Essential Apps for Japan: Must-Download Travel Apps Before Your Trip!
Planning a trip to Japan? Before you go, make sure to download these essential apps to make your journey smoother, from transportation and payments to water refills and experiences. Here’s a breakdown of the must-have apps to have on your phone before you land in Japan!
1. SUICA Card (Set Up in Apple Wallet Before You Go!)
Japan’s public transportation system is incredibly efficient, and having a SUICA card (or PASMO) ready before you arrive will make your travels much easier. Instead of buying a physical card, you can add SUICA to your Apple Wallet (if you have an iPhone) in advance, allowing you to tap in and out of trains, buses, and even make small purchases at vending machines, convenience stores, and some restaurants. This app is essential if you are planning on using public transit in Japan. You can easily add funds when you need them and you can tap through the gates with ease. If you pair with Google Maps, you can actually map out your route and determine an estimated fare cost before you leave home.
How to Set It Up:
Open your Apple Wallet and tap the “+” sign.
Select Transit Card > Japan > SUICA.
Add funds using your credit or debit card or you can easily add money if you have Apple Pay set up (we highly recommend setting up Apple Pay in advance!).
This makes paying for travel a breeze, and you can reload it anytime!
2. Japan Transit Planner
If you’re navigating Japan’s extensive train and subway system, Japan Transit Planner is a lifesaver. This app helps you find the fastest routes, costs, and transfer details for trains, including the Shinkansen (bullet train).
📍 Why It’s Useful:
✔️ Works offline with saved routes.
✔️ Shows train schedules and fare costs.
✔️ Helps you avoid complicated transfers.
Alternative: Google Maps also works well for public transport in Japan, but Japan Transit Guide often provides more accurate train platform details.
We helped plan our trip using Japan Transit Guide and then paired it with Google Maps to travel around.
3. Japan Travel - Smart Transit (by Navitime)
Another fantastic transit app, Japan Travel provides detailed train, bus, and walking routes with real-time updates. It also includes points of interest, WiFi spots, and restaurant recommendations. The Japan Travel app also provides great itinerary ideas, fun facts about Japan, and even has an eSIM option for mobile phone service. This app was one of our most used on the trip.
📍 Why It’s Useful:
✔️ Multilingual support.
✔️ Provides alternative routes when there are delays.
✔️ Includes offline maps and guides for sightseeing.
This was one of our most used apps while traveling in Japan and was a lifesaver. It also provided some great ideas and helped us find restaurants and activities.
4. DiDi, GoTaxi & Uber (For Taxis in Japan)
While Japan’s public transport is excellent, sometimes a taxi is the best option—especially if you have luggage or are out late at night.
🚕 DiDi Japan: The most widely used ride-hailing app in major cities like Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka.
🚖 GoTaxi: Japan’s local taxi app, great for hailing taxis in more traditional areas.
🚙 Uber Japan: Limited compared to other countries but still useful in major cities. For Uber specifically, you can opt to either take a taxi or higher a private car. Private cars are a set price, while taxi prices vary based on mileage and driving time.
📍 Why It’s Useful:
✔️ Avoids language barriers when ordering a taxi.
✔️ Lets you pay in-app with a credit card.
✔️ Provides fare estimates before you book.
💡 Tip: In smaller towns and rural areas, taxis are often found at train stations rather than through apps.
💡 Tip: We recommend downloading all three apps so you can price compare.
We can’t stress this enough - download the apps and set up your payment information BEFORE you travel to Japan. All of these apps require a confirmation SMS text and if you do not have service you will not receive the SMS text to activate your service. So, set it up in advance while you have service at home to save yourself from having to turn on your service for the day.
5. Airalo (eSIM for Affordable Data in Japan)
Staying connected in Japan is essential, especially for using maps, translations, and reservations. Instead of renting a pocket WiFi, consider using Airalo, an eSIM that provides affordable data without needing a physical SIM card.
📍 Why It’s Useful:
✔️ No need to swap SIM cards—just download the eSIM.
✔️ Plans are flexible and affordable.
