Are you coming to Japan soon?
Living in a foreign country, even for a limited amount of time, is exciting and exhausting at the same time. There are so many things you have to think about such as transportation, language barrier, meals, etc. Forget about heavy guidebooks, staying app-to-date with the technology available to you will help you to travel light and easy and make your time in Japan a smooth journey. So, here is a list of apps you might want to get on your device before heading to the Land of the Rising Sun. They will make your experience of traveling and living in Japan much easier and more enjoyable. You won’t need much more to get around like a local, and you’ll have more space in your suitcase to bring back heaps of souvenirs!
Yurekuru
Because safety should always come first!
The Japanese archipelago is regularly hit by more or less violent earthquakes. To greatly reduce the casualties risk, people often use new technologies to get information about oncoming shakes. Yurekuru is a free mobile app that sends you notifications of the outbreak of an earthquake. Alerts come a few seconds beforehand but it does not take long to find a safe spot! Afterwards, you can check on the app the seismic intensity and quake-hit areas.
Don’t forget to register on your embassy website in case of an unlikely emergency! You’ll get detailed information about what to do, where to go, and whom to contact.
Maps.me
Know where you are!
Like Google maps, Maps.me helps you to go around and search for specific addresses, though it even works without internet connection! All you have to do is download the map of the place you will visit beforehand and use it offline if need be. It is very convenient to navigate your way around since you can pin addresses before your trip. Of course, you can also use maps.me online and access more features. Various points of interest including tourist sights, restaurants, and ATM are also included.
We also recommend you download Google maps (or Google Navigation) as the app can be used to find all potential routes to your destination and even has real-time updates like train delays.
Line
Keep in touch with your new Japanese friends!
If you are going to live in Japan for some time, you must use this free app since everyone in Japan uses it to send messages, make phone calls, and much more. You don’t even need a phone number to start using it, all you’ll need is an internet connection, so you can use it on devices like tablets and even computers. The app is so popular here that it has its own stores and cafés!
Japan Connected – Free Wi-Fi
Stay Connected, wherever, whenever
This app helps you to find free wifi hotspots around you via the integrated map, and connect to the network at the touch of a button. The app will also display your current location and indicate the nearest wi-fi hotspots. Once you’ve signed up, the use of the app is unlimited, so you can stay online for as much time as you need. The app also offers to look for 7-Eleven ATMs, where you can withdraw money from an overseas bank account while you are in Japan.
Gurunavi
Food experience
Gurunavi is definitely the best app for finding places to eat near you. The app displays and recommend popular restaurants, as well as hole-in-the-wall eatery that other restaurant apps often omit because they are used by foreign visitors. It even allows you to see menus and make online reservations. In addition, you can select a type of food and budget
Navitime & Hyperdia
Find your way!
Navitime offers comprehensive train routes, as well as maps, travel times, and a route planner. In addition, the app includes several travel articles, tips about travelling in Japan, and articles about Japanese culture. It also shows where to withdraw money, nearby wifi hotspots, and change rates. It is especially useful if you are in Tokyo. We also recommend you download Hyperdia, another essential transportation app. Hyperdia allows you to do station-to-station searches, select your travel time, and most importantly you can personalize your search results depending on whether you would like to travel by train, Shinkansen, etc. It is very useful if you are a JR Pass holder as the Nozomi and Mizuho Shinkansen are not covered by the JR Pass. However, Hyperdia is free for only 30 days.
Master the Japanese language
Don’t get lost in translation
When you are travelling abroad, even everyday situations can turn into a genuine challenge. You may know some Japanese but it might not be enough to achieve even a simple task like ordering food, especially if you have dietary requirements.
There are many apps out there to help you speak Japanese, without actually learning Japanese:
Google Translate offers great features to help you out in any situation. For example, thanks to the instant camera translation function you can take a picture of the text you want to translate and translate it into your language either automatically or at the touch of a button.
Imiwa? is a free offline dictionary that works best with spoken Japanese since you have to enter the said word in your own language or in Japanese. When entering a word in Japanese, you can use hiragana, katakana (the two Japanese syllabaries) or in romaji (Japanese words spelled in Latin letters). Note, imiwa? is only available on the app store. For Android users and others, we recommend you to try using Takotoba.
Yomiwa is an offline and automatic translation app with which you just have to point your the camera of your device at a text to get it translated in your own language. Although it is not free, it is definitely a must-have app for those who have not studied written Japanese at all.
Nonetheless, don’t forget to learn a bit of Japanese before you come to Japan as people will deeply appreciate your efforts of speaking the language!
