Google to reshoot street views of Japanese cities

Thursday 14th May, 06:19 AM JST

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jonnyboy at 10:36 AM JST - 14th May

there is a case to be made if the views are "higher" than what one would normally be able to see from the street. the nosey neighbour view is also valid,　but i think that if the views are "passerby" viewpoints then most criticism becomes moot
noborito at 10:59 AM JST - 14th May

I love this service. Why would license plates be so guarded? Walking down the street I can see them just sitting there in plain view. Goggle you know the address, you can cross reference this with online phone books, and wala... name of owner. and a car has more protection? why?

As for photos of houses, keep your yard and outside area clean. Do us all a favor.
studebaker at 11:15 AM JST - 14th May

I'm very tall, and can see over a lot of the fences in residential neighborhoods. Should there be some 'Prevention of tall people walking in residential neighborhoods' act?
Weasel at 11:42 AM JST - 14th May

They took a picture of my house on garbage day with the trash cans out front. Photogenic indeed.
soldave at 11:48 AM JST - 14th May

This will probably be like Google Earth in general and will all blow over and not be used by so many people after the initial interest in it has worn off.
societymike at 12:20 PM JST - 14th May

Street view in Tokyo!?! Awesome! I am in need of a new bike but can't afford it, now thanks to google street view, I can find my new bike for free from the comfort of my own home and without any witnesses. Then just wait until dark and go take the bike..... or car, or valuables, etc

Kidding aside, see my point? People are already using it in Cali for home invasions. Now instead of staking out a neighborhood and showing your face around town snooping around, you can simply surf the net and expand your search for other peoples property.

You guys are seriously OK with this? Maybe YOU are ok with being photo'd but many others (especially japanese) are private people, and privacy must be respected.
Freddy5 at 12:30 PM JST - 14th May

I understand their next plan is to come into your house or apartment and photograph all your rooms as a service to anyone who may buy or rent it in future.

Of course, if you're doing nothing wrong at home you have nothing to worry about.
DeepAir65 at 12:53 PM JST - 14th May

I know when our street was done last year as our house is in the process of being built on it!

Personally I like the street view service and find it very useful.
combinibento at 01:31 PM JST - 14th May

There is nothing wrong with the service so long as it is true to its name and is a "street" view. But the problem comes when they are giving users access into your yard and home windows not otherwise visible from the street. Honestly, if there was a peeping tom outside the fence with a video camera on a pole, like a periscope looking into my property and taking photos, I'd have a serious problem with that. Google is basically doing the same thing here with its improperly high cameras.
dennis0bauer at 03:33 PM JST - 14th May

Tjrandom in Japan that would mean 1.6 meters in Japan.

But i guess it is a very usefull tool for stalkers, thieves and nutjobes
ANOTSUSAGAMI at 05:01 AM JST - 15th May

Well until Japan develops a address system it's citizens can actually use, I vote for the street veiw to stay. I'll actually be using it to find a culture center that I CANNOT find an address for this morning. Why don't government websites have the addresses of all the government buildings in which they have events? They don't want people to show up? Even Japanese people who've lived here all thier lives need maps to get anywhere new. Most of them are poorly drawn and people are still like WTF.
clodhopperOne at 11:21 AM JST - 15th May

I find it very useful. I dont much care abt the people or Cars. It helps me locate the address well & Explore new areas in the vincinity where I wish to go but too lazy to drive down or take my Chari...
memyselfI at 09:59 AM JST - 17th May

Let google do it !!! It helped me find a few places in the city. Let the people complain. I would rather focus my attention on governments spying on it's citizens en worrying about a map making company.
PepinGalarga at 12:04 PM JST - 18th May

streetview is a neccesity in Japan, where maps suck.

as a compromise, yes, lower the camera a bit and dont film on garbage days. also post on their website which nighborhoods they will be scoping. that wouldnt be too hard for them to do.

since everyone and their dog has a mistress (or mister haha) in japan, yes, keep blurring the license plates, as if that would prevent anyone from getting busted anyway.
jackfish at 09:42 AM JST - 19th May

There is no law stopping me from walking around on the street and taking photos. So what's the problem? Maybe some people don't like having their photo taken, but it still isn't illegal. Maybe this is simply a PR move by Google.