Here is a list of the best apps worth downloading before you head to Japan. Whether it’s for finding food on the go, telling people how to pronounce your name or just being able to conserve your phone’s battery life – there are many free applications out there that will make your trip easier and more enjoyable!
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Best Apps For Japan Travel 2017
Google Maps
Google is also the developer of a navigation application. The app is called “google maps” and comes pre-installed on all Android smartphones. It can be a real struggle finding your way in a country that has such a different postal system from your own. The usage of Kanji at most of the street signs doesn’t make it any easier. All in all, Google Maps can help you out in these situations. It manages the route navigation between subway lines, train lines and walking paths, while a lot of other apps just handle Tokyo Metro and Toei Subway, google maps combines them all. This way you can easily navigate through the busy streets of Tokyo and the rest of Japan. A negative point to Google Maps is that you cannot download offline maps from your frequent visited areas. Therefore, it can turn into an app with a huge data consumption, so please have this in mind.
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Tabelog
Tabelog is a very useful app for food and restaurant recommendations. This service is used by most Japanese people when they are looking for the best place to eat. It is comparable to the American equivalent “yelp”. After starting the application on your smartphone, you can find the best restaurants nearby, and sort them by rating or price. It can be really helpful if you find a good looking restaurant but want to be sure they serve good quality meals. The user reviews give a good impression on what to expect after entering the place. If your Japanese is not so good, you can rely on the rating system. Using the typical 1 to 5 star rating system you can easily make a decision. Besides the reviews and the rating system, you can find the navigation information and useful pricing information.
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*You may need a Japanese Google/Apple account to download this app.
GNAVI
Another just slightly less popular app starring in the food category is Gnavi. This application comes with one big advantage compared to it’s more popular brother Tabelog; the service is also available in English, while Tabelog is Japanese only. Using this app you can easily determine the nearest restaurants and filter through them by price, type of food, and many other things. But there is one negative point which makes it necessary to use another app like Tabelog or Google Maps. The application does not come with an integrated rating system. To sum it up, it is the perfect app to have a look at all the local restaurants and to filter the results as you wish in English. If you find one that suits you best, you can quickly check the rating in another app before you head out.
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Line
The best application for messaging and social networking is LINE Messenger. LINE is the most famous short message service in South East Asia. What WhatsApp is for the western countries, LINE is for the Asian area. So when you are planning to get in touch with local people, or want to inform yourself by using one of the hundreds of other LINE services, just download this app in advance. You just need an active mobile number or an email address to set your account up. This messenger is so popular around here it even has its own store in the Harajuku area, where you can buy merchandise with your favorite emoticons. In-app purchases allow you to buy different sets of emoticons (stickers) for a few dollars. This sticker and theme market is so huge, that it makes a total of 75 million dollars in the first years of its launch (https://linecorp.com/en/pr/news/en/2015/997).
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HelloTalk
Another very useful app in the category of social media is “HelloTalk“. It lets you easily get in touch with local people who are open minded and want to learn about foreign languages. You can send so called “Moments” about your experiences with the Japanese language and ask for help with your studying. Furthermore a lot of people ask for local meetings for language exchange face to face and to learn about foreign culture.
japan covid travel app
ROUTE SEARCH
Route search covers all means of public transportation including Japan Rail (JR), subway lines, airlines, taxis and ferry service.
Route Search is compatible with JR Pass. Traffic delay and transportation service suspension information are provided, along with alternative route suggestions.
ROUTE SEARCH
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DISCOVER
There are regularly updated articles and information about tourist spots in Japan.
Find places to go and things to do.
POINTS OF INTEREST
Users can search for various spots by keywords, such as ATMs, luggage storage areas, free Wi-Fi services and hospitals.
Facilities near the user’s current location can be easily found on the map.
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SAFETY ASSISTANCE FEATURE
There are alert notifications that warns of natural disasters, extreme weather and other emergencies.
Helpful information on what to do when an emergency occurs, including directions to emergency shelters, where to get medical assistance, contact information for embassies and a communication card with useful phrases to help those with no knowledge of Japanese language are also provided.
Conclusion
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