TOKYO REPORT: Will 7-Character Digital Addresses Catch On in Japan?

Tokyo, March 30 (Jiji Press)–Japan Post Co. and other organizations are promoting wider use of a service known as Digital Address, which uses a seven-character alphanumeric code to identify physical locations. If adopted on a broad scale, the system could help solve problems caused by inconsistent address formatting, such as omitted information and the use of abbreviated characters, and by writing mistakes. It could also reduce inconveniences including that of entering addresses by hand. As the number of situations in which Digital Address can be used gradually expands, including on online shopping sites and at hotels, attention is turning to whether the service can gain traction as a new form of social infrastructure. Inconveniences, Frustrations Digital Address is a new service launched by Japan Post in May 2025. It converts a physical address into a seven-character code consisting of numbers and English letters. Users can obtain a Digital Address free of charge by registering for a “Yu ID,” which is required to access Japan Post group services, and then linking their physical address via the post office’s smartphone app or website. When used with compatible services, such as the post office app, the full address–including the street number, building name and even room number–is filled in automatically. If a user moves, the address is updated automatically once the information linked to the ID is revised. Explaining the reason for introducing the service, Koichiro Zaizen, general manager of Japan Post’s DX Strategy Division, said that “physical addresses have so many issues that they could collectively be described as a social problem.” In everyday life, people are frequently required to write or enter their addresses, whether on government application forms or service contracts. Yet these tasks often come with inconvenience and frustration. Handwriting addresses is time-consuming and prone to error, while digital entry can also lead to mistakes, especially because of differences between full-width and half-width characters. Post offices also say that some mail cannot be delivered because of incomplete or incorrect addresses, resulting in items being classified as “unknown addresses.” Use at Hotels Digital addresses are expected to help solve these challenges. They can eliminate the hassle of filling out forms, reduce the risk of errors, and make it easier to update address information after a relocation through a single procedure. The service may also prove useful in helping foreign tourists unfamiliar with Japanese communicate their destinations more easily. Some companies have already started adopting the technology. Last July, hotel operator Apa Group introduced the Digital Address service at check-in terminals across its hotels, to shorten the time needed for guests to complete registration forms. In January, Japan Post formed a consortium with Apa Group, digital conglomerate Rakuten Group Inc., Aflac Life Insurance Japan Ltd. and other companies. In fiscal 2026, the consortium is set to explore the use of Digital Address information for deliveries related to e-commerce services, including online shopping, while also seeking to expand participation and identify additional uses for the data. The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications and the Digital Agency also participate in the consortium as observers. For Widespread Adoption Digital Addresses are expected to offer a wide range of benefits, and Japan Post hopes to expand their use across sectors such as logistics, finance, tourism and transportation. Still, it may take time for the service to achieve widespread adoption. Japan Post plans to promote it carefully while remaining mindful of concerns such as public resistance related to the protection of personal information. Its goal is to firmly establish the service in Japanese society within the next 10 years or so. Sachiko Saigo, a senior official responsible for the Digital Address service at Japan Post’s DX Strategy Division, is enthusiastic about its growth potential. “In the future, we want to ‘democratize’ addresses by allowing users themselves to add information such as latitude and longitude, or indicate whether a property is a detached house,” she said. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]