Japanese map symbol for a national road number

A route number set in a rounded shield.

Also known as: Kokudo mark, Route shield

Maps & navigationRoad & transportStandard profile

Meanings

Denotes a national highway route number on a Japanese topographic map.

Officially standardisedVerified fact
Marks a national highway route number on a GSI topographic sheet.
Contexts: Maps
Officially standardisedVerified fact
Uses the same shield outline as the roadside route marker, so the number a driver sees and the number on the map are the same sign.
Contexts: Maps

A rounded shield outline containing the route figure, the shield narrowing towards its foot.

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.

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

Meanings

Denotes a national highway route number on a Japanese topographic map.

Officially standardisedVerified fact

Marks a national highway route number on a GSI topographic sheet.

Contexts: Maps

Officially standardisedVerified fact

Uses the same shield outline as the roadside route marker, so the number a driver sees and the number on the map are the same sign.

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