Getting Started with Ikuzo

Welcome to Ikuzo! This guide will help you get started with creating your own maps and organizing your travel spots.

Getting Started

To access the map editor, click the Go to Map Editor button in the top right corner of the homepage.

Your First Map

When you create an account, a map called "My First Map" is automatically created for you. You can rename it anytime by clicking on the map name at the top of the screen.

Click on your map name to:

• Switch between maps you own or have access to
• Create a new map with the NEW button
• Open the map browser to see all your maps
• Access Settings to rename your map or change its options
• Import/Export your map data

You can create as many maps as you want! But the best approach is to keep all your spots on one main map. Ikuzo is designed to handle thousands of spots efficiently, and its powerful filtering system makes it easy to find exactly what you're looking for.

Adding Spots

There are several ways to add spots to your map:

Search and Add

The easiest way is to use the Search bar. Type the name of a place, and Ikuzo will show you results from Google Maps. Click on a result to add it as a new spot. This automatically links your spot to Google Maps data, giving you opening hours, ratings, and more.

Click on the Map

You can also click the Add Spot button (the pin icon with a plus), then click anywhere on the map to create a new spot at that location.

Drag and Drop Photos

Have photos with GPS data? Simply drag and drop them onto the map! Ikuzo will read the location from the photo's EXIF data and create spots automatically. The photo will be attached to the new spot.

Import from Google Maps

If you have saved places in Google Maps, you can export them using Export GM and import the JSON file into Ikuzo via the Import/Export menu.

Understanding Spots

Each spot in Ikuzo can have rich information attached to it:

• Title: The name of the place
• Description: Add notes, tips, or any details you want to remember. You can use #hashtags to organize your spots!
• Photo: Add your own photos or use the default from Google
• Status: Track whether you want to visit, have visited, or mark it as a favorite (Ikuzo!)
• Type: Categorize spots (Nature, Food, Photography, Hotel, Temple, etc.)
• Season: Mark the best time to visit (Spring for cherry blossoms, Autumn for foliage...)
• Moment: Set a specific date for time-sensitive events

Spot Actions

Click the ... menu on any spot to access more options:

• Share: Get a link to share this spot with others
• Copy to: Copy this spot to another one of your maps
• Set Featured Spot: Make this spot the cover image for your map

Spots List

Press s or click the arrow on the right side of the screen to open the Spots List. It gives you a sortable table view of all your spots, with columns for type, name, status, dates, and tags. It's a great way to quickly browse, search, and sort through a large number of spots.

Filtering Your Spots

With lots of spots on your map, filtering becomes essential. Click the Filter button to narrow down what's displayed:

• Status: Show only spots you want to visit, or hide ones you've already been to
• Type: Focus on specific categories like restaurants or photo spots
• Season: Find places that are best to visit right now
• Moment: See spots with upcoming dates

You can combine multiple filters to find exactly what you're looking for. For example: "Show me only my favorite Ikuzo! spots":

Travel Plans

Want to plan a trip with friends? Travel Plans let you collaborate without sharing your entire map.

1. Click the Plans button in the top menu
2. Create a new travel plan and give it a name
3. Share it with friends using their email
4. Everyone can add spots from their own maps to the shared plan

Enable Focus to highlight only the spots in your plan on the map, and Route to display the walking/driving path between them.

Your personal spots remain private—only what you add to the Travel Plan is visible to others. This is perfect for planning group trips where everyone contributes their favorite spots!

Account & Settings

Click your avatar in the top right corner to access your account settings.

From here you can change the Language, switch Map Style, or open your Account settings.

In the Features tab, you can enable reminders, weather forecasts, and AI integration (MCP) if available on your plan.

Keyboard Shortcuts

Ikuzo has keyboard shortcuts to speed up your workflow:

When a spot is selected:

• e — Edit the spot
• 1 — Set status to "Ikuzo!" (favorite)
• 2 — Set status to "To Visit"
• 3 — Set status to "Visited"
• Arrow keys — Select the nearest spot in that direction

Anytime:

• Space — Open search
• a — Add a new spot
• f — Open filters
• s — Show spots list
• + / - — Zoom in/out

While editing:

• Ctrl + Enter — Save spot
• Escape — Cancel

Pro Features

Ikuzo Pro unlocks additional features:

• Weather: Check the weather forecast for any spot with one click
• More spots: Store unlimited spots on your maps
• Priority support: Get help faster when you need it

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Ready to start exploring? Head to the Map Editor and create your first spot!