Hello, I am Yoshi from NILS Japanese language school. Today’s lesson is…
[N1(thing/person/place)の　N2(position)]
うえ, した, まえ, うしろ, みぎ, ひだり, なか, そと, となり, ちかく and あいだ are nouns denoting position.
(Example)
机の　上（うえ）に　写真（しゃしん）が　あります。　　There is a picture on the desk.
郵便局（ゆうびんきょく）は　銀行（ぎんこう）の　となりに　あります。　　The post office is next to the bank.
*写真：　a picture, a photo
*郵便局：　a post office
*銀行：　a bank

Note that not only に but also particles like で can come after them as these are place nouns.
(Example)
駅（えき）の　近（ちか）くで　友達（ともだち）に　会（あ）いました。　　I met a friend near the station.
*駅：　a station
*友達：　a friend

[Vocabulary for Position]
*うえ　上：　on above, over
*した　下：　under, below, beneath
*まえ　前：　front, before
*うしろ：　back, behind
*みぎ　右：　right [side]
*ひだり　左：　left [side]
*なか　中：　in, inside
*そと　外：　outside
*となり　隣：　next, next door
*ちかく　近く：　near, vicinity
*あいだ　間：　between, among

August 3rd News, from NILS Japanese language school.