Top 3 Must-Have Apps for Japan in 2027 (TabeDog Is #1)
The 3 must-have apps for Japan in 2027: TabeDog for where to eat, Google Maps for getting there and Suica for fares, with setup steps and honest limits.
The three must-have apps for Japan in 2027 are TabeDog for choosing where to eat, Google Maps for getting there, and Suica for paying your fare. Set them up before you fly and you've covered the three things visitors deal with every day: food, trains and money.
TabeDog is our own product, so read the #1 ranking with that in mind. We'll also tell you where it falls short and when you need something else. App details were checked in November 2026 and can change before your trip, so confirm anything important close to departure.
The 3 best apps for Japan at a glance
| App | What it's for | Cost | Works on |
|---|---|---|---|
| TabeDog | Finding restaurants by Tabelog score, on an English map | Free map; Premium ¥500 a month | Any phone browser |
| Google Maps | Train routes, walking directions, station exits | Free | iPhone, Android |
| Suica | Tapping onto trains and buses, paying at stores that take e-money | No deposit; you load the balance | iPhone, Apple Watch; physical card for most Android users |
Must-have apps for Japan, ranked
1. TabeDog: where to eat
You'll choose a restaurant two or three times a day, and it's the decision that's hardest to make from outside Japan. Japanese diners check Tabelog, the country's biggest restaurant review site, and its scale runs differently from the one you're used to. A 3.5 or above is excellent and 3.2–3.4 is good, so a 3.6 that looks ordinary next to a 4.6 on Google is the stronger signal. We cover the differences in our comparison of food apps for Japan.
TabeDog puts those scores on an English map. Each restaurant shows its rating, budget band, hours, closed days and payment methods, and you can filter by what's open now, price, minimum score and how you want to pay. That last filter earns its keep at dinnertime, because many small places still don't take every kind of payment and you'd rather know before you queue. For a starting point, browse Tokyo's top-rated restaurants or ramen in Tokyo.
Where it falls short: TabeDog doesn't book tables. The Reserve button sends you to the restaurant's Tabelog page. If you plan to reserve, also install Tabelog's own app for international visitors, which reported more than 70,000 restaurants with instant booking in May 2026 and charges a system fee on each confirmed reservation. Our payment details only go as far as Tabelog's listing, and we store hours for up to 90 days, so check the linked listing before crossing town for one meal.
Setup: there's nothing to download. Open tabedog.com on your phone and add it to your home screen. The map is free. Premium adds saved lists, AI recommendations, AI search and local guides.
2. Google Maps: how to get there
Google Maps handles Japan's rail network well. It compares routes with transfers, fares, platform numbers and walking segments, and it can show station exits in many cities. Exits matter more than first-timers expect: in a big station, the wrong one can leave you a long walk from where you meant to be. Once you've picked a restaurant on TabeDog, copy its address into Maps for the route.
Three limits are worth knowing, all from this 2026 guide to using Maps in Japan:
- Offline maps won't route you. They help with orientation, but transit and walking directions need a connection, so sort out an eSIM or pocket Wi-Fi before you land.
- Rail passes aren't accounted for. Maps may suggest private railways your Japan Rail Pass doesn't cover. If you have a pass, check the operator on each leg, or add Japan Travel by NAVITIME, which has a pass filter.
- Not every time is live. Some stations show real-time departures and others show the schedule. Check the operator's notices for last trains and airport connections.
3. Suica: how to pay the fare
Suica is a prepaid transit card that lives on your phone. Tap it at the gate instead of working out a fare and buying a paper ticket at a machine. It also works on buses and at stores that accept e-money. Which version you get depends on your phone:
- iPhone, short trip: Welcome Suica Mobile, JR East's English app for visitors. You can issue it before or after you arrive, with no deposit, and top up with a card in Apple Pay or with cash at a ticket machine. It expires 180 days after issue and the remaining balance isn't refundable, so top up in small amounts near the end of your trip.
- iPhone, repeat visits: a regular Suica in Apple Wallet, on iPhone 8 or later and Apple Watch Series 3 or later. It doesn't have the short expiry that the visitor versions do.
- Android: most phones sold outside Japan lack the FeliCa chip Suica needs, so buy a physical Welcome Suica when you arrive. It lasts 28 days from first use, tops up with yen cash only, and any leftover balance is lost.
Suica won't pay for everything. Shinkansen trips generally need a separate ticket, and plenty of restaurants don't take e-money, so carry some yen and check the payment row on TabeDog before you sit down.
Why these three apps for Japan, and what didn't make the cut
We picked apps for Japan that you'll open every day and that are hard to replace. Google Translate came closest: point the camera at a menu or sign and it overlays English. It's worth installing, and worth downloading the Japanese language pack before you fly, but it fills gaps rather than running your day. Reservation apps such as TableCheck and Omakase are useful for a specific dinner you've planned, and our guide to Japan food websites covers them.
Set up your apps for Japan before you fly
- Arrange data for your trip (eSIM or pocket Wi-Fi), since Maps needs it for directions.
- Set up Suica on your iPhone, or note where to buy the physical card on arrival if you use Android.
- Add TabeDog to your home screen and look up the area around your hotel.
- Save your hotel and bookings in Google Maps.
- Install Tabelog's app if you plan to reserve, and Google Translate with Japanese downloaded.
Frequently asked questions
Is TabeDog free?
Yes, the map is free. Premium costs ¥500 a month and adds saved lists, AI recommendations, AI search and local guides.
Can I book restaurants on TabeDog?
No. TabeDog links to each restaurant's Tabelog page, where you can reserve if the restaurant offers online booking. Tabelog's own app also handles reservations in English.
Is TabeDog connected to Tabelog?
No. TabeDog is an independent project and isn't affiliated with or endorsed by Tabelog or Kakaku.com, Inc. The ratings come from public Tabelog listings, and each restaurant links back to its source.
Does Google Maps work offline in Japan?
Partly. Downloaded maps help you see where you are, but transit and walking directions need a data connection.
Can I use Suica on an Android phone?
Usually not as a phone app, because most Android phones sold outside Japan lack the FeliCa chip. Welcome Suica Mobile is iPhone and Apple Watch only, so Android users should buy a physical Welcome Suica in Japan.
