List of Japanese map symbols

This is a list of symbols appearing on Japanese maps. These symbols are called in the Japanese language. They are standardized by the Geospatial Information Authority of Japan (GSI) and the Association of Radio Industries and Businesses (ARIB). These two sources generally agree, but they have alternative forms for a few symbols.

Because these symbols were developed within a specifically Japanese cultural setting, alternative symbols have been developed for some meanings that are more consistent with worldwide symbol usage or more obvious in what they depict. Symbol Meaning (English) Illustration Municipal building (city or ward level) Municipal building (town or village level) Courthouse or building Fire station Police station (police box) Public health center Post office Meteorological observatory Forest service office Government office building Elementary or junior highschool High school Junior college Technical college College or university Museum Library Shinto shrine Temple Plant or factory Hospital Military (JSDF) base Oil or gas well Power station Nursing home Castle Chimney Volcanic crater or Fumarole Radio tower TV tower Place of historic, cultural, or scenic interest Monument Wind turbine or farm Lighthouse Hardwood forest or woods Coniferous forest or woods Palm trees Bamboo grove Dwarf pine forest or woods Fields Paddies Orchard Tea plantation Mulberry orchard Other plantation Marsh or Grassland Graveyard or cemetery Mine Pit head Quarry Onsen (hot spring) Major port Minor port Fishing port Ferry (car carrier) Ferry Benchmark Fixed GPS survey point (Electronic triangulation point) Triangulation point Natural disaster monument

Partial list of symbols for users with visual impairment Official symbols according to the conventions of the Geographical Survey Institute of Japan appear with a circle below.

Symbol GSI Meaning Unicode Description ○ Base triangulation surveying point Dot in upward-pointing triangle ○ Electronic triangulation point Dot in upward-pointing triangle with flag ○ Benchmark Dot in square ○ Factory Gear without hub ○ Lighthouse Map symbol for lighthouse ○ Power station Gear with handles ○ Elementary or junior high school Kanji () ○ High school U+3246 Kanji in a circle ○ University Kanji with a smaller kanji (for ) in brackets on top ○ Technical college Kanji with a smaller kanji (for ) in brackets on top ○ Post office Down tack (T-shape) with overbar in circle × Sub post office (not distribution centre) Down tack (T-shape) with overbar ○ Police station Heavy circled saltire ○ Kōban (police box) Diagonal cross (saltire) ○ Public health centre Greek cross in circle ○ Hospital Greek cross in shield ○ Prefectural Office Oval bullseye ○ City hall Heavy circle with circle inside ○ Ward office Fisheye ○ Town hall Heavy circle ○ Shinto shrine Shinto shrine ○ Buddhist temple (swastika) ○ Castle Castle ○ Cemetery Headstone graveyard symbol ○ Onsen (hot springs) Oval with three vertical wavy lines ○ Historical landmark Historic site ○ Summit Mountain

List of Japanese map symbols

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