I am looking for who has some good advice on a GPS model for use in Japan. I have researched a US unit such as GARMIN and buying a Japan map pack as from UUD.info online. I want an easy to use unit that is not 400.00 like at the NEX but may not have a choice...If you have some good advice please let me know.

Forget it, doesn't exist. Think of the business logic: how much of a market is GARMIN et. al. have for such development. Who, in the US, wants maps for Japan? Waste of money.

I have the SmartNAVI from the NEX that I bought used from a returnee and it works just fine. Believe me, I've been looking for English-language navis here since they came out over 15 years ago.

i'm going to have to agree with gbeckwith on this issue, I have the same model and it's works fine about 80% of the time. The only thing is I would like to upgrade the maps but don't know how.

Six or more months ago the software manufacturer for this unit had a web site, which is one of the reasons I bought it in the first place. In July I bought it used and the person I bought it from didn't have all of the manuals to answer my questions so the usual web search occured...nada. Having been dealing with NEX Japan for over 25 years I knew a trip there for help would be fruitless. I ended up fingering the issues out on my own.

New maps for Japan? Why bother even looking? The only roads in this country that change are the...wait. I can't think of any that don't involve a new housing subdivision. Most folks aren't here that long to see them throuigh to completion anyhow. And if you can't finger out where you're going with this navi system you don't need to be driving!

A friend of mine recently bought a Garmin Navigation system. He was successfully able to load the Japanese Maps onto his system, and I was very impressed. I ended up buying one myself, but havent uploaded the Maps yet. They sell the maps in Japan for about 10,000 yen... The system itself was about $200, which I think was pretty cheap! I also purchased a couple extra's and additional items for it to sit in the car. I will let you know once I get my maps installed and how it works. I was recently in the USA and used the GPS there, and it worked perfectly. I am hoping things work the same in Japan... I tried it a few days ago, and it has the country and major cities with the USA software by default, but doesnt include streets.. Once you install the Japanese maps to an SD card, and install it, according to my friend that was all he had to do..

Today I compared the cheap 300 version with the 450 version both sold at the exchange. The guy who owned the expensive one agreed with me that they both work EXACTLY the same, same features that so far as we can tell, the biggest difference is the screen size and the mounting bracket that you use for the car. The bigger one does seem easier to detach. My smaller one has better button placement. If you are looking for one I would save the 150 bucks and get the smaller one. The real issue is learning to use it. I am pretty good at it in 3 days now but the address finding section is not user friendly, you have to start and prefecture and work in from that so you have to have a full address before you start. The phone number look up for businesses is pretty easy and works 75% of the time for me. I know where all the Toysrus and such are now along with the PIZZA HUT that is 10 minutes away that I never knew about until last night when we went there...

Just returned from a trip to Disney Sea, Ghilbli Musuem and a Toys R Us only found with GPS. My strongest advice, get out, get off base and get a GPS so you can find it all! I real tension reducing device and is easy to use. For example I went to the ToysRus website and entered the phone numbers in the GPS unit. That led me to the closest ones and others. I should have done this 2 years ago!

I know GPS has been around a while and is no big deal anymore but to a first time user in Japan it is really something that will make our life better and get us out even more!

Adam did you try youse out yet?! Needing details over here! :-D

FCC - how easy was the one you got to install?

Cigarette lighter plug in and then the suction cup to the windshield, real easy...THE GPS is great!

GPS to go to Disney sea and Toy's R us, sad, really sad.

Slickster, it is truly sad that you have to take jabs like the other guy posting improper comments on folks as your form of entertainment in this forum. Going to Disney does not need GPS however we did take a route that you would never know about as a result since we did not follow the signs in English for those who normally take that route, it saved us quite a bit of time, sad for you but happy for us. As far as Toys R Us are concerned there are over a dozen in Tokyo and I challenge you to find the one we did, you could try, let me know if you want the one we went to to give it a shot. It was the one closest to the Ghibli museum, I am sure you can figure it out in your head with a compass. This is a forum to help folks out, not to just take jabs and this topic inparticular was not started for that kind of behavior. I really initially did not want to reply to a post like yours but cant help myself, of course if you would like to take a jab in person feel free to drop by my office, I will be more than happy to meet with you about how sad I am...

