While all systems only offer a few seconds warning, they can give you time to get into a better position. Finding the Right Travel Insurance for Japan, Sustainable Travel in Japan: From Sushi to Single-use Plastic, Best Free Apps for Easy Traveling Around Japan, March 22nd, 2019 | Lily Crossley-Baxter. These are some of the best places to travel to in Japan in 2019. Train Timetables. Want to book a table? Some of the articles on this site contain affiliate links. If you’re not planning on renting portable wifi, or getting a SIM card during your stay in Japan, then finding free wifi will become your new hobby. Directory of who’s who in the world of business in Japan. Luckily you won’t have to do that if you download the Travel Japan Wi-Fi application ahead of time. Language, Navigation and Food. Photo by Google, Hyperdia, Tokyo Metro and Suica. Japan is a culinary wonderland and while, yes, you can easily survive on well-known fast-food franchises, there’s a lot more on the menu. 13. These apps are designed for iPad too, and work offline. For Pasmo users you can . 9 Best Free Apps for Japan Travel. We suggest Google Maps to figure out where your nearest stations are. With the iFlyer app, select the type of music you want to hear or just punch in your location to see nearby events. CityMaps2Go has a free and paid (pro) version. ‎Welcome to Japan! Yokohama is a stone’s throw from Tokyo, but aside from catapults, how do you actually get there? Hospitals in Japan are a bit of a nightmare (closing for lunch, closing on weekends, closing on alternate staff member’s birthdays, and so on) and that’s before we even reach the language barrier. Well, I think it will be hard to ignore the big websites. Some of these features are even available offline. Moving to Tokyo: A Complete Guide for Cheapos, Guide to Arriving in Japan During COVID-19, How to Make a Restaurant Reservation in Japan, Bargain JR East 3-Day 2020 Rail Pass For Foreign Residents, Tokyo to Okinawa: How to Get to the Islands, Tokyo to Osaka: Fast and Creative Ways of Getting There, Tokyo to Yokohama: Trains, Buses and Day Passes, Tokyo to Kyoto: The Fastest and Cheapest Ways to Travel, Japan's Data and Voice SIM Providers Compared (Long-Term Options), Tokyo Escapes: Down the Shimoda Coast with Dream Drive. Yusuke-s. Update: Dec 09, 2019 +0 0. You can use The official JR Suica App to track the balance, load and use tickets on your phone which is super handy—but it’s currently only available in Japanese and on iPhone. Pros: Can be linked to Apple or Google PayCons: Only in Japanese, not always smooth running, no Pasmo appAvailable on: Android and Apple. Are you looking for the best travel application for your Japan trip? The general rule is that anything over 3.5 stars is decent, anything above 4 is great and if you see a 4.5 it’s exceptional (and rare). Let’s start with the most obvious here. Looking for some loud fun during your time in Japan? Pros: App allows first and last train search (website does not)Cons: Needs station namesAvailable on: Android and Apple. Really useful applications can solve most problems you worry about in Japan. The app works in English and allows for the option to be notified of early warning drills should you wish to participate. When planning a trip to Japan, you may be wondering what apps there are to help make your trip easier, and more enjoyable. It’s The Great Snoopy Museum, Charlie Brown, Exploring Toyosu—Tokyo's Revitalized Fish Market, Visiting Okunoshima - Japan's Famous Rabbit Island. The Japan Times LTD. All rights reserved. As an add on to this, use Chrome when you can—it auto-translates websites which helps when researching. As a plus, the app offers discounts for certain events. I would recommend at least knowing hiragana and katakana, although it’s not completely necessary since romaji is provided (romaji is the Romanized Japanese- literally “roman letters”).. It’s a messaging app and although there are timelines and profiles, etc., most people don’t really bother with that. The app has a map function too and works in 16 languages, which is pretty impressive. Unlike other city guides, we can guarantee we have already visited these places and would like to give you a fancy and practical tool to make your visit a more enjoyable one. Best travel apps – cheap flights>> Get Updates from Locals and Travelers with the best international travel apps. For actual A–B transport it’s pretty reliable in Tokyo too, but less so elsewhere. Break a leg on a night out? Novel Coronavirus: Is It Safe to Travel to Hong Kong? Read it, try them, have a great trip and then email us to say thanks (only kidding, it’s Japan—you’ll have to fax our robot secretary). Smartphones are the new guidebooks, translators and maps of travel combined—and in Japan, they’re pretty much indispensable. If you’re looking to send money to Japan we have some tips, and a few for if you’re sending it back home as well. Sorry, but your browser needs Javascript to use this site. For more about the people behind this site, check out the profiles of the cheapos. A single registration ... 