Chaotic Address System Requires GPS

Ready for Taxi Drivers

Running very late for an appointment, I grabbed a 
 taxi to avoid a 13-minute walk.  But the driver did not speak English or read Romanji letters and I do not speak Japanese or write Kanji characters.  So he had no clue where I needed to go or how to get there.  I jumped out and he sped off.   To get around this problem in the future, I now have the address written in Japanese. 

Tokyo has a very chaotic address system and even long-time taxi drivers get lost. When they do, they "lose face" and feel shame.   But with such an out-dated and illogical system, it seems that getting lost is often excusable.  

Long ago the first building constructed in a neighborhood was # 1.  Then the second building erected became # 2.  Because of growth and development, today those buildings might be far apart.  So, building # 2 might sit right next to building # 13!  On our street a high-rise structure was just demolished and a new one will soon be constructed.  Does the new building keep the original number?  I don't know the answer.  Why doesn't Japan change the system?  Likely answer:  It would be very expensive and the country has other priorities.  Besides, we now have navigational systems to show the way.  Everything will come to an abrupt halt if GPS systems go down!! 

Using our apartment address, this is how the Tokyo address system works...