Tabimori smartphone app for overseas visitors

On July 31, 2014, Narita International Airport Corporation released Tabimori, a free smartphone application that caters to the various needs of visitors from abroad when they find themselves in trouble or when they want to check or look something up. It comes with a host of functions aimed at facilitating travel in Japan, including speech translation, a route planner, weather forecast, flight information, currency converter and sightseeing information.

The app is free to download and is available in English, Chinese, Korean and Japanese, which can be changed anytime in the app settings. Many of the functions on the app can be used offline, utilizing cached memory to bring up information, and data will be updated when the app has connection to the internet.

Transfer Guide
Transit routes, journey times and fares are shown when the departure and arrival stations are entered.

Speech Translation
This function allows speech or text to be translated into Japanese and vice versa. There is also a phrasebook.

Free Wifi Guide
Users can register their details once in the app and allow it to automatically connect to multiple different free wifi networks across Japan.

Weather Forecast
Weekly and three-hourly (pinpoint) forecasts from the last online update for major cities across Japan.

Currency Converter
The latest rates (when connected online) are listed, with users being able to toggle between yen and various foreign currencies.

Life and Culture
Short guides in this section include how to take the train or bus, how to use Japanese toilets, how to take a bath in a hot spring, amongst many others.