I am familiar with two reverse geocoding APIs – Google Maps and foursquare. Both have problems. Consider lat,lng = 35.699,139.707 (Tokyo).
Foursquare:
GET https://api.foursquare.com/v2/venues/search?ll=35.699,139.707&oauth_token=5TJR4WQZSOW0ZWTE4ENMXKO3Y415252GITEMRPQIVPMEGCYK&v=20120723&limit=1
yields the following result:
{
"meta": {
"code": 200
},
"notifications": [
{
"type": "notificationTray",
"item": {
"unreadCount": 0
}
}
],
"response": {
"venues": [
{
"id": "4b64ebedf964a520e3d92ae3",
"name": "まいどおおきに食堂 東新宿食堂",
"contact": {
"phone": "0352911870",
"formattedPhone": "03-5291-1870"
},
"location": {
"address": "大久保1-1-45",
"crossStreet": "新宿セントラルハイツプラザ 1F",
"lat": 35.698492646211,
"lng": 139.707271456718,
"distance": 61,
"postalCode": "169-0072",
"city": "新宿区",
"state": "東京都",
"country": "Japan",
"cc": "JP"
},
"categories": [
{
"id": "4bf58dd8d48988d111941735",
"name": "Restaurant japonais",
"pluralName": "Restaurants japonais",
"shortName": "Japonaise",
"icon": {
"prefix": "https://foursquare.com/img/categories_v2/food/japanese_",
"suffix": ".png"
},
"primary": true
}
],
"verified": false,
"stats": {
"checkinsCount": 191,
"usersCount": 100,
"tipCount": 1
},
"url": "http://www.shokudo.jp/",
"likes": {
"count": 0,
"groups": []
},
"specials": {
"count": 0,
"items": []
},
"hereNow": {
"count": 0,
"groups": []
}
}
]
}
}
I am only interested in the response.venues[0].location.city entry. Unfortunately, I do not know Japanese, so I cannot tell what it is. Well, google says it is Shinjuku – one of the special wards of Tokyo.
Google Maps:
GET http://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/geocode/json?sensor=false&language=en&latlng=35.699,139.707
yields:
{
"results" : [
{
"address_components" : [
{
"long_name" : "４１",
"short_name" : "４１",
"types" : [ "sublocality_level_4", "sublocality", "political" ]
},
{
"long_name" : "１",
"short_name" : "１",
"types" : [ "sublocality_level_3", "sublocality", "political" ]
},
{
"long_name" : "１丁目",
"short_name" : "１丁目",
"types" : [ "sublocality_level_2", "sublocality", "political" ]
},
{
"long_name" : "Okubo",
"short_name" : "Okubo",
"types" : [ "sublocality_level_1", "sublocality", "political" ]
},
{
"long_name" : "Shinjuku",
"short_name" : "Shinjuku",
"types" : [ "locality", "political" ]
},
{
"long_name" : "Tokyo",
"short_name" : "Tokyo",
"types" : [ "administrative_area_level_1", "political" ]
},
{
"long_name" : "Japan",
"short_name" : "JP",
"types" : [ "country", "political" ]
}
],
"formatted_address" : "Japan, Tokyo, Shinjuku, Okubo, １丁目１−４１",
"geometry" : {
"location" : {
"lat" : 35.69893960,
"lng" : 139.7069460
},
"location_type" : "APPROXIMATE",
"viewport" : {
"northeast" : {
"lat" : 35.70028858029149,
"lng" : 139.7082949802915
},
"southwest" : {
"lat" : 35.69759061970850,
"lng" : 139.7055970197085
}
}
},
"types" : [ "sublocality_level_4", "sublocality", "political" ]
},
{
"address_components" : [
{
"long_name" : "169-8540",
"short_name" : "169-8540",
"types" : [ "postal_code" ]
},
{
"long_name" : "２",
"short_name" : "２",
"types" : [ "sublocality_level_3", "sublocality", "political" ]
},
{
"long_name" : "１丁目",
"short_name" : "１丁目",
"types" : [ "sublocality_level_2", "sublocality", "political" ]
},
{
"long_name" : "Okubo",
"short_name" : "Okubo",
"types" : [ "sublocality_level_1", "sublocality", "political" ]
},
{
"long_name" : "Shinjuku",
"short_name" : "Shinjuku",
"types" : [ "locality", "political" ]
},
{
"long_name" : "Tokyo",
"short_name" : "Tokyo",
"types" : [ "administrative_area_level_1", "political" ]
},
{
"long_name" : "Japan",
"short_name" : "JP",
