you. Utilizing Google Maps’ Offline Maps feature, you can still get directions to the locations you want to get to, even without a signal to a WiFi hotspot! Of course, remember to download the area map beforehand for this function to work.
Tip: Under the Google Maps option section, click ‘Wheelchair Accessible‘ and you will be directed to the entrance and exit with an elevator or escalator.
Google Map’s Wheelchair Accessible Function
Traveling through Japan’s train system with a large suitcase can be difficult without access to escalators or lifts. So, you can use Google Maps’ wheelchair-accessible function to find the train carriage closest to a lift or an escalator.
Before hitting the search button, remember to change the setting to Wheelchair accessible so that the app will show you the wheelchair-friendly route.
Japan Transit Planner
Japan Transit Planner is arguably the most convenient app for figuring out which train line or bus route to take. The app was developed by a well-known company, Jorudan. It is one of the most popular apps the Japanese use for travel planning.
In addition to Japanese, the app also supports several other languages, including English, Chinese, French, German, and Spanish. The app will automatically be set to your phone’s default language. To change the app’s language, navigate to the Menu tab and select ‘FAQ’. Under “Others”, there should be a “Select Language” option.
Finding the best route from destination A to B is easy. After inputting the destinations, the app will list out a couple of route suggestions. Each option will display the departure and arrival times, the trip duration, the number of transfers required, and the cost.
You will notice a small alphabet underneath most options. “F” marks the fastest option. The options marked with “E” are the ones that require the fewest transfers. If you are on a budget, choose the option marked with “L”.
Before using the app, ensure the “Route Options” settings reflect your situation or preferences. For example, if you have a Tokyo Subway Ticket or a JR Pass, remember to tick it so that the search result only shows the routes covered by the pass. You can also untick the transportation modes you don’t want to take. For instance, remember to untick all the other modes if you only want to take the train.
Download to Your iPhone | Download to Your Android Phone
Japan Transit Planner’s Timetable Function and Buy Tickets Function
The app also has a timetable function to assist with your trip planning. Not only can you search for the timetable for a particular date, but you can also view the timetable for weekdays, Saturdays, or holidays, including Sundays.
Japan Transit Planner app also has a Ticket tab. All tickets displayed on the “Buy Tickets” screen are available for purchase. Once purchased, it will be displayed on the “My Tickets” screen and can be activated later on.
Important: Please only activate a ticket on the day you want to use it.
Japan Travel
NAVITIME JAPAN Co., Ltd is another mainstream company specializing in Japan’s transportation planning. The app that the company developed for foreign tourists is called Japan Travel. The Japan Travel app has many more functions than the Japan Transit Planner. You can use it to search for train and bus routes, explore nearby popular tourist spots and restaurants, create a shareable itinerary, and find spots where you can purchase tourist products, including transportation passes.
Download to Your iPhone | Download to Your Android Phone
Japan Travel’s Route Function
To search how to go from destination A to B, use Japan Travel’s Route function. Like the Japan Transit Planner, you can customise your preferred transportation mode. Additionally, it offers Preferred Route options. This is particularly useful if you need the travel route to be wheelchair accessible. On a typhoon day, you will also want to set the Preferred Route to Avoid Rain.
After completing a route search, you can pin it for future reference. It will also show you how much it would cost if you take a taxi.
Besides the nationwide JR Pass and Tokyo Subway Ticket, the Japan Travel app has incorporated all available transportation passes, making it more convenient for those who use regional passes.
However, unlike Japan Transit Planner, Japan Travel’s timetable function is only available to the premium version.
Japan Travel’s Itinerary Planning Function
Japan Travel App’s itinerary planning is called Trip. You can create an itinerary for your upcoming trip to Japan on the Trip tab and share it with others. Whether it is via WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, or text messages, the app can support all the sharing functions available on your phone.
The most useful feature of this itinerary planning function is that the app automatically displays the time required to travel between the two entered locations, as well as the arrival time at the next attraction you want to visit. All you need to do is keep adding the spots you want to visit on a particular day, and the app will sort out the transportation for you.
Japan Travel’s Map Function
Japan Travel’s map function is really handy if you need to find free WiFi hot spots, currency exchange, tourist information, and ATMs around you. It will also inform you where to store your baggage, provide directions to nearby convenience stores, and, most importantly, indicate the location of the restrooms.
The Most Useful App to Search for a Spot to Charge Your Phone
Taking photos and navigating in Japan can quickly drain your phone battery. Therefore, a power bank is a must-have when traveling. But what if you forget to bring it or to charge it? Don’t worry! The ChargeSPOT app will find the nearest place where you can charge your phone. Especially in the big cities in Japan, you can charge your phone at supermarkets, train stations, convenience stores, and even cafes.
- You can pay with a credit card, Apple Pay, and other common payment methods.
- As long as the color of the spot on the map is aqua, the phone charging unit is available for rent.
- If the spot is colored grey, it means all units have been rented out.
Download to Your iPhone | Download to Your Android Phone
The Most Useful Food Apps for Traveling in Japan
Finding a place to eat can be overwhelming, particularly after a day of sightseeing. Especially in big cities like Tokyo, where an entire building can be filled with cafes and restaurants, choosing which one to enter for your next meal can be overwhelming. Again, Google is useful. The reviews of the restaurants and attractions in Japan are mostly authentic. The practice of buying reviews in the country is uncommon, so the ratings are generally trustworthy!
OpenTable
You might already have the OpenTable app downloaded on your phone. The app works in Japan too! While many locals use Tablelog or Gurunavi, neither app supports the English language. However, both Tablelog and Gurunavi have mobile-friendly English websites.
