The purpose of this document is to provide guidance for Search, Autocomplete, Address Verification, POI Evaluation and Routing rating within the Japan market. As such, these guidelines should be considered supplemental to the Global Search, Autocomplete, Address Verification, POI Evaluation and Routing Guidelines.
*Use Sub-Locality Checkbox when present to report issues regarding Sub-Localities. If checkbox is not present, continue using “Country specific issue”.
The table below outlines the required and optional address components for general result types. The rule applies to all Maps Evaluation tasks with some exceptions to Autocomplete.
The modern Japanese writing system uses a combination of scripts below:
Hiragana
• ひらがな: Hiragana
The expected scripts for POI names depend on what scripts are used in the official sources. Use of different scripts within POI names should be rated as following:
Name Rating | Explanation |
Partially Correct | Result’s POI Name uses script that does not match the official website, but it is acceptable in Japanese writing system. |
Incorrect | Result’s POI Name uses script that does not match the official website, but it is not acceptable in Japanese writing system. |
English to Katakana conversions can be widely seen as business often have their signs in English but written and spoken in Katakana when referring to the business, rate Correct for such case.
On the other hand, Kanji to Hiragana or Katakana conversions may be difficult to decrypt depending on the length of the name, therefore considered as distracting to the user, rate Name Accuracy – Incorrect.
Result Name | Official Business Name(s) | Rating and Explanation |
イゾラブル (Isola blu) Katakana script | ISOLA blu, ISOLA BLU, (English / Latin script) イゾラブル (Katakana Script) | Correct Official website uses 2 scripts and 3 variations of its name, all can be considered as Correct. |
沖縄ワールド (Okinawa world) Kanji + Katakana script | おきなわワールド (Hiragana + Katakana script) | Partially Correct Official website uses Hiragana script for Okinawa while result name has Okinawa written in Kanji, this is still considered acceptable but rate Name as Partially Correct. |
トウキョウエキ (Tokyo station) Katakana script | 東京駅 (Kanji script) | Partially Correct Official website uses Kanji script for Tokyo station while result name has it written in Katakana, this is still considered acceptable but rate Name as Partially Correct. |
ひがしおうみしぬのびきう んどうこうえんりくじょう きょうぎじょう (Higashi Omi city Nunobiki athletic park) Hiragana script | 東近江市布引運動公園陸上 競技場 (Kanji script) | Incorrect Official website uses Kanji script while result name uses Hiragana script. This is considered unacceptable by Japanese writing system and should be rated as Incorrect. |
Kanji characters sometimes have alternate forms 異体字） and may not be straightforward to detect. Please use your local expertise to make a best judge.
For results that are in different Kanji forms such as Old Kanji (旧字体） or Simplified Chinese (簡体字） , apply the general rule whether the deviation is confusing or not, and rate: Partially Correct or Incorrect.
Result Name | Official Business Name s） | Rating and Explanation |
横浜頂食堂 | 横濱頂食堂 | Partially Correct The business specifically uses 濱 instead of 浜, but this variation is commonly seen in the locale. |
壹番館 | 一番館 | Incorrect This is not commonly use alternate Kanji form, so it is highly possible that user will confuse and have a difficulty to understand the result. |
In Japanese language it is common to use English/Latin alphabets, therefore minor deviations in Latin scripts are tolerated. Please use global guidelines for more details and examples.
If store location name is missing from the POI name and branch name information presents at official resources, rate Name accuracy as Partially Correct.
Branch name provides the user a good idea of where the POI is without even looking at the address, this also prevents potential confusion when the services from one branch to another are significantly different even though they are under the same brand business.
Query | Result | Rating and Explanation |
[スターバックス (Starbucks)] | Name:スターバックス (Starbucks) Address:〒108 0075 東京都 港区港南 2 1 78 JRCP品川営業所 (〒108 0075 Tokyo to, Minato ku, Konan 2 Chome, 1 78, JRCP Shinagawa) | Partially Correct The store location name is preferred as it immediately indicates that the location of the POI is inside a train station. Store location name: JR東海 品川駅店 (JR Central Shinagawa Eki shop) is missing. |
[ファミリーマート (Family Mart)] | Name:ファミリーマート (Family Mart) Address:〒220 0004 神奈川県横浜市西 区北幸1丁目1 8エキニア横浜 (〒220 0004 Kanagawa Ken, Yokohama, Nishi ku, Kitasaiwai 1 Chome, 1 8, Ekiniear Yokohama) | Partially Correct The store location names are preferred as it gives the user a good idea of where the POI is. Especially in this case, where at least 8 Family Marts exist around Yokohama station. Store location name: エキニア横浜店 (Ekinear Yokohama shop) is missing. |
[スポーツジム (Sports gym)] | Name:コナミスポーツクラブ (Konami sports club) Address:〒140 0002 東京都品川区東品 川4丁目10 1 (〒140 0002 Tokyo to, Shingawa ku, Higashi Shinagawa, 4 Chome, 10 1) | Partially Correct Even if the result is for headquarter, store location name should be provided and match official website name. Store location name: 本店 (Headquarter) is missing. |
[ランチ (Lunch)] | Name:ラッキーピエロ (Lucky Pierrot) Address:〒040 0063北海道函館市若松 町17 12 函館駅前棒二森屋本館１階 (〒040 0063 Hokkaido, Hakodate, Wakamatsu Cho, 17 12, Boni Moriya, main shop 1F) | Partially Correct Some local chain businesses may not be known to the user, but store location is still preferred as it indicates the result is a chain business. Store location name: 函館駅前店 (Hakodate Ekimae shop) is missing. T3’ An |
When the result title includes non-key words in a POI name, rate Name as Partially Correct.
For example,
Hospital 医療法人, XX社団, XX会, etc.), police station name XX警察署) for Koban, JP police box, or founding local authority 都道府県立、―区市町村立).
If the number of characters in the result title is over 13 characters by having unnecessary words, rate Name as Incorrect.
4.3.1 The number of characters is less than 14
Result | Rating | Explanation |
沖縄県立美里高校 (Misato high school founded by Okinawa prefecture) | Partially Correct | Showing 沖縄県立 (Founded by Okinawa prefecture) word does not add much value to the user, and may cause a distraction. |
丸の内警察署東京駅前交番 (Marunouchi police station Tokyo Ekimae Koban) | Showing 丸の内警察署 (Marunouchi police station) word is a distraction as the core part of the name is 東京駅前交番 (Tokyo Ekimae Koban). | |
医療法人財団順和会山王病院 (Medical corporation foundation Junwa group Sanno hospital) | The key name of the hospital is 山王病院 (Sanno hospital) and 医療法人財団順和会 (Medical corporation, foundation Junwa group) is a distraction as the user do not know what the result is until the last 4 characters. |
4.3.2 The number of characters is over 13
Result | Rating | Explanation |
医療法人昨雲会飯塚病院付属 有隣病院 (Medical corporation Sakuun group Iizuka hospital associated Yuurin hospital) | Incorrect | The key name of the hospital is 有隣病院 (Yuurin hospital), which is at the end and may be cut off in some devices as the total length of the result is over 13 characters. |
Japanese users are unlikely to be satisfied with general classification particularly for cuisines. Thus, if the classification misleads, rate the name as Incorrect.
