Here are some tech tips that can help you travel more conveniently around Japan, whether it’s your first time or if you’re a seasoned traveller.
01 FINDING YOUR WAY WITH GOOGLE MAPS
Let’s start off with something that’s essential to every traveller and that’s getting around. The best map app to use for most tourists is Google Maps. Not only does it have precise instructions for public transport, including which train carriage to board for the fastest transfer times and which platforms you should be waiting on, but the app also has a clearer system of labelling shops and restaurants.
Take my favourite gyoza shop in Ebisu, for example, which shows up perfectly on Google Maps, with the app also offering auto-translation of reviews in different languages, which is super handy. I’ve also found plenty of great restaurants and izakayas just by doing a quick scan of the available listings in an area from Google Maps.
Apple Maps is another option, and I’ve found that the directions provided on Apple Maps can be slightly more detailed, particularly when it comes to how to find specific exits in large, confusing Japanese subway stations. For those of you who might be driving, both apps also indicate clearly which routes include tolls, and offer alternative routes that don’t have tolls, so that’s a good feature to try and
