I Personally Taught My Parents! A Thorough Guide to Web Utilization for Active Seniors #2025
Are you giving up on using digital tools because you think, "I'm too old for this..."?
If you use smartphones and the internet effectively, even in your 60s and 70s, every day can become more fulfilling, from managing your health to enjoying your hobbies. Connecting easily with family living far away, having heavy shopping delivered with a single tap, and receiving medical consultations without leaving home—such convenient and enjoyable senior life is now a reality. As of 2024 in Japan, the smartphone ownership rate among seniors has exceeded 90%. More and more seniors are mastering smartphones for daily use, such as communicating via LINE, checking train schedules with transit guide apps, and recording daily physical conditions with health management apps. In this article, we will provide a thorough guide for the active senior generation on Web utilization techniques to enrich health, daily life, and hobbies available in Japan as of 2025. We have covered everything from introductions to convenient services and apps, support information for those who are not good with machines, to recommended devices and smart speakers. Let's make digital technology our ally and realize a life where "there is joy even as you age" together.
Tips for Using Services and Apps to Help Manage Your Health
In 2025, smartphones are a reassuring ally for senior health management. You can enjoy building your daily health while staying connected with your family.
Creating Daily Exercise Habits and Managing Records
If you feel like you haven't been walking much lately, try using a smartphone pedometer app. It automatically records your steps just by carrying your smartphone, so no difficult operations are required. Setting a target number of steps can also serve as encouragement to "take a little more of a walk," which helps eliminate lack of exercise. For example, the Rakuten Senior app has a system where you get a stamp for walking 4,000 steps a day, and you can accumulate Rakuten points over 7 days. There is also a unique app that makes you feel like you are traveling the Tokaido 53 Stations of the Edo period based on the number of steps you take. "Toho de Yuku - Tokaido Gojusan-tsugi" is popular because when you press the start button at the beginning of a walk, it shows how far you have progressed on the Tokaido on a map, and every time you arrive at a post town, trivia about that area is displayed, allowing you to enjoy walking like a game, thinking, "Let's walk to the next post town!" Some people have actually said, "Unlike pedometers that just show numbers, I can keep going because I feel like I'm on a journey," which helps with maintaining exercise.
Also, using smartphone apps makes it easy to keep daily health records such as blood pressure, weight, and sleep duration. For example, "Blood Pressure Note" is a convenient free app that allows you to record daily blood pressure, weight, and steps with simple operations, and you can see changes at a glance with graph displays. If you show the blood pressure trends on your smartphone screen when visiting the hospital, communication with your doctor will likely be smoother.
Preventing Forgotten Doses with Medication Support
As the types and frequency of medications increase with age, anxiety like "Wait, did I take my medicine this morning?" can arise. In such cases, medication management apps are a reassuring ally. An app called "Medicine Note" can prevent you from forgetting to take your medicine by notifying you with an alarm at the time you need to take it. Since you can check and record on the app after taking your medicine, you can immediately notice past missed doses, which provides peace of mind. Furthermore, it has a feature that notifies you on a calendar when your medicine is about to run out, reducing the worry of forgetting to get additional prescriptions. It is also possible to register family members' information together to watch over the medication status of parents living apart, so it is also useful for families who want to support their elderly parents.
You can also centrally manage the medication notebooks you receive at the pharmacy on your smartphone. With the "EPARK Medication Notebook" app, you can not only register the contents of your paper medication notebook, but you can also take a photo of the prescription issued at the hospital and send it to reserve your medicine so that your local pharmacy can have it ready for you. You can receive your medicine without waiting, resolving the worry of "the burden of waiting in long lines at the pharmacy." It also comes with medication alarm functions and blood pressure management functions, and if you register family members, it is an excellent tool that can even manage the medication of family members living far away.
Easy Hospital Visits with Online Medical Consultation Services
When you feel, "My legs and back hurt, and it's hard to go to the hospital..." use services that allow you to receive online medical consultations from home. This system allows you to receive a doctor's consultation using a smartphone or computer and complete everything up to the prescription of medicine at home, and it has spread rapidly since the COVID-19 pandemic. Among them, "LINE Doctor" is reputed to be easy to use. You can receive a consultation via video call on the LINE app that you are already used to using, and everything from booking the consultation to payment and arranging medicine delivery is completed in one stop. The departments and times available for consultation depend on the hospital, but the number of supporting medical institutions is increasing, and the peace of mind of not having to force yourself to go out on days when you are feeling unwell is significant.
