Apps for Osaka, Japan
Best apps for Osaka 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).
- ICOCA (iPhone and Android) — Kansai’s IC card for Osaka Metro, JR West, buses, and konbini taps (often Japan storefront only). App Store · Google Play
- Japan Travel by Navitime (iPhone and Android) — Door-to-door routing across Osaka, Kyoto, and Kobe with platform-level transfers. App Store · Google Play
- e METRO (iPhone and Android) — Official Osaka Metro tickets, maps, and live subway info (often Japan storefront only). App Store · Google Play
- Google Translate (iPhone and Android) — Camera translation for Dotonbori menus and station signage. App Store · Google Play
- Tabelog (iPhone and Android) — Local ratings for Osaka’s takoyaki, okonomiyaki, and neighbourhood restaurants. App Store · Google Play
- GO (iPhone and Android) — Japan’s main taxi app for Umeda and Namba when trains have stopped. App Store · Google Play
- Discover OSAKA (iPhone and Android) — Official events, sightseeing, and Osaka e-Pass booking from the tourism bureau. App Store · Google Play
- PayPay (iPhone and Android) — QR pay at Osaka eateries and shops that prefer local wallets over foreign cards (Japan storefront). App Store · Google Play
- Safety tips (iPhone and Android) — JNTO earthquake and weather alerts while you travel Kansai. App Store · Google Play
- Google Maps (iPhone and Android) — Walking routes and station exits around Namba, Umeda, and the Osaka Loop Line. App Store · Google Play