Japanese car navigation
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61)
Thu 2007/04/05 00:50
After many years of living in Japan, I never thought that I would have a need for a car because there are train stations absolutely everywhere. How wrong I could be. Now that we have been driving for nearly a year - we could not possibly live without the car. Discovering a totally new Tokyo has been much fun so far.
Now a car is not really a car without some car navigation - especially in Tokyo because many addresses dont have road names. Its quite funny actually. Take a Japanese address that ends in 6-2-12 for example.
"6" designates a block covering lets say 100x100 square meters. "2" covers a block within the 100x100 square. The "12" designates an abode "somewhere" within the "2". Finding an address can be a pain as you can imagine.
The car navigation unit (known as Carnavi) that I chose was the AVN6606HD by Fujitsu. This whole set cost around 200,000 yen.
For my first car in Tokyo, I decided to go for a second hand one as I was nervous about driving down Tokyo's narrow streets. Scratching up a second hand car is fine but not a new one. If I got a new car at the time, I could have had all this junk pre installed.
Now a car is not really a car without some car navigation - especially in Tokyo because many addresses dont have road names. Its quite funny actually. Take a Japanese address that ends in 6-2-12 for example.
"6" designates a block covering lets say 100x100 square meters. "2" covers a block within the 100x100 square. The "12" designates an abode "somewhere" within the "2". Finding an address can be a pain as you can imagine.
The car navigation unit (known as Carnavi) that I chose was the AVN6606HD by Fujitsu. This whole set cost around 200,000 yen.
For my first car in Tokyo, I decided to go for a second hand one as I was nervous about driving down Tokyo's narrow streets. Scratching up a second hand car is fine but not a new one. If I got a new car at the time, I could have had all this junk pre installed.
Packaging for the BEC106 back eye camera.
When reversing, the Carnavi screen switches to a back view. Stopped using it after getting used to the feel of the car.
Packaging for the FEC106 dual front camera.
I have Roy to blame for convincing me to buy this - it was because Fujitsu was the first to release a camera like this and he wanted to see what it was like.
It fits right on the front of the car so that you can see left and right on the Carnavi screen. Probably useful for a sports car with a long bonnet but absolutely useless for my Nissan March.
It fits right on the front of the car so that you can see left and right on the Carnavi screen. Probably useful for a sports car with a long bonnet but absolutely useless for my Nissan March.
Packaging for the CY-ET906KD ETC unit.
ETC stands for Electronic Toll Collection. Its a system which basically deducts money from your card automatically when you pass a toll gate. If you dont have one of these, you have to stop and physically pay some guy/gal before you can pass.
With the ETC system installed in your car, the gates will detect the unit and open automatically so you dont need to stop your car.
With the ETC system installed in your car, the gates will detect the unit and open automatically so you dont need to stop your car.
Packaging for the VIX 104 VICS unit.
VICS stands for Vehicle Information and Communication System - a system that transmits any traffic jams or road accidents to your Carnavi. Roads which are blocked will show up as red.
If there are accidents, the Carnavi will warn you and attempt to redirect you.
If there are accidents, the Carnavi will warn you and attempt to redirect you.
The main unit comes with a ton of lovely wires to entertain whoever is going to install it in the car.
As with all Japanese electronic goodies - the Carnavi comes with 3 telephone books which I'm never going to read.
The screen resolution is 640x350 which is more than enough.
Back of the Carnavi - looks like a mini PC.
More of these lovely wires - much of the insides of the car have to be removed to install the unit.
Some of these attach to the brake, some to measure speed and distance etc.
Some of these attach to the brake, some to measure speed and distance etc.
Was going to install the unit myself - but I am sure it would have taken me days - ended up paying something like 60,000 yen for the installation.
The before...
And after...
Doesnt exactly match the interior but my new car ( Nissan Fairlady Z ) should make up for that.
I just cant begin to tell you how advanced Japanese car navigation systems are. I feel like I have just jumped in the cockpit of an RX78 every time I get in ^^;
Doesnt exactly match the interior but my new car ( Nissan Fairlady Z ) should make up for that.