✔️ Works across Japan without relying on WiFi spots.
💡 Tip: If your phone doesn’t support eSIM, you can also buy a local SIM at the airport, but Airalo is a hassle-free option.
We simply bought the Mochi Mochi package, followed the instructions to activate the eSIM and the service worked almost immediately. Also, if you are looking for a discount, feel free to use our discount code: MATTHE6398.
6. MyMizu (Find Free Water Refills)
Japan is known for its clean tap water, but instead of constantly buying plastic bottles, use MyMizu to find free water refill stations around the country.
📍 Why It’s Useful:
✔️ Saves money on bottled water.
✔️ Helps reduce plastic waste.
✔️ Includes refill spots in cafés, hotels, and public spaces.
💡 Tip: Many train stations and tourist spots have water fountains. Bring a reusable bottle to refill!
7. Klook (For Booking Activities & Rail Passes)
Want to book a Japan Rail Pass, day tours, or attraction tickets in advance? Klook is one of the best platforms for discounted travel experiences in Japan. It works a lot like GetYourGuide or Viator but is more robust mixing in a Ticketmaster element. You can easily purchase train tickets (you receive a QR code) or attraction tickets.
📍 Why It’s Useful:
✔️ Pre-book attraction tickets to avoid long lines.
✔️ Often has better prices than buying on-site.
✔️ Easy to book pocket WiFi, SIM cards, and transport passes.
💡 Tip: If you plan to visit Tokyo Disneyland or Universal Studios Japan, buy your tickets on Klook to secure your entry.
Since we did not end up booking the Japan Rail Pass (we wish we would have!) - we used Klook to book Shinkansen (bullet train) tickets individually in advance and reserve seats.
8. Free WiFi Japan (Stay Connected Without Using Data)
If you’re relying on free WiFi instead of mobile data, Free WiFi Japan is an essential app. It helps you locate and connect to thousands of free WiFi hotspots across Japan, including at train stations, airports, cafes, and shopping areas.
📍 Why It’s Useful:
✔️ Helps you find WiFi spots in major cities.
✔️ Connects automatically to registered networks.
✔️ Saves on mobile data costs.
💡 Tip: While free WiFi is widely available in Japan, some networks require registration. This app streamlines the process so you can connect instantly.
If you are using an eSIM and a data package, this free WiFi app can really help save your data and auto connects to nearby WiFI. We used this app quite a bit and found it really easy to use.
9. Google Translate (Your Language Lifesaver in Japan)
While many signs and menus in Japan have English translations, you’ll still encounter situations where Google Translate comes in handy—especially in smaller towns, local restaurants, and when interacting with non-English speakers. This was a lifesaver for us. Although we learned a few Japanese words, we were no where near conversational. Ash is lactose intolerant and Google Translate was a breeze to ask if a cafe or coffee shop had almond, oat, or soy milk rather than normal milk. Definitely be sure to download this one before you go!
📍 Why It’s Useful:
✔️ Camera Translation – Instantly translate menus, signs, and labels by pointing your camera.
✔️ Offline Mode – Download the Japanese language pack to translate text even without internet.
✔️ Conversation Mode – Speak into the app and have it translate your words into Japanese (and vice versa).
✔️ Handwriting Input – If a kanji character isn’t recognized, you can draw it on the screen.
💡 Tip: When using Camera Translation, the results might be a bit wonky. Try scanning one line at a time for more accurate translations!
Final Travel Tips
✅ Set up your SUICA card in Apple Wallet before arriving for easy public transport.
✅ Download key transport apps like Japan Transit Guide & Japan Travel for smooth navigation.
✅ Use DiDi, GoTaxi, or Uber for taxis when public transport isn’t an option. Consider downloading all of them in order to compare prices while you travel.
✅ Get an eSIM (Airalo) or a SIM card to stay connected.
✅ Stay hydrated with MyMizu by finding free water refill stations.
✅ Book key activities in advance with Klook for discounts and convenience.
With these apps, your trip to Japan will be stress-free, efficient, and more enjoyable! We hope these apps will help you make the most of your Japan experience!