All apps will be either available in English or Japanese, although many may also include other languages, for the purposes of our group, English and Japanese apps will take precedence. If Japanese name comes first, it's likely that app is Japanese only. Some apps may not be available in all regional stores. There are online resources on how to change your phone's region to access those apps.
Suggestions are welcomed and appreciated, but please check the date of last update to see if it's still a relevant app. i know there's a ton of apps out there, especially on iOS, and a huge part of those are defunct or ignored by their developers with outdated information.
Using USD for this list since the default app stores for both iOS and Android are US based.
Last updated: February 24th, 2020
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On Internet Connection
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Japan Connected-free Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi Hotspot connection
- Languages: English, Japanese, Korean, Simplified Chinese, Thai, Traditional Chinese
- Cost: iOS - Free, Android - Free
Travel Japan Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi Hotspot connection
- Languages: English, Japanese, Korean, Simplified Chinese, Thai, Traditional Chinese
- Cost: iOS - Free, Android - Free
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On Emergencies & Natural Disasters
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Yurekuru Call
(suggested by Felicia Jieling)
Earthquake Early Warning notification, Seismic maps, Earthquake Reports, additional functions with registration.
- Languages: English, Japanese
- Cost: iOS - Free with Sub, Android - Free with Sub
Safety Tips
(suggested by Andrew Booth)
Earthquake Early Warning, Tsunami Warnings, Volcanic Warnings, Weather Warnings, Heat illness Warnings and Civil Protection Information issued in Japan.
- Languages: English, Japanese, Korean, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese
- Cost: iOS - Free, Android - Free
JAPAN Hospital Guide
English capable hospitals and clinics for foreigners in Japan.
- Languages: English, Japanese
- Cost: iOS - Free, Android - Free
Japan Shelter Guide
(suggested by Theresa Bean)
Searching for disaster evacuation shelters in Japan and showing you routes to them.
- Languages: English, Japanese, and 30 other languages
- Cost: iOS - Free, Android - Free
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On Language
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Google Translate
Text, Voice, and Optical Translator
- Languages: English, Japanese, and too many to list.
- Cost: iOS - Free, Android - Free
Waygo - Chinese, Japanese, and Korean Translator
Optical Translator
- Languages: English
- Cost: iOS - Free with In-app purchase, Android - Free with In-app purchase
Jspeak Voice Translator by NTT DoCoMo
Voice Translator
- Languages: English, French, German, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Simplified Chinese, Spanish, Thai, Traditional Chinese
- Cost: iOS - Free with Sub, Android - Free with Sub
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ウェブリオ英語翻訳アプリ
Weblio English Translator
(suggested by ローラ 呉)
Text Translator
- Languages: English, Japanese
- Cost: iOS - Free, Android - Free
Memrise
(suggested by Vanessa Holm)
Language Learning
- Languages: English
- Cost: iOS - Free with In-app purchase, Android - Free with In-app purchase
Microsoft Translator
Text, Voice, and Optical Translator
- Languages: English, Japanese, and too many to list.
- Cost: iOS - Free, Android - Free
VoiceTra(音声翻訳)
(suggested by Takumi Kaida)
Voice Translator
- Languages: English, Japanese, and 8 other languages
- Cost: iOS - Free, Android - Free
Yomiwa Offline Camera Translator
Optical Translator
- Languages: English, Japanese, and 10 other languages.
- Cost: iOS - $5.99, Android - Free with In-app purchase
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On off-road GPS (for hikers and off-piste skiiers)
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any of these apps may require additional paying and downloading of one or more separate Japan Topography(Topo) maps
Gaia GPS
GPS, Topography, Hike Planning
- Languages: English, Japanese, and 15 other languages
- Cost: iOS - $19.99 with Sub, Android - $19.99 with Sub
BackCountry Navigator TOPO GPS
GPS, Topography, Hike Planning
- Languages: English
- Cost: Android - $11.99+
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On Public Transit & GPS Road Map Navigation
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HyperDia
Transit Guide, it maybe more convenient to use their website than the app.
- Languages: English, Japanese
- Cost: iOS - Free with Sub, Android - Free with Sub
Google Map
Route Mapping, Timetable, See Street View, Create Custom Maps
- Languages: Japanese, English, and too many to list.