"types" : [ "country", "political" ]
}
],
"formatted_address" : "１丁目-２ Okubo, Shinjuku, Tokyo 169-8540, Japan",
"geometry" : {
"location" : {
"lat" : 35.69946460,
"lng" : 139.70746810
},
"location_type" : "APPROXIMATE",
"viewport" : {
"northeast" : {
"lat" : 35.70081358029149,
"lng" : 139.7088170802915
},
"southwest" : {
"lat" : 35.69811561970850,
"lng" : 139.7061191197085
}
}
},
"types" : [ "postal_code" ]
},
{
"address_components" : [
{
"long_name" : "１",
"short_name" : "１",
"types" : [ "sublocality_level_3", "sublocality", "political" ]
},
{
"long_name" : "１丁目",
"short_name" : "１丁目",
"types" : [ "sublocality_level_2", "sublocality", "political" ]
},
{
"long_name" : "Okubo",
"short_name" : "Okubo",
"types" : [ "sublocality_level_1", "sublocality", "political" ]
},
{
"long_name" : "Shinjuku",
"short_name" : "Shinjuku",
"types" : [ "locality", "political" ]
},
{
"long_name" : "Tokyo",
"short_name" : "Tokyo",
"types" : [ "administrative_area_level_1", "political" ]
},
{
"long_name" : "Japan",
"short_name" : "JP",
"types" : [ "country", "political" ]
}
],
"formatted_address" : "Japan, Tokyo, Shinjuku, Okubo, １丁目１",
"geometry" : {
"bounds" : {
"northeast" : {
"lat" : 35.69984490,
"lng" : 139.70749510
},
"southwest" : {
"lat" : 35.69787060,
"lng" : 139.70506090
}
},
"location" : {
"lat" : 35.69880630,
"lng" : 139.70610160
},
"location_type" : "APPROXIMATE",
"viewport" : {
"northeast" : {
"lat" : 35.70020673029150,
"lng" : 139.7076269802915
},
"southwest" : {
"lat" : 35.69750876970850,
"lng" : 139.7049290197085
}
}
},
"types" : [ "sublocality_level_3", "sublocality", "political" ]
},
{
"address_components" : [
{
"long_name" : "１丁目",
"short_name" : "１丁目",
"types" : [ "sublocality_level_2", "sublocality", "political" ]
},
{
"long_name" : "Okubo",
"short_name" : "Okubo",
"types" : [ "sublocality_level_1", "sublocality", "political" ]
},
{
"long_name" : "Shinjuku",
"short_name" : "Shinjuku",
"types" : [ "locality", "political" ]
},
{
"long_name" : "Tokyo",
"short_name" : "Tokyo",
"types" : [ "administrative_area_level_1", "political" ]
},
{
"long_name" : "Japan",
"short_name" : "JP",
"types" : [ "country", "political" ]
}
],
"formatted_address" : "Japan, Tokyo, Shinjuku, Okubo, １丁目",
"geometry" : {
"bounds" : {
"northeast" : {
"lat" : 35.70128920,
"lng" : 139.70796940
},
"southwest" : {
"lat" : 35.69787060,
"lng" : 139.7019760
}
},
"location" : {
"lat" : 35.69868950,
"lng" : 139.70306310
},
"location_type" : "APPROXIMATE",
"viewport" : {
"northeast" : {
"lat" : 35.70128920,
"lng" : 139.70796940
},
"southwest" : {
"lat" : 35.69787060,
"lng" : 139.7019760
}
}
},
"types" : [ "sublocality_level_2", "sublocality", "political" ]
},
{
"address_components" : [
{
"long_name" : "Okubo",
"short_name" : "Okubo",
"types" : [ "sublocality_level_1", "sublocality", "political" ]
},
{
"long_name" : "Shinjuku",
"short_name" : "Shinjuku",
"types" : [ "locality", "political" ]
},
{
"long_name" : "Tokyo",
"short_name" : "Tokyo",
"types" : [ "administrative_area_level_1", "political" ]
},
{
"long_name" : "Japan",
"short_name" : "JP",
"types" : [ "country", "political" ]
}
],
"formatted_address" : "Okubo, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan",
"geometry" : {
"bounds" : {
"northeast" : {
"lat" : 35.70956610,
"lng" : 139.7091340
},
"southwest" : {
"lat" : 35.69787310,
"lng" : 139.70060080
}
},
"location" : {
"lat" : 35.70418340,
"lng" : 139.70558750
},
"location_type" : "APPROXIMATE",
"viewport" : {
"northeast" : {
"lat" : 35.70956610,
"lng" : 139.7091340
},
"southwest" : {
"lat" : 35.69787310,
"lng" : 139.70060080
