Understanding the Japanese Address Format

It’s important to understand that the overall order of a Japanese address is reversed
from what is typically used in the West. Rather than starting with the house number
and ending with the postal code, it goes the other way. The usual order of operations
is as follows:

Postal Code:
Japanese postal codes are seven-digit numbers hyphenated between the third and
fourth digit (000-0000), usually preceded by a postal code mark (〒). If you don't
know your postal code, or if you do but don't know the address and want to search
for it, please check Japan Postal Code Directory.

Prefecture:
A prefecture is the largest division possible in Japanese geography (similar to a state
in the United States). Most prefectures are denoted by the suffix 県 pronounced
“ken” (e.g., Kanagawa-ken, Ehime-ken, Gunma-ken). Notable exceptions are Tokyo
with the suffix 都, pronounced “to,” to denote the nation’s capital (i.e., Tokyo-to),
Osaka and Kyoto with the suffix 府, pronounced “fu,” to show their more significant
political and economic role (i.e., Osaka-fu and Kyoto-fu), and Hokkaido which has no
suffix.

Municipality:
For most Tokyo residents, this is what ends in the suffix 区, pronounced “ku” (e.g.,
Minato-ku, Nerima-ku, Shibuya-ku). These 23 wards of Tokyo are considered special
cities unto themselves with high populations in concentrated areas.

The suffix 市, pronounced “shi,” is mostly used for other large cities (e.g., Kobe-shi,
Sapporo-Shi, Hiroshima-shi) but also can be used for some concentrated population
areas in Tokyo (e.g., Hachioji-shi, Arakawa-shi, Tama-shi).

For more rural areas, Japanese addresses use the suffix 郡, pronounced “gun,” as a
county denotation, since multiple townships could be needed to reach the population
quota.

Town or Village:
If you live in Tokyo, this part won’t be necessary, but rural areas will have a further
suffix of either 町, pronounced “machi” or “cho,” or 村, pronounced “son” or “mura.”
This is used with the “gun” suffix to often help further pinpoint the location. Please
note that “cho” is not the same as “chome” described below.

District Name and Block Number:

If you live in Tokyo, you’ll see this information on plaques lining almost every city
block, usually paired with the symbol 丁目, pronounced “chome.” This number tells
you the district name and block number.

Building, Apartment, and Floor Numbers:

The final part of a Japanese address is the building name and floor number or the
apartment name and residence number. Since the building name is usually not
needed for apartments, many people skip that part and simply write the apartment
number as an additional number following the district name and block number.

However, for floor numbers, you will either need to use the suffix 階, pronounced
“kai,” or an abbreviated “F” following the floor number (e.g., 2F for second floor). The
floor number will always follow the building name.

Understanding Block Numbers

The most difficult part of Japanese addresses is understanding the district name and
block numbering system.

Tokyo and other Japanese cities were not always built in tidy rows. With the “chome”
system, cities are divided into districts 丁目 (chome). Then, each block in the district
is numbered 番地, pronounced “banchi.” Finally, each building in the block is
numbered 号, pronounced “go.”

Often, to simplify the address in writing, the suffixes (丁目, 番地, and 号) are omitted
and the numbers are written in order with a hyphen in between each. For example:

東京都港区麻布台 1 丁目 9 番地 12 号（1 chome, 9 banchi, 12 go）

is often written like: 東京都港区麻布台 1-9-12

This makes it easy for postal workers and delivery services to find your home without
extraneous information. If you look at the map below, you will be able to find our
office by using your understanding of Japanese address format. As shown on the
map below, the first step is to locate the district, which in our case is "Azabudai."
Then search for "1 chome," "9 banchi." Please note that the building number "12 go"
is not displayed on the map below. For your convenience, we have marked it with a
star symbol.  
How to Write a Japanese Address
Vertical Envelopes
If you’re using a vertical envelope to address a letter within Japan, the address of the
recipient goes on the front in the vertical box, with the postal code on the top. The
address is written vertically, right to left, with the recipient’s name at the very end.
Your address then goes on the reverse side (the same side as the flap).

Horizontal Envelopes
If you’re using a horizontal envelope, you can write the address in Japanese or
English. Be sure to put “JAPAN” in big letters at the top of the address if mailing to
Japan from overseas. The recipient’s name and address are placed in the center of
the envelope while the sender’s information is placed in the top left corner.

Postcards
If you’re addressing a postcard from Japan to overseas, look for the portion of the
card with the postal code symbol 〒, then address the card as it would make sense
in your home country, but with the country name first. If you’re addressing the
postcard to a Japanese address, please write as we’ve outlined above.

How to Place an Online Order Using a

Japanese Address

It can be a bit confusing as to how to input your address on Japanese shopping

websites, but once you remember the formula, it’s relatively simple. Most often, your
prefecture, or “ken,” will be selected from a dropdown menu, and the rest will require
manual input. You will likely need to know the Japanese characters for the prefecture
you are selecting.

In this example, the address below would be input as follows:

〒106-0041 東京都港区麻布台 1 丁目 9 番地 2 号
How to Say a Japanese Address
Start big, with the prefecture, then work your way down to the house number. Every
time there’s a hyphen in the address, you can use the word “no.” So the following
example would sound like this over the phone:

Example:
106-0041 東京都港区麻布台 1 丁目 9 番地 12 号

Verbalized:
106-0041 Tokyo-to, Minato-ku, Azabudai, 1 no 9 no 12.

Note:
You will also need to know how to pronounce Japanese numbers. There are many
resources for learning the Japanese number system, but basic information on
pronouncing numbers can be foundhere.

Tips for Finding Your Way in Japan

If you get lost, don’t panic! Inputting the address into Google Maps is a reliable
option, but if your phone is dead or without signal, you can check signs around you
to see if you’re in the correct district. If you’ve just arrived at a train station, try to get
a map and directions from the local police box, usually located near the station.

While this may seem overwhelming at first, you will get the hang of it very quickly
with a little practice. There are pros and cons to every address system, and while the
learning curve can be a bit steep for Westerners, you will see the benefits for
memorizing this system as you enjoy your time in Japan.