Chikyū 33 Banchi coordinate landmark in Kōchi City river

Chikyū 33 Banchi (地球33番地) names a small, locally marked coordinate site in Kōchi City. On the Enokuchi River there is a concrete monument on the south bank and a metal symbol tower standing on the river surface reached by a short wooden passage from the north bank; the formal numeric point connected with the name is also associated with a separate spot a few hundred metres away after Japan switched its geodetic standard.

What you see on arrival

The riverside installation occupies the Enokuchi River in central Kōchi City. A concrete monument, erected in May 1962 by the Kōchi Rotary Club, sits on the river’s right (south) bank. In the water itself stands a metal symbol tower; a wooden walkway from the north (left) bank leads out to it. The tower is literally on the river’s water surface, while the concrete monument faces it from the south bank.

Two related coordinate definitions and the 2002 datum change

The place is notable because of its repeating “33” numeric pattern in latitude and longitude and because Japan changed its official geodetic reference in 2002. On 1 April 2002 the Geospatial Information Authority of Japan moved from the older Japan geodetic system to the world-standard system. That change altered the mapped position of the numeric 33°33′33.333″ point by roughly several hundred metres.

The world-geodetic coordinates written as East longitude 133°33′33.333″ and North latitude 33°33′33.333″ lie near the southeast corner of Kōchi City Showa Elementary School (address: Kōchi City Hinodechō 7-47). The riverside monuments on the Enokuchi River correspond to coordinates given in the older Japan geodetic system as East longitude 133°33′23.937″ and North latitude 33°33′45.446″. The location that carries the 33.333 seconds numerically under the world system sits about 445 m southeast of the riverside monument locations; the project’s own website describes the displacement as on the order of 400 m to the southeast and notes that the river point remains the place locals continue to call “Chikyū 33 Banchi.” The small numeric differences of 0.333 seconds translate to roughly 10.3 m in latitude and 8.7 m in longitude in ground distance.

Exact marked points and addresses

• World-geodetic numeric point (values written as 133°33′33.333″ E, 33°33′33.333″ N): located at Kōchi City Hinodechō 7-47, near the southeast corner of Kōchi City Showa Elementary School. This is the position that corresponds to the 33.333 numeric values when expressed in the world geodetic system.

• Riverside monuments (positions given in the older Japan geodetic system as 133°33′23.937″ E, 33°33′45.446″ N): the north-bank approach is recorded as Kōchi City Minami-Kaneda 2-38 (left/north bank of the Enokuchi River) where a wooden access passage leads to the metal symbol tower on the water; the south-bank concrete monument stands at Kōchi City Yayoi-chō 3-16 (right/south bank).

These two closely linked but distinct points — the river monuments and the world-geodetic numeric point near the elementary school — are the elements visitors encounter under the single local name.

Getting there — tram stop names and walking routes

• To reach the world-geodetic numeric point at Hinodechō 7-47: take the Tosaden Gomen Line (operator: Tosaden) to the Chiyorichō 2-chome stop. From that stop go north along the path between “Chiyori-machi Terrace” and “Katsuretsu-tei” for about 100 m, then turn right and continue 30 m; the site is on the left adjacent to the “Ota Apartment” and immediately north of the multistorey car park of Chiyori-machi Terrace. The route runs along National Route 32.

• To reach the riverside monuments in the Enokuchi River: take the Tosaden Gomen Line to either the Hoeimachi stop or the Chiyorichō 1-chome stop and walk north about 400 m. The concrete monument on the south bank is almost due north of the Chiyorichō 1-chome stop. The wooden access passage to the metal symbol tower on the water can only be used from the north bank; to reach the tower you must first go around to the west and approach via the Ipponbashi side.

These station names and walking distances come from the local descriptions used for the two marked points.

History, local use and events

• May 1962: the Kōchi Rotary Club named the riverside area “Chikyū 33 Banchi” and established the concrete monument on the south bank.

• 3 March 1991: the Chikyū 33 Banchi Executive Committee (地球33番地実行委員会) was established. Since then the committee has held an annual “Chikyū 33 Festival” each year on 3 March.

• 1993: in response to questions about the exact point, Kōchi Prefecture constructed a monument in the Enokuchi River.

• 1996: the road opened next to the site was named “Chikyū 33 Banchi Street.”

• 1 April 2002: Japan moved its official geodetic reference from the older Japan geodetic system to the world geodetic system; the formal numeric 33.333 point under the world system is located about 445 m southeast of the riverside monument positions.

Practical notes and local services

• Access to the metal symbol tower on the river surface is possible only from the north bank; the wooden passage connects from the north side and reaching the tower requires going around to the west and using the bridge approach described above.

• An arrival certificate for Chikyū 33 Banchi is issued by the workshop for persons with severe disabilities called “Open Heart,” which is located in front of the concrete monument on the river’s right (south) bank.

• The site is notable for its unusual urban setting: coordinate points whose digits align (such as repeated 33 values) are often located at sea or in deserts, so having the marked point in a river inside a city is a comparatively rare situation.

FAQ

Where are the riverside monuments called Chikyū 33 Banchi located?

They stand on the Enokuchi River in Kōchi City with the north-bank access at Minami-Kaneda 2-38 and the south-bank concrete monument at Yayoi-chō 3-16.

What are the coordinate values involved?

The world-geodetic numeric point is recorded as 133°33′33.333″ E, 33°33′33.333″ N (near Hinodechō 7-47); the riverside monuments are given in the older Japan geodetic system as 133°33′23.937″ E, 33°33′45.446″ N.

How did the 2002 change affect the point?

On 1 April 2002 Japan adopted the world geodetic system, which placed the world-geodetic 33°33′33.333″ point about 445 m southeast of the riverside monument locations.

Where can I obtain a Chikyū 33 Banchi arrival certificate?

The arrival certificate is issued by the Open Heart workshop in front of the concrete monument on the river's south bank.