How about navigation? Do the car rental ppl provide GPS in English? Or have to use our own maps in tablet/smartphone. Thanks

Car have GPS if ypu rent higher class car. Make sure ask them you want english GPS.

Just another quick question,

I will be renting either a MIFI or SIMcard for data usage on my smartphone. Can the android app like MAPS be able to guide me as my GPS and leave the car GPS aside?

This will also mean to save all the POI before reaching Japan, and load it with the internet/data from MIFI / Simcard.

Has anyone tried the Google MAPS app during their visit in Japan?

i was planning the same thing. i'm almost certain it will work but just need some re-assurances.

Most of outside GPS doesn't have Japan Map in the system. U need download whole Japan map data to update


Google Map will only told ur location.

This post has been edited by RegentCid: Feb 19 2014, 02:31 PM

no navigation? that's weird, everywhere i go also got navigation, including Cambodia...

I have used google map before but that was walking. It wasnt so accurate compare. Accurate means that its about maybe 10m behind. Most probably the issue is my device. I would suggest you used GPS for driving as you need to be as accurate as possible. Please note that unlike KL, you cannot simply "gostan" here if you miss a turn.

It would be great if anyone able to solve my question.. I wouldn't want to drive in Japan without the MAPS apps, as i am also worried about the input data in car GPS whereby you need to get the exact mapcode or telephone number to search for the location.

I thought the MAPS app was able to do navigation as well? No? I thought as long as we have data/internet connection it should start navigating?

I do encounter before in Malaysia by walking it' not that accurate, as per what you've described sacwoc.

I hope i can use both, the MAPS app in my android phones as well as Car GPS. At least if i didn't manage to find it in my car GPS i still can find the location via MAPS..

If you talking about the standard Google Map in iOS and Android, then yes it can do navigation as long as you have internet access.

believe me, google MAPS work just fine in Japan.
It can show you train and bus schedule, the routes, and even the price.
It can even suggest 'Fewer transfer' or 'Less Walking' routes as you like.
That's why I get a b-mobile data sim card 1GB.

without google maps, my travel in japan will be a mess!

Thanks Google!

That delay is due to your device doing calculations after receiving signals from the GPS satellites, to find your exact position and plotting it on the map. So its 'accuracy' depends on how powerful your navigation device is. I have a simple solution - whenever you approach a junction/ramp/turnoff/whatever, just reduce your car speed.

how long ago did u use it?

i used google maps 2 years ago (for walking) and it's quite accurate

good to know

i believe spicyfooty is referring to the website of maps.google.com

whereas i am referring to our smartphone's mobile app of MAPS by google.

Anyway with sacwoc clarified it's going to work, let's save the POI now into our phone and start navigating at Japan !

although i got use google maps during the time in japan but i more relied on the hard copy of maps given out from train station or information center because of the accuracy and updated surrounding

anyone tried city map 2go before? btw, it seems that the pro version is free until 23 feb~

I am referring to google MAPS android pre-installed mobile app, on a Galaxy Note 2.
I saved all my POIs before I flew there, so I can easily find all these places at the tips of my finger.

The website maps.google.com is horrible to use due to lags and no compass.

cheers, everyone!

For subway/metro in tokyo/osaka, google maps app works perfectly as long as you have data. shows you what station to walk to, how many stops, etc etc.
For bus service in kyoto a bit spotty cos the bus stop info somehow perhaps not that accurate.

If you have no data and pre-download, then it's almost worthless cos navigation needs data.

I used it two weeks ago, though in Ginza. But as Sputnik says, its defenitely depends on your device and also I always get confuse with the orientation - is the arrow really pointing to the front or the back??? I have seen the GPS used by taxi here and its really easy to navigate. And to input Japanese address, its actually very simple. Just find the city and then input the address "numbers" like 1-2-11, which you can find in all japanese address.

@shinchan99 - if you need a piece of mind of some screen shot, just PM me and will gladly send it to you.

the orientation will follow your point of view mah. when u turn, the entire map will follow u to turn.

there are 2 types of orientation that can be viewed in the google maps app. one is the map follow your turn, the other is the map is fixed, only the arrow will turn. usually for navigation, the default view is the first one.

Yeah with GPS, but warning eng gps is not fully english
the search result is still in japanese

fyi, the POI for japanese gps is based on the TEL#
if the POI is unsearchable, it will navigate u to City/Town Council
this will be problem

TIPS: use google maps and bookmark your location before u depart!