Apple Maps Gains AR Walking Directions in Tokyo, Japan

In iOS 15, Apple's Maps app includes the ability to use augmented reality walking directions in some big cities, and today we learn that Tokyo has become the latest place that you can use it.

japan tokyo ar walking directions maps
The AR mode can map walking directions onto the real world by using your iPhone's rear camera, making it easier to see where you need to go in built-up areas and reducing the need to look down at your smartphone as you move.

The feature's availability in Tokyo was discovered by Ata Distance, who also says other Japanese city maps may have been updated beyond Tokyo, but it's hard to know without being on the ground.

To initiate a walking route, ‌iPhone‌ users can raise their ‌device‌ and scan the buildings around them when prompted. The step-by-step directions will appear in the AR mode automatically, which should make it easier to get where you need to go, especially in situations where the directions are tricky.

According to Apple's feature availability page, AR walking directions are available in London, Los Angeles, Montréal, New York Philadelphia, San Diego, San Francisco Bay Area, Singapore, Toronto, Vancouver, and Washington, DC. Japan has yet to be added to the list.

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Top Rated Comments

MozMan68 Avatar
33 months ago
I tried this out in NYC last year and was pretty impressed. Of course, I couldn't stop watching it as I was walking which you're not really supposed to do..Hah.

Video HERE ('https://youtu.be/JRSWadtnPBQ')
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
elementalwingma Avatar
33 months ago
This really makes me miss Japan, really wanna go back soon.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
yagmot Avatar
33 months ago

Do they work equally as well in English in Tokyo? Or Japanese in Toronto?

I suspect that I would want names of places, streets, etc. to be in both English and Japanese were I wandering round Tokyo. The English to understand, and the Japanese to compare with signs.
Most streets don't have names in Tokyo, so that's not really an issue. Apple maps (and Google, for that matter) already lists place names in English (romanized). I'll try out the AR walking thing later this weekend maybe.

Attachment Image
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
lverg Avatar
33 months ago
Can’t wait to use this with AR glasses someday
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
svish Avatar
33 months ago
Good to see it being available in another city too. But want it to be available in many more cities. Hope that happens.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ipedro Avatar
33 months ago

I tried this out in NYC last year and was pretty impressed. Of course, I couldn't stop watching it as I was walking which you're not really supposed to do..Hah.

Video HERE ('https://youtu.be/JRSWadtnPBQ')
I accidentally came across this in New York when getting into Manhattan and looking for my hotel, AR came up. Most iOS users never see these features and it's surprising when they come up in an app you thought you were so familiar with and use every day in your home city.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)