- Cost: iOS - Free, Android - Free
Tokyo Subway Navigation for Tourists
Tokyo Metro Transit Guide
- Languages: English, Japanese, and 6 other languages
- Cost: iOS - Free, Android - Free
CityMapper
Transit Guide (currently limited to Tokyo)
- Languages: English, Japanese, and 11 other languages
- Cost: iOS - Free, Android - Free
Maps.me
(suggested by Chris Nguyen)
Download maps to read offline
- Languages: English, Japanese, and 26 other languages
- Cost: iOS - Free, Android - Free
Rail Map
Railway Maps
- Languages: English, Japanese, and 10 other languages
- Cost: iOS - Free with Sub, Android - Free with Sub
Uber
Private Taxiing Service (currently limited to Tokyo)
- Languages: Japanese, English, and too many to list.
- Cost: iOS - Free, Android - Free
Sygic GPS Navigation
Car Navigation
- Languages: Japanese, English, and too many to list.
- Cost: iOS - Free with In-app purchase, Android - Free with In-app purchase
JapanTaxi
(suggested by Justin Chia)
Taxi Service App
- Languages: English, Japanese, and 3 other languages.
- Cost: iOS - Free, Android - Free
SmartEX
Tokaido Sanyo Shinkansen Ticket online booking. May only work in these countries: United States Australia Singapore Hong Kong Malaysia Thailand
- Languages: English
- Cost: iOS - Free, Android - Free
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On Food
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GURUNAVI
Restaurant search
- Languages: English, Korean, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese
- Cost: iOS - Free, Android - Free
Yelp
Restaurant & Service Guide
- Languages: English, Japanese, and 17 other languages
- Cost: iOS - Free, Android - Free
Halal Navi
(suggested by Mohd Nor Akram)
Halal restaurant search
- Languages: English
- Cost: iOS - Free, Android - Free
Happy Cow
Vegetarian & Vegan restaurant search
- Languages: English, Japanese, and 9 other languages
- Cost: iOS - Free, Android - Free
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On Money
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iCurrency Pad
Currency Converter
- Languages: English, Japanese, and 7 other languages
- Cost: iOS - $0.99
Easy Currency Converter
(suggested by Jon Foo)
Currency Converter
- Languages: English
- Cost: Android - Free
JAPAN POST BANK ATM Finder
ATM Locator
- Languages: English, Japanese, and 3 other languages
- Cost: iOS - Free, Android - Free
Suikakeibo
Japanese IC card tracker, includes most transportation cards as well as Waon(Aeon), Edy(Rakuten), Nanaco(7-11)
- Languages: English, Japanese
- Cost: Android - Free with In-app purchase
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On Accommodations, Flights, Rental Cars
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Booking.com
Accommodations, Flight, Car Rental booking.
- Languages: Japanese, English, and too many to list.
- Cost: iOS - Free, Android - Free
じゃらん - Jalan.net
Accommodations, Flight, Car Rental, Activity booking.
- Languages: Japanese
- Cost: iOS - Free, Android - Free
Airbnb
Vacation home rental booking.
- Languages: Japanese, English, and too many to list.
- Cost: iOS - Free, Android - Free
Hostelworld
Hostel search, does include some hotels.
- Languages: English, Japanese, and 12 other languages
- Cost: iOS - Free, Android - Free
Skyscanner
Flight, Car Rental, Accommodations booking.
- Languages: Japanese, English, and too many to list.
- Cost: iOS - Free, Android - Free
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On Weather
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AccuWeather
Powerful all-round weather app. Minute forecast very accurate in Japan. Smartwatch integration.
- Languages: Japanese, English, and too many to list.
- Cost: iOS - Free, Android - Free
The Weather Channel
Popular weather app. Smartwatch integration. Air Quality index not yet available for Japan. More US based functions not useful for Japan like pollen alert and streamed weather programming.
- Languages: Japanese, English, and too many to list.
- Cost: iOS - Free, Android - Free
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Itinerary Planners
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Trip It
Plan trip, share plan, confirmation email import into itinerary, calendar sync, smartwatch integration.
