Useful applications for those who just started life in Japan
In Japan, there are a plethora of applications available that can help make your life so much easier. In this article, let GoEMON guide you through some of the most frequently used applications by Japanese people!
1. Train Applications
Yahoo!
This application provides information to track and change trains from operation time, delays, and even weather forecasts. The application is very useful if you want to find detailed information such as which route would be best for your current location.
Jorudan
This application is well-used by Japanese people due to its convenience, It helps you look up information on the stations, and train routes, as well as the ticket price and types of seats on each train. Additionally, it also recommends the shortest and quickest route.
2. Map Applications
Google maps
Google Maps is a map application well-used in many nations all across the globe. The application is available in many countries and all sorts of languages.
Maps.Me
What’s special about Maps.Me is that it is an offline application, meaning that you can use it even without having to be connected to the Internet. It is ready to be used immediately after installation.
3. Weather Forecast Applications
Yurekuru Call
Yurekuru Call will update you with the latest weather news. As natural disasters are common in Japan, the application also updates news very timely so as to minimize possible dangers from occurring.
Safety Tips
This is a natural disaster notification application for foreigners residing or traveling in Japan. The application updates news and information on emergency earthquakes, volcano eruptions, and tsunamis.
4. News Applications
SmartNews
SmartNews grants you access to a plethora of news from all over the world with many different categories. Thus, you can read not only Japan-specific news but also hot news from around the world.
The Japan Times
The Japan Times provides readers with all sorts of news, from the latest news to ones specializing in different aspects of Japan. Some categories include politics, business, stories on social issues and life in Japan, as well as world news, commentaries, entertainment, style, travel, and sports.
Easy Japanese News
This application gives readers the ability to not only read but also listen to and read daily news provided by NHK NEWS WEB EASY, CNN, MBC ... in simple Japanese.
5. Online Shopping Applications
Amazon
Amazon enhances its users’ shopping experience by providing a wide catalog of goods that can satisfy the needs of all customers. You can freely choose whatever you want and purchase after paying the additional shipping fee.
Rakuten
With reasonably priced goods, this app is widely used in Japan. However, Rakuten only accepts payment by credit card or points.
Mercari
Mercari is a popular second-hand shopping app for young people in Japan. Here, users can buy a variety of products from clothes, and accessories to cosmetics at affordable prices.
6. Online Payment Applications
Line Pay
LINE Pay is a payment application that can be used for making purchases in Japan. It allows users to transfer money between accounts without any additional fees.
PayPay
This is a QR code payment application used on smartphones in Japan. PayPay facilitates the process of paying and making purchases, as well as allows transferring money without any additional fees.
Rakuten Pay
Rakuten Pay is a smart payment app with a high reward return rate. On this app, you can pay with your credit card or reward points on the Rakuten system.
7. Money Transfer applications
Domestic money transfer
Yucho Ninsho
This is the internet banking money transfer wallet of Japan Post Bank. Yucho Ninsho is currently considered the optimal, most economical, and secured money transfer application.
SMBC
As one of the 3 largest banks in Japan, Mitsui Sumitomo (SMBC) has encouraged users to conduct online transactions through the SMBC application. Users can register to open an online bank card right on the application.
International Money Transfer
Smiles
Smiles is the #1 money transfer app in Japan with multi-language support. With its user-friendly interface, the application helps customers to check exchange rates and money-sending fees, create transactions, and track transaction status with ease. Smiles’ fee ranges from 380 yen to 1700 yen.
Dcom
Dcom is an application that supports money transfers from Japan to any country in the world. It automatically transfers money to the recipients registered on the card 24/24 with a transfer fee ranging from 400 yen to 1750 yen.
In the above article, GoEMON has introduced to you some of the most well-used and useful applications in Japan. We hope that it was helpful to you, especially to those that are new to Japan!
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