Japan : Google Maps for driving in Japan?

[Wt_know]

going to japan in early april for cherry blossom.

arrive in nagoya and return from osaka

drive from nagoya > takayama > shirakawago > kanazawa > nagoya > kyoto (via shinkansen) > osaka (via train)

using samsung s4 android phone.

i could not find any good navigation software for android.

 

is it ok to rely on google maps?

when arrive in airport, is it better to rent the internet device/dongle or sim card with internet (unlimited usage) for 7 days?

 

planning to get a central nippon expressway pass for 2014

http://global.c-nexco.co.jp/en/cep/expressway_pass2014overview.html

only available in toyota and times (mazda) ... so must rent toyota or mazda car liao ...

 

 

 

any advice is appreciated.

 

thanks!

Edited August 20, 2014 by pChou

[Vid]

Rent a car with English gps. Problem solved

[Wt_know]

yes, this option is considered.

btw, all car is equipped with standard gps. can search using postcode or phone number

just see the route can liao

for special request eng gps (subject to availability, extra charge), menu and voice is eng but map display, road name and places are still in japanese

 

Rent a car with English gps. Problem solved

Edited March 1, 2014 by Wt_know

[Porker]

Google map is more than sufficient.

[Wt_know]

this is my plan especially the car that i want, the date and return option (one-way) is only available for standard car (japanese gps only). for eng gps car due to limited units probably must return back to airport or charge one-way transfer fees

 

 

Google map is more than sufficient.

Edited March 1, 2014 by Wt_know

[Wt_know]

already plan the driving route using google map

 

will stay 1 night at Takayama, Shirakawa-go and Kanazawa

 

Edited March 3, 2014 by Wt_know

[Adrianli]

When I was in japan earlier this year, I brought along my Garmin Nuvi 2575. I downloaded the map from here : http://garmin.openstreetmap.nl/

 

And using it for my driving trips ard where I was. It was able to route me to where I was going, all in english.

 

If u have a garmin, u can try it. Its free.

 

 

Or u can ask the staff whom u renting from to set the gps for u. I asked the staff to set the gps for his rental office so that when I return the car, I will not get lost.

[Wt_know]

thanks for your suggestion

btw, openstreetmap works with mapfactor andorid app

 

When I was in japan earlier this year, I brought along my Garmin Nuvi 2575. I downloaded the map from here : http://garmin.openstreetmap.nl/

 

And using it for my driving trips ard where I was. It was able to route me to where I was going, all in english.

 

If u have a garmin, u can try it. Its free.

 

 

Or u can ask the staff whom u renting from to set the gps for u. I asked the staff to set the gps for his rental office so that when I return the car, I will not get lost.

 

[Presea]

I've driven 4 times in Japan, 2 Winters (in Hokkaido) and 2 Summers (1 in Kyushu, 1 in Hokkaido) and although I have unlimited data plan (Starhub-Connexus), I pretty much leave that on MERadio to listen to Singapore Radio stations on the cars' sound system.

I find that the GPS in these cars (I've tried Toyota twice, Nippon once and Times (ex-Mazda) once) are more than sufficient to get around, provided you've prepared a list of locations you are driving to along with either their MapCode or Tel no. (most places do not have mapcodes).

I do use Google Maps both as a planning tool (to work out the distances and time taken) and I will use it as a backup

To add to my kiasuness, I actually print out each route in full (Map and driving directions) just in case the GPS (and my phone) is dead.

I even add on landmark photos (from Google Streetview - it is very very complete in Japan) for important turning junctions, so that I have reference points (in Hokkaido, on the way to Sounkyo Gorge, because I wasn't paying attention to the GPS, I once missed a turning on the highway, and had to drive 25km before I could make a U-turn, and then drive 25km back, wasting almost 30 mins)

But rest assured, the streetsigns are mostly international. and there's English EVERYWHERE!

[Wt_know]

highway exit, tourist attraction, famous spots their name is in KANJI aka chinese character

wont get lost one ...

japan car navigation search by tel no ... sibei choon ... won't miss

 

I've driven 4 times in Japan, 2 Winters (in Hokkaido) and 2 Summers (1 in Kyushu, 1 in Hokkaido) and although I have unlimited data plan (Starhub-Connexus), I pretty much leave that on MERadio to listen to Singapore Radio stations on the cars' sound system.

I find that the GPS in these cars (I've tried Toyota twice, Nippon once and Times (ex-Mazda) once) are more than sufficient to get around, provided you've prepared a list of locations you are driving to along with either their MapCode or Tel no. (most places do not have mapcodes).

I do use Google Maps both as a planning tool (to work out the distances and time taken) and I will use it as a backup

To add to my kiasuness, I actually print out each route in full (Map and driving directions) just in case the GPS (and my phone) is dead.

I even add on landmark photos (from Google Streetview - it is very very complete in Japan) for important turning junctions, so that I have reference points (in Hokkaido, on the way to Sounkyo Gorge, because I wasn't paying attention to the GPS, I once missed a turning on the highway, and had to drive 25km before I could make a U-turn, and then drive 25km back, wasting almost 30 mins)

But rest assured, the streetsigns are mostly international. and there's English EVERYWHERE!

 

Edited May 5, 2014 by Wt_know

[Presea]

highway exit, tourist attraction, famous spots their name is in KANJI aka chinese character

wont get lost one ...

japan car navigation search by tel no ... sibei choon ... won't miss

 

 

I failed Chinese most years :P

Fortunately my wife can read :D