}
}
},
"types" : [ "sublocality_level_1", "sublocality", "political" ]
},
{
"address_components" : [
{
"long_name" : "Higashishinjuku Station",
"short_name" : "Higashishinjuku Station",
"types" : [ "train_station", "transit_station", "establishment" ]
},
{
"long_name" : "２７",
"short_name" : "２７",
"types" : [ "sublocality_level_3", "sublocality", "political" ]
},
{
"long_name" : "７丁目",
"short_name" : "７丁目",
"types" : [ "sublocality_level_2", "sublocality", "political" ]
},
{
"long_name" : "Shinjuku",
"short_name" : "Shinjuku",
"types" : [ "sublocality_level_1", "sublocality", "political" ]
},
{
"long_name" : "Shinjuku",
"short_name" : "Shinjuku",
"types" : [ "locality", "political" ]
},
{
"long_name" : "Tokyo",
"short_name" : "Tokyo",
"types" : [ "administrative_area_level_1", "political" ]
},
{
"long_name" : "Japan",
"short_name" : "JP",
"types" : [ "country", "political" ]
}
],
"formatted_address" : "Higashishinjuku Station, ７丁目-２７ Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan",
"geometry" : {
"bounds" : {
"northeast" : {
"lat" : 35.7050830,
"lng" : 139.7144590
},
"southwest" : {
"lat" : 35.6926030,
"lng" : 139.7000410
}
},
"location" : {
"lat" : 35.697920,
"lng" : 139.7075490
},
"location_type" : "APPROXIMATE",
"viewport" : {
"northeast" : {
"lat" : 35.7050830,
"lng" : 139.7144590
},
"southwest" : {
"lat" : 35.6926030,
"lng" : 139.7000410
}
}
},
"types" : [ "train_station", "transit_station", "establishment" ]
},
{
"address_components" : [
{
"long_name" : "169-0072",
"short_name" : "169-0072",
"types" : [ "postal_code" ]
},
{
"long_name" : "Okubo",
"short_name" : "Okubo",
"types" : [ "sublocality_level_1", "sublocality", "political" ]
},
{
"long_name" : "Shinjuku",
"short_name" : "Shinjuku",
"types" : [ "locality", "political" ]
},
{
"long_name" : "Tokyo",
"short_name" : "Tokyo",
"types" : [ "administrative_area_level_1", "political" ]
},
{
"long_name" : "Japan",
"short_name" : "JP",
"types" : [ "country", "political" ]
}
],
"formatted_address" : "Okubo, Shinjuku, Tokyo 169-0072, Japan",
"geometry" : {
"bounds" : {
"northeast" : {
"lat" : 35.70972520,
"lng" : 139.71028470
},
"southwest" : {
"lat" : 35.69710930,
"lng" : 139.69624280
}
},
"location" : {
"lat" : 35.70418340,
"lng" : 139.70558750
},
"location_type" : "APPROXIMATE",
"viewport" : {
"northeast" : {
"lat" : 35.70972520,
"lng" : 139.71028470
},
"southwest" : {
"lat" : 35.69710930,
"lng" : 139.69624280
}
}
},
"types" : [ "postal_code" ]
},
{
"address_components" : [
{
"long_name" : "Shinokubo Station",
"short_name" : "Shinokubo Station",
"types" : [ "train_station", "transit_station", "establishment" ]
},
{
"long_name" : "１０",
"short_name" : "１０",
"types" : [ "sublocality_level_3", "sublocality", "political" ]
},
{
"long_name" : "１丁目",
"short_name" : "１丁目",
"types" : [ "sublocality_level_2", "sublocality", "political" ]
},
{
"long_name" : "Hyakunincho",
"short_name" : "Hyakunincho",
"types" : [ "sublocality_level_1", "sublocality", "political" ]
},
{
"long_name" : "Shinjuku",
"short_name" : "Shinjuku",
"types" : [ "locality", "political" ]
},
{
"long_name" : "Tokyo",
"short_name" : "Tokyo",
"types" : [ "administrative_area_level_1", "political" ]
},
{
"long_name" : "Japan",
"short_name" : "JP",
"types" : [ "country", "political" ]
}
],
"formatted_address" : "Shinokubo Station, １丁目-１０ Hyakunincho, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan",
"geometry" : {
"bounds" : {
"northeast" : {
"lat" : 35.7078270,
"lng" : 139.708840
},
"southwest" : {
"lat" : 35.6953970,
"lng" : 139.6937970
}
},
"location" : {
"lat" : 35.7013060,
