Nihonbashi or Nihombashi? Why we used two different spellings

In the articles within our website, you will see two different spellings for Nihonbashi.

Typically, Japanese words are spelled out phonetically, but the letter “ ん” is spelled with either an “n” or “m”, depending on how you want to pronounce it. In fact, these mixed spellings can be seen on the streets of Nihonbashi and other areas as well.

In regards to this variation in spelling, we have established our own set of rules.

We’ve decided to adhere to the brand identities, by using Nihombashi for the names of certain stores and facilities.

Articles using the spelling Nihombashi include:

• Nihombashi Mitsukoshi Main Store
• Nihombashi Takashimaya
• Nihombashi Walkabout, etc.

For others, we used Nihonbashi which is now the standard for addresses and road signs.

Articles using the spelling Nihonbashi include:

• COREDO：Explore Japanese Culture
• Omotenashi Nihonbashi
• Centuries of Craftsmanship : Nihonbashi Saruya, etc.

We hope you understand our intention and the nuances of Japanese linguistics.