Apple Maps AR directions arrive in Tokyo

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Ar (Image credit: Apple)

What you need to know

  • Apple Maps just got a major upgrade in Tokyo.
  • Apple's immersive walking directions are now available for navigation.
  • It means users can get augmented reality directions overlayed with the real world.

Apple appears to have rolled out its immersive walking directions feature for Apple Maps in iOS 15 in the city of Tokyo.

According to Ata Distance:

I should have guessed that when I found the 'Refine Location' icon looking at me this morning, something else was up. Indeed, a closer inspection revealed that Apple Maps activated step-by-step walking guidance in augmented reality for the Tokyo area. No idea if other regions such as Osaka and Nagoya have also gotten it, kinda hard to check without being on site. I'll update this post if new region details emerge.

The new features let customers on devices like the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 use augmented reality to overlay navigation direction on the real world for an immersive navigation experience. Apple announced the feature for iOS 15 last year:

"With iOS 15, Apple Maps introduces step-by-step walking guidance in augmented reality. Users can simply raise their iPhone to scan buildings in the area, and Maps generates a highly accurate position to deliver detailed directions that can be viewed in the context of the real world."

Apple gave Apple Maps a pretty big overhaul with iOS 15, adding improved driving routes, more highly detailed maps, transit updates, guides, and more.

Stephen Warwick
News Editor

Stephen Warwick has written about Apple for five years at iMore and previously elsewhere. He covers all of iMore's latest breaking news regarding all of Apple's products and services, both hardware and software. Stephen has interviewed industry experts in a range of fields including finance, litigation, security, and more. He also specializes in curating and reviewing audio hardware and has experience beyond journalism in sound engineering, production, and design. Before becoming a writer Stephen studied Ancient History at University and also worked at Apple for more than two years. Stephen is also a host on the iMore show, a weekly podcast recorded live that discusses the latest in breaking Apple news, as well as featuring fun trivia about all things Apple. Follow him on Twitter @stephenwarwick9