Also, many dedicated apps connecting medical institutions and patients have appeared. "curon" and "CLINICS" are apps that allow you to choose your family doctor, book online consultations, and support the entire flow, including pre-entering medical questionnaires, consultations via video call, and credit card payments. Online medical consultations are covered by insurance, and out-of-pocket expenses are the same as in-person visits (*with some exceptions such as initial consultations), but if you are anxious about handling information and communication equipment, it is a good idea to have your family help you. As a national policy, the use of online medical consultations is expected to reduce the burden of hospital visits for the elderly, and the support system is expected to become even more substantial in the future.
Web Service Utilization Techniques to Support Convenient Living
Say Goodbye to Heavy Loads with Shopping Agency and Delivery Services
On days when you feel, "I want to go shopping, but my legs hurt" or "It's hard to carry heavy rice or water," try using a shopping agency service. If you order via smartphone, a substitute staff member will buy daily necessities and groceries at supermarkets or drugstores and deliver them to your home, which is a grateful service. For example, "PickGo" matches the requester with a nearby delivery partner, and they can perform substitute purchasing and delivery in as little as 30 minutes. The service started in urban areas such as Tokyo and Osaka, but the target area is currently expanding. There are user comments such as "It's helpful on rainy days" and "It's convenient that heavy rice and water are delivered on the same day," making it a reliable presence for seniors who find it difficult to go out.
In addition, make full use of online supermarkets and meal delivery services. You can shop for daily necessities from the "Amazon app" or the official apps of each supermarket, and they will be delivered to your doorstep within a few days of ordering. As a benefit unique to apps, there is the ease of repeating purchases from order history and completing purchases of heavy items like detergent with a single tap. Also, if you use delivery apps like "Uber Eats" or "Demae-can," you can have freshly made restaurant food delivered to your home. It's nice to be able to enjoy a warm meal even on rainy days or days when you're not feeling well. When you feel like, "I don't have the energy to cook today..." don't push yourself and rely on apps to reduce the burden on your mind and body.
Leave Travel and Disaster Prevention to Your Smartphone
When going out, let's use transportation apps skillfully to support safe and comfortable outings. If you are going out by train or bus, "Transit Search" and "Google Maps" are the gold standard. Not only can you search for routes from your current location to your destination, but you can also easily compare arrival times and the number of transfers. With Google Maps, you can check bus stop locations and timetables, and use the Street View feature to check the surroundings of a place you are visiting for the first time in advance. It is such a convenient tool that some say, "I can't reach my destination without a map app!" Also, if you use taxi dispatch apps (such as JapanTaxi or DiDi), you can call a taxi from your smartphone and even complete cashless payments. When it is hard to walk to the station or you have a lot of luggage, the peace of mind of having a taxi come to pick you up right in front of you via an app is significant.
To prepare for potential disasters, you should also install disaster prevention apps. The standard is the "NHK News & Disaster Prevention" app, which you can use for checking domestic and international news and weather forecasts in daily life, and it delivers information to protect your safety via push notifications in emergencies such as earthquake early warnings and typhoon information. Since it is an official NHK app, the information is highly reliable and it has a reputation for being "safe to have installed." Additionally, some local governments provide their own disaster prevention apps. You might find one by searching for "disaster prevention app" along with the name of your area, so let's check. Examples include the "Tokyo Disaster Prevention App" from Tokyo, and the "Yahoo! Disaster Prevention Alert," which is provided by the private sector but covers weather and disaster information nationwide. Since quick information gathering in times of emergency saves lives, it is reassuring to be fully prepared with such apps.
Smart Shopping with Cashless Payments
If you find the hassle of looking for small change at checkout or receiving change bothersome, why not try smartphone payments (cashless payments)? Among them, "PayPay" is a convenient smartphone payment app with many domestic users that can be used at almost all stores nationwide, including convenience stores and drugstores. It is easy to use: just scan the QR code displayed at the store register with your smartphone and enter the payment amount, or have the clerk scan your own QR code screen. It is simple to complete payment with just your smartphone without taking out your wallet. In addition to charging (depositing) in advance, you can also link it to your bank account or credit card for direct debit each time. Furthermore, it is a nice bonus that you earn around 0.5% in points (PayPay points) when you pay with PayPay, making it more economical than paying with cash. Surveys show that about 17% of the senior generation already uses PayPay daily, and while you might be confused at first, it is so convenient that once you start using it, you won't want to let it go. Of course, there is nothing wrong with cash, but cashless payments are a strong ally when it is difficult to take out money at the register or when you want to be contactless for infection prevention.
