Guide · Google Maps · New Feature
Ask Maps (マップに相談): What It Is and How to Be Ready
Ask Maps lets people ask Google Maps a question in their own words, such as "a quiet café near Ebisu where I can work for two hours". Google's Gemini AI writes the answer.
The Short Answer
Ask Maps answers from what Google already knows about places.
- Sources named by Google (Japan announcement, 2026-08-07): information about more than 300 million places, reviews from its contributor community and real-time information
- Not named as sources: photos or websites
- The safe course: keep your Google profile, reviews, photos and website complete and correct
- "Ready" means those facts are complete, correct and easy to read, including the details people ask about in English
Not sure where you stand? Get a free snapshot or see a sample snapshot.
The Facts So Far
| Topic | Answer |
|---|---|
| What It Is | A conversational feature in the Google Maps app, powered by Gemini. Source: Google, official announcement. |
| Japanese Name | マップに相談 Source: Google Japan blog. |
| Live in Japan Since | 2026-08-07, in Japanese. Source: Google Japan blog. |
| Live in English Since | 2026-08-06, in 150+ countries. Source: Google, official announcement. |
| Where It Works | In the Google Maps mobile app. Source: Google. |
| What It Reads | Information about 300M+ places, reviews from 500M+ contributors and real-time information. Google's Japan announcement does not mention photos or websites. Source: Google Japan blog (2026-08-07). |
| US-First for Now | Food ordering, hotel and event discovery, "conversational contributions". Source: Google. |
| English Questions About Tokyo | Not yet known whether answers work the same way when people in Japan ask in English. Our own test is still to be run. |
All facts last checked on 2026-10-11. Google changes features often. We update this page when it does.
Key Takeaway
Ask Maps is live in Japan in Japanese. Whether it answers English questions about Tokyo places the same way is not yet known.
What Ask Maps Is Likely to Use From Your Listing
Google names place information and reviews as sources.
So the same basics decide whether Ask Maps can describe you correctly:
Facts in the Profile
Categories, services, hours, holiday hours, attributes such as accessibility and payment options, and a clear description.
WhyYour Google profile is part of the place information you can control.
Facts in Reviews
What customers say in their own words, for example that staff speak English. You can't write these, and you should never pay or reward anyone for them.
WhyReplying to reviews shows the business is active.
Facts Customers Can See in Photos
An entrance people can recognize from the street, the menu or price board, the reception area.
WhyThey help people choose. Google's Japan announcement does not mention photos as an Ask Maps source.
People often ask Ask Maps something specific: "open late", "takes card", "English menu", "near the station exit".
If that fact appears nowhere in your listing, Ask Maps may have nothing to quote.
Key Takeaway
Put the specific facts people ask about in your listing.
Where This Sits Next to AI Mode and Other Assistants
Ask Maps is one of several places where Google's AI now describes local businesses.
In Japanese-language local searches in Google's AI Mode, about 70% of answers referenced Google business cards. Source: GMO TECH, Japan study, August 2026 (vendor study; English not measured).
Outside Google, assistants such as ChatGPT and Perplexity use other sources too. That is why consistent listings beyond Google still matter. See the full guide.
What Nobody Can Promise
Google decides what Ask Maps says, and answers vary from one question to the next.
No one can promise that it will name your business.
What you can do is make sure the facts it reads are complete and correct.
To know where you stand, we measure a mention rate on stated dates, never a "rank". See how we measure.
Common Questions
Do I Need to Sign Up for Ask Maps?
No. There is no separate listing and nothing to submit. It uses the place information and reviews Google already holds.
Does Ask Maps Work in English in Tokyo?
Ask Maps is live in English in more than 150 countries and in Japanese in Japan.
Whether it answers English questions asked inside Japan about Tokyo businesses in the same way is not yet confirmed. We will add our own test results here, with the number of questions and dates.
Can I Pay to Appear in Ask Maps Answers?
We know of no way to pay for a place in Ask Maps answers, and we would not recommend anyone who claims one.
Is Ask Maps the Same as the Old "Questions and Answers" on Google Profiles?
No. The public Q&A section on profiles is being phased out.
Google is testing a new question format inside the profile dashboard. Ask Maps writes answers from place information and reviews instead, so your profile needs to hold the facts customers ask about.
Is Your Listing Ready for Ask Maps?
Send your business name and Google Maps link. We check your listing and ask ChatGPT and Google's AI two questions your customers would ask. Free, no obligation. More: Services, Who We Help, FAQ, and the English Google Business Profile guide.
