By Josie Sampson,
Right now, there’s never been a better time to visit Tokyo. The city’s proud announcement as the 2020 Olympic hosts has stirred interest in the capital and everyone who’s anyone is flocking to see what all the fuss is about. If you plan to get in on the action and see for yourself, a city as modern as tech-friendly as Tokyo promises a myriad of great apps, designed especially to get you discovering the place like a pro. Here are our top picks of the ones you can’t afford to miss out on.
Subway map
The Tokyo Metro is the busiest subway system on the planet, boasting around 7 million users a day across its 9 lines and 179 stations. Since the first line opened in 1927, the fast pace and sprawling crowds can make it a nightmare to navigate, even sometimes to those that use it every day. Keep the Tokyo Metro Subway app handy on your phone and you’ll be sure to travel like a native. With easy-to-understand maps, a route planner and station information, it’s definitely the best app out there. Let’s get going!
Greetings
Whether you’re planning a short trip or a longer stay, a base knowledge of the language will always be helpful! The Human Japanese app is great way for complete beginners to start things off. The lessons are clear and smooth and the instructions are friendly, making you feel like there’s a teacher right there with you. Get this app and you’ll be fluent in no time at all!
Tokyo
Of course, no one would blame you if you found yourself a bit lost on the streets of Tokyo! But still, if you’d rather not be, help is at hand in the form of the Find!TOKYO app. This handy app will demystify the streets of the bustling metropolis right before your eyes. Including detailed street maps, a directory of hotels, restaurants, parks and even guides to the insides of stations, it’s everything you need to find your way around Tokyo – and back to your hotel! And once downloaded, it doesn’t need the internet – genius!
Sushi
Do you like the taste of sushi but don’t really know what you’re eating? Or maybe you’re too embarrassed to ask? Real Sushi will take away the fear! With a visual guide and a descriptive rundown of every dish you can think of, you can match up what you eat to what you see on the screen. There’s a pronunciation guide too, meaning soon you’ll be ordering like pro – see you at the sushi bar!
Expedia app
Whether a holiday, a business trip, or a backpacking trail brings you to Tokyo, having instant access on your phone to hotel and flight information is invaluable. Our favourite way to keep track is using the Expedia app, which allows you to browse the best deals and make bookings right from your phone. So whether you’re after the swankiest hotel around or you still need to book your flight to Tokyo, the Expedia app is straight-forward, easy to use and there are some great deals to be found. What could be better?
