Does anyone have a map?

Only the most major of streets here have names, like Shinjuku Avenue or Hibiya Avenue. Major routes have either numbers or names, like 51, the Hachioji bypass or Yoko-Yoko road. Everything else is anyone’s guess. Intersections are named by whatever landmark is there (or used to be there) and roads are named by whatever happens to be on them at that point – the road in front of the train station, the road in front of the shrine and the road in front of the hospital are all the same road. Addresses are determined by what Dai it’s located in. A Dai is an area about 6-8 blocks by 6-8 blocks. The Dai is divided into Chome, which is 1-2 blocks by 1-2 blocks. The address is a building number within the Chome. For awhile I thought the building numbers were randomly assigned (just to confuse me), but someone told me that the numbers are assigned as the buildings are built, so the oldest building in the chome is 1 and so on. It is necessary to drive up and down the alleyways looking for the building number. Therefore, an address would be – Sagami Hara City, Minami Dai, 2 Chome, Building 6 and written Minami Dai, 2-6.

Getting directions is EXTREMELY difficult. The Japanese genuinely want to help you, but most often they simply do not know how to get somewhere. Most people only know the Dai they have business in and the ones around the train stations, so it is next to impossible to ask someone, excuse me where is Araisono Dai? It may only be 2 or 3 Dai away, but since they have never been there, they don’t know. Also, since the majority of streets don’t have names, it is necessary to give all directions by landmarks – turn left at the light, take the left fork, pass the tunnel on the left, go straight until you see a big blue elephant (?), continue straight past the train station on the right, a small shrine will be on the left, turn left at the police box, go 2 chome straight.

I don’t know how the parcel post drivers find anything. 🙂

PS – I still cannot leave any notes. I am once again relegated to the position of stalker. I am still reading. Saffron – what is the baby’s name? Wayward – I’ll put the recipes in an entry.