iOS Users in Japan Gain Apple Maps 'Nearby' Feature - MacRumors
Skip to Content

iOS Users in Japan Gain Apple Maps 'Nearby' Feature

by

nearby_heroApple has extended the 'Nearby' feature in its iOS Maps app to serve users in Japan, bringing access to local points of interest such as bars, restaurants, health services and shopping centers.

AppleInsider reports that 'Nearby' is now active across the country, despite Apple having not yet updated its Maps feature availability web page to reflect the change. Apple reportedly introduced 'Nearby' to Japanese customers last December, but soon pulled the feature for unknown reasons.

'Nearby' lets users search Apple Maps based on categories such as Food, Drinks, Shopping, Travel, Services, Fun, Health and Transport, while each category can be searched deeper for specific places.

Nearby categories such as Food, Fun, Shopping and Travel can also be accessed from the Spotlight Search menu on iOS 9.

The location-based feature first appeared on mobile devices in the U.S. and China with the release of iOS 9 in September. A month later, 'Nearby' was extended to Australia, Canada, France and Germany. Finland, Netherlands and the UK soon followed, making Japan the tenth country to receive the localized feature.

Related Forum: iOS 9

Top Rated Comments

133 months ago
Now if we could just get transit directions here in Japan.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Fzang Avatar
133 months ago
Ahhhh, now it makes sense. Didn't see this before.




Attachment Image

Attachment Image

Attachment Image
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
japanime Avatar
133 months ago
Now if we could just get transit directions here in Japan.
Absolutely. One of the things I want most from native iOS services. The third-party Japanese train apps with their in-app shakedowns are ridiculous.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
133 months ago
Strangely enough, this works for me as well in Denmark. Even though Denmark is not officially supported. Saw it first time 2 weeks ago in beta 6 and has been there since. Both in Siri suggestions and Maps search bar. And iPhone set to danish language and Denmark as location. Has not turned up on spouse´s and kids iPhones though, even after upgrading to 9.3.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

miami f1 apple maps

Apple Maps Gains Immersive 3D Experience of Miami F1 Grand Prix

Thursday April 23, 2026 4:20 am PDT by
Apple Maps has updated its "2026 Formula 1 Tracks Around the World" guide with a dedicated experience for the Miami F1 Gran Prix, which takes place on May 3 and will be streamed exclusively on Apple TV in the United States. The guide offers an immersive way to explore F1 circuits. It began with Albert Park in Australia, with more 3D circuit experiences to be added as the season progresses. ...
Apple Maps General

Tim Cook Calls Apple Maps Launch His 'First Really Big Mistake' as CEO

Thursday April 23, 2026 5:29 am PDT by
Outgoing Apple CEO Tim Cook has named the botched 2012 launch of Apple Maps as his "first really big mistake" in the role, according to a Bloomberg report covering the town hall meeting that was held Tuesday with his recently announced successor, John Ternus. The Maps app launched with mislabeled landmarks, faulty directions, and a user experience that fell well short of Google Maps at the...
Ads Are Coming to Apple Maps Feature

Ads Are Coming to Apple Maps This Summer: Here's What to Expect

Friday April 24, 2026 1:58 pm PDT by
Apple is planning to start showing ads in the Apple Maps app this summer, and signs of ads have already shown up in the iOS 26.5 beta as Apple prepares to roll them out. Where Ads Show Up Ads will be displayed in the Apple Maps search interface. Depending on the search, relevant ads will be shown first in search results. Apple is also implementing a new Suggested Places feature in Maps ...