Last updated: 31 March 2026
When it comes to visiting Japan, food isn’t just part of the trip. For many travelers, it’s the main event.
In fact, according to numerous Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) surveys, when travelers were asked what they were most looking forward to before their trip, the consistent number one answer was eating Japanese food. From ramen and sushi to regional specialties and local favorites, dining is a major motivation for travel.
But once you arrive, a familiar challenge appears. Japan has so many restaurants. Reviews are endless, neighborhoods are dense, and even knowing what to search for can be difficult. Sometimes, listings might only be in Japanese. And then, where to find spots locals love?
And that’s where UMAME! comes in.
What is UMAME!?
UMAME! is an AI-powered restaurant discovery app developed by Gurunavi, one of Japan’s leading restaurant search platforms and parent company to Live Japan. Gurunavi has an inventory of over 420,000 restaurants nationwide, covering everything from casual local eateries to well-known dining spots.
Built on this massive database, UMAME! is designed to help users find restaurants based on how they feel and what they want, rather than forcing them to guess the right keywords.
Instead of searching only by cuisine or price, you can describe your mood, situation, or dining goal, and the app suggests places that fit.
UMAME!’s approach to restaurant discovery has also caught the attention of Google. In a December 2025 blog post, Google highlighted UMAME! as an example of how AI can better understand user context, not just single search queries.
Your Foodie Friend in Japan
One of UMAME!’s most interesting features is its AI agent–style experience.
Rather than starting from scratch every time, the app can learn from your past searches and preferences, then offer suggestions that feel more personal and timely.
For example:
・Back in the same area for lunch? It can suggest nearby spots that match your previous choices.
・Planning a birthday or special dinner? It can surface restaurants suited to the occasion.
・Have an important business meal? It can point you toward quieter restaurants with private rooms.
The goal is to make choosing where to eat feel easier and more confident.
How UMAME! Makes Your Restaurant Search in Japan Easier
Unlike traditional restaurant apps that rely on fixed filters, UMAME! is built around conversation and intent. Instead of forcing you to decide on cuisine or budget upfront, it responds to how you describe what you want.
The app uses AI to learn from your preferences and past behavior, then asks follow-up questions through a dialog-style interface to refine its suggestions.
Helpful prompts make it easier to narrow down options, and searches can be done by text or voice.
Once something looks right, UMAME! takes you directly to Gurunavi’s restaurant listings and reservation options if they are available.
This makes it especially useful when you know the kind of dining experience you want, but not the name of the restaurant.
Why Travelers Might Find It Useful
Japan’s food scene is one of the main reasons people visit, but it can also feel overwhelming, especially for first-time travelers. Many excellent restaurants are small, local, and hard to judge from the outside, and language barriers only add to the challenge. Is a restaurant open to walk-ins, or are reservations required? Sometimes it is tough to tell.
Asking friends for recommendations or posting a question on Threads or other social media can be surprisingly helpful, especially when you want something good nearby. But those options are not always immediate or practical when you are already out and hungry and you want to just rest your feet.
By letting users explain what they want in simple terms and drawing from one of Japan’s largest restaurant databases, Umame! helps bridge that gap. It works a bit like a friendly, well-informed friend who knows the local dining scene and can point you in the right direction, right when you need it.
Get UMAME! Before Your Trip to Japan
The UMAME! development team, together with Akio Sugihara, Gurunavi’s CEO (fourth from right) and Gurunavi’s CTO, Toshiaki Iwamoto (fourth from left)
UMAME! is currently available on both iOS and Android, with ongoing updates and feature improvements planned. You may download it at the links below.
If eating Japanese food is the thing you’re most excited about on your trip, UMAME! offers a smarter way to find a place worth sitting down for. Keep an eye on this page for updates, or visit the official website at https://umame.gnavi.co.jp/!
Written by:
Chief English Editor
LIVE JAPAN
Timothy Sullivan is a senior English editor who has worked with LIVE JAPAN since 2017. Originally from New York, USA, he has over two decades of experience in Japan and more than 15 years in the digital media sphere. Timothy has played pivotal roles in assisting Japanese enterprises and regional authorities connect with international audiences. When he isn’t traveling, he is helping producing polished copy for LIVE JAPAN, one of Japan’s largest tourism platforms. He received a bachelor’s degree in Communication from the State University of New York College at Geneseo.
*This information is from the time of this article’s publication.
*Prices and options mentioned are subject to change.
*Unless stated otherwise, all prices include tax.
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