Why Geocoder from Google Maps is returning japanese character?

Question

I have a method with body like this:

Address address = new Geocoder(context).getFromLocation(latitude, longitude, 5).get(0);
return address.getThoroughfare()         


        

Answer 1

The constructor of the Geocoder class takes a Locale Object as parameter. With this you can have the output in any supported language. If you don't set a explicit local, as in your snippet, Locale.getDefault() will be used by default.

Address address = new Geocoder(context, Locale.ENGLISH)
        .getFromLocation(latitude, longitude, 5).get(0);

Answer 2

It returns that way because that's how it's labeled in Google Maps. The Japanese characters you see(アウファヴィーレ) are the representation for Alphaville, a development company in that area.

Why someone labeled it in Japanese, I don't know. There's not much you can do about it, though. Other locations nearby aren't labeled this way.