Online Utilization Techniques to Expand Hobbies and Learning
Expand Your World of Hobbies with Videos
If you are thinking, "I want to find a hobby after retirement" or "There is no excitement in repeating the same things every day," why not easily try new hobbies or learning on the internet? Nowadays, YouTube has videos in every genre, including exercise videos for seniors, tips for cooking and gardening, and travelogues, all of which you can enjoy for free. For example, you might be surprised to discover things like gymnastics videos you can do while sitting in a chair, footage of places you traveled to in the past, or piano performances of classic Showa-era songs, thinking, "They even have videos like this!?" Enjoying movies and music is also easy on YouTube. Some people even use videos recommended by their grandchildren who live far away as a starting point for communication. Besides YouTube, the internet TV service "ABEMA" is also popular. Channels for hobbyists, such as those featuring shogi, mahjong, and art exhibitions, are broadcast 24 hours a day for free, so you can enjoy the programs you want to watch even late at night without needing to record them. Even when you feel "TV programs are in a rut..." ABEMA is well-received because you can watch specialized hobby programs one after another and never get bored. It is basically free (though there are paid plans), so why not try installing the app on your smartphone or tablet and taking a look?
Brain Training with Games and Quizzes
Many apps have appeared that allow you to maintain brain health while having fun, killing two birds with one stone. Among them, the classics are crosswords and puzzle games. For those who liked paper crossword magazines, the "Crossword de Kensho" app is recommended, as it allows you to easily solve crosswords on your smartphone and even enter prize draws. It is popular because "you can play over 1,000 crosswords for free, and you can enter as many as you solve, with the possibility of winning home appliances or gift certificates," so you might get absorbed in the game and end up winning luxury prizes... that is one way to enjoy it. Besides that, there is a wealth of free-to-play brain training games such as Kanji Nankuro (a type of crossword) and number puzzles. For example, "Minna no Noutore" contains over 6 types of mini-games, including calculation problems and memory games, and is designed so you can easily play for about 30 seconds per game. Because you can easily continue every day in just 5 minutes during a short wait or before a break, it is popular among seniors who say, "I can play it like a game while waiting at the hospital, and it becomes brain training without me even realizing it." Also, for those who love shogi, "Piyo Shogi," where you can play against a cute chick character, is well-received. It is equipped with an AI with 40 levels ranging from beginner to amateur high-dan, and you can also challenge the daily tsume-shogi (shogi puzzles), so you can enjoy it as a lifelong hobby.
Re-learning through Online Courses
"I want to learn something new" or "I want to challenge myself for a qualification I couldn't get in the past." When such motivation arises, let's make use of online courses. Now is the era of e-learning that you can take on your smartphone or computer. For example, the video learning platform "Udemy" offers paid courses taught by instructors from around the world, ranging from computer basics to English conversation, photography techniques, and yoga lessons, allowing you to learn at your own pace while at home. There are also various free courses if you look for them, and if you search for "XX course" on YouTube, many self-study material videos will appear. Furthermore, the number of local community centers and culture centers offering online courses using Zoom has increased recently. Public lectures by local governments and universities are sometimes streamed online. For example, there are cases where the University of Tokyo's "Citizen Lectures" have been moved online and can now be taken from anywhere in the country (*please check the information for each course). Smartphone and computer classes for seniors are also sometimes held online in parallel with in-person sessions. Once you learn how to use the Zoom app, you can participate in local courses and circle activities from home, which will greatly expand your circle of human connections and learning.