I just cant begin to tell you how advanced Japanese car navigation systems are. I feel like I have just jumped in the cockpit of an RX78 every time I get in ^^;
Punch in your destination on the touch screen (actually dont punch the screen or it will complain) using postal codes, telephone number, genre etc.
The system will then provide a few routes for you to choose from:- Toll free, Toll, Shortest distance, Avoid traffic and another one which I forgot.
The system will then provide a few routes for you to choose from:- Toll free, Toll, Shortest distance, Avoid traffic and another one which I forgot.
You have different options for display. You can have modes like 3D, overhead, zoomed in/out etc etc.
You get a nice lady who directs you all the way to your destination. She will say something like "turn left at Dennys and take the first left" (in Japanese) etc etc.
Notice the AMPM convenient store logos on the screen. If it shows you driving next to one - look up and you will see the store by your car. The accuracy is amazing - 99% of the time. The other 1% usually happens after you have been driving in circles inside a car park. The system gets dizzy and is totally inaccurate for that 1% of the time. When this happens, one just needs to drive for a bit and the system will recalibrate its bearings.
Notice the AMPM convenient store logos on the screen. If it shows you driving next to one - look up and you will see the store by your car. The accuracy is amazing - 99% of the time. The other 1% usually happens after you have been driving in circles inside a car park. The system gets dizzy and is totally inaccurate for that 1% of the time. When this happens, one just needs to drive for a bit and the system will recalibrate its bearings.
Example of 3D mode. Not having any experience with a Carnavi at the time of purchase, I thought that visuals were the most important thing but its actually the voice guide. You should be able to get to your destination by listening to her alone. Still, the display is important to give you a feeling of your surroundings.
You can set the screen to split when you reach junctions to show you how/where to turn.
Some of the 3D graphics are extremely accurate - the buildings even have shop names and billboard posters. I look up and see a Coke ad - and I will also see it plastered on the same building in the display.
The display slides forward to show the DVD,CD and hard disk slot. Comes with a 40GB HD for you to store music and videos.
This is the movie player - watch DVDs while driving. Hmmmm.
Anybody know what film this is?
This is the front camera installed under the number plate. There is a camera on either side of this device.
This is what the screen looks like when I slow down and near a T junction. I can lookout for cars, pedestrians and ewok without leaning forward - but I can do that anyway because the bonnet of my car is so short. This may come in useful when I buy my Fairlady though as the bonnet is longer.
This is what the display looks like when I switch to reverse.
The back camera - recommended for vans and sports cars with a bad rear view (that sounded strange).
Before choosing a Carnavi, its always best to go and actually play with it in a car store like Yellow Hat or Autobacs to get a feel of the system as once you make the purchase then you are going to have to stick with it and any annoyances that it comes with.
Before choosing a Carnavi, its always best to go and actually play with it in a car store like Yellow Hat or Autobacs to get a feel of the system as once you make the purchase then you are going to have to stick with it and any annoyances that it comes with.
I wrote an article on buying a house in Tok...(more)
Tue 05/30 22:15 comments (85)
Kevin in USA
i love nissans :D and now being all pro on your car now?! gundams, otaku, computer programing stuff, and now cars so much knowledge... :P
(ID #46225) Posted on 2007/04/05 02:35
GundamZZ in Toronto, Ontario
Nice navi danny! So when are you going to get your fairlady (aka 350z in NA)??
(ID #46226) Posted on 2007/04/05 02:48
HAAH HAAH HAAH! Silly Danny! You ask: "Do I drive?" It's like asking whether I breathe! *puff* *puff* *PUFF* Oh yeah! That's some good air.
(ID #46227) Posted on 2007/04/05 02:48
sweet~ My parents are going to buy me a Prius for my sixteenth birthday ^_^! Do you remember the first vehicles you ever drove? Ex: Bumper cars?
