L. M. Lloyd

The first step to figuring out how to get around, at least as I see it, is figuring out where the hell you are. This seems pretty straightforward, since we all have access to GPSs these days, but then telling someone your Lat/Long coordinates isn't exactly the most useful way to get directions. So, you need a map on the GPS. Luckily, that is pretty standard too, so what's the problem?

The problem is that GPS units seem to fall into two distinct categories. Those that show you the maps in English, and those that have street-level maps of Japan. There doesn't seem to be a single commercial unit that will show, by default, street-level maps of Japan with Roman characters (the call it Romaji in Japan when you spell out Japanese with Roman characters). So, all those wonderful GPS units you can pick up at your local store are all but useless to you in Japan, because they will show you where you are on the Earth in Lat/Long, but won't show you the street you are on in Tokyo. The best you will get is that you are somewhat near this major highway that happens to be on the base world map that comes with the unit. Now this is exactly why these units let you download other maps, but here comes the real kick to the groin. None of the Western GPS manufacturers sell a single map of Japan for their units!