Communication Techniques Friendly to the Senior Generation
Connecting with Family and Friends via the Standard SNS "LINE"
The mainstream communication tool for the senior generation in Japan today is "LINE." It is simple to use, allowing you to easily exchange messages, make free calls, and share photos with family and friends. Especially for those who are not good at typing, you can convey your feelings on LINE just by sending a cute sticker, and you can also use the voice message feature to leave a message as if you were talking. Just sending short voice messages like "How are you lately?" will greatly shorten the emotional distance with family members living apart. Surveys also show that about 70% of seniors use LINE, and the majority feel it is easier than email. If you haven't started yet, please ask your children or grandchildren to teach you. Once the initial setup is done, you can use it like a phonebook, and when you are in trouble, you can also be taught basic operations at a nearby mobile phone shop.
Making Hobby Friends with SNS for Seniors
In recent years, SNS exclusively for seniors has also appeared, expanding places where you can get excited about hobbies and common topics. The representative example is "Shumito Club." It is one of the largest SNS for middle-aged and older people in Japan, with about 400,000 participants, mainly those in their 50s and older. It has communities for various hobbies such as travel, karaoke, hiking, mahjong, and gourmet food, and members are actively interacting by posting diaries and photos online, and holding offline events among members. It is operated under the concept of "a place where you can make new friends even as you age, and increase the fun in your life," and it is said that more than 100,000 people actually participate in events annually to enjoy learning and meeting new people. When you hear "SNS," you might have the impression that "it's scary to talk to strangers on the internet..." but Shumito Club allows you to register with a nickname without using your real name, and since there are many people of the same generation, there is a sense of security. While getting excited about common hobby topics on the bulletin board, events like "Let's all go to the art museum next time" are set up, and people actually go out with their hobby friends—such new ways of socializing seem to be emerging. You can start by just browsing, so if you are interested, why not take a look?
To Use SNS with Peace of Mind
When interacting on SNS or the internet, the best thing is to enjoy it at your own pace without pushing yourself. There is no need to rush, thinking, "I hear seniors are starting Instagram and TikTok, but it seems difficult..." Looking at actual usage rates, Instagram usage is only about 3-4% of all seniors, so it is enough to try it if you are interested. If you like posting photos and videos, sharing travel memories on Instagram is wonderful, and just looking at it, you can enjoy spectacular views from around the world and cute cat videos. The important thing is to use it within a range that you can enjoy yourself.
Also, a concern when using SNS is scams and nuisance messages, but recent smartphones for seniors come with nuisance call blocking features pre-installed, and LINE also has settings to automatically block suspicious accounts. When you are in trouble, don't panic; stop for a moment and consult your family or your mobile carrier's support. NTT Docomo's "Anshin Sodan (Raku-Raku Phone Center)" and smartphone classes offered by various companies have a wealth of experience handling inquiries from seniors and can teach you not only how to operate the device but also tips for safe usage. Never worry alone; use the help of those around you to use SNS safely and securely.
Introduction to Senior-Friendly Devices & Peripherals
Smartphones and Tablets for Beginners
For those who say, "I want to switch to a smartphone but I'm not confident...", senior-oriented smartphones sold by various domestic companies are recommended. The representative "Raku-Raku Smartphone" series from NTT Docomo is designed from the start with large, clear text and a simple menu for intuitive operation. The latest 2025 model, the "Raku-Raku Smartphone F-53E," features a large 5.4-inch organic EL screen and a physical home button, making it easy for first-time smartphone users to know where to press. From au, there is the "BASIO series", and from SoftBank (Y!mobile), there is the "Simple Smartphone", with each company offering unique models for seniors. For example, the BASIO active2 is equipped with a high-performance camera for those who enjoy photography, and it also features shock resistance, making it a safe model for active outings. On the other hand, recently, even regular smartphones have models that can be switched to "Easy Mode" to enlarge text and simplify operations. Popular models like the Google Pixel also support a simple mode, so it is possible to use them in stages: "simple at first, high-performance once you get used to it."
Regardless of which model you choose, a major advantage of senior-oriented smartphones is that each company's support system is well-established. They offer one-touch support where you can consult someone at the press of a button, specialized telephone consultation counters, and in-store usage classes, so you can continue to use them with peace of mind. When purchasing, don't hesitate to ask shop staff questions, and if necessary, it is a good idea to check how to operate it together with your family.
Tablet devices are also popular devices among the senior generation. Tablets with large screens, such as the "iPad", are particularly good because the text is easy to read and operation is simple, reducing the strain on your eyes and fingers. For those who want to browse the web comfortably at home rather than needing portability for use on the go, they are perfect. Recently, low-priced Android tablets and products with usage guides for seniors have also been released. Tablets are also ideal for reading e-books and watching videos. Having a tablet in addition to a smartphone is convenient as you can use them for different purposes.
