JapanNewbie

Hokkaido Fun #1

Posted on 21. Dec, 2005 @ 1:20 am by harvey in Culture Views: 459

Found cheap tickets so decided to take a trip up to Hokkaido and ensure that my plans to avoid all good weather this winter would be a success.

A handy thing about Hokkaido, is that if you get lost, all you have to do is find the nearest “外国人デスク” (Foreigner Desk) and you can get all your questions answered.

Like…

Q: Why do kimono ladies in Hokkaido have rubber shoes over their traditional sandals (草履 ぞうり)?

A: I think it’s so their socks don’t get wet in the snow. I almost slipped and fell 37 times while I was there, so I hope those rubber slipper covers have metal soccer spikes on the bottom as well.

Q: Why is it so friggin’ cold!?

A: Not sure, but this train is frozen.

Funny thing about the Gaikokujin Desk sign though. It’s written in Japanese. So it seems that it is there in case any native Japanese accidently spots the helpful lady behind the counter and thinks that “Hokkaido Railways Information Desk” can provide some useful railway information too. Nope! Read the sign! Step off! This is the Gaikokujin Desk thank you very much. Service for foreigners only?

In all seriousness though, Hokkaido people seemed to be nice. I’m sure this funny sign is just a strange logical way to make things more efficient.

More relevant Hokkaido stuff later!

- Harvey