As you get ready to explore Japan, it’s not just about packing your suitcase or making sure you have enough yen. One of the smartest ways to prepare is by downloading the best travel apps for Japan.
For a place like Japan, with numerous mobile app options, it can be challenging to determine which ones are worth using, especially if they require payment for certain features. So here’s a list of must-have travel apps in Japan — tested and updated for 2025 — to make your trip as stress-free as possible.
Understanding the transit system in Japan can seem super hard to understand from afar, but these apps will help you to understand step-by-step where you need to go and how to get there!
1. Google Maps
If there is one app to download from this list, it will be Google Maps. They give the most accurate updates when it comes to travel time, crowd size, and delays occurring.
It’s particularly useful because you will most likely use public transportation when traveling around Japan. Google Maps can also tell you how much it will cost to go on your routes, how far something is within walking distance, and store hours, making it one of the most used apps by foreigners by far!
2. Japan Travel by Navitime
If you really wanna feel like a local, this is the app for you. Japan Travel by NAVITIME helps users travel around Japan by train, transit, and the Shinkansen. You can also use their online website version and read about the best ways to explore Japan for yourself and your needs.
With these travel apps in Japan, some things might still get lost in translation, so you need to know how to understand the essential Japanese train announcements, too.
3. Go Taxi
As the most used taxi app in Japan, Go Taxi is used very similarly to Uber! It serves 45 of Japan’s 47 prefectures. You can reserve rides ahead, or use them in a hurry! It has an easy-to-use format and is overall well-used among foreigners and locals alike.
Read More: How to Take a Taxi in Japan
4. Yahoo Transit
Yahoo Transit is the most localized for Japanese people, making it the most accurate platform of all your options! It is traditionally in Japanese, but can be translated on Yahoo/Google easily. They include time for walking through the train station and transferring platform, which Google Maps often doesn’t have! So if you’re looking for a step-by-step guide, this is the app for you!
Read More: How to Navigate Japan’s Train System Without Pasmo or Suica
5. SmartEx
Thinking about taking the Shinkansen? This app will help you with every step of the process. You’ll need to register your account on their website prior, but once your account is made, you can use both the app and the website with ease. It is worth noting that you will be logged out of the app if you don’t use it often, but if you have already purchased your ticket, just add it to your digital wallet and you won’t need to get back in. Once you purchase your Shinkansen tickets, the website says you should also print out your tickets just in case it cannot read your QR code.
6. Suica or PASMO app
If you plan on using the transit system in Japan, plan to have a Suica orPASMO either physically or on your phone’s digital wallet. I find it easier to have it on your phone, so that way you can see all your charges and your remaining balance whenever you’d like. It’s very easy to add money back onto it as well, rather than having to stop at the station to refill your card.
Best Japanese Apps for Translation & Language
Traveling to cities like Tokyo may be more English-friendly, but things can still get lost in translation. While we also cover the best Japanese dictionary apps in another blog, here are some of our favorite travel apps for Japan.
7. Google Translate
Google Translate has a lot of key features that make it exemplary for translating apps. Their camera text scanning is great for signs and menu translations, you can also hold your phone up to listen to native speakers talk to better know how to reply back (I’ve had to use this a few times when in sticky situations!), and the app allows for users to use it even in offline mode.
8. DeepL
This app is better for more natural translations, especially for Korean/Chinese speakers
These translation apps allow for more natural translations rather than the literal meaning. This works especially for Korean and Chinese speakers. With Papago, you’re able to translate text, images, documents, and websites, plus listen to how to speak it. DeepL has a glossary feature that is super helpful, as well as AI-powered tools to help you write in another language!
9. Yomiwa
Yomiwa is a modern (and offline!) Japanese dictionary that has kanji recognition and real-time translation. It uses a diverse number of sources to provide the most complete dictionary app. You are able to input words and sentences using kanji, hiragana, katakana, and romaji. There are many options for translating that users have loved since its creation.
Best Travel Apps for Accommodation & Booking in Japan
10. Airbnb
If you are tired of hotels and want something like a Japanese homestay, Airbnb is a good compromise. Airbnb is known for its short-term stays with a local flavor for foreigners to fall in love with. With its easy-to-navigate app and ability to contact the owner directly to make your stay more at home, it’s easy to see why most people pick this over a hotel. Depending on the area, too, you may be able to see lower prices for your stay.
Read More: Affordable Accommodation in Tokyo
11. Booking.com
Booking.com has a lot of different filters for last-minute or discounted rates with things like hotels, flights, and car rentals. Though known for its cost-effective measures, if you use this site, it is said to make sure you do your research ahead of time to ensure everything is in order before you arrive. While most users state they have no problems with the website, it is warned that new users read through what they are selecting before purchasing.