Adam, do you boot guys like this off of this website?

FCCMCOLLINS... Well said...well said! It is SAD that children or childish adults have to use a forum like this to get a high by being rude and obnoxious to the "community" that Adam is trying to build here. Slickster and that other guy (I think lazarus) are here, I believe, to just irritate the the rest of us. If forum membership was allowed to be removed via a vote I'll participate!

Hambino - No I haven't tried it yet. A friend of mine I provided a new SD card, for him to provide me the maps, but he was having trouble transferring them to the SD card. Not sure why, but he said something about the lock on it. I may have to visit a Japanese store out in town, and have them add the maps for me. It may run about 15,000 yen for them to download them to the Garmin device, but I still things its better, and is a lot more efficient them going with the Navi System. I actually visited the exchange and played around the Navi before I purchased the Garmin. I just didnt like the navigation/menu system, and felt the Garmin (which is ranked one of the lead brands for Navigation/GPS systems) would offer a better functions..

FCCMCollins - Yes I do believe Slickster does take things to the extreme sometimes with his/her posts, but people have the right to their opinions. The internet is a wild place, and although I would like everything to remain clean, and 100% positive, it wont always turn out that way. I read every single post that is made on this website - TRUST ME! I am very familiar with what is posted, and by whom. If sometime begins to cross the lines I will step in, and get involved. For now, I dont think anything has really passed that line besides him trying to piss people off with rude comments. Not really sure of Slickster or Lazarus's age, and they may actually be adults which is sad, but that's how some people in this world want to be portrayed... I am sure their virtual life is not much different than their personal lives: RUDE, ABUSIVE, UNFRIENDLY... At the end of the day, you just have to feel sorry, and move on with your own lives..

Wilson - Thanks! I am trying to build a positive place that Yokosuka members can go and collaborate on issues, and ideas. Hopefully one day, others will see it as that, and not 100% negative towards the base.. I am trying to keep things from becoming ridiculous and abusive towards the base, which is why I have to keep an eye on things, and keep information somewhat positive and relevant.. Not only do we have people that want to post Rude, Obnoxious posts, but we also have spammers and scammers that you have to deal with, epically when you have site like this in the pubic eye. I have been very impressed so far with the turn out with people visiting the site. We have reached over 100,000 visitors (different since the July 01, 2009).. Each week we have an additional 5,000 new every single week, so its definitely picking up, and hopefully more will start to get involved with the conversations... Thanks for all the positive input/info you continue to provide the members...

Adam, thanks for the response and understand all. I think you are right along with Wilson on your summations, same as mine of course. It is annoying to have such a lack of maturity portrayed by some but that is life I suppose. By the way I think along with hundreds of others you have done a great service to the community with this web site and we all appreciate you effort.

My point was that you shouldn't be afraid to venture without GPS which you seem to be unwilling to do, I have traveled all over Japan with nothing more than a map and a pocket dictionary. You are missing out on an experience. I would apologize but your "stop by the office" tough guy comment blew it, that was a childish remark.

Sorry Wilson but I still belive the diversity remark went over you head. You certainly don't seem to be very open minded when it comes to the open exchange of ideas.

Slick, once again you are way off the mark. I have been here 2 years and traveled quite a bit. Tokyo at least a dozen times, Hakone/Gotemba/Mt Fuji area at least another dozen, even broke my leg snow skiing up there, you know there are so many things to do up there cant begin to list them all. Also flown to Guam and Hong Kong for sight seeing. China, South Korea, Australia and others are also on my list. I only got the GPS to add more travelling to my agenda such as Kyoto and Hiroshima this Christmas by car, yes by car...I have put lots of miles on while seeing this fantastic place. As far as the office visit, offer still stands for a mature discussion, no yelling, I would love to see where you are coming from. I am beginning to believe you are a sailor now, not a high school kid, am I correct? Just wondering, how old are you, your back ground? It would help give some credibility to your comments for us to know...

This was a forum to discuss buying and selling and using GPS for Japan and sharing information...nothing more...I am getting used to the side banter though, entertaining it has become...

