expression, noun
intersection on a go board
Literal meaning: the crossing points of the lines on a go board.
碁盤の目に石を置く。
Place a stone on an intersection of the go board.
expression, noun
grid layout; grid pattern
Idiomatic use: describes a regular grid-like arrangement, especially of streets, resembling the intersections on a go board. Often used for city plans like Kyoto's street grid.
See also: 碁盤目状
京都の通りは碁盤の目のように整然としている。
The streets of Kyoto are laid out in a neat grid pattern.
From 碁盤 (go board) + の (possessive particle) + 目 (intersection/point). The idiomatic sense comes from the resemblance of a city grid to the pattern of intersections on a go board.