Offline GPS navigation for Japan

[Inger]

So in the coming few weeks I'll be taking a month long trip to Japan. It'll be the first time traveling there for my friends and I so we will not know the roads at all. As such I'm looking for an offline GPS app that has maps/support for Japan.

I know google maps would be sufficient but roaming fees for data would absolutely bankrupt me. Mapdryod has offline maps and gps tracking for Japan but unfortunately does not have navigation.

Overall I'm just looking for something that is offline but also provides navigation. I know there are quite a few apps out there that do this but I haven't found one that will specifically support Japan.

Obviously cheaper is better but I don't really have a problem paying for an app that will meet my needs; provided the app is of sufficient quality.

Thanks in advance to anyone who has some info!

 

[DjShell]

Hi, I'm serching for the same thing and found your topic. I plan to go to Japan in april.

Did you find a good application?

Thanks.

 

[Copleo]

Hi, I'm serching for the same thing and found your topic. I plan to go to Japan in april.

Did you find a good application?

Thanks.

That app is Google Nav, Google Maps, MapDroid, etc., DjShell. Once you've programmed your route and all necessary maps have been downloaded the app doesn't need a 3G or WiFi connection anymore. GPS suffices and won't eat into your data plan or roaming charges. If you want to make sure you can even switch to Airplane Mode (def no connections), and your navigation will continue independently of that.

Have a nice trip!
(Or is that a prohibited 'social commentary' on this board...?)

 

[DjShell]

That app is Google Nav, Google Maps, MapDroid, etc., DjShell. Once you've programmed your route and all necessary maps have been downloaded the app doesn't need a 3G or WiFi connection anymore. GPS suffices and won't eat into your data plan or roaming charges. If you want to make sure you can even switch to Airplane Mode (def no connections), and your navigation will continue independently of that.

Have a nice trip!
(Or is that a prohibited 'social commentary' on this board...?)

Thank you very much Copleo.

I didn't know Google Nav could work offline. As I'll not have internet connection (data roaming charges are so expensive), I thought Google would be useless and was searching for an alternative app.

About the airplane mode, I will just disable data transfer with APNdroid so I can send and receive text messages (that aren't too expensive).

Thanks again.

 

[takeshi]

That app is Google Nav, Google Maps, MapDroid, etc., DjShell. Once you've programmed your route and all necessary maps have been downloaded the app doesn't need a 3G or WiFi connection anymore.

Depends on how much navigating the OP intends to do. For a single route this may suffice but for multiple routes in varying locations it's not really a suitable solution IMO. The cache feature is really there to deal with intermittent coverage issues. I'll have to look to see what nav apps offer locally stored maps for Japan. AFAIK neither CoPilot nor Navigon do.

 

[Copleo]

Depends on how much navigating the OP intends to do. For a single route this may suffice but for multiple routes in varying locations it's not really a suitable solution IMO.

Dont't worry. It will be more than enough. Google Nav's max. cache size is 85MB. And all of Japan's map tiles combined are 49MB...
(And e.g. Arizona 24MB, and California 167MB. FYI: with hi-res geo-referenced PDF maps that would be GBs; a thousand times more)

The cache feature is really there to deal with intermittent coverage issues. I'll have to look to see what nav apps offer locally stored maps for Japan. AFAIK neither CoPilot nor Navigon do.

MapDroid does, in any case. I just checked, and like I said, you can download all maps for (e.g.) Japan. 49MB.
I've downloaded all western European maps to my SDcard: 1.4GB. So for navigation I probably won't ever need to download any more maps again, unless I sign up for the Dakar Rallye!

 

[drewcam888]

So map droid does navigation with address lookup?

 

[Copleo]

So map droid does navigation with address lookup?

No, MapDroid is for maps. For orientation, not for navigation. It shows you exactly where you are.
For navigation use a navigation app like Google Nav. Google Maps combines maps and navigation in one app.

 

[amlothi]

Make sure you have the newest version of Google Maps. The older versions won't cache and won't work offline.

Then, you should be able to move the map around the area(s) of Japan you will be visiting. Let each map section load so it is in the cache.

Afterwards, if you want to check, you can disconnect from the internet and use Maps, zoom in and out, whatever.

You should be able to use navigation, but you probably won't be able to search for things (like banks, hotels, etc) without an internet connection.

If you have some locations you want to save, add them to My Maps on google and make sure that is downloaded and cached on your phone before you leave also.

The GPS should still work without internet, you just need to have any data about places or locations downloaded.

 

[elebest03]

I am also looking for japanese map for android 4.0. where can i download them?