Trains and memories

[khiemtran]

My favourite memento of Osaka is not a Hello Kitty doll or a baseball cap, but actually the piece of paper shown in the next photo...





This are actually the set of instructions I got from a girl at the ticket window at Tennouji Station when I asked how to change platforms to get to Kansai International Airport. In order, they are: A) at 7:14, B) Platform No. 15, C) get on one of the first four carriages, D) do not get on one of the last four because then you'll go to Wakayama, and E) look for the triangular markings on the platform, which indicate where to stand.

All this was presented clearly, cheerfully and patiently, in a performance worthy of a demonstration video, without a hint of annoyance or condescension.

On one small piece of paper, you therefore get a glimpse of both the horrendously Byzantine train system, and the astonishing culture of customer service which makes it all work. In my limited experience, the two most important things about train travel (or indeed coping with Japan in general) are that you should ask for help whenever you can (lest you end up in Wakayama) and that asking actually works to an amazing level.

Trains also featured in another important mission I had to fulfill in Osaka - I had to find a toy shinkansen to bring back for Liem. Things were looking desperate for a little while, as I found tonnes of anime and manga characters and model cars, but very few trains. At last, I struck gold at the toy section on the top floor of Yobodashi camera. There was a whole display with just about every type of Japanese train. I ended up picking up not only a sleek 500 series (foreground), but also Liem's personal favourite from wikipedia, the "Doctor Yellow" track diagnostic train.



Mission accomplished!

Comments

[green-knight.livejournal.com]

'Ask for help' is a good one when one is illiterate. Well, illiterate in Kanji. I've found that reserving seats always got me platform numbers and departure times - very difficult to get it wrong at that point.

[heleninwales.livejournal.com]

G found that asking for help worked really well in China too.

I like the trains!

[khiemtran.livejournal.com]

Yes, Liem loves them. I have to say the last time I rode the trains in China (which, to be fair, was seven or eight years ago), the level of customer service was still lightyears away from what it is in Japan.