Foreign-language maps in Japan will utilise a new set of standard map symbols, in a response by the Geospatial Information Authority of Japan (GSI) to feedback that the current symbols can be confusing to travellers.
The changes will see the swastika-like symbol for a Buddhist temple become a three-tiered pagoda, the police box ‘X’ symbol become a saluting officer, and the post office will be represented by an envelope rather than a ‘T’ symbol. In all there will be 18 new symbols; six of these are replacements for existing pictograms. To develop the new symbols, 1017 people from 92 countries and regions were surveyed. Read more: japantimes.co.jp