2. The latter comes with unlimited map download, so if you travel a lot, this app is worth the price. It has a route search, discovery, spot search and safety assistance. Katakana is used for foreign words and is usually found on menus—so if you combine the two you’ll have a real head start without worrying about grammar. With over 200,000 hotspots across the country this app lets you connect automatically, eliminating the annoyance of signing in eight-thousand times a day. While it isn’t as comprehensive on the flip side, our food writers have carefully selected the best restaurants Japan has to offer. b) Trace out and follow the route in real time using Google Maps. Pros: Automatic sign in to hotspotsCons: Not as many hotspots (but still loads), poor user reviewsAvailable on: Android and Apple. Getting around Japan: 10 essential and free apps for travel by Michael ... selected the best restaurants Japan has to offer. Google Maps is for travelers who don’t have any particular type of Japan train pass. There are also options for highway buses—check them out if bullet trains start looking too pricy! Pros: Has offline map, autoconnects to nearest hotspots.Cons: Requires social media log-in.Available on: Android and Apple. For specific Tokyo travel, this app is good for getting to know the city. This is Japan’s most popular travel platform as of 2019. ), so if you’re planning on shopping it can be handy to have. Pros: Great for creepers and discountsCons: Annoying to set up—requires a phone number (so set it up before you leave for Japan) Available on: Android and Apple. Unfamiliar Japanese especially Kanji, complicated transportation … Taiwan's Richest. The best apps for Japan travel 1. Questions or comments about this article? 3. This is the most popular app in Japan for earthquake warnings, offering a good early notification system (often faster than built-in phone options) as well as info on the quake’s epicenter and strength. From your starting point to your goal, right down to the minute. You can set your location as well as threshold for notifications based on seismic strength. Trains are a fantastic way to travel, from the bullet train to the metro. See a breakdown of the most popular options for travel–guide to taking the bullet train, bus and cheap flights. 2. Japan Connected-free Wi-Fi is an app that lets you search for Wi-Fi areas and connect free of charge. The messaging app allows for calls and blocking, so use them as you wish. Escape the city via camper van for safer travel. In a time of both misinformation and too much information, quality journalism is more crucial than ever.By subscribing, you can help us get the story right. It navigates around a detailed subway map and gives you a simple time, price and transfer list alongside the line you need to catch, and the direction. It works offline too – so no data charges. The contender for biggest food encyclopedia of Japan, Gurunavi (short for “gourmet navigator”) is a huge compendium of dinner options. LINE is good for adding new ‘friends’ you don’t necessarily want to add to your real-life social media (meta much). One thing to be aware of: Japanese websites and often apps too, are not known for their great interfaces. This weird intersection of technologies is not yours to question, but you can make the most of it and use the apps to connect to cards and pay using home funds. This is the most recommendable app for travel, especially because not all places have wi-fi; this will work just as great even if you don’t have an internet connection available. how to get from Narita airport to Tokyo, which JR rail pass to choose, getting a SIM card and pocket wifi. 2. Pros: Yomiwa works offline, Imiwa has a camera functionCons: Imiwa is only available on iPhonesAvailable on: Imiwa is only available on Apple. The Best 2019 Travel Websites And Travel Apps, In … While you have probably used it here and there, Google Translate has a couple of features that really make it stand out. 5. ... 50+ Apps to Travel Japan in 2019 – The Cup and the Road. XE Currency You can see average prices, availability of English-speaking staff, address, nearest station—it has everything, except ratings. You can choose from entering station names or finding the station on the map. 3. If you pay for the full app, you can save locations offline, otherwise the free version works fine, You can even search cities in advance. New country, new currency. Remember to save the Japanese option for offline use and try the writing option too if your camera can’t read handwritten kanji. I love Google Translate especially when I’m shopping. Granted, it’s not always perfect, but does provide the gist, whether you’re looking at restaurant menus or sign boards. 5. The travel guide is made based on travelers advices. Flashing your Mastercard, Visa or Amex isn’t going to help you much in Japan, unless your in a large store or hotel. Whether it’s the surprising lack of English (or the confusing examples that are there) or finding that random hostel you booked three months ago, sometimes having a digital friend can make all the difference. Japan travel tips: 5 best apps in 2019. Earthquakes, flooding and landslides are the most common, and while we’re not trying to bring down your holiday mood, if the worst does happen, it’s better to be prepared. Sightseeing Information. Transport: The big one. Pros: Easy to use, allows personalizationCons:Source currency selection annoying to change Available on: Apple and Android. Episode 75: What will a Joe Biden presidency mean for Japan? Imiwa has writing and reading