Flying to Japan? Before you close your suitcase, it’s worth taking a few minutes to download a few apps. Japan is one of the easiest countries to travel in, but the language, the script and the train system can be confusing at first. These apps make all of that simple.
I’ve gathered the apps that make life easy in Japan: for food, transport, translation, bookings, and even for the moment your battery dies in the middle of the day.
Summary Table: Which App for Which Need
| Need | App |
|---|---|
| Restaurants | Tabelog |
| Taxis | GO (and Uber) |
| Navigation and trains | Google Maps |
| Translating menus and signs | ChatGPT |
| Attractions, hotels and trains | Klook |
| Booking transport | 12GO |
| Power bank | ChargeSpot |
| Nursing and changing rooms | Mama Papa Map |
Tabelog: Japan’s Restaurant Rating App
Tabelog is Japan’s restaurant rating app. It helps you find excellent places rated by locals, not just by tourists.
- You can sort by rating or by distance.
- Free to use.
GO: Japan’s Taxi App
GO is an excellent Japanese taxi app. You order a taxi from your phone, without having to explain to the driver where you’re going.
Uber also works very well in Japan. Just note that it works less well in less touristy cities, so it’s worth having both.
Google Maps: Navigation That Works Brilliantly in Japan
If you don’t have Google Maps yet, now is the time to download it. It works brilliantly in Japan and shows you exactly:
- which train line to take,
- from which platform,
- and which station exit is closest to your destination.
Just enter a destination and get there without getting lost.
ChatGPT: Translating Handwritten Menus and Signs
Took a photo of a handwritten menu and Google Translate can’t read it? ChatGPT can accurately translate handwritten menus and signs, even when regular translation apps usually fail.
Klook: The Whole Trip in One Place
Klook is the app that sorts out your whole trip in one place: attraction tickets, hotels, trains and more.
12GO: Booking Transport
12GO is an app for booking transport.
ChargeSpot: Forgot Your Charger?
No problem.
ChargeSpot shows where you can rent a power bank, with stations all over Japan.
Traveling with Young Kids: Mama Papa Map
For parents of young children, Mama Papa Map shows where the nearest nursing and changing rooms are.