(ID #46228) Posted on 2007/04/05 02:48
Web Developer/ウェブデベロッパー, Photographer/写真や
This actually looks really cool. I do like how advanced the navigation system is. (of course at a 'nice' price :) ) As for the ETC, it's probably similar to what we have here in Singapore, the ERP (electronic road pricing) system, where we slot our cashcard into the system and money gets electronically deducted from the card when we pass through a ERP gantry. Toll-collection scheme as they call it ^___^ (Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_Road_Pricing) The front camera's cool as you could even slow down and look up at skirts :p
(ID #46229) Posted on 2007/04/05 02:48
anime/cosplay events organizer
you're going to buy a Fairlady Z? that would be so sweet ^^ here in the phils, we have something similar to the ETC which is called EC Pass (North Luzon Expressway) and the E-Pass (South Luzon Expressway) which is operated by private companies ^^ @DVD movie isn't that Minority Report?
(ID #46230) Posted on 2007/04/05 03:15
Wow, nice man. I cant afford that stuff.
(ID #46231) Posted on 2007/04/05 03:15
Email & Network Support/Administration
I suppose I could use some cameras on my pickup. As for the film, looks like the Minority Report to me. I could've used the dvd player today as I was stuck in traffic. It took me 25 minutes to go around a mile in the city traffic during the commute home. The power decided it'd be a good time for a break.
(ID #46232) Posted on 2007/04/05 03:17
Student
Thats an amazing navigation sistem. My first car came with one to but I need to update it now, it's a toyota avensis rockin down the road
(ID #46234) Posted on 2007/04/05 03:23
Link Cosplayer, Video Gamer, Amatuer Programmer, and Artist
"I feel like I have just jumped in the cockpit of an RX78 every time I get in ^^;" So Danny, do you make Gundam noises when you get in your car or when you're driving? lol
(ID #46235) Posted on 2007/04/05 03:31
Jimmie in nyc
GPS maps in Japan totally kick US gps maps' @ss. Nice redesign btw. Keep up the great work.
(ID #46236) Posted on 2007/04/05 03:36
Troubleshooter, Universal Exports
Ooooooooooooh... T^T Roy is get a new car and now you too... It's not fair, I want a new car too. ^o^ The Fairlady is one of my favorite, always has and always will be such a sweet automobile. My fiancee has been talking about a carnavi for her Colt. Here you can live without such things, but I can see why it would be nice for Japan. Where did the ETC get installed? Is it out in a visible location or hidden somewhere? I used to have a Sunshine Pass for use on the Florida Turnpike. Real hi-tech gear, a white plastic box with two pieces of sticky foam. ^^; Just put it inside on my windshield near the rearview mirror. The movie looks like Minority Report...
(ID #46237) Posted on 2007/04/05 03:52
ecchi student
I agree with Jimmie-amazing GPS!
(ID #46238) Posted on 2007/04/05 03:55
Roy in Deep in the heart of Tokyo
"I have Roy to blame for convincing me to buy this" Sheesh..it's not like I put a gun to your head and forced you to get it.
(ID #46239) Posted on 2007/04/05 04:06
Nice new nav, tho i must say it's a tad bit too expensive ($2000+$600 for installation!). As for ETC, I'm used to it (we have the world's 1st fully ETC highway here) though ours makes annoying beeping sounds when passing through the detectors. 350z!! wow I'm so jealous. Not my favorite car in that class, but still great. Are you getting the orange (default) color one?
(ID #46240) Posted on 2007/04/05 04:27
wow cool. Danny Choo, you're one of the richest otakus i have ever seen xP.
(ID #46241) Posted on 2007/04/05 04:32
Chris Taylor in Milwaukee, United States
WOW! Your carnavi blows anything in the states out of the water! Aren't you affraid that somebody might brake into your car an take your display or rip your cameras off your car? Is that something of a problem in Tokyo? Great page! Keep it up!! I love your new look!
(ID #46242) Posted on 2007/04/05 04:54
Danny, I think it might be a "Robocop" movie on your nav's display!
