Road Origin Marker of Japan

 This page explains the "Road Origin Marker of Japan", or "Japan Zero Milestone" and I quoted an inferior web site and wikipedia.


 It is located on the center of Nihon-Bashi Bridge in Tokyo. The bridge was made in 1603, Edo era. And in Meiji era, it became the "Road Origin Marker".
 It is said that all roads in Japan starts from the marker point.

The Origin Marker

Nihon-Bashi Bridge in Tokyo

There is an English explanation by Chuo City Tourism Association.
http://chuo-kanko.web.transer.com/bb_url_ej.php?ctw_=sT,eCR-JE,bF,hT,uaHR0cDovL3d3dy5jaHVvLWthbmtvLm9yLmpwL2d1aWRlL3Nwb3Qvbmlob25iYXNoaS9uaWhvbmJhc2hpXzEzLmh0bWw=,f20121008190148-0,cU2hpZnRfSklT,


There are so detailed investigations written in Japanese
http://explorer.road.jp/gempyou/nihonkoku.html

the Navel of Japan Park

the Navel of Japan Park 

  
About   
     I would like to introduce the Navel of Japan park in Nishiwaki City, Hyogo Prefecture. The park is located at the intersection of E135 and N35. As the right map shows, the park is equivalent to the navel of Japan. In this park, there are a musium, monuments and some buildings.   

 Monument

         This monument was designed by Batrick Berger and installed on March, 2010. The center of this four poles is the intersection of E135 and N35 rightly. The point was measured by using most advanced technology on 1994.


Nshiwaki Earth Science Museum 
　　　In this museum, there are many exhibits that relates to the earth, space and other interesting topics. And there is a large reflective type telescope



Links
For more information, please see these websites (written in Japanese).
・The homepage of Nishiwaki City
 http://www.city.nishiwaki.hyogo.jp/icity/browser?ActionCode=content&ContentID=1127798828656&SiteID=0

・The homepage of Nshiwaki Earth Science Museum
http://www5.city.nishiwaki.hyogo.jp/Nishiwaki/kagakukan/kagaku1.jsp

・Movie taken by Shingo Soezima
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=By7TZZVoUlI

Japan Horizontal Datum

 This page explains "Japan Horizontal Datum", or "Japan Geodetic Datum" and I quoted an inferior web site and wikipedia.

 It is the datum point to decide latitudes and longitudes. 
 There was once an astronomical telescope called "Meridian Circle". It was built in 1892 and smashed by the "Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923". Now, only the foundation remains (Look at inferior photos).

The central point between 2 black marble stones is
the "Japan Horizontal Datum".

 The point is located at Long.１３９°４４′２８″.８８６'E and Lat.３５°３９′２９″.１５７２'N. These numbers were measured by using most advanced technology on October 21, 2011




↓ Here is an explanation written in Japanese by the Geographical Survey Institute.
http://www.gsi.go.jp/kanto/ki8cgenten.html

Geographic Center of Japan

Geographic Center of Japan

 There are many "The Center of Japan" because the place changes by a definition.
I introduce some Centers of Japan below.

No. 1 The Japanese Islands-centered ground

                       Tanuma Town,Sano City,Tochigi Prefecture

 This place is the midway point of the northernmost point "Soya"  in Japanese mainland and the southernmost point "Sata" in it .

 It takes 30minutes to drive to there from Tanuma Town downtown and this place is the heart of the mountain.

 

 

 

No. 2 "Hesotyushinhyou"of Japan

                   Yorii Town,Shibukawa City,Gunma Prefecture

       This place is the center of the circle to assume northernmost point "Soya"  in
      Japanese mainland and the southernmost point "Sata" in it diameter.

      This place will be most comfort to access in this whole series because it is
      near the station and the lively downtown.

 

 

 

 

No. 3 The Gravity Point of Japanese Country

Noroshi Town,Suzu City,Ishikawa Prefecture

 This place is near the point which the center of gravity of the Japanese country that Geographical Survey Institute calculated .

 This monument built in Noto Peninsula the highest Cape Rokko-zaki.

 No.4 The mark "Center of Japan" 

                                                                   Tsurugamine,Tatsuno Town,Nagano Prefecture

 

This place is the center point of  "Zero points" that is a share and a second of the latitude and longitude are places of 00 '00.

 There are 40 Zero points in Japan and this monument was built at 36°00'47" N, 137°59'36" E.

 This place is hard to arrive because it is the heart of the mountain. But it is an enthusiastic popular spot collecting great support from a leading enthusiast here.

 I referred to this site. it is written in Japanese but it has much information about  "The Center of Japan" and it is easy look. So please look at this site.

http://www.drive-ns.com/info/center.html

Center of Japan Myth

 This page explains the Japanese center based on the Japan myth and I quoted inferior web sites and wikipedia.

 According to "Japan Myth", the center of Japan is Ikushima-Tarushima Shrine(生島足島神社). The shrine is dedicated to "Ikushima-no-Ookami(生島大神)" that is the god of birth and "Tarushima-no-Ookami(足島大神)" that is the god of satisfaction. And the Japan Myth regards them as gods that reign all of Japan. Besides, it has been called "Nihon-So-Chinju(日本総鎮守)" that means what prevents Japan from all bad things.

Inside of the shrine

"Nihon-Chuo(日本中央)" that means "center of Japan"
is on the upper part of the stone monument.

The home page of "Ikushima-Tarushima Shrine(生島足島神社)" is here.↓
http://www.ikushimatarushima.jp/


An explanation written in Japanese is here.↓
http://www.eonet.ne.jp/~nunose/009kosya27.htm

Japanese Datum of Leveling

 This page explains the "Japanese vertical datum". and I quoted inferior web sites and wikipedia.


 When we measure Levels of grounds, we need the datum line of levels.
 Strictly, it is the average level of the ocean's surface. However, practically speaking, it is better we have the datum on the ground. Then, the Japanese government placed the inferior structure called "warehouse of vertical datum" in 1981 to keep the point of vertical datum.

"Warehouse of Vertical Datum"

 This building, like a roman shrine is located on the level of 24.3900 meters. And the place is based on a so strong stratum of to meters not to subside.

↓ Here is an explanation written in Japanese by the Geographical Survey Institute.
http://www.gsi.go.jp/kanto/ki8bsuigenten.html



There are some chances to see the inside of the structure. Please read the inferior Japanese web site.
http://www.mizunotec.co.jp/doboku/suijun_genten/suijun_genten.html

Japanese Center of Gravity

The populational center of Japan is Seki City at Gifu prefecture.
The "center" means "center of gravity" if all Japanese people have same weight.


　
These days,this center is gradually moving to south west.
It may apears that population of Tohoku or Hokkaido (which is comparetivery rural area of Japan) is decreasing.

information about Seki City is here↓
 http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%96%A2%E5%B8%82


Almost all Japanese people think that the center of Japan is Sekigahara at the same Gifu prefecture because Sekigahara is one of the most famous historic battlefield in Japan.
In 1600, solders in Japan were separated to the East field and West field. Then they battled at Sekigahara.
The winner was East field. And Tokugawa Ieyasu who was the head of East field later became the sovereign  of Japan and opened Edo period.

Now Sekigahara is located at important place of transportation.

It is easy to go to Sekigahara. And there are many historical museums and ruins.

Yurukyara which is conected with Sekigahara battle is also popular.