Result | Classification | Rating & Explanation |
ねぎし 中野店 Neigishi Nakano shop | 日本食 Japanese cuisine | Incorrect Negishi serves mainly Beef tongue （牛タン）, a unique cuisine in Japan. Returning classification as Japanese cuisine is too general and it may mislead. |
チファジャ上桂店 Chifaja Kamikatsura shop | ホルモン Hormone, （A cuisine made from beef or pork offal） | Incorrect Chifaja is a Yakaniku （焼肉）, Japanese style BBQ, chain business that serves Yakiniku as their main service. Although small part of their business serves Hormone, indicating classification as Hormone is too specific and mislead users. |
In Japanese | English Translation/Comment | Rating Interface |
号・枝番 ^ | House / branch number | ✓ Street Number |
ビル名・建物名・階 | Building name / Building structures | ✓ Unit / Apt |
番・番地 | Ban / Banchi = Block number / Land number | ✓ Street Name |
市町村郡 + 特別区 | Locality, Gun, Tokyo 23 special wards | ✓ Locality |
都道府県 | Prefecture | ✓ Region / State |
郵便番号 | Postal code **Postal Code is optional unless the result is for full address (may be with/without building) | ✓ Postal Code |
国 | Country | ✓ Country |
言語・異字体 | Using unexpected scripts (Mainly Kanji, some places are officially written in Hiragana / Katakana) | ✓ Language/Script issue |
*町字丁目+ 区 （政令指定都市） | Sub locality, Aza component, Wards of ordinance designated cities, Non numeric Chome of Ishikawa prefecture (イロハ、甲乙丙、子丑寅、 etc), Jo Chome (条丁目) in Hokkaido, etc. | ✓ Sub Locality or ✓ Country Specific issue |
通り・その他 | Street Name in Kyoto, Duplicate address components, Returning street name instead of Machi – Aza. Do Not excessively use “Other” | ✓ Other Issue |
* Use Sub-Locality Checkbox when present to report issues regarding Sub-Localities. If checkbox is not present, continue using “Country specific issue”.
This section is to provide a fundamental understanding for the different variations of Japanese address that appears differently in the rating interface.
See 5.2.1 Address types for how address results are expected to be formatted in the interface.
Simplified overview: majority of the Japan’s address components
Below is the address shown with 2 different ways to display block-based address type; the top example shows fully written suffixes for the numeric elements of the address Chome, Ban and Go), while the bottom example is written with the suffixes being abbreviated. Both are commonly accepted ways the address is displayed in Japan.
Address type | Example in Japanese | Example translated to English |
Block based address: Postal Code Prefecture City Machi Aza (Sub locality + Chome) Block number House number |
| T 253-0041 Kanagawa-ken Chigasaki-shi Chigasaki 1 Chome 1 ban 1 go |
| T 253-0041 Kanagawa-ken Chigasaki-shi Chigasaki 1 1 1 |
Like 5.2.1.1, the suffixes for numeric elements may be abbreviated and both forms are considered as correct.
Urban cities tend to display block-based address system in general, however, still many areas use Chiban address system. Reference to the branch number may or may not exist.
Address type | Example in Japanese | Example translated to English |
Chiban (Land ownership): Postal Code Prefecture City Machi Aza (Sub localities) Land number (Branch number) |
| T 412-0033 Shizuoka-ken Gotenba-shi Kouyama 478 banchi no 2 |
| T 412-0033 Shizuoka-ken Gotenba-shi Kouyama 478 2 |
Towns and villages always fall under Gun 郡) within the relevant prefectures.
Compared to urban cities where block-based is a prevailing address system, towns and villages tend to use both systems Chiban and block-based) proportionally.
Address type | Example in Japanese | Example translated to English |
Block based address: Postal Code Prefecture District Town/Village Machi Aza(Sub locality + Chome) Block number House number | 〒345 0827 埼玉県南埼玉郡宮 代町本田二丁目7番2号 | 〒345 0827 Saitama ken Minami Saitama gun Miyashiro cho Honda 2 chome 7 ban 2 go |
〒345 0827 埼玉県南埼玉郡宮 代町本田2-7- 2 | 〒345 0827 Saitama ken Minami Saitama gun Miyashiro cho Honda 2 7 2 | |
Chiban: Postal Code Prefecture District Town/Village Machi Aza(Sub localities) Land Number (Branch Number) | 〒789 1301高知県高岡郡中土 佐町久礼6602番地の2 | 〒789 1301 Kochi ken Takaoka gun Nakatosa cho Kure 6602 banchi no 2 |
〒789 1301高知県高岡郡中土 佐町久礼6602-2 | 〒789 1301 Kochi ken Takaoka gun Nakatosa cho Kure 6602 2 |
Ordinance-designated cities 政令指定都市) are large cities with population over 500,000. These cities have wards 区) as an additional address level between city and sub-localities.
Like anywhere else in Japan, they also have Chiban address system.
Address type | Example in Japanese | Example translated to English |
Block based address: (Ordinance Designated Cities): Postal Code Prefecture City Ward Machi Aza (Sub locality + Chome) Block number House number | 〒220 0012 神奈川県横浜市 西 区みなとみらい２丁目２番 １ 号 | 〒220 0012 Kanagawa ken Yokohama shi Nishi ku Minatomirai 2 chome 2 ban 1 go |
〒220 0012 神奈川県横浜市 西 区みなとみらい2- 2- 1 | 〒220 0012 Kanagawa ken Yokohama shi Nishi ku Minatomirai 2 2 1 |
Additional elements may be required for certain address to be unique and valid such as building name information or unit number information.
Branch number should be present if the query had it or if it is in the official address because it is necessary for some address to use branch numbers to point to a single building.
