Comparison

Imperial Palaces Guide vs Kabin

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Imperial Palaces Guide

This official audio guide app provides tours of Japan's Imperial Palaces in six languages. It features maps, GPS-enabled notifications for commentary points, and relevant photographs to enhance your visit.

Highlights
  • Official audio guide
  • Multilingual tours (6 languages)
  • Interactive maps
  • GPS location notifications
  • Related photographs
  • Tour content for Tokyo and Kyoto
Features
Read full description

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.

About

Kabin

This travel brand offers hotels designed for everyday travelers. Manage your reservations, complete online check-in, and order add-ons for your stay directly through the app. Explore your destination with ease.

Highlights
  • Online check-in
  • Room access
  • Reservation management
  • Order add-ons
  • Explore destinations
Features
Read full description

You like Japan? We like Japan. Kabin is a new type of travel brand creating hotels for everyday travelers. With Kabin Crew, finish online check-in and go straight to your room, manage your reservation, order add-ons for your stay. Go out and explore IRL.

Screenshots

Imperial Palaces Guide4 screens
Kabin4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Imperial Palaces Guide at 56% against Kabin's 0%. Imperial Palaces Guide also leads on rating (3.4 vs 1.8). Kabin's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 6 weeks). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Imperial Palaces Guide holds the better App Store score, 3.4 against 1.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 14 and 5 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 56% of Imperial Palaces Guide's written reviews are positive against 0% of Kabin's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Imperial Palaces Guide ships an update every 6 weeks, Kabin every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Imperial Palaces Guide versus Kabin: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterImperial Palaces GuideKabin
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.4 (14 ratings) — better1.8 (5 ratings)
Positive reviews56.0% of reviews — better0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings14 — better5
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeksEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS15.615.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size24 MB74 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperThe Imperial Household AgencyWayfarer K.K.

Customer experience

Imperial Palaces Guide

All ratings14 ratings
Positive57.1%
Neutral7.1%
Negative35.7%
Written reviews25 reviews
Positive56.0%
Neutral4.0%
Negative40.0%

Kabin

All ratings5 ratings
Positive20.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative80.0%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

In-app purchases

None

Imperial Palaces Guide

No in-app purchases

None

Kabin

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Imperial Palaces Guide free?
Imperial Palaces Guide is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Kabin free?
Kabin is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Imperial Palaces Guide or Kabin?
Imperial Palaces Guide is rated higher. Imperial Palaces Guide averages 3.4 out of 5 from 14 ratings, while Kabin averages 1.8 from 5 ratings.
Do Imperial Palaces Guide or Kabin have ads?
Neither Imperial Palaces Guide nor Kabin shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Imperial Palaces Guide or Kabin?
Imperial Palaces Guide ships an update every 6 weeks, and Kabin every 3 weeks. Most recently, Imperial Palaces Guide was updated on November 6, 2026 and Kabin on November 7, 2026.

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