# Imperial Palaces Guide > Official audio guide for Japan's Imperial Palaces with multilingual tours and GPS. (iPhone/iPad app by The Imperial Household Agency.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/imperial-palaces-guide/id1234070799 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [The Imperial Household Agency](https://appshunter.io/developer/1234070798) - Category: Travel, Education - Price: Free - Rating: 3.40/5 from 14 App Store ratings · 25 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 12.0 · 33 MB - Languages: American English, French (France), German (Germany), Italian, European Spanish - Released: 2017-05-15 - Data updated: 2026-08-07 - Monetization: free - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/imperial-palaces-guide/id1234070799/reviews.md ## What is Imperial Palaces Guide? The official audio guide for the Imperial Palaces in Japan “Imperial Palaces Guide” App is the official app of the Imperial Household Agency in Japan. It serves as the audio guide for visitors to the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace, and the Kyoto Imperial Palace, and provides tour content in six languages: Japanese, English, Chinese, Korean, French and Spanish. “Palaces Guide” App provides photographs related to the audio tours featured in the app: the Imperial Palace, the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace, and the Kyoto Imperial Palace. After downloading the app, users select a language and then choose from the three tours displayed on screen. This will display a map of the tour area and the audio guide points. If the app is allowed access to a device’s GPS functionality, the app will notify users when they approach a location for which commentary is available, and will show the users where they are on the map and audio commentary locations nearby. ■ Developer credits The Imperial Household Agency ■ Notes 1. Please use earphones when using the “Imperial Palaces Guide” App to avoid bothering other visitors. 2. Please walk with care when viewing the map screen on the app. 3. Some content is provided through links to external sources (e.g. the Imperial Household Agency website). Please note that data rates will apply when connecting to external links. 4. The app cannot provide positional notifications on devices without GPS functionality. ## Key features - Official audio guide - Multilingual tours (6 languages) - Interactive maps - GPS location notifications - Related photographs - Tour content for Tokyo and Kyoto ## Recent user reviews (10 of 25) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/imperial-palaces-guide/id1234070799/reviews.md ### 5/5 — Doesn’t Synchronize *2026-02-15* What a disappointment. Considering the Japanese does everything well, they should fixed the app that provides the history of the palace. ### 5/5 — 5star *2025-07-20, version 2.3* Works perfectly! ### 5/5 — Wonderful free gift *2025-03-09* Not the most modern app but it works and is free and is so much nicer to listen and look rather than read a board. Thank you to those who created it! ### 5/5 — 일본 현지에서 작동됩니다. *2024-10-31, version 2.3* 한국에서 켜면 먹통인데 황궁 가서 켜보니까 되네요. ### 1/5 — 그냥 오류 투성이네 어떻게 신청하는건지 *2024-06-20, version 2.0* 모르겠네 ### 5/5 — Recommended! *2023-05-13* Enhanced my walk around the East Gardens with lots of useful information regarding what I was seeing. ### 4/5 — 皇居散策にはマストアイテムですよ *2023-05-05* 東御苑散策するにあたり　インストールしました。 東御苑内は順路が示されていないので　どうまわるかわからなかったのですが、このアプリはまわる順路毎が番号で示されており、ポイントに近づくと音声ガイダンスが起動します。 ただぼんやりまわるより　効率よくまわれます。 案内版を探す手間も省け、詳しい説明を音声で聞きながら　散策できます。 案内パンフレットや現地にはアプリの紹介は無いようですが、もっとこういうアプリがあることを来園する人に案内しても良いんじゃないのかな？と思いました。 ### 1/5 — 使えません *2022-04-07* 京都御所でダウンロードしましたがアプリの立ち上げでエラーが出てメインメニューまで進めませんでした。 アプリを削除して何度も試しましたが変わらずエラーです。 使えませんでした。 ### 1/5 — 使いにくい *2022-03-31* 初めて行った人からしたらとにかくどこがどこかがわからないのでいきなりガイドされても難しいと感じました ### 1/5 — 接近アラームが乱発 *2020-12-05* 京都御所ですぐダウンロードできたのはいいが、各音声解説場所に近づくとアラームが鳴り、解説聞いている間2秒毎にアラームが鳴り続け全く使いものにならず、イライラ感だけが募った。あと令和になって1年以上が経過しているので上皇陛下を今上天皇としている解説は更新してほしい。 ## Frequently asked questions about Imperial Palaces Guide ### What is the Imperial Palaces Guide app? The Imperial Palaces Guide app is the official audio guide for visitors to the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace, and the Kyoto Imperial Palace. It offers tour content in six languages and includes maps and GPS functionality. ### What languages are supported by the Imperial Palaces Guide app? The app provides tour content in six languages: Japanese, English, Chinese, Korean, French, and Spanish, catering to a wide range of international visitors. ### Does the Imperial Palaces Guide app work offline? The description does not explicitly state offline functionality. However, it mentions that data rates will apply when connecting to external links, suggesting an internet connection may be required for some features. ### How does the GPS functionality in the Imperial Palaces Guide app work? If granted access, the app can notify users when they approach a location with available commentary. It also shows the user's current position and nearby audio commentary points on the map. ### What is the user rating for the Imperial Palaces Guide app? The app has a rating of 3.1 stars from 43 ratings. This indicates a mixed reception from users. ### Is the Imperial Palaces Guide app free to download? Yes, the Imperial Palaces Guide app is available for free. There are no in-app purchases mentioned in the provided data. ### What devices is the Imperial Palaces Guide app compatible with? The app is compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod devices. It is designed for iOS users. ### How often is the Imperial Palaces Guide app updated? The latest version available is 2.5, which was last updated on February 6, 2026. This suggests a potential for regular updates, though the last update date is in the future. ## Version history (last 5 releases) ### 2.5 — 2026-02-06 Fix POI triggering while another POI is already playing ### 2.4 — 2026-01-20 Update the app "Age rating" form ### 2.3 — 2024-10-18 Fix the background color turning black on Dark Mode ### 2.2 — 2024-10-17 Correction of a recurring crash when starting a tour ### 2.1 — 2024-10-15 Fix a crash that may occur starting a tour ## Apps similar to Imperial Palaces Guide | App | Rating | Price | Category | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [ecbo cloak - Luggage Storage](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ecbo-cloak-luggage-storage/id1443707795) | 2.3 (3) | Free | Travel | | [Shinkansen smartEX App](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shinkansen-smartex-app/id1253336330) | 1.7 (558) | Free | Travel | | [ON THE TRIP A Traveler's Guide](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/on-the-trip-a-travelers-guide/id1221976012) | 4.4 (53) | Free | Travel | | [GO / Taxi app for Japan visit](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/go-taxi-app-for-japan-visit/id1254341709) | 4.9 (12,664) | Free | Travel | | [Japan Wi-Fi auto-connect](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/japan-wi-fi-auto-connect/id1461015351) | 4.8 (1,363) | Free | Travel | ## Related topics [imperial palaces guide](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/imperial-palaces-guide) · [imperial palace guide](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/imperial-palace-guide) · [palazzo vecchio visitor guide](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/palazzo-vecchio-visitor-guide) · [palazzo ducale](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/palazzo-ducale) · [riu palace antillas](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/riu-palace-antillas) · [riu palace aquarelle](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/riu-palace-aquarelle) · [udt shizuoka bousai guide](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/udt-shizuoka-bousai-guide) · [fukaya analects village guide](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/fukaya-analects-village-guide) · [hardwood palace](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/hardwood-palace) · [newcastle castle audio guide](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/newcastle-castle-audio-guide) --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-07.*