Japanese addresses are notoriously difficult to locate. Streets have no names and buildings are numbered based on the temporal order of their construction rather than on their geographic location. Even Japanese people have difficulty finding addresses at times, and GPS is becoming an increasingly popular feature in cars. This guide is intended to help you find a location from the ground with nothing but an address and a sense of direction. If you get lost, or simply want to know where you are, there are a few things that can be helpful.

See also: What Everyone Should Know About Japanese Addresses

1. Street Signs

Many cities have street signs posted on telephone poles and building corners. They can be many different colors and constructed from an array of different material, but they are always thin, vertical signs positioned on the borders of "towns" and chMme/aza ("districts"). What information is displayed will vary between cities, but at the minimum, they will display the town and district name. The signs are the only way you know you're passing from one town or district to another.

Here in Toyohashi-shi (Aichi Prefecture), street signs are blue metal with raised, white lettering. From a distance, they look like this:

Japanese street sign directions japan

Up close, we can get a feel for what information is displayed. Compared to major cities like Osaka, the Toyohashi-shi street signs are relatively devoid of information:

Japanese address street sign finding directions

This one displays the town, Hanada-machi (±0:), and the district, Aza-Hyakukita (W~). The "2253 at the bottom is a block number, and it works very similar to the address system in the United States. The next street sign down the road says "±0:W~250," meaning you haven't left the town or district, but you're now at block number 250.

2. Maps

Convenient stores, major intersections, train/bus stations, and even the center of some neighborhoods have billboard-like maps posted. These maps are invaluable when lost because they display your current location in relation to the surrounding area; including major landmarks as well as town and district names.

Japanese map Japan directions finding addresses

It is therefore helpful to know how to write "you are here" in Japanese. There are two ways:

Japanese maps Japan you are here signs

Of the two, þ(0 is the more common alternative. It is generally written in red, always bold, and usually accompanied by an arrow, dot, or a solid horizontal bar indicating the map itself (the one you're looking at), thereby illustrating the direction you're facing in relation to the map. Here are a few examples I've found:

finding Japanese addresses you are here maps directions

Oftentimes at major tourist locations, maps will also have English location names on them. On the other hand, maps in rural areas can oftentimes look like an irregular grid with handwritten Japanese in each box and list only business and house names. The happy medium is the image I have posted above, and the majority of maps I have come across looked like that.

3. Ask Someone

Finally, if you're lost and out of options, the best idea is to ask someone. Neighborhoods tend to be close-knit communities, and most residents will know the area fairly well.

This is especially true if you have a map and an address written in Japanese and can speak well enough to ask and understand directions. If not, don't worry. Usually walking around with a map and a confused look is enough to illicit help from the locals.

Another great source of directions are policemen, who are usually very friendly and helpful. Generally they can be found at construction sites (directing traffic), public places (performing guard duties), or in kMban (¤j, "police boxes") where they sit around watching television. Oftentimes, a city will post signs on major roads indicating the direction of the nearest kMban. The police box itself may seem like a small kiosk to Westerners.

Landmarks

Many directions reference landmarks such as temples, shrines, subway/train stations, hospitals, hotels, parks, and convenience stores. If you're new to an area, be conscientious of the landmarks around you; they will be invaluable in orientating yourself.

So in conclusion, if you plan to drive in Japan, get GPS. If you have to walk or bike somewhere, make sure you have solid directions and know exactly where you're going and how to get there. Directions from an English-speaking person are ideal, though at the very least you should carry a map. Finally, recognize that navigation in Japan is based on landmarks rather than street names, so it's important to always be mindful of your surroundings.