Language sets the scene:

Language use in the story has a significant factor in setting up the punch line (おち) of this story. The listener is not only listening to them asking about one another’s house, but also listening to them use polite speech. Polite speech isn’t usually used among friends or siblings. The use of polite speech by breaking social speech customs helps to better set up and surprise the audience with the punch line.

Directions in Japan:

Directions in Japan are rarely given with street names because street names can be confusing, ambiguous or hidden. Instead, landmarks and street blocks are often used to give detailed directions to a destination. Although, with the advent of recent technology and GPS devices becoming more commonplace, the need for this type of directions has somewhat changed. However, you can still expect to receive directions to a destination in the same way as the story, without street names.