The National Route Cards newly launched by Zenrin's Map Design GALLERY have become a talking point. Each pack contains 7 cards depicting national routes on maps and listing their starting points, endpoints, total lengths and the distances of maritime sections. The packs are priced at ¥550, including tax.
The National Route Cards produced by Map Design GALLERY, the lifestyle-goods brand of Zenrin, known for its residential maps, are attracting attention as an item that offers a new way to enjoy maps. The cards depict national route maps, with the front listing starting points, endpoints, total lengths, distances of maritime sections and the prefectures traversed. The back is designed to provide an overview of the routes' locations and coverage across the Japanese archipelago.
Officially, the series began with 153 routes, comprising 76 routes in the first release and 77 in the second. Further releases are scheduled sequentially through the sixth. Japan has national routes numbered from 1 to 507, but 48 numbers are unused, bringing the total number of routes to 459.
The cards will launch in September this year, with each pack of 7 priced at ¥550, including tax. Consumers who take an interest are expected to enjoy researching the map information themselves as the next step, and the cards also incorporate a national-route tourism perspective.