Address type | Example in Japanese | Example translated to English |
Displayed Address w/Additional Branch numbers: Postal Code Prefecture City Machi Aza (Sub locality + Chome) Block number House number Branch number | 〒617 0826 京都府長岡京市 開田4丁目5番10 –2号 | 〒617 0826 Kyoto fu Nagaokakyo shi Kaiden 4 Chome 5 ban 10 2 go |
〒617 0826 京都府長岡京市 開田4- 5- 10- 2 | 〒617 0826 Kyoto fu Nagaokakyo shi Kaiden 4 5 10 2 | |
Displayed Address w/building names: Postal Code Prefecture City Machi Aza (Sub localities) Land number (Branch number) Building name Floor number | 〒598 8511 大阪府泉佐野市り んくう往来北1番地 りんくう ゲートタワービル 2階 | 〒598 8511 Osaka fu Izumi Sano shi Rinku Ourai Kita 1 banchi Rinku Gate Tower Building 2nd Floor |
〒598 8511 大阪府泉佐野市り んくう往来北1 りんくうゲー トタワービル 2F | 〒598 8511 Osaka fu Izumi Sano shi Rinku Ourai Kita 1 banchi Rinku Gate Tower Building 2F | |
Displayed Address w/room numbers: Postal Code Prefecture Municipality Ward Machi Aza (Sub locality + Chome) Block number House number Building name room number | 〒212 0012 神奈川県川崎市幸 区中幸町4丁目51番1号 ニ ックアーバンスピリッツ川崎 1201号（室） | 〒212 0012 Kanagawa ken Kawasaki shi Saiwai ku Nakasaiwai cho 4 Chome 51 ban 1 go NIC Urban Spirits Kawasaki 1201 go (shitsu) |
〒212 0012 神奈川県川崎市幸 区中幸町4 51 1 ニックアーバ ンスピリッツ川崎 1201 | 〒212 0012 Kanagawa ken Kawasaki shi Saiwai ku Nakasaiwai cho 4 51 1 NIC Urban Spirits Kawasaki 1201 | |
Displayed Address w/room numbers for multi unit structures: Postal Code Prefecture City Machi Aza (Sub localities) Block number Unit # room number | 〒292 0055 千葉県木更津市朝 日２丁目10番5棟401号 | 〒292 0055 Chiba ken Kisarazu shi Asahi 2 Chome 10 ban 5 tou 401 go |
〒292 0055 千葉県木更津市朝 日2- 10- 5- 401 | 〒292 0055 Chiba ken Kisarazu shi Asahi 2 10 5 401 |
Countless variations of address formats exist on the region and local government. Few noteworthy examples are Tokyo – 23 special wards, Kyoto – specific direction-oriented street name and Hokkaido – ^(Jo) TH (Chome).
In addition to the various address components mentioned in 5.1. Address Components, this chapter explains more specific cases.
5.2.2.1.Building Name and Floor/Room Number
The address should be considered correct if they match what is specified in the official address.
Please stick to official and not the 3rd party sources no matter how many 3rd party sources claimed the same address. Rate as Incorrect – Unit / Apt if building names are missing.
Missing floor X階) or room number YYY号室) can be considered Correct, unless returned floor or room number are different from the official website.
Some postal codes are specifically tied to a building / business or a floor within specific building. Both regional and building assigned postal code would be both considered as Correct.
Do not rate Incorrect when returning regional postal code instead of building assigned one.
** Postal Code is only mandatory for full address level. (Ref: Ch.3. Required Address Components)
Query | Result | Rating and Explanation |
虎ノ門ヒルズ | T105-6390 AA«K WP^Ti 23 A 1 A~4 A ( T105-6390 Tokyo-to, Minato-ku, Toranomon 1 Chome, 23 – 1~4) | Correct Returning the address provided by official website of the building. |
(Toranomon Hills) | 〒105-0001 東京都港区虎ノ門一丁目 | Correct Regional postal code is not ideal, but not significant impact by having it to the user either. |
5.2.2.3.Missing or Wrong Suffix
Rate Incorrect with the individual component s) when suffix is missing
from the returned address component such as prefectures 都道府県), ward/city/town/village 区市町村) etc. If the address is in China, Taiwan or Korea, use your best knowledge to verify whether it should be demoted or not such as missing省 province in China), but it is not applicable for the result locates outside of East Asia.
Query | Result | Rating and Explanation |
沖縄県沖縄市 (Okinawa prefecture Okinawa city) | 沖縄“(missing prefecture suffix)”沖縄市 Okinawa prefecture Okinawa “(missing city suffix)” | Incorrect – Region / State Address suffix for prefecture (県) is missing. |
沖縄県沖縄“(missing city suffix)” Okinawa, Okinawa “(missing city suffix)” | Incorrect – Locality Address suffix for city (市) is missing. | |
沖縄“”沖縄“(missing city)” Okinawa “(missing prefecture suffix)” Okinawa “(missing city suffix)” | Incorrect – Region/State and – Locality Address suffix for both prefecture (県) and city (市) are missing. | |
石川県かほく市 下山田丑39- 1 (Ishikawa prefecture Kahoku, Shimo Yamada Ushi 39 1) | 石川県かほく市 下山田”” 39- 1 (Ishikawa prefecture, Kahoku city, Shimo Yamada”(missing sub locality suffix 丑: Ushi)” 39 1) | Incorrect Sub Locality or Incorrect Country Specific Issue Address suffix for sub locality Ushi (丑) is missing. |
The address may contain a character 字 / 小字 / 大字) that indicates the component of Aza / Koaza / Oaza.
Rate Correct with Formatting Issue when suggested result is missing the character s) are included in the official address given that no other component is incorrect.
By contrast, the address may miss the entire component that may not be essential for identifying a full address. For consistency, rate Aza/ Koaza / Oaza as Incorrect Sub Locality or Incorrect Country Specific Issue when Aza / Kozaza /Oaza entire component is omitted.
Query | Result | Rating and Explanation |
[滋賀県長浜市下坂 中町字樋ノ内290] (Shiga prefecture, Nagahama, Shimosakanaka cho, Aza Hinouchi 290) | 滋賀県長浜市下坂中町””樋ノ内290 (Shiga prefecture, Nagahama, Shimosakanaka cho,””Hinouchi 290) | Correct with Formatting Issue Aza character is missing from the address component. |
滋賀県長浜市下坂中町 ””290 (Shiga prefecture, Nagahama, Shimosakanaka cho,”” 290) | Incorrect Sub Locality or Incorrect Country Specific Issue Entire Aza component is missing from the address. |
As address system in Japan is based on block-based address system, it is unnecessary for a transit station address to contain street name/road number. Therefore, rate such case as Incorrect – Other Issues.
When transit address is less specific than sub locality Machi Aza) level, rate Incorrect Sub Locality or Incorrect Country Specific Issue for missing sub locality.
Note* Chome # is optional for Transit Address.
Query | Returned Address | 1 Rating and Explanation |
［牛込柳町駅］ (Ushigome Yanagicho station) | 東京都新宿区 原町 (Region + Locality + Sub locality (Machi Aza)) | Correct The address shows Machi Aza level 原町 without Chome #, which is adequate for transit address. |
東京都新宿区 原町 2丁目 (Region + Locality + Sub locality (Machi Aza) + Chome #) | Correct The address shows sub locality level 原町 with Chome # is adequate for transit address. | |
東京都新宿区 原町大久保通り (Region + Locality + Sub locality (Machi Aza) + Street Name) | Incorrect – Other Issues Street names should not be in address as they are not in the Japanese address system. | |
東京都新宿区”” (Region + Locality “”) | Incorrect Sub Locality or Incorrect Country Specific Issue Machi Aza level of address is mandatory for transit address. | |
［札幌駅］ (Sapporo station) | 北海道札幌市北区北６条西 (Region + Locality + Sub locality 1 + Sub locality 2 (Machi Aza)) | Correct The address shows adequate Machi Aza level of the address without Chome #. |
［札幌駅］ (Sapporo station) | 北海道札幌市北区”” (Region + Locality + Sub locality1 “”) | Incorrect Sub Locality or Incorrect Country Specific Issue Machi Aza level of address is mandatory for transit address. |
If the result script is not matching the expected script the rating should be Incorrect with selected checkbox for Language/Script issue and the appropriate component s).
