As I wind down my trip, and i thought to balance out what some threads were saying they feel japanese kindness are gone as I was the recipient of 2 kindness episodes and another one towards others.
- I was at a tourist information centre in an Akita area and to take a bus to a onsen ryokan. I asked the person in charge the exact bus stop as japanese bus stop can be easily missed. She immediately asked if I wanted her to call the ryokan to come pick me up from here. After i had explained the arrangement i had with ryokan was to take the bus to end stop and they will pick me up there. About 5 min before the bus time, I went to the bus stand and rain was quite heavy. Then i started hearing bear bell being sounded, lo and behold she came out the centre to accompany me and ward off bears (if you follow news, you would know the recent incidents). The bus was late, and it finally arrived like 15 min past its schedule so she waited in the cold with rain along with me and shaking the bear bell!
2.Next instance, this was in Hachinohe. There was a recent rainstorm which disrupted travels where local train travels were suspended. The shinkansen was still running which i need to get on as i had a reservation. I asked the business hotel reception to call for a taxi. All were not available despite he calling everywhere( all have been reserved in advance due to the weather), so i was lost at what to do. Just as i start to lose hope , he saw a taxi arriving nearby (dropping off a customer), so in the heavy rain and strong wind, he ran out without umbrella (though it wouldn't help as the wind was strong) to hail me a cab and got me to the shinkansen! This is not a four season or ritz carlton (even then i am not sure they would do this for customer) and is just a business hotel for salary men, so it is just so impressive that i was stunned and felt super grateful.
- This last instance happened yesterday, and it happened to others. While waiting for train at a station (platforms without roof), it started raining and the train opposite my direction was arriving soon but there is still 10min for train to arrive. Then I saw the station master coming out with umbrellas and she gave all of them one! Post that they would leave the umbrella and she would go pick them up!
For the 1st two instances, i have written google reviews and emailed the responsible parties while the 3rd one, i actually went up to compliment her for her service!
Kindness is everywhere and just that we all need to rediscover it ! For
by chri1720