Japan travel app · in English
Local guides to Japan, with the details you need.
Marigo is a Japan travel app with guides written by people who live there — where they actually eat and go in Kyoto, Tokyo and Osaka, and how to get there, pay, and book. Translated into English.
On a laptop?
Scan to get it on your phone →
Why Marigo
Guidebooks tell you where.
Locals tell you how.
You already know you want to see Kyoto. What trips you up is everything after — the stuff nobody writes down, because if you live here, you just know.
- Which station exit?
- Cash only, or card?
- Do I need a reservation?
- Is there an English menu?
- OK for vegetarians? Halal?
- Can I bring my suitcase?
Guides end with the practical info the writer could confirm —
- Access164 Tokusayamachō, Shimogyō, Kyoto
- ReservationsOK even on holidays — pick table or counter
- Languagemultilingual menu, with photos
- Search termsニューベイブ 京都 · とんかつ · 豚汁
From a real Marigo guide: tonkatsu in Kyoto, by TAKA
↑ the bit guidebooks skip
How guides are made
Written by locals.
Interviewed for travelers.
A local talks about a place they go
People who live in Japan talk about their own spots — the soba shop near their office, the trick to a busy temple.
An AI interviewer asks what you would ask
Access, reservations, payment, language, house rules — and the downsides too. Vague answers like “English is fine” get followed up.
“fine how? menu? staff?”
Translated into English
No guide goes live without an English version. Writers can preview the English before publishing.
The AI writes up what the local said — it is told not to make things up.
A real guide
Not a list of hidden gems.
A local's actual visit.
cover made in the appKyoto · Food
Eating Tonkatsu with Soy Sauce? Discovering the Depth of Flavor Variation at New Babe Kyoto
“Kyoto on a holiday is bustling with tourists, but thanks to a prior reservation, I was able to enter without waiting.”
In the app
Read. Map. Ask. Save.
Local guides,
in English.
The practical bits up front: how to get there, what to order, when to go. Follow the writers you like.
Every spot,
on one map.
Filter by city and category. With a pass, open the exact location, hours, and directions in Google Maps.
Stuck? Ask someone
who lives here.
Ask about access, reservations, payment, rules, or food needs — anything hard to know before you go.
anyone can read answers · asking needs a pass
Save the places you'll love.
Your saved spots on a map. Guides you've opened stay readable offline.
Passes
Pay for your trip,
not a subscription.
Passes are one-time purchases with no auto-renewal. Pick one for the days you're in Japan, and it simply ends.
ANYWHERE → JAPAN
Free
$0
- The 3 latest guides
- Read locals' answers (sign-in required)
- Every other guide (not included)
- Exact locations & directions (not included)
- Ask your own questions (not included)
3 DAYS · ONCE PER ACCOUNT
3-Day Trial
$9.99 one time
NOAUTO
RENEW
- Every guide, in full
- Exact locations, hours & directions
- Save spots to your map
- Ask locals your own questions
- Comment on guides
2 WEEKS / 1 MONTH
Standard
$49.99 2 weeks · $99.99 1 month
NOAUTO
RENEW
- Everything in the 3-Day Trial
- For the length of your trip
Reference prices from the US App Store, checked October 18, 2026. Your final price is shown by the App Store or Google Play before you buy.
Liked a guide? You can send its writer a thank-you gift ♡
FAQ
Questions
Is Marigo free?
Marigo is free to download on iPhone and Android. You can read the 3 latest guides and locals' answers for free. To read every guide in full, open exact locations and directions, and ask your own questions, buy a one-time pass in the app.
Will my pass renew automatically?
No. Every pass is a one-time purchase with no auto-renewal. The 3-Day Trial can be used once per account.
Who writes the guides?
People who live in Japan, about places they go — answering an AI interviewer that asks the practical questions travelers have, including the downsides.
Are the guides machine-translated?
Yes. Locals write in Japanese and AI translates every guide into English before it's published. Writers can preview the English version, but they may not be fluent in English, so some wording can be imperfect.
Does every guide include practical info?
Guides include the access and practical details the writer could confirm — such as address, reservations, payment, or language support. Not every guide covers every item.
Find the Japan
locals actually use.
explore deeper with Marigo ✶
or scan with your phone
Live in Japan? 日本にお住まいの書き手の方へ（日本語）→