Though the expected script for the address will be Kanji in most cases, some localities/sub-localities have an official name as Hiragana or Katakana. In such case, the script of the result should reflect the official name.
Examples of Hiragana and Katakana script in place:
Hiragana Script
Katakana Script
Japanese address by nature is difficult to research, use online map providers and web search engines to verify address. Street imagery and photos of buildings may also be helpful, as cities are beginning to implement address tags on buildings which may be visible from the photos.
Generally, follow the research workflow in the global guidelines and consider an address correct if multiple sources agree, Can’t Verify if information is limited to confirm the confidence of sources and Incorrect if the address is identified as wrong/cannot exist.
Even though major maps providers do not find the specific address, 19-11, Jinan 1-Chome, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 東 京都渋谷区神南1-19-11), web search indicates that 3 businesses [BEAUTY & YOUTH UNITED ARROWS SHIBUYA KOENDORI, Crazy TV, IMAGICA Corp.] claims the address as shown in the following image.
In such cases, consider the specific address as valid where the business is located.
See 6.1.4.2 Query that address/territory does not exist for more information.
For Search in Japan, the major rating challenges are identifying the relevance and prominence of the suggested results to the user.
Due to the nature of Japanese language, incomplete queries often have multiple matches that may be an exact match to the queries or phonetic matches in different scripts.
Japanese language uses 4 interchangeable scripts: Hiragana, Katakana, Kanji, and Roma-ji English alphabets).
Users type Hiragana first and then convert them to Kanji or other forms. Kanji is often the final script unless the business intentionally uses non-Kanji scripts as part of their marketing strategy or the word in a foreign derived word and using Katakana or Roma-ji.
Users often make a typo when converting words instead of leaving it in the designated form by the business, hence Search results should include both exact and phonetic matches across scripts.
When both exact and phonetic match results are present, decide which one or both could be the primary intent based on a query or location intent.
Query | Result | Match and Relevance |
[長島すぱーらんど (Nagashima Spa Land)] Kanji + Hiragana | ナガシマスパーランド (Nagashima Spa Land) Katakana | Consider a match and rate normally Excellent |
[銀座マグロ屋 (Ginza Maguro ya)] Kanji + Katakana | ぎんざまぐろや (Ginza Maguroya) Hiragana | |
[みやたこ (Miyatako)] Hiragana Only Viewport/user position in Tokyo. | みやたこ (Miyatako) Hiragana Located in Tokyo | Consider Primary intent Excellent Result matches exactly in the script and is located the near user position/viewport. |
宮たこ (Miyatako) Kanji + Hiragana Located in Saitama | Consider Secondary intent Good/Acceptable Depending on the distance/prominence. Result only matches phonetically in the script and there is a better(closer) match near the user. |
Results may be considered a match even when voice marks and character size do not match 濁音・半濁音・小 文字).
When the mismatch occurs, consider how likely the query may be a user typo. The user might unintentionally transform Kanji Character into wrong character.
Query | Result | Match |
ビッグカメラ (Big Camera) | ビックカメラ (Bic Camera) | Consider a match and rate normally because the query contains a common user typo |
ビツクカメラ (Big Camera) | ||
磯子区磯子大 (Isogo ku, Isogo dai) | 磯子区磯子台 (Isogo ku, Isogo dai) |
6.1.3.1. Intersection
Intersection
Rate Bad for all results that are intersections unless:
Intersections with traffic lights often have the same or similar name as address and POIs in Japan. Instead of the intersection, suggesting the actual address and POIs are more useful, and it can confuse users to show the same name appear twice in the list with one being the intended result and another being the intersection.
Query | Result | Rating and Explanation |
[四谷警察署 (Yotsuya police station)] | 四谷警察署 (Yotsuya police station) Category as intersection with pin at the intersection. | Bad Traffic signals with the non prominent POI is not likely to be the result user is looking for. |
[六本木交差点 (Roppongi intersection)] | 六本木 (Roppongi) Category as intersection(交差点) with pin correctly over the traffic signal. | Navigational Returning traffic signals is ideal if the user has explicitly indicated as such in the query. |
[渋谷駅 (Shibuya station)] | 渋谷駅前 (Shibuya Ekimae) Category as intersection(交差点) with pin over traffic signal | Acceptable The Shibuya Ekimae intersection is a highly prominent intersection and may receive Acceptable as a suggestion. |
[湘南台一丁目 (Shonandai 1 Chome)] | 湘南台一丁目 (Shonandai 1 Chome) Category as intersection(交差点) with pin over traffic signal. | Bad The traffic signals with the same name as an address level also receive Bad. The ideal result is for the actual address result. |
6.1.3.2.Bus stops with similar names as POIs
Bus stops that have identical names as POIs and address should be rated 1 grade lower than those POIs and address. In other words, consider bus stops as secondary intent to queries that may be looking for a particular POI or address.
Bus stops in front of POIs often have the name of the POI + 前:mae means in front of-) or in some cases the bus stop name might be identical to the name of the POI or address.
Examplesassuminguser position and viewport are near the results)
Query | Result | Rating and Explanation |
[原町二丁目 (Haramachi 2 Chome)] | 東京都新宿区原町二丁目 (Tokyo to, Shingjuku ku, Haramachi 2 Chome) that has category as n/a. | Navigational The address itself receives Navigational as the user primary intent for 原町二丁目 |
[新宿二丁目 (Shinjuku 2 Chome)] | 東京都新宿区新宿二丁目 (Tokyo to, Shingjuku ku, Shinjuku 2 Chome) that has category as n/a. | Excellent The address itself receives Excellent as the user primary intent for 新宿二丁目 can be both a Chome or a landmark where the user want to visit as a Point of Interest like 渋谷スクランブル交差 点 (Shibuya Crossing). |
[新宿二丁目 (Shinjuku 2 Chome)] | 新宿二丁目 (Shinjuku 2 Chome) that has category as bus stops (バス停) with pin over traffic signal and a forced address that does not stop at 新宿二丁目 (Shinjuku 2 Chome). | Good Bus stops with the same name as an address level receives a 1 grade lower than what the address itself would have received. |
[本厚木駅 (Honatsugi station)] | 本厚木駅 (Honatsugi station) that has category as bus stops (バス停) with pin over the bus terminal. | Good Even though the bus stop has an identical name as the train station, the primary intent is the train station. The bus stop with same name is secondary intent, therefore, receives a 1 grade lower. |
[神奈川工科大学 (Kanagawa Institute of Technology)] | 神奈川工科大学前 (Kanagawa Institute of Technology mae) that has category as bus stops (バス停) with pin correctly over the traffic signal. | Acceptable / Bad Since user intent is clearly for Kanagawa Institute of Technology, bus stop at the same location with similar names is rated as Acceptable/Bad. |
Users may refer to train stations without the word for station 駅), so it is often difficult to know whether the user is looking for a territory locality/sub-locality) or a train station that has the name of the territory.