Slickster I totally took your comment at the value you put on it... ZERO. And in my retort I showed you how ignorant of a response it was by giving you the rock truth. It is unfortunate that there are so many on this base/this planet that chose to poke fun at the rules instead of actually look out for each other. Your attitude alone shows that you are probably one of the people that would break a known rule just to do it...no benefit other than knowing you did it. Rules are there for a reason some are lame, some are over-the-top, but there was a reason for each and every one of them. When you poke your "humour" towards the rules you only show you just don't care. I am not saying I am 100% inside the line every time, but I damn sure don't go around and slam someone's complaint right back in their face and get a rise out of it.

I, like Adam, have read each and every post on this site and it amazes me that out of all the ones you have responded to or created I found one that was helpful (but still not very polite). Write what you want, but be willing to hear what we think about it. That is "the open exchange of ideas" that you mention above...of course that would require "ideas" not abusive puns.

Again, post away... It will never personally bother me as I don't personally know you... Just please remember that even though Sam Kinison was funny as hell he knew where the right forum for his humour was...

I'm jealous now! I was told by a few other wives NOT to purchase the GPS from the NEX and get a Japanese one with English feature at the NEX! Let me tell you, it is HORRIBLE! While the English feature is convenient, NONE of the street signs translate into English characters... (do your guys' do that?) AND no matter what telephone number I put in to search for, or JAPANESE word in English characters, it has NO MATCHES!!!! I'm pretty irritated as we spent almost $400.00 for it. I may try to return it, but I can't imagine trying to return at the Yokohama PC DEPOT without speaking much more than BASIC Japanese...

I have a Garmin Nuvi 900 and the last time I checked the US Garmin website doesn't have that model out. I'm not sure if they ever will, or if they haven't brought it to the US yet... but I'm bummin!

TIA

PC Depot is very easy to do a return whether you speak Japanese or not as long as the item isn't used much. If it is almost new (even totally new would mean almost new since it was purchased) they charge a 20% restocking fee. I bought a PC case from them once, took it to the office opened it up and found a card wouldn't fit in the case and took it back an hour later and they still charged a 20% restocking fee.

Good luck, but I don't think you will need it...they are a good company.

http://uud.info/en/ this is where you find the MAP pack for a GARMIN to use in Japan. Read it carefully, it will tell you that it does not have the full functionality like in the US. I personally use my GPS and it does have streets and such in English but dont really need it to, just turn where the little red line says to...it is easy. We tried one for a Garmin for my command, we then went and bought one at the exchange.... it worked better for plotting where all our sailors live out in town..

I seriously can't figure out how to use it for directions! Do you guys have the same problem when inputing addresses or phone numbers?

Thanks for your responses. It is used but only a few times, so of course I will try to avoid returning, just because I'm cheap and don't want to lose that 20%

I'm hoping they will have US maps available for my model by the time we PCS in April 2011!

I just talked with my friend about the maps for the SD card, and he said it wont work for mine. I may be screwed.. I am going to talk with some Japanese reps this weekend at some stores and see what I can find out.

I am also going to call Garmin directly and ask some reps. I just want Japanese maps! Is it that hard?
From what my friend just told me the Japanese companies sell the exact same model I have in Japan for Garmin, that has all the maps, but it is loaded with Japanese software, and they wont provide it to you unless you purchase the Garmin system from them directly..

I think that may be some BS, and I am sure Garmin headquarters/customer service will be able to clarify that for me.

Since its almost stateside time, I about going to try to call them shortly and see what I can find out.

The one my friend has for his Garmin, it works for Japan, but doesnt have all the features like Toysrus's and things like that.. He doesnt really need that in particular but you get the idea, that it doesnt work the same as if you bought the Japanese model. The problem with Japan's model is it doesnt offer any english.. All Japanese..

http://uud.info/en/

This is the site to use for the GARMIN, I called Garmin, they do not support Japan directly BUT said I could find after market maps like the link says above...they do have an improved version as mentioned on the site...depends on Garmin model.
I only did the NEX Smart Navi because I knew it would meet my needs and I will sell it when I leave for some return on my investment or just give it away to a worthy family so they can enjoy.

Yes my friend said he tried the above.. Its called UPUPDown or something like that..

It supports mainly the GPS systems used for hiking and not specifically driving..

My friend said he wouldnt recommend it..

