NipponWalk is an iPhone app, with Apple Watch support, that guides Japanese interval walking: 3 minutes fast, 3 minutes easy, 5 rounds, with on-time voice cues even when your phone is locked and your music is playing.
Status: NipponWalk is in development and has not launched. It is not available on the App Store yet, and the private TestFlight beta has not opened. Join the waitlist to be invited.
Why it exists
Japanese interval walking is simple: 3 minutes fast, 3 minutes easy, 5 rounds. Following it is the hard part. A stopwatch interrupts the walk, phone timers can stop when the screen locks, and cues that talk over music get switched off. NipponWalk handles the timing so you can walk. Learn about the method.
What NipponWalk is being built to do
- Guides the classic Japanese interval walk: 3 minutes fast, 3 minutes easy, 5 rounds (about 30 minutes), with a warm-up and cool-down.
- Speaks a short voice cue at every pace switch, on time, with the iPhone locked.
- Keeps your music playing: cues briefly lower music, and pause and resume spoken audio such as podcasts.
- Shows the current phase, countdown and round in a Live Activity on the Lock Screen and in the Dynamic Island.
- Sends the walk to the Workout app on Apple Watch, which taps your wrist at each switch and records heart rate.
- Saves each walk to Apple Health as a walking workout, including its fast and easy intervals.
- Shows a summary after each walk (rounds completed, minutes walked) and tracks your weekly minutes and streak.
What it doesn't do
- Not available yet: the app is in development and the beta has not opened.
- iPhone only. There is no Android version planned for now.
- Apple Watch support works through Apple's Workout app; an iPhone is still required.
- A timer and coach, not a medical device. It does not diagnose, treat or give medical advice.
- Calorie figures, where shown, are estimates.
- Not affiliated with Shinshu University, where interval walking training was researched.
How we build it
- Reliability first. Every pace switch should arrive on time with the screen locked; that is the core of the product.
- Your data stays yours. Health and workout data stays on your device and in Apple Health. No ads, no selling data, no analytics on health data.
- Honest about evidence. We describe the research accurately and don't make medical or weight-loss promises.
- A fair free tier. The classic walk, voice cues and the Live Activity will be free.
Who makes it
NipponWalk is made by Chu Ventures, which builds apps and websites. It is an independent product and is not affiliated with Shinshu University or Apple.
Questions, press or partnerships: nipponwalk@chuventures.com, or see the contact page.