When the query is ambiguous as to the same name for the train station and the locality, rate Excellent for both. If the query is clearly for the locality, then rate Up to Good for the train station.
Query | Result | Rating and Explanation |
[川崎市 (Kawasaki city)] | 川崎市 (Kawasaki city) | Navigational Locality with exact match to user query including address suffix. City (市). |
川崎駅 (Kawasaki station) | Good If query is clearly for the locality, then train station with the identical name may not be the ideal result, but it still can be a good result to return. | |
[川崎 (Kawasaki)] | 川崎駅 (Kawasaki station) | Excellent Train stations are just as prominent as localities if the query is ambiguous. |
川崎市 (Kawasaki city) | Excellent Localities are just as prominent as train stations if the query is ambiguous. | |
[川崎駅 (Kawasaki station)] | 川崎駅 (Kawasaki station) Pin drops at JR Kawasaki station. | Navigational / Excellent Two Kawasaki station exist, one is for JR and the other is for Keikyu railways. Especially when the query does not contain any additional words in front of Kawasaki station, the user is likely to search for a dominant JR Kawasaki station. |
京急川崎駅 (Keikyu Kawasaki station) | Good / Excellent Keikyu Kawasaki station is a Kawasaki station operated by Keikyu railways. Even though the station is not a dominant Kawasaki station, serving different line with the same location name around the JR Kawasaki station is likely to be user intent. As JR Kawasaki station is used by nearly 30% more users than Keikyu Kawasaki station on daily bases, Keikyu Kawasaki station can be less likely to be user intent than JR Kawasaki station. | |
新川崎駅 (Shin Kawasaki station) | Bad A station with similar name located far away from Kawasaki station is not user intent. |
When an ambiguous term that could mean the territory or the train station i.e. 横浜) is used as a location modifier/intent for a query, such as “横浜 コンビニ” Yokohama convenience stores = “location + category”) and “川崎 ローソン” “location + chain), generally consider results near train stations to be the primary intent unless it makes sense for user to look for the particular category/chain inside a large area like the city, or if the territory is not a city and is small enough to serve as location intent. For example, it does not make much sense for user to look for all the convenience stores inside Yokohama City, which could be hundreds of matches and there is no clear reason/intent behind why people would want to know any random convenience store inside such large area. On the other hand, it would make more sense to look for airports or baseball stadiums inside a city than near a train station, since there are generally only few candidates inside a city and each of them have irreplaceable/unique values.
Example Query | Category Type | Rating and Explanation |
[横浜 カラオケ (Kawasaki karaoke] | Small POIs without much unique value – i.e., user not willing to travel far for these POIs | Train station as primary location intent Consider primary intent to be Karaoke stores near Yokohama station and rate results based on distance from the station. There is no clear reason why user would be interested in any random karaoke store inside a large area like the Yokohama City, so it is much more meaningful to return results near the station as it’s common for users to look for POIs near train stations. |
[大阪 博物館 (Osaka museum)] | Touristic POIs with unique value – each POI cannot easily be replaced by another POI | Territory as primary location intent For touristic POIs, the primary location intent would be in/near the territory (Osaka City in this case, not the prefecture), since each POI has unique value that user is willing to travel for. For instance, when user looks for “京都 観光地” (Kyoto tourist attractions), no one would really limit themselves to just the area near Kyoto station. |
[みなとみらい セブンイ レブン (Minatomirai 7 11)] | Small POIs without much unique value + small territory | Territory as primary location intent When the territory in question is smaller than locality (city/town/village), then generally consider the territory as the location intent instead of the train station because 1) The query then has the exact name of the territory (みなとみらい is the exact name of the territory) and 2) the territory is much smaller than a city, so any random POI in the area would have similar value to the user. |
More examples of small replaceable POIs (train stations as primary location intent when ambiguous) –
Restaurant, bar, café, convenience store, karaoke, bank/ATM, hotel, shops, parking lot, etc
More examples of POIs with unique value (territory as primary location intent when ambiguous)
Airports, stadiums, museums, shopping malls, zoo, tourist attractions, schools, etc.
When the query does not have a space to separate location from a category or brand chain business), rate the result with exact or the best matching name as Navigational, and rate others as Bad.
If the query has a space to separate location from a category or brand, rate the result with exact or clearly the best) matching the name as Excellent, and rate the results inside the location that matches the category or brand as Good.
If exactly matching results do not exist in the reality, please refer to global guideline.
Query | Result | Rating and Explanation |
［東京駅］ (Tokyo station without space) | 東京駅 (Tokyo station) | Navigational No spaces between the name and station. Thus, the intent is likely to be particular station. |
新宿駅 (Shinjuku station) | Bad A station in Tokyo does not satisfy user intent. | |
［東京 駅 (Tokyo station with space)］ or ［駅 東京 (Station Tokyo)］ | 東京駅 (Tokyo station) | Excellent Space presents between location and station. The user intent is likely to be “stations in Tokyo”, thus Tokyo station is still the best possible results but not limited to it. |
新宿駅 (Shinjuku station) | Good Other stations in Tokyo are considered relevant to the user intent, but slightly less relevant than the station that is an exact match to the query. | |
［港区 駅 (Minato ward station)］ or (Minato ward station)］ | 六本木駅 (Roppongi station) | Excellent No stations exactly match “Minato ward station” hence all stations inside Minato ward can receive Excellent. |
赤坂駅 (Akasaka station) | Excellent No stations exactly match “Minato ward station” hence all stations inside Minato ward is eligible for Excellent. |
For Japan we often encounter results that seem to refer to phone directories of very specific divisions inside actual POIs/Businesses. For such results, rate Bad for relevance based on prominence. These are entities inside valid POIs but are not significant enough to be considered as POIs.
Query | Result | Rating and Explanation |
［豊中市役所］ (Toyonaka city hall) | 豊中市役所 (Toyonaka city hall) | Navigational The result matches the query intent and is a legitimate POI/Business |
豊中市役所 都市基盤部 水路課 (Toyonaka city hall department of municipal infrastructure division of waterways) | Bad The result is not significant enough to be considered as an independent POI. It is merely a phone directory with little value for general use. | |
豊中市役所 選挙管理委員会 (Toyonaka city hall board of elections) | ||
［井筒屋 小倉］ (Izutsuya Ogura) | 井筒屋 井筒屋小倉店 外商事務所 (Izutsuya Ogura customer department) | |
［広島テレビ］ (Hiroshima TV) | 広島テレビ放送 総務人事部 (Hiroshima TV general affairs and human resources department) | |
広島テレビ放送 番組に関するお問 い合わせ (Hiroshima TV inquiry regarding programs) |
Address search in Japan is straightforward except when building name is involved.