(ID #46243) Posted on 2007/04/05 05:17
definitely a kool upgrade in ur car! looks like a built in car navigation now
(ID #46245) Posted on 2007/04/05 05:45
heheh Danny since you saw "my" Fairlady Z (350Z) Nismo you are in love ? Well Hold on ! Soon I will get the Lotus Exgise S... I will show it to you... I am sure you will change your mind with the Salaryman Fairlady Z
(ID #46246) Posted on 2007/04/05 05:52
Part-time Slacker, Part-time Student
A Fairlady (350)Z?! That thing packs a load of horsepower (but lacks bit of interior quality). Auto or Manual? And is it the 2006 model with 296 BHP? I also heard that u can equip the 350Z with a satellite-navigation system that uses Nissan's Birdview screen.
(ID #46247) Posted on 2007/04/05 06:09
:O THe Nissan you are goingt o get is sooooo cool! I saw one the other day it was soo shiney :D As for the Navigation, i thought, when you went into full 3D mode, it looked like something out of Ghost in the Shell, if only it were in a green wire esh, then you could really feel like you were in the anime :P When you get your new car you must post up lots of nice pictures of it :D
(ID #46252) Posted on 2007/04/05 10:18
Storage Engineer
The Japanese GPS are Awesome; in France the GPS looks like a Game Boy, has when those On our premises
(ID #46253) Posted on 2007/04/05 10:22
daydreaming and planning to take over the world
Oh My... Well I've already tried several types of gps on my car....biznessss...unfortunatly..and I must say that your gps looks awesome...the 3D feature I saw on one of your pictures leaves me flabbergasted...to say the least. On the other hand ..what a relief to hear that you also have to struggle with a % of inaccuracy. Always lots of fun when that damn thing sends you back because for a brief moment it's lost in all that sattelite's junk. But once again....Oh My...I'ld to try that one out on my cheetah (car's nickname)... Oh and the Nissan.....ferociously awesome
(ID #46254) Posted on 2007/04/05 11:03
oh my god!....Danny...you are getting THE fairlady ???? that's awesome!!! can't wait to see your new car.... i am still in love with my miata mx-5 and dreaming for the NSX....
(ID #46255) Posted on 2007/04/05 11:29
Director/代表取締役
Still on my want list ^^;
(ID #199085) Posted on 2008/05/28 20:48
I still do not understand why so many western countries are still at the stone age with regards to Japan :(
(ID #46256) Posted on 2007/04/05 13:42
Information technology
*_* FANTASTIC!!! But I prefer SONY XYZ I'm using Tom Tom Navigator 6 + ipaq hx2790 in my car (MMC Smart)... ;_;
(ID #46257) Posted on 2007/04/05 14:36
Minority Report.
(ID #46258) Posted on 2007/04/05 14:58
dante in CA
Getting a Fairlady after a Micra. You must be a Nissan man. If you wanted another used car, you could have had an S15 Sylvia or quite possibly, a Skyline GT-R( though I don't think it would have been very practical). How much is gas there anyway?
(ID #46259) Posted on 2007/04/05 17:19
Thats... Hi~tech'y Danny lol.. I don't think I'll be needing one of them.. wait.. I would if I move to Japan lol Over here (in the UK) I'll just stick to TomTom and listen to Hikaru on my Ipod when driving ._.
(ID #46260) Posted on 2007/04/05 18:10
Tony in Seoul
ah danny, thats the same gps i was gona get from eclipse! they are prob the best brand out there right now, plus my faviorte racing driver, manabu orido drives the eclipse supra in super gt ^^
(ID #46262) Posted on 2007/04/05 20:14
Wow, very high tech Danny, especially the ets and vits, that would be really be helpful in the states, especially California with the frequent accidents and toll booths
(ID #46263) Posted on 2007/04/05 20:44
Pretty nice, but I don't see the need to install such an expensive piece into a 2nd hand car. Any hand held GPS is good enough since all we need to hear is the voice. Then again, I guess it's not that easy in Japan. By the way, don't watch dvd when driving. That's like asking to get yourself killed. I also have an off topic question. Is your PG strike marked with waterslide decals or stickers? From the photos I can still see the rectangle edges from the markings. I don't want to buy decals if it's just going to come out the same with the stickers. LMK, thanks
(ID #46264) Posted on 2007/04/05 22:21
I don't really see a need for the navigation system, unless you just really don't have a clue how to navigate.. some people just have a compass in their head, some like myself just remember by landmarks. The exception to the rule is unless the road system in japan is just horrible like in Thailand. roads come and dissapear randomly.