"lng" : 139.7000440
},
"location_type" : "APPROXIMATE",
"viewport" : {
"northeast" : {
"lat" : 35.7078270,
"lng" : 139.708840
},
"southwest" : {
"lat" : 35.6953970,
"lng" : 139.6937970
}
}
},
"types" : [ "train_station", "transit_station", "establishment" ]
},
{
"address_components" : [
{
"long_name" : "Shinjuku Station",
"short_name" : "Shinjuku Station",
"types" : [ "train_station", "transit_station", "establishment" ]
},
{
"long_name" : "３８",
"short_name" : "３８",
"types" : [ "sublocality_level_3", "sublocality", "political" ]
},
{
"long_name" : "３丁目",
"short_name" : "３丁目",
"types" : [ "sublocality_level_2", "sublocality", "political" ]
},
{
"long_name" : "Shinjuku",
"short_name" : "Shinjuku",
"types" : [ "sublocality_level_1", "sublocality", "political" ]
},
{
"long_name" : "Shinjuku",
"short_name" : "Shinjuku",
"types" : [ "locality", "political" ]
},
{
"long_name" : "Tokyo",
"short_name" : "Tokyo",
"types" : [ "administrative_area_level_1", "political" ]
},
{
"long_name" : "Japan",
"short_name" : "JP",
"types" : [ "country", "political" ]
}
],
"formatted_address" : "Shinjuku Station, ３丁目-３８ Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan",
"geometry" : {
"bounds" : {
"northeast" : {
"lat" : 35.7005790,
"lng" : 139.7124960
},
"southwest" : {
"lat" : 35.6812220,
"lng" : 139.6878250
}
},
"location" : {
"lat" : 35.6909210,
"lng" : 139.7002580
},
"location_type" : "APPROXIMATE",
"viewport" : {
"northeast" : {
"lat" : 35.7005790,
"lng" : 139.7124960
},
"southwest" : {
"lat" : 35.6812220,
"lng" : 139.6878250
}
}
},
"types" : [ "train_station", "transit_station", "establishment" ]
},
{
"address_components" : [
{
"long_name" : "160-0022",
"short_name" : "160-0022",
"types" : [ "postal_code" ]
},
{
"long_name" : "Shinjuku",
"short_name" : "Shinjuku",
"types" : [ "sublocality_level_1", "sublocality", "political" ]
},
{
"long_name" : "Shinjuku",
"short_name" : "Shinjuku",
"types" : [ "locality", "political" ]
},
{
"long_name" : "Tokyo",
"short_name" : "Tokyo",
"types" : [ "administrative_area_level_1", "political" ]
},
{
"long_name" : "Japan",
"short_name" : "JP",
"types" : [ "country", "political" ]
}
],
"formatted_address" : "Shinjuku, Tokyo 160-0022, Japan",
"geometry" : {
"bounds" : {
"northeast" : {
"lat" : 35.70311470,
"lng" : 139.71922230
},
"southwest" : {
"lat" : 35.68222330,
"lng" : 139.69241360
}
},
"location" : {
"lat" : 35.69110170,
"lng" : 139.7067630
},
"location_type" : "APPROXIMATE",
"viewport" : {
"northeast" : {
"lat" : 35.70311470,
"lng" : 139.71922230
},
"southwest" : {
"lat" : 35.68222330,
"lng" : 139.69241360
}
}
},
"types" : [ "postal_code" ]
},
/* REMOVED FOR BREVITY */
],
"status" : "OK"
}
Google Maps API is in English, but its results are too low level. For instance, cities and towns are normally identified with the locality type. Here the locality is Shinjuku, which is one of the special wards of Tokyo, but it is an implementation detail of the administration system of Tokyo. I want to get Tokyo as the city. Of course, I could search for the administrative_area_level_1 type token instead of the locality, knowing that Tokyo is actually one of the Japan prefectures.
The foursquare API has the same problem, it reports the city as Shinjuku and the state as Tokyo, only both as in Japanese!
Are there any simple high level reverse geocoding API which returns common sense results? I mean, no one outside Japan says “I am going to Shinjuku”. People say “I am going to Tokyo”.
Thanks.
The Yahoo Maps API may be able to help you out, because it offers the ability to set the precision.