Tokyo Glance (free, $34.99 subscription) by Ruben Aalders is a fabulous app for iPhone + iPad which provides maps, live train views, and useful info for those navigating the complex maze that is Tokyo’s transportation systems. It also includes some info on buses and flights.
The app provides both real-time and estimated train locations, arrival times, and schedules, but currently not live info for all routes and trains. This isn’t a problem given the vast complexity of Tokyo’s train systems. It also provides live feeds for some locations.
Most train lines in Tokyo are color-coded, with the Tokyo Metro subways using a single line letter in English (“Z” for example for the Hanzomon Line), and a station number for each station. On the Tokyo Glance map each train is shown as a color-coded pill-shaped dot moving in real-time. Tapping on any train zooms in on it and shows its location and progress along the line. It also shows the train’s number. Additional info about each line is displayed. Trains on the map are color-coded with the same color codes as used by the trains and stations themselves in the real world.
The Live Map View
Tokyo Glance‘s live train map view is nice: you can watch the trains as they crawl along the map, or you can zoom in and watch just one of them – and see its next stations and ETAs at each. Performance is smooth and liquid. The live map also shows if a train is stopped at a station. You can use all the usual map gestures such as zoom, rotate, or – if in 3D view tilt. Map resolution is great and shows a lot of detail.
On the left side of the map is the app’s main interface – a small pane containing most of the controls. At the top is the current weather, alerts, and a search box where you can search for trains, lines, and locations.
On the side pane is a tab bar for changing the type of map view: standard, hybrid, or imagery. A nice small touch is that local time is always displayed in a tiny badge just to the right of the side pane at all times.
Another nice feature is landmarks + Scenic Rides. As you move through Tokyo on a train, a Scenic Ride reveals landmarks as you move, alerting you to interesting spots as you approach them.
Apple Location Services is also supported if you have it turned on in the iOS Settings app.
Weather + Service Alerts
Weather is also included when available, and Tokyo Glance utilizes Apple Weather (WeatherKit) for its weather info. If you tap the small current temperature icon in the top-right of the side pane, you’ll see complete weather info and a forecast – just like Apple Weather. If you tap the small alert icon just next to the current temperature you’ll see train system service alerts if there are any. Service alerts are in Japanese by default but you can translate them with a tap if you download the Apple translation data.
One Living Map
Tokyo Glance‘s main idea is to turn the map into one living view or “Live City”. As the App Store page states: “Tokyo is always moving. Tokyo Glance makes that movement visible”.
This is a unique concept in map apps and it allows you to do everything in one place without having to jump among apps and websites for different kinds of info.
Perhaps the best feature of Tokyo Glance is the way it shows live train movement. Tracked trains move on the map in real-time. If you select a single train it shows its train number as it moves across the map.
There are 2D and 3D views of the map, you can toggle between them, and zoom, rotate and slide the map in real time using your fingers. The ground detail shown in the imagery views of the map is striking.
There’s a also a “Today in Tokyo” section in the side pane which provides points of interest as well as a “Coming up in Tokyo” list. Below that is an “Explore Tokyo” section which shows a few thumbnails of nearby points of interest. Taping a point of interest takes you to that place.
“Nearby lines” and “Nearby stations” are listed next – which show a list of lines, number of trains on each line, and nearby stations. There’s also a “Browse” feature for train and bus lines.
List of Upcoming Stations + ETAs
Another really useful feature of Tokyo Glance is the list of stations + times for any particular line. If you tap on a line or a specific train, the side panel displays the line name, the nearest station, or the current station if the train is stopped there, intersecting lines at the current station (if any), and a full list of the next stations on the line and ETA at each of the next stops.
This is really handy.
For example if you see a train labeled “B561” on the Marunouchi Line on the map and tap it, the side pane switches to a line list view. The current station or next stations and ETAs are shown at the top of the list (in order) with all remaining stations + arrival times after that. The ETAs for each station are shown both in minutes from now, and local time. This is incredibly useful.
One small annoyance in app appears to be that there’s no way to slide the side panel off the map to minimize it out of the way. On smaller iPads such as the base model or iPad mini this would be handy to allow you to see all of the map un-obscured. Perhaps this will be added in a future version.
Live Views + Nearby Stations
If you tap a point of interest, the side panel switches to an “Explore” view with webcam, photos, and (if you have a subscription) “Look Around” thumbnails. Tapping on the “Live” thumbnail opens a webcam view of the selected area, if one is available. There’s also a tiny 1-paragraph description of the place on the side pane.
A really useful feature on the Explore panel is a list of nearby stations, with an estimated walking time. Each station listed also shows which line(s) it is on with color-coded dots to the left. You can easily see which stations are on which lines just by glancing at the dots. Once you’ve memorized all of Tokyo’s line colors, this enables instant decision making when deciding which station to head to on foot – without having to dive down into more info. The first two line names are also listed under each station name. A really nice design.
Free + Paid Tiers
Tokyo Glance is free, but also provides some premium features via in-app purchases with a subscription through the App Store.
There’s a Premium annual subscription for $34.99 which can be paid yearly or monthly at $6.99/month. The yearly subscription saves you about 58% over the monthly one. The subscription provides additional features such as timetables, live transit boards, Look Around, simulations, and more.
A subscription also lets you view live webcams of actual train arrivals at each station if they are available.
In both cases there’s a free 7-day subscription trial which can be cancelled at any time.
Conclusion
Tokyo Glance is pretty cool. It provides real-time + scheduled info on trains and lines with just a glance. You can see where everything is (and where it soon will be) without having to plunge into layers of user interface. Live ETAs for each station is great. Nearby attractions are great. If there’s a train or bus delay, you’ll know about it right away – and you’ll be able to estimate when you’ll actually get to where you want to go. Keep in mind having this ETA info at your fingertips for most major train systems and lines in Tokyo is no small feat.
Good app design always provides the most important info easily but hides the less-used, or less important info in easy-to-access layers. Tokyo Glance does just that. It’s been well thought out. It’s simple + easy when you want info quick, but has a lot of layers of info if you want to dive deep. Most of the info you want is there – but the app never gets in your way.
We would like to see the ability to fling the side control pane out of the way and bring it back onscreen at will. Hopefully this will be added.
Another nice feature of Tokyo Glance is that the app is tiny – currently only 65.6 MB for version 1.8. That saves storage space on your iOS device. It’s small, responsive, and launches fast.
Overall, if you’re in Tokyo – or even if you just want to browse the city and its features, you’ll want Tokyo Glance on your device.
LINKS
Tokyo Glance | Tokyo Transit App: Subway, Trains & Live Map for iPhone
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