(ID #46265) Posted on 2007/04/05 22:33
When you're driving into a totally unfamiliar town, it's much more easier to drive with a GPS than block the traffic by being totally lost :P
(ID #236381) Posted on 2008/07/13 06:53
Troubleshooter, Universal Exports
By the way Danny, did Mizuki have an opinion on the carnavi? ^^; She was observing the entire process of this post. If one day you can't find her and the car is missing; well don't say you haven't been warned... ^^;
(ID #46266) Posted on 2007/04/06 00:59
Nice system! Needs to be surrounded by more Subaru Impreza though. ^_~
(ID #46267) Posted on 2007/04/06 01:02
ColdFusion Developer
Majority of cars that I saw in Japan had some form of car navigation in them. Though after wondering the streets of Japan I can see why. It's quite difficult to navigate your way around Tokyo if you don't know how the addressing system works. Also very nice if you are getting a Nissan Fairlady Z. Getting the convertible or hardtop version of the 350Z?
(ID #46268) Posted on 2007/04/06 01:24
Director/代表取締役
All, Dont know which version of the Fairlady yet but probably Auto. And the film was Minority Report. Edward, She helped me choose it ^^; Arrot, Everything changes over here within a short time. Road really do go missing! Ken, Strikes stickers are nasty stickers - Bandai folks should be beaten by a stick for doing that. SG, TomTom? Dante, I never pay attention to gas prices (I should I guess) and just tell them to fill her up. Costs about 300 yen for a full tank. Chris, The crime rate is very low here so its not too much of a problem. Kururu_lava, I still have a long way to go ^^; Rufus, I do like the orange but will probably get black instead. Edward in Michigan, Its installed inside the car. Jimmie, Thanks ^^ Demacrez, Sometimes ^o^ windbell, I never thought of that! GundamZZ, Not sure yet - need more parking space.
(ID #46269) Posted on 2007/04/06 03:03
Gordon Pekeur in south africa -cape town-
cool device Danny .... I kinda like the display!! It reminds me of "GITS - the movie"
(ID #46280) Posted on 2007/04/06 07:22
Webdesigner - Freelance
Such a big installation ! This system looks very complete, it would be excellent in my car, but i don't have enough space to install this kind of GPS...
(ID #46285) Posted on 2007/04/06 13:34
The Japanese navigating system is so good, compaired to Australian ones.
(ID #46291) Posted on 2007/04/06 23:37
Wow. Can you call in an airstrike with that avionics? Maybe you can mount a disc radome on your car roof for 360deg situation awareness. No need for a reverse camera anymore!
(ID #46292) Posted on 2007/04/07 00:15
Student Engineer
That totally kicks the pants out of Americn made GPS =O Yes I do drive. Road sizes vary, the area around where I live is rural/suburban, so you see smaller streets (for horse and buggy) and huge highways (I-78). I drive a nice truck, it has a small engine so it gets about 28 miles to the gallon. That is a nice car you drive! I wouldn't dare drive something that expensive, only because insurance is a heart attack if you or someone else decides to ruin your day. Its nice to have a pickup truck when I need to haul stuff around. I mostly drive it to work and school, and will probably rarely use it once I am at college. I have actually heard that solar weather is acting up lately, 2011 being a bad year =/ Aparantly blasts from the sun can cripple GPS systems, rendering them useless. My truck has a nice stereo, good speakers, and new tires, and thats all the truck has going for it =p.
