First of all, welcome to Japan! Living in Japan surely has it perks. The convenient life, the punctual public transport, even the clean air… the list should go on and on when you think about the benefits of living in Japan. But landed in a new country with a language you can barely speak, surrounded by characters you can barely read — how tough could it be?
This time, I want to talk about the essentials — all the mobile applications that come in handy when you start a new life in Japan.
1 – Japanese English Dictionary
Google Translate is great, but sometimes we’ll need better app for more accurate translation. After few years, I have settled with Shirabe Jisho — a simple and free, yet very comprehensive English-Japanese dictionary app.
The built-in keyboard allows us to type in alphabets, kana, and kanji. Just like a conventional dictionary, it lists all the essentials: list of definitions, the related kanji characters — including the strokes order –, grammar forms, as well as the sentence examples.
Shirabe Jisho is a staple to aid our Japanese skills in daily life. One of my favorite features is the word list, where we can check for common words, slangs, and phrases.
Additionally, the app has excellent learning tools for JLPT prep. And ads free! Shirabe Jisho is available on iOS.
2 – Directions and Transport in Japan
Besides Google Maps, another popular app for commuting in Japan is Japan Transit. Also known as Norikae Annai, this app is very easy to navigate. Besides giving us options for the fastest, easiest, or cheapest route, they also provide weather forecasts for the origin and destination stations. Why this app is great:
- Available in English and Japanese (automatically adjusted to phone’s language setting)
- Provides earlier and later options if you’re too early or you miss your train
- Accurate timetable and fare calculations
- Fair placement of ads (not distracting)
Japan Transit/Norikae Annai is availabe on iOS and Android.
3 – E-commerce / Marketplace
When I meet a new resident, I always recommend them to install Amazon Japan app on their phones. As the leading e-commerce in Japan, Amazon has a large directory of stuff that we need to fill our new apartments: from beddings, electronics, furnitures, fashion items, to groceries (Amazon Fresh). I also like to purchase rice (10 kgs are too heavy for carrying…) and contact lenses at discounted price on Amazon.
Why Amazon Japan app is great:
- Available in English and Japanese
- Easy payment options (credit cards, cash on delivery, convenient store payment, amazon gift card)
- Prime membership for much faster delivery (there’s also Prime Student!)
- Additional deal for subscribed items (easy delivery schedule and cancellation)
- Pop-up notification for items shipped and delivered
- Easy return
Rakuten Ichiba is also an alternative if you love online shopping. Instead of creating many accounts for different online stores, you can find most of your favorite official shops (such as Nitori, Nike, Matsumoto Kiyoshi, and Bic Camera) on Rakuten Ichiba.
Why Rakuten Ichiba is great:
- Large directories, including overseas brands and halal products
- Integrated point system with all Rakuten services (more points if you join Rakuten Mobile, Credit card, and Rakuten Bank!)
- Many coupons and campaigns
4 – Finance
Another app that I would recommend having is Wise. Previously known as Transfer Wise, this app is my go-to when I need to make international transfer. Wise usually offer the best conversion rate compared to direct bank transfer (!) and other services. Why Wise app is great:
- Currencies available for more than 80 countries
- Fast transfer – usually done within hours
- Secure transfer
Here’s a fee-free transfer campaign for your first transfer. Wise is available in iOS and android.
Finally, if you care about financial planning and money management, I would really recommend Moneytree to ease your life. Moneytree can connect most of bank accounts in Japan, credit cards, digital money, and loyalty points to sync all of your balance in a single app. Why Moneytree is great:
- Able to sync your account balance and spending at real time, including investments
- Automatically group spending and earnings based on categories (salary, groceries, transport, eating out, cafes, etc.)
- Provides spending data and net worth per month and year
- No ads!
Moneytree is available on iOS and android.
Related Posts:
New Regulations: What You Need to Prepare Before Entering Japan
Japanese Approved: Seven Best Halal Food in Tokyo
