Japanese map symbol for a museum

A classical building front with a pediment.

Also known as: Hakubutsukan mark, Art gallery mark

In Japanese:: 博物館
In Japanese (Latin):: hakubutsukan

Maps & navigationStandard profile

Meanings

Denotes a museum or art gallery on a Japanese topographic map, introduced in 2002 alongside the library symbol.

Officially standardisedVerified fact
Marks a museum or an art gallery on a GSI topographic sheet.
Contexts: Maps
Officially standardisedVerified fact
Shows a classical portico rather than anything specifically Japanese, taking the internationally legible image of a museum in preference to a local one.
Contexts: Maps

Visual description

A rectangle carrying a shallow triangle along its upper edge, taking the outline of a building with a pediment.

Symmetry: none
Orientation: upright

Confidence

IdentityModerate confidence: Moderate confidence because the identity is documented in encyclopedic references, but only a single source has been found so far.
Historical originLow confidence: Low confidence because the historical origin is documented in encyclopedic references, but only a single source has been found so far, but early or supporting evidence is limited, but the regional or cultural match to this specific claim is not precise.
Current useModerate confidence: Moderate confidence because the current use is documented in encyclopedic references, but only a single source has been found so far.
Visual matchModerate confidence: Moderate confidence because the visual match is documented in encyclopedic references, but only a single source has been found so far.

Sources

Map symbols used on Japanese topographic maps
Geospatial Information Authority of Japan (GSI) · retrieved 2026-08-23
Japan's national mapping agency's own published legend. Cited for the form and meaning of a symbol on Japanese topographic maps; the historical origin of individual symbols is cited separately where claimed.

Last reviewed 2026-08-26

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Japanese topographic map symbols

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Meanings

Denotes a museum or art gallery on a Japanese topographic map, introduced in 2002 alongside the library symbol.

Officially standardisedVerified fact

Marks a museum or an art gallery on a GSI topographic sheet.

Contexts: Maps

Officially standardisedVerified fact

Shows a classical portico rather than anything specifically Japanese, taking the internationally legible image of a museum in preference to a local one.

Contexts: Maps

Confidence

IdentityModerate confidence: Moderate confidence because the identity is documented in encyclopedic references, but only a single source has been found so far.
Historical originLow confidence: Low confidence because the historical origin is documented in encyclopedic references, but only a single source has been found so far, but early or supporting evidence is limited, but the regional or cultural match to this specific claim is not precise.
Current useModerate confidence: Moderate confidence because the current use is documented in encyclopedic references, but only a single source has been found so far.
Visual matchModerate confidence: Moderate confidence because the visual match is documented in encyclopedic references, but only a single source has been found so far.

Sources

Map symbols used on Japanese topographic maps
Geospatial Information Authority of Japan (GSI) · retrieved 2026-08-23
Japan's national mapping agency's own published legend. Cited for the form and meaning of a symbol on Japanese topographic maps; the historical origin of individual symbols is cited separately where claimed.

Last reviewed 2026-08-26