Always rate the pin against the returned result.
Building names in Japan help point to unique locations, but they are not a critical component.
When building name is specified in the query, but not returned in the result or returned incorrect one, consider it as Data issue for missing building name. Relevance should be also considered when multiple buildings belong to the same house number.
If the query specifies single location returning the result that is unable to identify the location without building name information at the address, rate relevance as Acceptable.
When the query specifies single location by the building name returning the wrong building that belong to the same full address, rate relevance as Bad.
1) Query is Full Address (without building name)
# of building | Query | Result | Rating and Explanation | |
Single | [〒556-0011 大阪府大 阪市浪速区難波中 3 丁目 6-5
(T 556-0011 Osaka-fu, Osaka city, Naniwa ku, Nambanaka 3 Chome, 6 5) Full address without building name] | 〒556-0011 大阪府大阪市浪速区 | Relevance | Navigational |
Address | Correct | |||
Building name is not specified in the query, hence, full address without building name can satisfy user intent. | ||||
新栄マンション | Relevance | Navigational | ||
Address | Correct | |||
Correct full address result with building name or POI result for the building receives Navigational with Address Correct. | ||||
〒556-0011 大阪府大阪市浪速区 難波中3 丁目6-5 新栄マンショ ン | ||||
Multiple | [東京都新宿区新宿 3-23-4
(Tokyo to, Shinjuku ku, Shinjuku 3 Chome, 23 4) Full address without building name] Note: 第三大谷ビル (No 3 Ōtani building) and 新宿黒澤ビル (Shinjuku Kurosawa building) belong to the same house number 4. | 〒160-0022 東京都新宿区新宿 | Relevance | Navigational |
Address | Correct | |||
The user did names, retu building nam | not specify neither of building rning the full address without es can fully satisfy user intent. | |||
第三大谷ビル | Relevance | Excellent | ||
Address | Correct | |||
Correct full address result with building name or POI result for the building receives Excellent with Address Correct. | ||||
〒160-0022 東京都新宿区新宿 | ||||
新宿黒澤ビル | ||||
〒160-0022 東京都新宿区新宿 3 丁目 23-4 新宿黒澤ビル | ||||
2) Query is Full Address + Building name
# of building | Query | Result | Rating and Explanation | |
Single | [〒556-0011 大阪府大阪市浪速区 難波中 3 丁目 6-5 新栄マンション
(〒556-0011 Osaka-fu, Osaka city, Naniwa-ku, Nambanaka 3-Chome, 6-5, Shin Sakae mansion) Full address with building name] | T556-0011 大阪府大阪市浪速区 難波中 3 丁目 6-5 (Full address without building name) | Relevance | Navigational |
Address | Incorrect Unit/Apt | |||
Building name is specified in the query. Returning a full address that points to the building is not a misleading unless multiple buildings belong to the same house number. | ||||
新栄マンション | Relevance | Navigational | ||
Address | Correct | |||
Correct full address result with building name or POI result for the building receives Navigational with Address Correct. | ||||
〒556-0011 大阪府大阪市浪速区 難波中3 丁目6-5 新栄マンショ ン | ||||
Multiple | [東京都新宿区新宿
(Tokyo to, Shinjuku ku, Shinjuku 3 Chome, 23 4, No 3 Ōtani building) Full address with building name] Note: 第三大谷ビル (No 3 Ōtani building) and 新宿黒澤ビル (Shinjuku Kurosawa building) belong to the same house number 4.. | 〒160-0022 東京都新宿区新宿 | Relevance | Acceptable |
Address | Incorrect Unit/Apt | |||
The result address matches that in the query, but it does not identify single building location without unique building names. | ||||
第三大谷ビル | Relevance | Navigational | ||
Address | Correct | |||
Full address result with the correct building name or POI result for the correct building receives Navigational with Address Correct. | ||||
〒160-0022 東京都新宿区新宿 | ||||
新宿黒澤ビル 3 丁目 23-4 | Relevance | Bad | ||
Address | Correct | |||
Different building that belongs to the same full address does is not likely to be user intent, therefore Bad. | ||||
〒160-0022 東京都新宿区新宿 | ||||
When query address does not exist, or cannot be proven to exist, returning 1 address level larger than the query is one of the best results thus, rated it as Excellent. If the queried address exists, rate such as Bad.
Query | Result | Rating and Explanation | |
［福岡県北九州市八幡西区 割子川2 18 28］ (An address that may not exist) | 福岡県北九州市八幡西区割子川 2丁目18 (The closest address level that can be confirmed to exist) | Relevance | Excellent |
Address | Correct | ||
After web searching, house number 28 is most likely to be not existing. Thus, returning 1 larger level of the address is likely to be user intent. | |||
福岡県北九州市八幡西区割子川 2丁目18 28 (Full address which does not exist) | Relevance | Excellent | |
Address | Incorrect Address does not exist | ||
After web searching, house number 28 is most likely to be not existing. Thus, returning 1 larger level of the address is likely to be user intent. | |||
福岡県北九州市八幡西区割子川 2丁目 (An address that exist, but is 2 address levels away from the query) | Relevance | Bad | |
Address | Correct | ||
It does not make sense to return 2 or more address levels away from the query. | |||
［長野県川中島町］ (A town that used to exist but is now incorporated into a city) | 長野県長野市川中島町若葉町 (One of the Oaza formed by the town being incorporated into the city) | Relevance | Excellent |
Address | Correct | ||
Since the town no longer exists, the area that used to be part of the town and retains the same name is one of the best results for user. | |||
長野県 (The prefecture where the town was located) | Relevance | Bad | |
Address | Correct | ||
Although the town 川中島町no longer exist, returning two larger levels of the address does not satisfy user intent at all. | |||
長野県川中島町 (Matches user query but does not exist) | Relevance | Excellent | |
Address | Incorrect Address does not exist | ||
Relevance is still high because it is exactly what user queried for, but it no longer exists. | |||
An address that contains building name in Japan is usually assigned to single rooftop with multiple resources available to confirm building location. Single Rooftop under Pin Guideline should be applied when rating the pin accuracy for an address that contains a building name.
Note*
Please refer to the High-density urban area under Single Rooftop in the global guideline as well as 6.3.2 Incorrect Pin Caused by Missing Building Name under Case Study in this guideline.
When query has a typo, consider that user could search for a phonetic word instead of an exact match or other word/script. Particularly when the user types Hiragana first and result returns a Chinese character.
Query | Result | Rating & Explanation | Reference | |
[ 磯子区磯子大: (Isogo ku, Isogo dai)] | [ 磯子区磯子台 (Isogo ku, Isogo dai)] | Relevance | Excellent | Search global guideline : 5.1.4 Satisfying User Intent: Spell Correction Connection AC global guideline : 4.1.5 Spell Corrections Country specific guideline for Japan :4.1. Incorrect scripts |
大 and 台 are the same pronunciation, dai, returned result is most likely to be user intent. | ||||
[ 磯子区 (Isogo ku)] | Relevance | Bad | Country specific guideline for Japan : 6.1.4.2 Query that address/territory does not exist | |
Returning larger level of the address is not likely to be user intent. | ||||
When multiple buildings belong to the same full address, returning imperfect pin is very common. Thus, pay extra attention to the Pin accuracy when multiple building exists for one address regardless whether the building name information presents in the official website or not.
