Most of us these day have smart phones so already use it to search for information, buy stuff, and so much more. But moving to Japan means that you probably need a few apps that the locals use. Some offer English support and some don’t, but I have tried to keep the list as English-speaker friendly as possible.
Here are the Top 10 apps you should consider having in your phone.
- Line
- Amazon
- Rakuten
- Yahoo!
- Yurekuru call
- Suica
- PASMO
- Tabelog
- Cookpad
The COCOA app is a COVID-19 Contract tracing app and the government has been encouraging people to download it.
Some information on these popular apps in Japan
Line is probably the most popular texting app in Japan and many people also add corporate accounts to get new product information, coupons and information on promotions.
Rakuten is a huge E-Commerce platform and although the app is only in Japanese, the system is typical of any Online shopping site.
Many train companies in Japan have their own app which can be used to check the train schedule and transfers so using those apps are fine as well. To view train schedules in English, try Jorudan or Hyperdia.
Yurekuru call is an app that alerts users when an earthquake is about to hit, and while there are other apps that the locals use, those typically only in Japanese.
Suica and PASMO are transportation stored value cards which can be used on buses and trains. However, they can also be used to pay for things in convenience stores and some shops which makes things very convenient.
Tabelog is only available in Japanese, but it is one of the top food review apps in Japan so had to be included in this list. Reservations can also be made from the app itself.
Cookpad is really popular in Japan as they have a huge amount of recipes and the interface is user friendly. Sometimes people even stand in the supermarket aisles swiping through cookpad for inspiration.
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