Gallery: Japan's Arcane Pictogram System Gets a Much-Needed Update
01hotel
Japan’s Geospatial Information Authority (GSI) is proposing some changes to the pictogram system it uses for maps. A hotel is now a person sleeping in a bed, instead of a nondescript letter 'H' wrapped in a circle.
02police1
The old sign for a police station was a letter 'X,' which symbolized batons crossing. The new one is a policeman.
03postoffice
The post office will now be shown as an envelope.
04store
Grocery stores, which previously used a vague basket icon, are now indicated by an icon that denotes a sandwich and bottled beverage.
05temple
Buddhist temples will now use a pagoda, instead of the backwards swastika. The use of a swastika, called a svastika in Sanskit, makes sense when you realize the symbol means “good fortune” and is common in Buddhism, Hinduism and other religions. That's not so logical to Western tourists.
