This is 3Bits & Change, an email about building a service and retail business. This one was written to some groves off a playlist I created from Peloton Sessions.
Good day,
When you don’t have a car you become dependent on others to drive trains and busses, have limited time and physical range and you walk, alot.
And yet, I want to explore
Maybe it’s American. I don’t know. That’s what the Airbnb guy said about our last blitz trip through Spain on “Adventure.”
Anway… I wanted to drive.
The festival was big but I accomplished so many of my goals on the first day that the thought of heading over the mountains, through a few ski resorts and out to the coast before buying knives at Takefu was just so captivating in comparison.
I resolved to rent a car.
Afterall, the Americans I met the day before had. I figured I could figure this out. I had the time. I was determined.
Before the sword forge event the night before I had walked 20 mins up the road to a Toyota Rental car facility. With the help of Google Translate and 20 mins I learned that a car would be available the next day. All I needed was an International Driver’s License.
A quick Google search showed me a few options for obtaining a digital one and an option for a physical one too. So, I made my application and waited for the reply email and login to access my license.
I woke up around 2:30AM local (12:30PM the day prior at home) and checked my email. Nothing. I checked again at 3:30AM and it was there! Wahoo. I was excited. I was going to get some “freedom” and some mtn adventure and north ocean coast action plus a few more kitchen knives. I was so excited.
I walked the 20 mins to the train, early. It turns out when I hopped of the train I tripped on a show where one of our makers was exhibiting. I stopped in and chatted them up, cut it a bit short and headed to snag the car. I was headed to the mtns afterall!
Digital is not physical, in Japan
The next 20 minutes of Google translate with the rental car folk did not provide a favorable result like all my other attempts to date. I needed a “physical” international drivers license. That translated to no car for me. I was disappointed. I walked to the Mitsubishi dealer next door, sat down and plotted my next steps - for like 20 mins.
I resolved to pay more for an international license from a different group and try to rent again at a different place. :) It was a 39 minute walk away. Ride-share has not arrived to this town - at least not for foreigners like me. The number for the Taxi place only had a Japanese speaking person on the other side. I could not find a way to tell them my address effectively over the phone. And I could not get the GO taxi app to work because I don’t have a Japanese mobile number. But, the fast license came from the other “authority,” this time translated to Japanese. That was a good sign.
I started walking.
And, you see the darndest things when walking.
Oh, g.damn*t
Upon walking into the second rental place I said “hello” and the nice lady behind the counter tried speaking English. She stumbled a bit, smiled and resolved to just say “Oh, G.damn*t,” in a very New York accent F•R•I•E•N•D•S kind of way.
It was so funny!
She came back with a three ring binder. I grabbed Google Translate and turned the speaker toward her. About 20 minutes later… I had no car. And, I was not getting a car.
I sat in the lobby of mismatched couches with kids giggling all around while their parents got cars and resolved to get a physical international drivers license (never knew they existed much less that I needed one) once I got home. Oh, and I found a Starbucks. I could see one on the map. It was the only one for miles and towns and towns but it was just a 20 min walk away.
Different cultures have different norms. In Japan you need a PHYSICAL International Drivers Lic if you’re from America and want to rent a car. They also largely don’t take laptops to Starbucks and work alone. Folks go in pairs, and simply sit and chat with each other. The mobile phone comes out, sometimes, but not often (unless your under 10). It’s really refreshing to sit with folks just chatting. ANd this was not just a small town thing. I’ve found this to be true in Tokyo too.
Sum
A few more snaps and commentary follow from the rest of the day: It started to rain. You can walk faster than the bus that was 11 mins late! The Steak and fries outside the knife museum were so much better than white-bread egg sandwiches from the roadside store. And, I’ll can try to get a car and to the mtns and north coast of Japan another day.
Change
Get a physical international drivers license. They can be good for 10 years from what I’ve read. Double check with triple A, OK? If I had known I’d have more photos of mtns, the northern coast and knives from Takefu. Instead I have stories from a full day of walking. 20k steps. My trainer is going to be so happy with my progress.
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