In Search of a Pocket Translator (for Japanese)

October 12, 2022 4:48 AM

I am spending a few weeks in Japan, and I don’t speak any Japanese. Some of my travel plans have me going to places where I don’t necessarily expect anybody to speak English — for example, I know that the proprietor of a ryokan I’m staying at does not. Technology to the rescue? Do you have (and love) an app for that?

I’m looking for an iPhone app or apps that:
* Translates typed text between languages (both directions)
* Takes dictation, then translates. (both directions)
* Lets me draw the characters I see and provides translation
* Translates all Japanese text in a picture and/or in the camera live view
* (ideally) functions offline, with necessary data pre-downloaded, but I know that’s a stretch.

Any recommendations?

posted by Metasyntactic to Travel & Transportation (8 answers total)

The Google Translate app is pretty amazing with typed and spoken language. It has a conversation mode that listens and translates live.
posted by nandaro at 5:13 AM on October 12, 2022 [7 favorites]

To go along with the Google Translate app, I recommend getting a mobile WiFi hotspot, unless you are sure your phone can work with carriers in Japan.
posted by mbarryf at 5:28 AM on October 12, 2022 [2 favorites]

I used Google Translate in Japan with great success and that was several years ago, so it is probably better now. I had T-Mobile, and they gave me a month's local service there for a pretty nominal fee.
posted by pangolin party at 5:49 AM on October 12, 2022

Google Translate is fantastic. Don’t miss conversation mode, it helps things flow quite well.
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 6:47 AM on October 12, 2022

Google Translate for sure. Seconding the mobile wifi. You can also do your own pdf visual dictionary too, just in case the internet fails you somehow.

Btw, a lot of the service staff interaction requires a lot of scripted small talk but don't worry about not being able to answer, just smile and nod. Like at the cashier. Unless they're looking at you expectantly then it's probably because you're eligible for a small lucky draw or lottery.
posted by cendawanita at 7:16 AM on October 12, 2022 [1 favorite]

Your iPhone comes with a nifty translate app that has a two-party mode where half the screen is flipped for the other party. Check it out.
posted by adamrice at 7:31 AM on October 12, 2022

You might consider studying a little basic Japanese anyway. You'll probably make better use of the app if you can, for example, pronounce romanized Japanese correctly.
posted by SPrintF at 8:15 AM on October 12, 2022 [2 favorites]

nthing google translate and since others have spoken up for conversation mode, I am gonna shout out the camera view for reading signs, brochures etc. Make sure you download the japanese dictionaries for this in advance.

Have fun!
posted by wowenthusiast at 1:29 PM on October 12, 2022 [3 favorites]