Apps for Kyoto, Japan
Best apps for Kyoto travel — ten to download before Japan, with the right store links for your phone. A city shortlist, not a country mega-list.
Reviewed Jul 2026 (2026-07-28).
- Suica (iPhone and Android) — Same IC card as Tokyo — tap for Kyoto buses, Keihan trains, and convenience stores (often Japan storefront only). App Store · Google Play
- Japan Travel by Navitime (iPhone and Android) — Door-to-door routing across Kyoto’s buses, subway, and JR lines with transfer times. App Store · Google Play
- Google Translate (iPhone and Android) — Camera translation for temple signage, kaiseki menus, and bus stop kanji. App Store · Google Play
- Tabelog (iPhone and Android) — Trusted ratings for Kyoto kaiseki, obanzai home cooking, and Gion teahouses. App Store · Google Play
- GO (iPhone and Android) — Japan’s main taxi app for late-night returns from Pontocho and Fushimi Inari. App Store · Google Play
- Kyoto Discover (iPhone) — Temple hours, seasonal events, and bookmarked sights across Kyoto’s districts. App Store
- Peatix (iPhone and Android) — Tea ceremonies, craft workshops, and cultural events listed by Kyoto organisers. App Store · Google Play
- PayPay (iPhone and Android) — QR payments at shrines, souvenir shops, and eateries that skip foreign cards (Japan storefront). App Store · Google Play
- Safety tips (iPhone and Android) — JNTO earthquake, tsunami, and weather alerts while exploring Kyoto and surrounds. App Store · Google Play
- Google Maps (iPhone and Android) — Walking routes through Gion’s narrow lanes and numbered bus stops at Kyoto Station. App Store · Google Play