practice while Yomiwa has the camera app—those with iPhones can combine the two for a stacked version of Google Translate. Does just... 2. Pros: Easy interface, provides nearest to location.Cons: Crashes more following recent updateAvailable on: Android and Apple. If language learning isn’t really your thing, this app can be a fast way to learn the two phonetic alphabets: hiragana and katakana (not kanji, the Chinese symbols, although there’s a version for that too). To find why we started this site, check out the Tokyo Cheapo Manifesto. It is available in English, Japanese and Chinese. Japan Travel Guide Offline is an offline travel guide app, where you can find a detailed guide for Tokyo, Kyoto, Sapporo and more. Language learning: Get talking. The home screen colorfully organizes all of the different categories covered: travel, weather, animals, etc. If you’re vegetarian, vegan or otherwise specific about your food then Happy Cow is your new best friend. This app doesn’t work offline, which is odd as the regular app does. Planetyze is a great app for helping you find your next destination in Japan. Is travel on your 2019 to-do list? NAVITIME… The map function allows you to find the nearest spots and can be downloaded to work offline which is great. Japan is a cash-based nation and making sure you have some (and knowing how much) is key to having a good time. If you need a little help to pack properly and not forget your charger or toothbrush at home, the Travel List app helps you easily organize the items you’ll put in your suitcase. (Screenshot courtesy of iTunes) Download for free on iTunes or Google Play. get a Suica? Japan is not so difficult as you think!! Here's a list of services you can use to make a reservation in English. The best one is the camera function—see a sign, snap a picture and read the contents (it’s especially perfect for menus). Tokyo is also offered in the collection. If you’re not planning on renting a portable Wi-Fi device when you arrive at the airport or at an electronic shop, you can use the app to connect automatically to over 200.000 hotspots across the country, while also eliminating the process of having to sign in multiple times a day. This is our best list of cafes to go for wifi, so if you pair them up, you’ll be living the life of a well-connected and well-caffeinated riley. What you need to know for before and after your arrival in Japan. This is a great app for those who are at a beginner level of Japanese. The only issue is you need to know your stations before you start (which is where Google Maps comes in). Trains are a fantastic way to travel, from the bullet train to the metro. 4. The app employs the mnenomics method—using visual keys to help you remember each symbol’s corresponding sound. In addition to the meaning, you also get the pronunciation in Latin script (known as romaji). However, for those who missed the last train or are going off the beaten path, the JapanTaxi app will come in handy. Japan Trains App – Android, Hyperdia – iOS. It should be, because each year becomes the best time to travel. To make sure you know exactly how much you are spending at a restaurant or department store, use XE app for an instant conversion rate. It is also used by lots of stores and sites for discounts (scanning QR codes, etc. If you have the time and patience, you can translate the reviews to find reccomended dishes, or just use the main page to check stars, location and photos. Offline Maps. Yusuke-s. Update: Apr 10, 2020 +2 16. 3. 6. We suggest you try a few and see which ones work for you. Additionally, content such as tours and tickets, hotels and apartments are commercial content. Best Transportation Travel Apps for Japan JNTO – the best app for planning a trip to Japan Reliable travel information and transportation information from the Japan Travel Board. And if so, what does that mean for travel to Japan during COVID-19? To prove it—here are the best apps and websites for traveling in Japan. Also be sure to bookmark the restaurant section of The Japan Times City Guide. Imagine coming to a new country and not having an internet connection. The Hyperdia app comes for iOS and in Android for some countries at a price and the Japan Trains app comes in Android (but not iOS) – and is free (and works very well, so personally I would just download the Japan Trains app…). Created by the Japan National Tourism Organization, this app contains tourist information, lists of Wi-Fi hot spots and more. Why? Get wandering in Kyoto with this “Kyoto Map and Walks” free app from GPSmycity. If you’re aiming to learn while you go, Imiwa and Yomiwa are similar to Google Translate in function, but also offer explanations of kanji and their radicals (the lines that make them up). Remembering exactly how many thousands of yen make a few dozen dollars can be pretty confusing, especially if you’ve been country-hopping for a while. Don’t want to lug your luggage around? Tips from cheapos who have done it successfully! Pros: Camera option makes menus a breezeCons: Are there any?Available on: Android and Apple. The app can also be used to transfer money, check exchange rates, and track up to ten currencies at a time. The app also lets users look up shinkansen bullet train times that can be sorted by speeds and will show you where you have to make a train transfer.