12. Klook
Klook has been on the rise in recent years due to the wide variety of bookings you can make through it. You can book tours, hotels, museum tickets, and more through them. They have discounted rates or promotional codes you can use to lower your costs. Their website and app are easy to use and have been proven to work, especially for the Shinkansen!
Best Apps for Food & Restaurant Search
Getting to try new foods in a new country is super exciting and a great new experience. But in a place like Japan where the population is over 126,000,000 people, getting a reservation or two might be the move. Here are our top apps for finding restaurants.
13. Tabelog
As the ‘Yelp’ of Japan, this app is the most used by locals for user reviews and ratings. Users can book restaurants directly from Tabelog! It is worth noting, though, that most reviews and places will be primarily in Japanese, so just make sure you are looking at the star review rating!
14. Google Maps (Restaurants)
Less used than Tabelog for locals, Google Maps is still able to provide thorough details for restaurant searches that include English reviews, photos, and hours. If you’re looking for popular tourist attractions/foods, this is definitely the app to use more often!
15. Omakase
Ready for some high-end restaurant experiences? Omakase will be exactly what you’re looking for! This app helps users set up reservations at some of the best high-end restaurants in Japan for meals like omakase sushi, wagyu, or traditional Japanese foods. Log in, and enjoy some of the best culinary experiences you can get!
A foodie exploring Japan? You might be interested in:
Best Japanese Apps for Payments & Finance
Recently, Japan has been shifting from a cash-based society to digital payment systems. There are a lot of mobile payment apps in Japan we recommend, but we have also selected a few apps for money exchanges.
16. Wise
Wise is a multi-currency travel account that is the perfect solution for travelers. Making an account is completely free; you only pay for transactions! It is transparent and cheap, with fast transfers. For Japan, this is a good way to watch conversion rates with how you use your money!
17. XE Currency
Another great currency tool that has real-time exchange rates. You can send money to over 190 countries across 130 currencies. It also tracks your historical currency rates to analyze rate trends and to stay on track of spending.
18. PayPay
Another popular cashless app in Japan, this app can be used at stores nationwide and helps people to save money while shopping by earning PayPay points! This is a commonly used app amongst the locals, especially while grocery shopping, and is used for paying bills.
Other Travel Apps for Japan You Can Download
19. Weather app
There are many good weather apps to be used while in Japan, but just remember that the weather is usually more humid than you expect, and to always bring a UV umbrella with you– whether that’s for rain or sun! Personally, we use Tenki or Yahoo Weather!, which can give you daily weather maps as well as information about earthquakes and more.
20. MyMizu
While most restaurants will give you free water when you’re seated, sometimes finding free water can be hard! Bringing your own water bottle around is a good idea to help reduce plastic usage. This app helps users to find places where they can get free water, as well as keep track of the money they’ve saved by refilling their bottle!
21. LINE or WhatsApp
These two apps are the most commonly used messaging apps in Japan (for keeping in touch with locals or services). Some restaurants or services offer discounts if you add them on LINE! Both are completely free, and you can register using your normal phone number, rather than needing a phone number from the country you’re in (in this case, you don’t need a Japanese phone number)!
22. Japan Official Travel App
This app has it all. It can give you emergency information, guides, etiquette tips, and can also tell you other apps to download based on your needs. If there is an app to start with, start with Japan’s Official Travel App!
Conclusion
It may seem like there are a lot of apps needed to just get around Japan, but at the end of the day, you can try out what you’d like and look things up as needed. Google will always be a reliable first source to help with whatever you may need.
If you’re interested in using what the locals use but don’t know Japanese, try out Coto Academy’s part-time classes to fit right in with the Japanese culture! Fill out the inquiry form below for a free consultation and level check.
FAQ
Is the Japan official travel app free?
Yes, it is completely free! It is made specifically for tourists visiting Japan, both for iOS and Android users.
Can I travel to Japan without Google Maps?
There are many options out there for travel, making it so Google Maps does not have to be what you solely rely on. However, Google Maps does a good job of updating users on delays and other situations while also giving step-by-step routes for their destination.
What is the Best Travel App for First-Time Travelers in Japan?
Google Translate is usually said to be the best and most convenient app for first-time travelers. If you’re looking to bridge the language barrier through text, voice, or image translation, this is the app to use!
What is the most popular messaging app in Japan?
LINE is the most popular messaging app in Japan, with over 80 million users. It allows for global messaging and voice, and video calling!
Why is Apple Maps not recommended to tourists?
Apple Maps is not usually recommended to tourists because it does not provide users with the most up-to-date information, especially for companies that do not use any English. Travelers looking for a similar app should use Google Maps or Japan Travel by Navitime.
What are the best free travel planning apps?
TripIt, Klook, and TripAdvisor have been known to be very easy planning apps. All three serve similar means, but make sure to check out each one as they have different abilities to make things happen.