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A Golden Pin in Osaka Has Anchored Japan's Road Distances Since 1922
A golden pin installed in Osaka in 1922 marked the datum for seven national roads, setting where all road distances in the network are measured from.
When you see a road sign showing the distance to a city, that number traces back to a fixed reference point. In Osaka, Japan, that reference is a golden pin.
The marker was established in 1922 under Japan's 1919 Road Act as the origin for seven national roads. The current marker dates to 1957, though its granite plate goes back to 1919.
- 1922
- Datum Installed
- Seven
- National Roads
- Dates to 1957
- Current Marker
- Osaka, Japan
- Location
Why it mattersRoad distances seem like abstract numbers until you know they trace back to a single physical marker; Japan's has anchored its national road network since 1922.
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