Q. What is Japanese Walking (the interval timer)?
It is an interval walking timer built into the app. Alternate 3 minutes of fast walking with 3 minutes of slow walking (or walk fast for 15 minutes straight); the number of sets, durations, countdown and tempo sound can be changed in the timer settings. After each fast segment the app compares your real step count with your target pace, and the last 7 days of sessions are recorded. Open it from the button on the travel map or the Record tab; it keeps running with the screen off. There is no extra charge. This is not medical advice: walk at a pace that suits your health.
Q. How much does it cost?
The Hokkaido area (Cape Soya to Hakodate, about 530km) is completely free to play. The full nationwide route (Cape Soya to Shuri Castle, about 2,760km, 114 landmarks) is a one-time in-app purchase of ¥500 ($4.99 in the US). There is no subscription or monthly fee.
Q. Do I need to create an account or sign in?
No. There's no email or password sign-up, and no login screen. You can start using the app immediately after installing it. Internally the app issues an anonymous identifier to enforce usage limits, but this is never linked to your name or email address.
Q. Is there an iOS (iPhone) version?
Japan Walk Nomad is currently available on Android only, via Google Play. There is no iOS version at this time. If you'd like to see an iOS version, please let us know via the contact email.
Q. How are my steps tracked? Does it track my real location via GPS?
Step counts are read (read-only) from Android Health Connect and converted into virtual travel distance on the in-app map. The app does not collect or use your phone's real GPS location or movement history.
Q. Does the app show ads?
No. The app does not include any ad SDK, so no ads are shown. It also does not use any analytics or tracking SDK that collects behavioral logs.
Q. If I switch phones, will my data carry over?
Your step records, travel history, and earned badges are stored on your device. If Android's standard Auto Backup feature is enabled, signing in with the same Google account on a new device and installing the app will automatically restore your data.
Q. Can I unlock the full nationwide route at any time? What does it unlock?
Yes, you can purchase the one-time ¥500 ($4.99 in the US) unlock from within the app whenever you like. It adds the full nationwide route through Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu, and Okinawa on top of the free Hokkaido area, for a total of about 2,760km and 114 landmarks.
Q. How long does it take to walk the whole route?
It depends entirely on your own step count. As a rough guide, walking a steady 8,000 steps a day (about 6km) would take roughly 3 months to cross the free Hokkaido area (530km), and roughly 1 year and 4 months to complete the full 2,760km nationwide route. Your actual pace simply reflects however many steps you take each day. See a full breakdown by daily step count.