- Languages: English
- Cost: iOS - Free with sub, Android - Free with sub
Trip Case
Plan trip, share plan, confirmation email import into itinerary, flight search, Uber integration, Apple Watch integration.
- Languages: English
- Cost: iOS - Free with Sub, Android - Free with Sub
Trip Hobo
(suggested by Ibrahim Al-Warthan)
Plan trip, save offline, can book hotels
- Languages: Japanese, English, and too many to list.
- Cost: iOS - Free, Android - Free
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Multipurpose Apps
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TABIMORI by Narita International Airport Corporation
Multipurpose app from JTB & NTT DoCoMo, includes many functions from other apps like NariTra, Japan Connected-free Wi-Fi, Weathernews Inc., ...
- Languages: English, Japanese, and 7 other languages
- Cost: iOS - Free, Android - Free
NAVITIME for Japan Travel
Multipurpose app from Navitime, includes many functions like route mapping, search for Free Wi-Fi, Currency Exchange, ATM, Tourist Information Center, Stations
- Languages: English, Japanese, and 6 other languages
- Cost: iOS - Free with sub, Android - Free with sub
Japan Travel Guide for tourists by NTT
Multipurpose app from JTB & NTT DoCoMo
- Languages: English, Japanese, and 4 other languages
- Cost: iOS - Free, Android - Free
Japan Travel Guide DiGJAPAN!
(suggested by Zaidi Musilim)
Assorted Japan Travel information
- Languages: English, Japanese, and 4 other languages
- Cost: iOS - Free, Android - Free
Japan Life Guide
Assorted Japan daily-use information for both travelers and residents.
- Languages: English, Japanese (with Japanese syllabaries) , Yasashii Nihongo (Easy Japanese), and 11 other languages
- Cost: iOS - Free, Android - Free
JAPAN Trip Navigator by JTB
Multipurpose app: travel guide, making custom itinerary and making reservations (restaurants, accommodations, activities).
- Languages: English
- Cost: iOS - Free, Android - Free
Tabiko by FastJapan
(suggested by Logan Page)
Concierge and Booking services
- Languages: English
- Cost: iOS - Free, Android - Free
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Useful Miscellaneous Info
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Japan Post Office Navigation 郵便局ナビ
Post Office searcher.
- Languages: English, Japanese, Simplified Chinese
- Cost: iOS - Free, Android - Free
Payke
(suggested by Serene Lee)
Barcode scanner for product info translation.
- Languages: English
- Cost: iOS - Free, Android - Free
Japan Shopping Navi
Barcode scanner for product info translation. Also discounts and coupons.
- Languages: English, Korean, Simplified Chinese, Thai, Traditional Chinese
- Cost: iOS - Free, Android - Free
MyMizu
(suggested by Lionel Kok, update by Gil Goldshlager)
Searcher to find free refill points to refill water bottles.
update: Jan 16th, 2020: Android version release.
- Languages: English, Japanese
- Cost: iOS - Free, Android - Free
RS Station (michi-no-eki map)
Search for Road Stations where there's public toilets,
local products, and tourist information for the area.
- Languages: English, Japanese
- Cost: iOS - Free, Android - Free
Public Ashtray Finder
(suggested by Mariko Nakakita)
Public outdoor ashtray search
- Languages: English, Japanese
- Cost: iOS - Free, Android - Free
USJ Alert
Universal Studios Japan wait time, map, closed attractions alert.
- Languages: English, Japanese, Korean, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese
- Cost: iOS - Free, Android - Free
TDR Alert
Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea wait time, map, closed attractions alert.
- Languages: English, Japanese, and 5 other languages
- Cost: iOS - Free, Android - Free
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Regional Travel Guides
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Unique Nagano
Sightseeing guide for Nagano prefecture
- Languages: English, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Korean and Thai
- Cost: iOS - Free, Android - Free
Karuizawa App 軽井沢アプリ
Sightseeing guide for Karuizawa city
- Languages: English, Japanese
- Cost: iOS - Free
Drive Hokkaido!
Mapcodes, Sightseeing Guide, Facilities Search, for Hokkaido Prefecture.
- Languages: English, Traditional Chinese
- Cost: iOS - Free, Android - Free
A huge thanks to many members of Japan Travel Friendly Discussion Group for help in providing valuable recommendations and updating the information here.