The Essential Apps We Actually Use for Japan Travel

The 12 apps we actually use in Japan - tools that solve real problems for experienced travelers.

After dozens of extended trips to Japan over several decades, we've learned something counterintuitive: fewer apps work better than more. While many travel blogs recommend 30 or more Japan apps, most travelers will download them once and never open them again.

The apps that earn permanent space on our phones are those we reach for repeatedly - not because a blog post said we should, but because they solve actual problems we encounter. Navigation when signs are in kanji. Restaurant menus we can't read. Train connections that seem impossibly complex.

Here are the 12 apps that have proven genuinely indispensable across our many trips to Japan.

Best Apps for Getting Around Japan

SmartEX - Shinkansen seat reservations . This is non-negotiable if you're traveling the Tokaido, Sanyo, and Kyushu shinkansen lines - Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima, Fukuoka and points between. (Note: SmartEX doesn't cover routes north of Tokyo or to Kanazawa, so if you're heading to Tohoku or taking the Hokuriku line, you'll need to reserve at the station.) The app handles reservations, changes, and ticket pickup. Essential for popular routes during peak seasons.

SmartEX makes shinkansen reservations straightforward - here's a booking for the Kyoto to Okayama route

JAL and ANA - Domestic flights. Japan's domestic flights can save you hours compared to multiple train transfers, especially for destinations like Hokkaido, Kyushu, Okinawa, or Shikoku. We always fly from Tokyo to Fukuoka or Kagoshima - it's so much faster than the shinkansen.

Both airlines offer special discount fares for foreign tourists (JAL's Explorer Fare, for example), but here's the catch: you can't book these fares through the apps. You'll need to use the airline websites or call their reservation lines to access the discounted rates. We learned this through trial and error. Once you've booked, though, the apps are excellent for checking in, tracking flight status and delays, and managing your reservations.

GO - Taxi service. This replaced the old JapanTaxi app. In cities, when your feet give out or you're hauling luggage, GO gets you a taxi quickly. The app handles payment and shows your driver's location. Much easier than trying to hail a cab on the street, especially if your Japanese is limited.

JapanTravel by Navitime - Transit routing. This is our go-to for navigating Japan's complex transit systems. It handles trains, subways, buses, and ferries, showing you multiple route options with times, costs, and platform information. The English interface is clear and reliable.

A Word About Google Maps

We need to address the elephant in the room. Many travelers rely entirely on Google Maps for navigation in Japan, and in major cities like Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka, it works well enough.

But if you're exploring more rural areas, Google Maps can be spotty. On our recent month in Tohoku, Google Maps directed us to the wrong location three separate times. At each place - a restaurant, a ryokan, and a craft shop - the staff told us they constantly deal with customers sent to incorrect addresses by Google Maps. In rural areas, where getting lost means serious delays and frustration, this isn't just inconvenient.

We haven't found a perfect alternative, but we have developed workarounds. When making reservations, we ask for geolocation addresses (the plus codes or exact coordinates) and plug those into Google Maps. We also ask for landmarks that help us verify we're on the right route. Getting specific directions from hotels and restaurants when booking, asking locals along the way, and using visual landmarks all help fill the gaps.

Sometimes the best navigation tool is a combination of technology and old-fashioned asking for help.

Finding Places to Eat

Tabelog - Restaurant discovery and ratings . Tabelog is Japan's dominant restaurant review platform. We use it to research restaurants, check ratings (look for 3.5+ for excellent quality), read reviews, and often make reservations. The app interface is manageable even without reading Japanese, though knowing some helps.

Tabelog shows ratings, prices, and reservation options - look for 3.5+ ratings

For more local, often less expensive options, I also check Gurunavi's website (the app is Japanese-only, but the web version has English).

Communication and Language

Papago - Translation. Yes, Google Translate exists and for most first-time tourists it's probably fine. But for return visitors or those with some Japanese language skills, Papago is often the better choice. It's more accurate, especially with nuanced Japanese. When you're trying to understand a complex menu, read important signage, or communicate something specific, Papago's precision matters. It handles context better and tortures the translation less frequently than Google. The Conversation mode is particularly intuitive - it makes real-time spoken communication surprisingly manageable.

Line - Messaging app. Line is ubiquitous in Japan. Some restaurants only take reservations through Line. Hotels and tour operators often prefer communicating via Line. Small businesses use it instead of email. And if you meet Japanese people and want to stay in touch, they'll ask for your Line, not your email address. You need this app if you want to interact with Japanese businesses and people the way they actually communicate.

Practical Problem-Solvers

Ecbo Cloak - Luggage storage. This app connects you with shops, cafes, and other businesses that will store your luggage for a few hours or a full day. Invaluable for those gaps between hotel checkout and evening shinkansen departures, or when you want to explore a city unencumbered before catching your train. Reserve and pay through the app.

Payke - Product information scanner. Point your phone at products in stores and Payke translates labels and provides information in English. Particularly useful in pharmacies, supermarkets, and cosmetics shops where you want to know exactly what you're buying.

The Swiss Army Knife

NHK World - News, weather, and safety. If we could keep only one "nice to have" app beyond the transportation essentials, this would be it. NHK World delivers English-language Japanese news, detailed weather forecasts (critical when you're timing trips around foliage season or planning outdoor activities), and - importantly - earthquake and tsunami warnings. It's reliable, official, and covers multiple needs in a single app.

NHK World's detailed weather forecasts are essential for timing trips around typhoon season as well as cherry blossom and fall foliage seasons.

What About IC Cards?

You'll notice we haven't mentioned a Suica or Pasmo app. That's because we use Android phones, and the IC card apps work on Apple devices. But honestly, we actually like using the physical IC cards we've recharged and used for years. No faffing with phone security codes, no worries about phone battery dying when you need to exit the station. It's a bit analog - sort of like enjoying using cash for transactions - but it works reliably every time.

Our well-traveled Sugoca and ICOCA cards - analog, reliable, and no battery anxiety

A note about IC card names: You'll hear about Suica, Pasmo, ICOCA, Sugoca, and other regional IC card names. They all work interchangeably throughout Japan - our ICOCA and Sugoca cards work perfectly in Tokyo, just as a Suica works in Osaka or Fukuoka. Pick whichever one you encounter first and it will serve you everywhere. You can refill them at station machines or at most konbini (7-Eleven, FamilyMart, Lawson), which are everywhere and open 24/7.

If you have an iPhone, the digital IC card option does make refilling easier since you can add value right from your phone instead of finding a station or konbini. But don't feel like you're missing out if you stick with the physical card.

The Bottom Line

Twelve apps. That's it. Each one solves a specific, recurring problem I've encountered across multiple trips. No app bloat, no "just in case" downloads, no comprehensive coverage of every possible scenario.

Your phone storage and attention are limited. Fill both with tools you'll actually use.

Downloading These Apps

All of these apps are available in both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. Simply search for the app name in your device's app store to download.