Himeji, May 25 (News On Japan) - Faded and illegible intersection signs are causing confusion and concern among residents in Himeji, a city in Hyogo Prefecture known for its iconic Himeji Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage site. With around 520,000 residents and high vehicle traffic, the deteriorating condition of road signage is becoming a serious issue, especially in areas frequented by tourists.
A drive through the city reveals numerous signs with missing or peeling letters, making them difficult—if not impossible—to read. At some intersections, only fragments of the name remain, while others are blank, with metal plates swinging precariously in the wind. One such sign, once marked "Togyo Higashi," now displays just a single character, resembling an arrow.
Particularly alarming is the condition of signs near JR Himeji Station. At a major intersection near Ho Station, all characters have completely worn off, leaving a blank white surface that provides no guidance for drivers or pedestrians. Locals and even schoolchildren have expressed frustration, with some noting that unclear signs can lead to sudden turns and near misses on the road.
Taxi drivers operating in the area report frequent confusion when navigating based on passengers’ verbal instructions or smartphone maps. In a survey of 18 intersections near Ho Station, 29 of 71 signs—or about 40%—showed significant deterioration.
The signs were mostly installed around 2005, in preparation for the 2006 National Sports Festival (Kokutai) hosted by Hyogo Prefecture. At the time, the prefectural government rapidly installed new signage to accommodate the influx of visitors. Those signs, however, are now reaching the end of their lifespan. According to manufacturers, the reflective plastic lettering used on the signs typically lasts just over a decade, depending on exposure to sunlight, exhaust fumes, and salty sea air.
Himeji has approximately 1,500 intersection signs in total, with about 850 installed during the Kokutai period. Many of these have not been maintained or replaced. The cost to replace a single intersection’s four signs is estimated at nearly 1 million yen, making a full-scale overhaul difficult under current budget constraints. Authorities say they have prioritized replacements in tourist-heavy areas and are replacing about 100 signs annually since around 2020.
A spokesperson for the local civil engineering office said they are working to secure funding and will continue replacing aging signs, adding that while no accidents have yet been directly linked to the fading signs, ensuring clear road signage remains an urgent safety priority.
Source: MBS
