New symbols for foreign tourist maps

The Japanese government is introducing 15 symbols to mark police boxes, hotels and other facilities on foreign tourist maps.The Geospatial Information Authority responded to complaints that some Japanese symbols are difficult for foreigners to understand because they are different from those used overseas.

The national mapping body made the move as Japan gears up for the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics in 2020.Officials say the new symbol for hotel shows the outline of a person lying in bed beside a lamp. The current symbol is the letter H in a circle.Police boxes will be marked with the silhouette of a saluting police officer inside a building instead of an X.