Getting around Tokyo can be daunting at best. With its 121 passenger rail lines*, 882 stations (not including the suburbs) and a rail map resembling Jackson Pollack’s preschool work, even locals can get turned around. That is why I was happy to find the Tokyo Metro App by Zuti.
The Tokyo Metro App sports a crisp, easy to read map with clickable (or whatever you call it on a touchscreen) stations to help you find your way. Tapping on any of the stations opens a menu of route planning options, including ‘Start Here’, ‘End Here’, ‘Minute Map From Here’ which shows how long it will take to get to any other station on the map, and ‘Measure From Here’ which show you as-the-crow-flies distance to any spot on the map. Cool!
Under Route Planning button, you can select any two stations and then choose between the quickest route and the one with the fewest changes. My favorite feature here is the “Take me home” button. After setting your home station, touch that option and the Tokyo Metro App will show you the way back. With the GPS enabled, the app will even point you to the nearest station.
Lastly, as you likely know, roaming data charges can be breathtakingly high, but you don’t have to worry about that with this app because it can run without a connection. This means it also operates when you are underground hurtling toward some unknown destination (because no matter how good the app, it can not force your sake addled brain get on the right train) allowing you to find a new route back to base without leaving the station.
Good:
- Covers all lines and stations
- Shows walking paths between stations
- Has live info for each line
- “Take me home”
Wish:
- It would be great if it showed the price of the route and maybe a ‘Cheapest Route’ option.
Would I recommend?: Yes.
The Tokyo Metro App by Zuti for iPhone and iPad and iPod Touch – $2.99 in the App Store
*The More You Know: Tokyo’s rail system moves 40 million passengers daily, 3.64 million through Shinjuku Station alone.