I use the up up down maps with my Garmin here in Japan. It is... good, but not ready for prime time, Like a hobbyist product more than professional. Here are my caveats:

1) It will turn you down a one way street if you're not paying attention.
2) It may try to tell you to turn off the bridge onto the road going underneath.
3) "Finding" a place by entering the location doesn't work well. At all.
4) Keep in mind an "American" Garmin expects you on the right side of the road. Will screw up for a minute while making turns on some intersections.
5) Unless it is a Major Road (Yoko-Yoko, Rt 16), it will only tell you you're on a "road" or a "trail", Not "Road 308".
6) Sometimes the routes just "don't make no sense". It will route you down an alley, then back on the original road, if it thinks that is a shorter route.

I can't consider it much of a complaint, as the guy is a solitary individual and not a "corporation" but they've made some serious changes to the southern part of the peninsula that I would like to see reflected in the Maps, but I suspect that the Government hasn't released the newer stuff on CD yet.

There are a few other things, those are the majors. That being said, it is still better than not having it. I sometimes will find my destination using Google Earth, Google Maps, etcetera and punch in the coordinates if I "need" to find a place. That seems to work out just fine. And for all it's faults, it has saved my bacon on a number of occasions.

I do like that once you buy it, it's unlocked. I have 3 Garmins that all use the maps. My car, My motorcycle and my "Travel" unit (which also has the Garmin Korea Maps. A Godsend)

The website is: http://uud.info/en/

It is a bit pricey, but you have to weigh that against the need for it. If you don't drive much, I'd say use google maps and print out a route when you need to. But I drive a lot, and spontaneously. It really works for me.

Cheers!

SmugWimp

FCCM,
US Army '72-75 11B, 75-02 Navy Snipe.now retired, been in Japan since the days of the Okie boat.
I don't take anything personally, my sense of humor is dry and sarcastic many people just don't get it.

Slick

Saying you were a Navy Snipe now changes most of my thoughts on your posts. Now they mostly make sense... It must be a snipe's curse, but the humor is always off the beaten path.

Thanks for sharing, I was reading you all wrong, I really thought you were a younger guy trying to mess with people. You come across a more than a little disgruntled, I dont know if you mean to or not but now that I know you are an old guy like me, like Wilson says it makes more sense. No hard feelings I hope, I may not agree with you on some things but then again, we dont have to agree, have a good day and I am sure we will go at some more in a more humorous way in the future... I think we read each other wrong on a couple levels. Sorry about that.

Overall I find these posts and forums very informative and entertaining, a good service for all.

For those still interested, I was out at Heisei Cho Hard Off yesterday (7Jan10) and they have a Real Navi for sale for less than $250. Same one the NEX sells which means it has several languages including Japanese and English. It's in a glass case against the wall opposite the staff counter area. Really good deal.

I emailed the contact at UUD (place for the japanese maps) and was told that they will work with the GARMIN Mobile PC system. I'm thinking about turning my old laptop into a 15" GPS unit! The maps will run about 9950Y, Garmin setup from Garmin will run another $100. Now I just have to pull the trigger on all the parts......

Thats interesting..

Sorry to jump in on this discussion...We used TomTom in the US but our model does not have the option of Japan Map. If we were to go buy an easy to use GPS that speaks to us in English what model would everyone recommend?? What would it cost and does the NEX sell it? Thanks......

I have been here a couple of weeks and I have been using the GPS on my Iphone. You can pick the walk, car or train route. It very acurate when I comes to train schedule.

We also use the navi on the iPhone. It'll ping in your spot and move along as you drive/walk. Pretty nice for something available on a phone.

After checking out Carrozeria's website today I found the following link that shows maps available in English, Korean & both major forms of Chinese...so I guess it is still available in English. http://www.incrementp.co.jp/english..._language/

This might be a silly question.....but if you bring an Iphone from the US how does it work for service ? Are the cell phone plans a lot more expensive then the US? We just assumed we couldn't bring our US phones.

Canuckgirl, In order to use your iPhone in Japan, you'll have to either have an Unlocked or Jailbroken phone. You can then use the phone with Softbank. The plans here are pretty nice, especially if you use the internet a lot.

As Elizabeth said, we use the iPhone for most of our travels, I usually drive and she is the "navigator" and finds the best route.

