4.7. Mapping rules: Japan

4.7.1. Rules for adding attributes to addresses

The “official” name of the address is set as “Block No. — House No.” (where the block is the chome division unit), and the name of the “Also known as” type can be listed in hieroglyphs.

For example:

• Official: 1—1
• Also known as: 1番1号

4.7.2. Administrative divisions

4.7.2.1

Hierarchy levels for administrative divisions:

• Level 2: Prefecture (analogous to region). Japan is divided into 47 prefectures.

• level 3:

  • Subprefecture (six prefectures are divided into subprefectures).
  • District (subprefectures are divided into districts).

  Level 3 divisions don't cover the entire country.

• Level 4:

  • City, town, village.
  • Special wards of Tokyo and development areas.

  Level 4 divisions cover the entire country.

  Development areas:

  • Are drawn along the borders of the development.
  • Have names that can be found in the municipality card.
  • Have municipalities as parent divisions.
• Level 5: City district.

• Level 6: Historical region, district, block, named intersection.

• Level 7: Block.

4.7.2.2

Check Municipality for all level 4 items except development areas.

4.7.2.3

When divided into chomes, the numbers in the local name should be written in Chinese rather than Arabic numerals: 〇 一 二 三 四 五 六 七 八 九 十.

4.7.3. Hydrography

Map gulfs within their geographical boundaries and name them in accordance with the name of their coastal part (-wan). You can specify the geographical name of the gulf as well as the name of its outer part (-nada) as a synonym.

For example, for Sagami Bay, specify Sagami-wan Bay as the official name and add Sagami Bay and Sagami-nada Bay as synonyms.