Japan Mapcode
In Japan, one MAPCODE is all you need
No address, no phone number — just a few digits, and the car's navigation knows exactly where to take you.
123 456 789*12
One MAPCODE = one small area of Japan
What is a MAPCODE?
A MAPCODE turns any place in Japan into a short string of digits. Instead of a long, complicated address, you just type the number into the rental car's navigation and it sets the destination in seconds.
When a code ends in an asterisk and a few more digits (like 789*12), it narrows down to a much smaller area — about 3 metres across.
Why use a MAPCODE?
Addresses can be trickyJapanese addresses use kanji and a block-numbering system that's awkward to type into a car's navigation.
No phone number neededBeaches, lookouts, car parks and scenic spots often have no phone number to search by.
Down to a small areaThe whole of Japan is covered by a fine MAPCODE grid, so a single code points to a small area — close enough to bring you right up to where you're going.
Quick, simple and freeJust enter the number and go. Most rental-car navigation systems (the MAPCODE-compatible ones) support it, and looking up and using MAPCODEs is free.
How to use it
- 1Find a placeSearch for where you want to go on this site, and its MAPCODE appears right next to it.
- 2Choose “MAPCODE” on the car's navigationIt's usually Menu → Destination → マップコード (MAPCODE), though the exact wording differs from one system to another.
- 3Enter the number and goType it in exactly, asterisk and all, and the navigation takes you straight to that area.
MAPCODE is a registered trademark of DENSO Corporation. This is a personal project I built for my own trips to Japan — made with gratitude to Denso for such a genuinely handy way to share a location.
Denso's official MAPCODE page