1) Official website specifies building name information.
Query | Result | Rating & Explanation | Image | |
[無印良品 越谷レイク タウン (Mujirushi ryohin Koshigaya Laketown)] | [無印良品 越谷 レイクタウン (Mujirushi ryohin Koshigaya Laketown)] 〒343 0828 埼玉県越谷市レ イクタウン4 2 2 〒343 0828 Saitama prefecture, Koshigaya Laketown 4 2 2 | Address | Incorrect Unit/Apt |  |
Pin | Wrong | |||
The official website of Muji Laketown specify the building name. Missing building name : [イオンレイク タウンKaze (Aeon Lake town Kaze)] caused imperfect pin location, the actual location of the store is at (35.8783, 139.8237) . Therefore, Address Incorrect Unit/Apt, Pin Wrong. | ||||
2) Official website does not specify building name information
Query | Result | Rating & Explanation | Image | |
Address | Correct | |||
［麺座 ぎん | Pin | Next Door | ||
[麺座 ぎん (Menza Gin)] | (Menza Gin)] 〒590 0076 大阪府堺市堺区北 瓦町2丁 3 23 〒590 0076 Osaka fu, Sakai city, Sakai ku, Kitakawara machi, 2 Cho 3 23. | Though the business does not have building name in its official website, the business belongs to 貞広ビル (Sadahiro building). As specified at 5.2.2.1, building name is not required unless it is in the official website of the business. However, the pin could fall into Next Door due to missing building name information. Always ensure pin location. Therefore, Address Correct, Pin Next Door. |
| |
Both 貞広ビル (Sadahiro building) and DAI-ICHI EKIMAE building belong to house number 23.
When the query is for a category, contemplate the user intent against the reality. The user intent for category search is to look up category matching results with a good review or the businesses focuses on the queried specific category in general. Do not be too lenient for service level mismatching results.
Query | Result | Rating & Explanation | Image | |
[ホルモン: (Hormone)] | [名古屋名物！味噌とん ちゃん屋 長久手ホルモ ン (Speciality of Nagoya! Miso Tonchanya Nagakute Hormone)] | Relevance | Excellent |  |
This is one of the results focus on serving Hormone around the user implicit location, thus Excellent. | ||||
[七輪 長久手店 (Shichirin Nagakute)] | Relevance | Good/Acceptable | ||
This is one of the results focused on serving Japanese BBQ, around the user’s implicit location. Although the business serves Hormone as part of its food menu, the businesses that majority focus on serving Hormone with high review rating have larger user intent if it exists around the user’s implicit location. Thus, Good or Acceptable. | ||||
As mentioned in 4.1.1 Incorrect Scripts and 6.1.1 Different Scripts in Japanese, Japanese language uses 4 interchangeable scripts: Hiragana, Katakana, Kanji, and Roma-ji Latin alphabets).
For Kanji/Katakana words, user is required to type Hiragana script first and then convert them, so the query may not match the actual result names.
Query | Result | Rating |
[ぎん (Gin)] Hiragana script | ぎんざまぐろや (Ginza Maguroya) Hiragana script ギンザ・グラフィック・ ギャラリー (Ginza Graphic Gallery) Katakana script 銀座三越 (Gizna Mitsukoshi) Kanji script GINZA PLACE Latin script | Consider a match and rate normally User may transform Hiragana scripts to the other scripts. |
When user wants to type a character with voice marks 濁音・半濁音) in Kana keyboard, he/she is required to type the character without them first ex: は → ば・ぱ). The same can be said for small characters 小文字) such as や→ゃ. Therefore, even if the returned result has voice marks/small and the query does not, they may still be valid matches when the mismatch happens at the last character of the query.
When mismatch happens somewhere other than the last character, consider how likely the query may be a user typo.
Voice or semi voice sound can be added after user type Hiragana letter, hence the following examples can be considered as user intent results.
Query | Results | Explanation |
［あきは | あきばU ショップ (Akiba U shop) | Consider a match and rate normally User may add voice sounds sign and transform the letter to other scripts. |
(Akiha)] | アキバ・スクエア (Akiba Square) | |
［びっぐかめ (Big Came)］ | ビックカメラ (Bic Camera) | Consider a match and rate normally Common user typo in the query. |
User could transform Hiragana letter into small letter as the followings, hence consider a match and rate normally for the following results.
Query | Results | Explanation |
[じや (Jiya)] や is in a large letter | じゃんぼ総本店 (Jambo Sohonten) ジャンカラ (Jyankara) | Consider a match and rate normally User may add voice sounds sign and transform the letter to other scripts. |
Query | Result | Rating and Explanation |
[神奈川工科大 (Kanagawa Institute of Technology)] | 神奈川工科大学前 (Kanagawa Institute of Technology-mae) that has | Good (1 from the POI result of Kanagawa Institute of Technology that is rated Excellent in this case.) Since user intent is clearly for the Kanagawa Institute of Technology, the bus stop at the same location with similar name is rated Good (1 from the school POI itself that is Excellent) |
Japanese address system is formatted using higher level components first building towards lower component level, which makes it difficult to guess the exact address user is looking for. In general, rate each suggestion based on distance from the user / viewport, prominence, and availability of other possibilities.
For instance, please take the difference in address level of the suggestion into consideration and that of the query; if query only shows the prefecture, then a suggestion for a sub-locality and beyond may seem random, unless it is a prominent sub-locality, because the user has not specified the city yet.
For the same reason, suggestion into the numeric components of the address are generally considered not helpful for the user because it is extremely unlikely that we can guess the exact number the user is looking for unless the user have typed a number for the house number 号）.
*Examples listed under each rating are not an exhaustive list of the only results that can receive each rating.