Voice Operation with Smart Speakers
For those who find touch screen operation difficult or who live alone and want someone to talk to, you should also consider a smart speaker. These are smart speakers that answer weather forecasts and the latest news by voice just by saying, "OK, Google, what's the weather today?" or "Alexa, tell me the news." Representative products include Amazon's "Echo series" and Google's "Nest series," which can be used in Japanese. If it is a product with a screen, such as the Amazon Echo Show 5, it can display weather and schedules in text, and it is also easy to make video calls (drop-in feature) with family living far away. Once set up, you can call out to a family member's Echo device, saying, "How are you, [Name]?" and connect like a video phone, so it is also used for watching over parents living far away. Smart speakers can also perform operations like "play music," "tell me a recipe for [dish]," or "remind me at [time]" by voice, which is useful during housework when your hands are full or for calling out in an emergency. An Amazon survey found that 77% of users answered that "it makes it easier to watch over elderly people and children," and they will likely become even more integrated into senior life in the future.
Useful Peripheral Accessories
Finally, I would like to introduce a few peripheral devices recommended for the senior generation. Smartphone stands and tablet stands are convenient because you can stand the device on a desk to operate it, which makes it less tiring for one hand. It is especially helpful for reducing wrist strain, and it provides peace of mind for those who say, "I'm afraid I might drop my smartphone lately." Also, a touch pen (stylus) makes it easier to press small links on the screen, which is useful when your fingertips are dry and less responsive. If the text on the screen is hard to see, you can enlarge the text size in the settings, and if necessary, using blue light blocking glasses will reduce eye strain and make things more comfortable. If you are worried about your smartphone battery running out quickly, carry a mobile battery or make it a habit to charge it before going to bed. It is recommended to keep your smartphone turned on at night in preparation for emergency alerts.
If you wisely use easy-to-use devices and convenient services, the lives of the senior generation will become more safe, comfortable, and fun than ever before. You may be confused at first, but please try to make full use of your family and support systems to take on the challenge. With just one smartphone, your world will expand, and you should be able to make new hobby friends and lead a healthy, vibrant daily life. "Regardless of age, you can look forward to tomorrow"—let's achieve that kind of senior life with the power of digital technology.
List of Sources
[1] PR TIMES (2024) "Survey on Senior Life and Awareness! Smartphone ownership rate exceeds 90%, about 60% use it for more than 1 hour a day."
[2] Career 65 (2025) "Easy even for seniors who are not good with smartphones! Carefully selected recommended apps for the senior generation"
[3] Rakuten Senior Official Website "Measure your steps and manage your health. A health life support app that also lets you find nearby events"
[4] Kaigo Connect (2024) "Free! 15 recommended apps for the elderly: health management, watching over, emergency reporting, etc."
[5] FastDoctor OnCall (2025) "14 recommended online medical consultation services"
[6] Kaigo Post Seven (2021) "5 god-tier apps that make senior life convenient and fun"
[7] G-Gstyle (2024) "10 recommended free apps for seniors: making daily life more convenient"
[8] G-Gstyle (2024) Ibid.
[9] Appliv (2025) "Top 10 Recommended Health Management Apps"
[10] PR TIMES (2025) "Senior-focused SNS 'Shumito Club' Surpasses 400,000 Members!"
[11] Narumo (2025) "Thorough Explanation of Smartphones for Seniors & 4 Recommended Models"
[12] Narumo (2025) Same as above
[13] Impress Keitai Watch (2023) "Article on the Release of the SIM-Free 'Raku-Raku Smartphone Lite'"
[14] YouTube (Explanatory video by a smartphone advisor for seniors) *Smart speaker usage examplesaboutamazon.jp
[15] Amazon Official Blog (2020) "Monitoring Elderly Parents Living Apart Using Alexa and Echo Show"aboutamazon.jp
[16] Impress Kaden Watch (2023) "Reducing Daily Stress with Echo Show 5"nttdata-voista.com
Other reference materials: Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare "Guidelines for Appropriate Use of Online Medical Consultations," official websites of NTT Docomo, au, and SoftBank, etc.
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