The Best Websites to Use to Search for Restaurants in Japan
- Tablelog features a review section where users can comment on their dining experiences and share photos.
- A rating of over 3.5/5 indicates that the restaurant serves decent food, as Japanese reviews are generally more harsh.
- Gurunavi tells you whether there are multilingual staff and menus available. If a restaurant offers vegetarian options, this information may also be available under the restaurant’s details.
Tip: You can utilize the services provided by byFood or AutoReserve for restaurant reservations! These two websites are in English, making it easy to book a restaurant or a café.
HappyCow
If you are a vegan or vegetarian, you might already have HappyCow’s app downloaded to your phone. The app will be your lifesaver when you are in Japan. It is the ultimate source for finding a vegan-friendly restaurant near you.
The information provided by HappyCow, along with the customer reviews, is very reliable.
Tip: You can also refer to our articles in the Vegetarian Dining category. While the articles only cover a limited part of Japan, they include detailed information about the restaurants and cafes.
The Most Useful Translation Apps for Traveling in Japan
The language barrier is always the most daunting experience when traveling to a foreign country. Unless you speak Japanese, a translation app is essential to explore this beautiful country on your own.
Google Translate and Google Lens
In addition to inputting a phrase or sentence into the app, Google Translate has a feature that allows you to snap a picture of anything you want to translate. The app then translates the foreign language into English or any other language you select. It is a great feature when it comes to reading menus. Google Translate also has a speech-to-text translation function, which will be handy when communicating with the locals.
Another advantage of using Google Translate is that you can use it offline if you have downloaded both your native language and another foreign language beforehand. This is a lifesaver feature when your phone is unable to connect to the internet.
Tip: Many Android phones come with Google Lens built-in as part of the phone’s camera app. It can be used to translate foreign languages, too.
Papago
For a more accurate translation, download Naver Papago. Many users find Papago’s interface more user-friendly. It is probably the best English ⇔ Japanese translation app available. Like Google Translate, if you download the language pack, you can use it offline.
The app can also translate images and can provide a speech-to-text translation function. Additionally, Papago offers a Phrasebook for those who wish to learn basic everyday phrases.
Ecbo Cloak: The Most Useful Baggage Storage App for Traveling in Japan
Being able to find a place where things can be kept securely is essential when traveling. In addition to the coin-operated lockers at the stations, some shops in Japan also offer baggage storage services. But how do you find them?
Ecbo Cloak is the best app to have when you need to store your belongings temporarily, almost anywhere and anytime. After entering the location, the number of bags you own, and/or the number of suitcases, the app will show you a list of places that can hold your belongings. So whether you need a place to store your baggage for a few days or have done too much shopping and need to offload some bags before heading back to the hotel, Ecbo Cloak is the best solution provider!
You can even make a reservation!
Download to Your iPhone | Download to Your Android Phone
Tip: If you understand Japanese, you can also use Coin Locker Navi (コインロッカーなび) to search for a coin locker or a spot that offers luggage storage service.
mymizu: The Most Useful Free Water Refill App for Traveling in Japan
Access to fresh water is a necessity, regardless of whether we are traveling or not. If you are on a budget or want to be more eco-friendly, finding a spot to refill your water bottle during the day is a desirable option. So download the mymizu app!
mymizu is the ultimate lifesaver, especially during Japan’s hot and humid summer. If you are running low on water but don’t want to purchase another plastic bottle, use the mymizu app to find a nearby water refill spot.
The app even has a function that reminds you to drink more water to prevent dehydration.
Not only does the app work in Japan, but it might also show water refill spots in your home country! If it doesn’t, you can be the first person to add a spot to the map! If you are a business owner, you can also contribute to this great cause to help spread access to those who need it!
Download to Your iPhone | Download to Your Android Phone
Taxi GO: Japan’s Best Taxi App
If you are in an area where a taxi doesn’t drive by every other minute, installing a taxi app on your phone can be handy. Requesting a taxi through an app can also minimize the potential inconvenience of language barriers.
Taxi GO is the most downloaded taxi app in Japan. It is the best taxi app in Japan. The most convenient feature of this app is that you can reserve a taxi to pick you up later in the day. This ensures that a car is at the door when the time is up. The app allows you to register an account with an overseas phone number and a credit card. We have successfully registered the account with our WISE Card.
Tips:
☛ The WISE Card allows you to purchase Japanese yen at any time. The exchange rate offered by WISE is very competitive. So get a WISE Card and purchase some Japanese yen when the rate is good to save!
☛ Refer to HERE for other Taxi/foreign car-sharing apps that works in Japan.
Note that car-hailing remains illegal in Japan, so foreign car-hailing apps are connected with the local taxi drivers in Japan.
Do I Need a JR Pass & Is the JR Pass Worth It?
Once you have a rough idea of which prefectures and cities you want to visit during your next Japan trip, it is time to determine if you need a JR Pass, as not all itineraries require one.
Our Guide to Do I Need a JR Pass & Is the JR Pass Worth It article has everything you need to know about the nationwide and regional JR Passes. It also covers other factors that can help you decide whether a JR Pass is worth it for your upcoming trip.
Tips for Planning Your Next Japan Trip
Japan, where traditions, culture, and history intersect with the most advanced technology and modern conveniences, also boasts some of the most picturesque landscapes. It is no wonder that Japan has been voted one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world!
So if you are planning to travel to this beautiful country, refer to our article, Plan Your Next Japan Trip – When and Where to Start, for some helpful information, advice, and tips to keep in mind when planning your visit.