They are meant to provide a general idea on the type of results that will receive each rating
User position / viewport: Saiwai-ku, Kawasaki, Kanagawa
User location: 35.882034, 139.992599, around 神奈川県川崎市幸区 [Kanagawa-ken, Kawasaki city, Saiwai- ku]
Viewport Age: Fresh
Viewport Center: 35.925644, 140.068739
1) Excellent / Good result
Query | Result | Rating and Explanation | |
[神奈川県 (Kanagawa ken)] | 神奈川県 (Kanagawa ken) | Relevance | Excellent |
The result matches with the query perfectly. | |||
神奈川県横浜市 (Kanagawa ken, Yokohama city) | Relevance | Excellent | |
The most prominent city inside Kanagawa prefecture. | |||
神奈川県川崎市幸区堀川町 72- 1 (Kanagawa ken, Kawasaki city, Saiwai ku, Horikawa cho 72- 1) | Relevance | Good | |
The address of the prominent POI: ラゾーナ川 崎 (Lazona Kawasaki) around user / viewport location is likely to be user intent. | |||
神奈川県横浜市西区みなと みらい 2- 2- 1 (Kanagawa ken, Yokohama city, Nishi ku, Minatomirai 2- 2- 1) | Relevance | Good | |
The address for the prominent POI: 横浜ラン ドマークタワー (Yokohama Landmark Tower) is likely to be user intent. | |||
神奈川県横浜市西区みなと みらい (Kanagawa ken, Yokohama city, Nishi ku, Minatomirai) | Relevance | Good | |
The popular area in Yokohama where many prominent POIs are in is likely to be user intent. | |||
2) Acceptable/Bad result
Query | Result | Rating and Explanation | |
[神奈川県 (Kanagawa ken)] | 神奈川県厚木市 (Kanagawa ken, Atsugi city) | Relevance | Acceptable |
Not very prominent city within the prefecture is not likely to be user intent, but it still may be helpful for user therefore Acceptable. | |||
神奈川県伊勢原市 (Kanagawa ken, Isehara city) | |||
神奈川県横浜市保土ケ谷区 月見台10- 28 (Kanagawa ken, Yokohama city, Hodogaya ku, Tsukimidai 10 28) | Relevance | Bad | |
Random full address inside Yokohama that jumps too far ahead is not likely to be user intent. | |||
神奈川県三浦市初声町三戸 (Kanagawa ken, Miura city, Mito Hassemachi) | |||
When user intent is unclear, be lenient for the results that are nationally/internationally known.
User location: 35.882034, 139.992599, around 千葉県柏市根戸 [Chiba-ken, Kashiwa city, Nedo
Viewport Age: Fresh
Viewport Center: 35.925644, 140.068739
Query | Result | Rating and Explanation | |
[しらは (Shiraha)] | しらはた公園 (Shirahama Park) | Relevance | Excellent |
The result is the closest result to the user and fresh viewport location. | |||
白浜大浜海水浴場 (Shirahama Ohama Beach) | Relevance | Good | |
The result is a little far from the user / fresh viewport location, but the result is a prominent POI. | |||
白浜海岸 (Shirahama Beach) | Relevance | Good | |
The result is a little far from the user / fresh viewport location, but the result is a prominent POI. | |||
和歌山県西牟婁郡白浜町 (Wakayama ken, Nishimuro gun, Shirahama machi) | Relevance | Acceptable / Good | |
The result is not very close to the user location, but the sub locality may be helpful for user. Therefore, be lenient for such result. The rating may vary depends on the distance and prominence. | |||
Follow Address Verification global guideline except for
Multiple buildings can belong to one house number particularly when business is located in the urban area of Japan. When pin falls on one of the adjacent buildings but still within the same house number, the question for Query Address is Invalid, but the pin accuracy should be rated as Correct. In such cases query does not specify which building is queried
Query | Result | Rating and Explanation | |
[広尾1 3 17,渋谷区,東 京都 (Hiro 1 3 17, Shibuya ku, Tokyo to)] | 〒150 0012 東京都渋谷区 広尾1丁目3番17号 (〒150 0012 Tokyo To, Shibuya ku, Hiro, 1 Chome, 3 17)
| Query Address | Invalid |
It is a reasonable query | Yes | ||
Pin | Correct | ||
Address | Correct | ||
Both オーツービル (OH TSU building) at 35.6488214 , 139.7124803 and 広尾ストーンビル (Hiro Stone building) at 35.6487680 , 139.7125621 belong to house number 17. Building name is required to specify a single location, thus, Query address is Invalid, but the address is small enough to be considered as reasonable query. Pin is Correct as it falls at オーツービル (OH TSU building) , which belong to house number 17, therefore address is also Correct. | |||
[広尾1 3 17,渋谷区,東 京都 オーツービル (Hiro 1 3 17, Shibuya ku, Tokyo to, OH Tsu building)] | Query Address | Valid | |
It is a reasonable query | Yes | ||
Pin | Correct | ||
Address | Incorrect – Unit/Apt | ||
Please rate Address: Incorrect – Unit/Apt when building names are missing. Always ensure the pin location by returned Pin. | |||
**Note that this requirement for building name for disambiguation is only when the address without building name has no valid use. For instance, if 広尾1 3 17 is for a residential address or an address without building name, then it cannot be called “invalid” because it would be considered separate address from 1 3 17 オーツービル and 1 3 17 広尾ストー ンビル; in other words, 1 3 17 would be a valid address that points to 1 3 17 that is not part of either buildings.
If an address is as specific as possible in real world, then please consider the address ” Valid” even if there may be multiple rooftops sharing the same address.
Sometimes an address may be shared among multiple rooftops that do not have building names in real world, often applying, but are not limited, to residential addresses and rural businesses. In such case where the Query Address is as full as there can be (i.e. no building name, no further branch number (枝番) beyond house number, nothing in real world that could be added to the address to make it “valid”), please rate Valid for query address and treat it the same as BUSINESS WITH MULTIPLE ROOFTOPS AT SAME ADDRESS where any rooftop would be perfect.
Even if you cannot verify the existence/use of an address, please consider the address ” Valid” if both of the following conditions are met:
In urban areas of Japan, addressing are standardized based on frontage system (住居表示) where door numbers are assigned based on which 10~15 m segment a business/building’s main entrance falls within. (See diagram below from official website of Abiko City in Chiba)
In the diagram, 8 in dark circle would be the ban and the numbers on the upper right corner of each building are the go (door numbers). For example, the address for the building named “共同住宅” at lower left corner would be 8 13 (８番 １３号).
If query address is looking for 8 9(８番９号) from above diagram, we would consider it Valid even if there is no building currently assigned to it because 1) The block 8番 is using a frontage address system, and 2) we know that 8 8 and 8 10 exist as there are buildings assigned the addresses, so it can be assumed that 8 9 exists between 8 8 and 8 10
The result address and pin accuracy would then be rated according to global guideline. For pin, consider applying the empty plot rule if you cannot confirm a building exists for 8 9 (i.e. either the plot is empty or if there is a building but that building is confirmed to have a different door number like in the case above where the building located at the frontage of 8 9 is given the address 8 8 due to the position of the entrance).
The POI Validity of businesses/POI may be questionable due to various business forms in Japan. If not enough resources verify the existence of the business, do not hesitate to select the POI Validity as Can’t Verify in POI Evaluation.
Here are a few examples to guide you POI Validity
Query | Query Type | POI Validity and Explanation | |
勝川IC (Kachigawa Interchange) | Interchange | Valid | Interchange is mainly the entrance and exit of highways, expressways, which matches the definition in the guideline of “POIs are places that users would want to find on a map and potentially navigate to.” Hence, the POI Validity is Valid. |
If polygon in the vector map indicates the presence of pedestrian overpasses or footbridge,^
rate Acceptable if both of the following are true:
In other words, if we have pedestrian overpasses in the base map, we should be using it when there is no other option.