We do not have iphones yet as we weren't sure if we could bring them. Can you buy iphones over there that don't need to be unlocked through softbank? Is it easy to unlock a phone? what would a "normal" plan run a month so I can compare to what we are paying in the US? thanks so much for your help.

I'm still using my Garmin with the UUD maps, but I'm curious about those with iPhones here in Japan; How much are your monthlies? Are additional charges incurred with the use of the GPS portion?

I started this topic, glad to see it being put to good use. To the inquiry of what model at the NEX they are so similar that I chose the 300 one. We have the 450 model here at work, menus and all are the same, the screen is bigger on the more epensive one, one is 32 bit and one is 64. That is all I can tell of major changes. I use the smaller and it is fine. THEY both dont work as well as US MODELS FOR THE US USE. Take a little getting used to but if you want to find a place it is easy. I use the business phone number to located businesses and it has it 95% of the time. You have to learn the button, I taught my wife with little effort but it did take me a while to get the hanf of it.

I am here for 3 more years and will easily get my moneys worth from it. If you cant find it in the model do a google map search, get the LAT/LONG and put it in the model by moving the screen around, that will get you there and at least VERY CLOSE to your destination. Overall it is decent...

I've had a Japanese GPS for about 20 years that works perfectly.

But please don't tell her I said that....

FCCMCOLLINS, would you like to share with the rest of the class where you enter in the phone number into the Smart Navi system? We've had ours for about a year now and it frustrates me to no end. Thanks!

I dont have it with me right now but here goes
Menu
when the boxes pop up see the phone and hit that
enter the number as it is in Japan for a BUSINESS
hit ok/enter
if nothing pops up it did not work, if some KANJI does then tap that and it will take you straight to the business on the map
MARK that location and then edit the mark with the name of the business
now you can go to that mark anytime and hit the get directions ICON and off you go.

drop by the office one day and I will be glad to show you how to work it, 15 minutes....I work at ATG and my phone is 243-6200..

RE: American iphones. My co-worker's sister sent him one from the states (she has discount connections) and throught the use of various hacks he spent hours and days researching he was able to get into the Docomo service. The downfall was that since the phone was not in the official Docomo registry and even though he has a Docomo account his first phone bill on that thing was over 60,000 yen. He ended up biting the bullet and doing it the legal way. Expensive lesson.

My AU phone has navi in it but it's all in Japanese and I don't read it that well. Two years ago on SuperBowl Eve Saturday it snowed all night and all day. A few of us decided to head up near Yokota for some 4-wheeling in the mud and snow. Great fun! During the return ride authorities closed the YokoYoko. Since I seldom drive in Yokohama I was not completely familiar with the area where I got dumped off. I ran into one dead end after another for about an hour of burning up gas before I located Rt. 16. Got back ok and then felt really stupid because I had that navi with me and didn't use it. 15 seconds later I felt even stupider because I couldn't have used it anyhow without a struggle!

My NEX smartnavi has never failed me. If I leave it sit for a month or two without being on a charger it dies. When that happens I have to push the reset button on the back once it's on a power source. That ain't in the book.

uud.info just released version 3 of their English Maps of Japan for Garmin GPS Units. Several updates have been included, as well as better documentation of street names. I think this is due to a different core map source, now from Sumitomo Electric, rather than the Japan Ministry of never put current data on CD.

The new version is a bit pricy; up to 20,000 yen for a new CD. And it's now locked to only one unit, so you can't distribute the maps to other units the way you could the old ones.

But all in all, I have used these maps since I've been here, and with a grain of salt they've been great. But the update looks like they are finally getting closer to a real 'Garmin Product' than before.

I'll write up a more detailed review once I've had it a few days. Taking the wife to see Al Jarreau this evening, and will learn a bit more on the trip into Tokyo. Sure wish my Garmin's FM Traffic updates would work here!

Re: Navigation in iPhone. If you just enter the phone number of the business you are visiting, it will draw you a map to that business destination. It's a really cool feature. Even though the street names are in Kanji, but the turn left/turn right stuff is all in English so I'm able to use it even though I don't read Japanese.

Great news about Garmin. Maybe it's about to become easier for all of us!