(ID #46301) Posted on 2007/04/07 03:59
i drive, i drive my beautiful 93 bmw 318i *runs to garage to hug it*, i got a cool indash dvd player with a 7inch tft screen i got off craigslist for 400, but it sucks not being able to watch the movie while i drive :( but my friends enjoy it, plan on installing my 360 soon for those days u wait outside to pick someone up for what seems like hours.....bah i need money:( ps-dont hate on me for having a bmw and complaining about money, the car was cheap, really cheap
(ID #46395) Posted on 2007/04/10 22:25
ps-how much was the march?, i hate America because we never get all the cars made my car manufactures T.T
(ID #46396) Posted on 2007/04/10 22:29
thalin
Something I find strange is that a lot of things in Japan seem to be written in English. Such as the buttons on your car navigation. I'm quite sure that was made in Japan and aren't those buttons something Japanese people need? People who might only read in Japanese?? i just found it funny that the navigation was displayed in Japanese yet the buttons were english
(ID #46600) Posted on 2007/04/15 21:45
Dom in Geneva
The movie is "Minority report" with Tom Cruise.
(ID #47414) Posted on 2007/05/05 16:53
DJ Asuka in Reims, France
I have a suggestion for a painting on your car: http://djasuka.free.fr/forza/jap01.jpg
(ID #54644) Posted on 2007/08/16 21:01
How's GPS+Traffic system works in Japan? I believe the tech is pretty "matured" in Japan. In US, started to have Traffic System just few years, and is not very updated, rather stick with your good old radio for traffic alerts.
(ID #56467) Posted on 2007/09/05 22:57
Dropping computers, starting all over again at Journalism
I'm not a car person myself, so I guess even I went to Japan to make a living (made a 20 day visiting trip once), I wouldn't get a car. I mean, it's really convenient to have one, but what's trully great on Japan is: You don't have to. Also, Danny, congrats for getting used to driving there... seems so damn confusing to me. o_O I'd probably have to walk more depending on where I go, but it's not like there's no way to reach certain places if I don't have a car... which happens a lot here in Brazil. I did get scared of loosing the last metro/trains in Tokyo late at night though. :P Anyways, I don't even have to say GPS/Navi system in Japan is light years ahead Brazil. To have GPS navigation system in Brazil, not only you have to pay/install it yourself, but also you only get the basic basic stuff... if you live in a big city. If you don't live in a big city, odds are there's not even an up to date map to use. I've heard lots of GPS related accidents involving truck drivers that relied too much on GPS...
(ID #56476) Posted on 2007/09/05 23:34
dude thats a very good looking equipment you got there ... does wonders ... but who would ever need that in singapore haha .. its really small here .. i don't think anyone can get lost for a long time
(ID #60354) Posted on 2007/10/20 15:34
wow, that's a really nice setup...
(ID #60387) Posted on 2007/10/21 00:49
Afro-ed Student
That ETC unit.. In malaysia, you can find ones about 3-4 times the size of that XD How far have we fallen?!
(ID #68531) Posted on 2008/01/02 23:57
Amazing gear for the car :D i would like to have one of those when i get my first car... or second lol
(ID #153954) Posted on 2008/03/10 19:15
Danny! You got a Nissan 350Z???!! Gosh.. That's a nice car. You must really rich! (: How much did it cost in Japan? It's quite a luxury car in Singapore. It will set you back SGD164,000 (USD120,190.55) inclusive of your Certificate of Entitlement and Road Tax. Just wondering, how much does it cost in other countries? And looking at the previous comments, you guys must be either working adults, really rich kids, or the cars must be really cheap in your country! To own a car in Singapore is like 'wow'. Nobody gets a car for his 16th birthday! It's madness. But my Japan based Singapore tour guide said cars in Japan are cheap but the parking fees, toll charges, road tax + all the other misc fees are very expensive.
(ID #199269) Posted on 2008/05/29 01:33