
This guide is for Ikuzo's creators. You're special because you get to make and sell maps in our __Creator Maps__ section, also called the Maps Store. If you're reading this, congrats! You've got this special chance to share your maps with everyone on Ikuzo.

# How to Make a Good Map

We only work with the best creators, like famous photographers or influencers. Your map should be just as great as your other work. Here are some easy rules to make sure your map is ready for the Ikuzo Maps Store.

## Make It Clear

When you make a spot on your map, it should have a clear name. If your map is in English but the spots are in Japan, write the name in English and also add the Japanese name in the description.

__Title__: Start each title with a big letter, like "Gunkanjima Island" or "Mount Fuji View from Yamanakako Lake". Don't write it all in big letters. Keep the style the same for all your titles.

__Description__: Keep it short. A few lines or a small paragraph is enough. You can add links to Wikipedia, your social media, or other websites. If it's a place to stay, links to Booking or Airbnb are okay. If it's a great spot for taking pictures, mention the best time to visit.

Tip: You can use ChatGPT to help you come up with great titles and descriptions quickly.

## Nice Photos

The photo of your spot should be one you took or one that's free to use. You can use more than one photo to show different views of the spot.

## Type & Status

You can give your spot a status. This is more for you to keep things organized; all spots will look the same to people looking at your map.

## Spread Out Your Spots

If your map is about Japan, try to cover the whole country, not just a few cities. It's good to have a mix of nature, interesting places, and food spots. Share spots that are really worth visiting.

## Use Google Maps

When you add a spot by searching in Ikuzo, it automatically connects to Google Maps. This lets us show more info about the spot, like when it's open or its rating.

![Google Maps Icon](/images/docs/google-maps-icon.png)

Check if the little Google Maps icon is present on the right of the Spot Card.

## Share Unique Spots

Your maps are for special customers who love discovering new places. Share unique spots that aren't in every guidebook. Your special spots will stay special, even when shared with these customers.

# How to Put Your Map on Ikuzo

It's very simple. You need to open the __Creator Dashboard__, which is accessible when you click on the title of the map, at the top of the screen.

![Open Creator Dashboard](/images/docs/creator-dashboard.png)

Then, you can head to the __Add New__ tab.

![Add New Release](/images/docs/add-new-release.png)

The __Title__ of the release can really be anything, but don't forget; your user will see it. It could be as simple as "First Release", or maybe today's date like "March 2024". If you are testing the system and your map is not ready but you are playing with the releases, you can also use "Alpha Version" or anything you prefer.

The __Description__ should be short (2-3 sentences), but engaging.

The __Price__ is what users pay to get this version of your map. You should also set a __Lifetime Price__. Buying this means users get all new updates of your map forever, without paying more. When you add new places or update old ones, these lifetime users get these changes automatically. Other users, who haven't chosen the lifetime option, won't see the new updates unless they buy the map again at its current price. This is why the lifetime option is a really good deal.

A good guideline is to make the __Lifetime Price__ about three times the __Price__.

Once you're all set, hit __Add New Release__ to put your map up for sale.

Keep in mind: Before your map shows up for everyone, an Ikuzo admin has to approve it for public viewing. Until then, only you can see it in the store. This gives you a chance to test things out with alpha versions and make adjustments before your map goes live for everyone.

Now, visit the __Releases__ tab.

![Releases](/images/docs/releases.png)

In that section, you'll see a list of all your releases, but it's the latest one that's most important since that's the one new customers can purchase. You'll find an __Update Spots__ button there too. Once you release a version, it becomes fixed and separate from your ongoing map updates. However, if you find an error in your latest release, you can use this button to sync it up with your current map. Remember, you can only update the spots in your most recent release, not the ones from earlier versions.

By following these steps, you can make maps that Ikuzo's customers will love. Good luck!


Tutorial for map creators


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.

![Go to Map Editor](/images/docs/go-to-map-editor.png)

# 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.

![Quick Maps Menu](/images/docs/quick-maps-menu.png)

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

![Maps Browser](/images/docs/maps-menu.png)

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.

![Search Google Maps](/images/docs/search-gunkanjima.png)

## 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](https://exportgooglemaps.com/) 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:

![Spot Menu](/images/docs/set-featured-spot.png)

- **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.

![Spots List](/images/docs/spots-list.png)

# Filtering Your Spots

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

![Filter Panel](/images/docs/filters.png)

- **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

![Moment Filter](/images/docs/filters-moments.png)

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

![Filtering Ikuzo Spots](/images/docs/filters-ikuzo.png)

# Travel Plans

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

![Travel Plans Menu](/images/docs/travel-plans-menu.png)

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

![Travel Plan with Route](/images/docs/travel-plan.png)

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

![Travel Plan Focus and Route](/images/docs/travel-plan-focus-route.png)

Your personal spots remain private, and 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.

![Profile Menu](/images/docs/profile-button.png)

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

![Account Settings](/images/docs/account.png)

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

![Account Features](/images/docs/account-features.png)

# 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

---

Ready to start exploring? Head to the [Map Editor](/editor) and create your first spot!


Getting started with Ikuzo


Interested in getting a map from your favorite influencer, creator, or photographer? Let's break it down into 10 simple steps.

1. Start by creating an Ikuzo account. It's easy and free. Just click the __Login__ button at the top right of this page. Enter your email, choose a password, and you're all set! You'll receive a confirmation email, and then you can dive into Ikuzo.

2. Ikuzo is user-friendly, but it's a good idea to check out [the tutorial](/docs/tutorial-introduction) first. Ikuzo is all about private maps, meaning everything you do is private. When you buy a map from a creator, you can't edit it, but you can explore it as much as you like and copy spots to your own maps.

3. Once you've created an account, head to the [Maps Store](https://ikuzo.app/store "Maps Store").

4. Click on the price (here, it's 24$) of the map you want. For instance, if you fancy Kyoko's fabulous map of Japan, click here:

![Buy Kyoko Map](/images/docs/buy-kyoko-map.png)

You'll see the price options:

![Buy Map Prices](/images/docs/buy-map-prices.png)

__Current Version__ ($24) gets you the *current* release of the map. This might be fine if you only plan to use the map soon. But if the creator updates it with new info later on, you won't automatically get those updates. That's where __Include Future Versions__ comes in. For an extra $25, making a total of $49, you'll always have the *latest* release. If you're a fan of the creator's work, this might be your best bet.

5. Choose whether you want __Include Future Versions__ or not, then click __Buy Now__.

6. Payment is through Stripe. If you have a discount code, enter it by clicking __Add code__.

![Add Code Discount](/images/docs/add-code-discount.png)

7. Once payment's done, you'll be back on Ikuzo. To access your maps and the ones you've bought, go to the Map Editor by clicking __Go to Map Editor__.

![Go To Map Editor](/images/docs/go-to-map-editor.png)

8. Click on the title of your current map at the top center of the screen, then choose the map you just got.

![Map Selector](/images/docs/map-selector.png)

9. Your new map is ready to explore! You can use Ikuzo in many ways, but it's a good idea to copy spots you like to your own map. To do this, select a spot, click the "..." button, then __Copy To__ and choose your map. If the spot's already there, no worries about duplicates.

![Spot Copy To](/images/docs/spot-copy-to.png)

Enjoy Ikuzo, and show some love to your favorite creators for sharing their maps!


Help

Getting started

For creators

Can’t find your answer?