Funny things do happen
Rain was pouring down as my train pulled into Sakata station in Yamagata Prefecture. That cool cloudy morning, I had left my shrine lodging on Mount Haguro and spent the day exploring the charming town of Tsuruoka. I was visiting the beautiful Zenpoji temple complex about 40 minutes outside the town when the rain started in the early afternoon.
I don’t mind the rain, one of my daughters in the US sent me great rain gear for hiking, but my shoes were not waterproof. I decided to head to Sakata earlier than I had planned.
Exiting the train, I passed through the ticket gate and out of the small station. My hotel was 2 km away. I was pulling a small suitcase in addition to carrying a backpack, and I was feeling a bit tired, so I opted to take a taxi.
After a quick check-in, I took off my rain jacket in my room and noticed that the chest pocket of my fleece — my dedicated ticket pocket — was open.
It was empty.
Where was my rail pass?
I checked all my pockets.
I thought hard.
Blank.
My 5-day rail pass cost ¥18,000 (about $150) and would be nearly impossible to replace. It allowed me to travel on trains, including the Shinkansen, all over northeastern Japan and down to Tokyo. And I still had 3 days left.
What had I done with my pass?
Perhaps I left it in the ticket machine at the station. When tickets are left, the machine sucks them in and deposits them in a container with used tickets.
Life had thrown me a fresh challenge.
Or was it me that had done the throwing?
My adventure leveled up
I had added another layer of adventure to my trip with a new task — find the lost rail pass.
I did an internet search for JR East’s lost and found. The woman on the line contacted the local station, and I waited while the employee sorted through every ticket from the ticket machines.
No luck.
The taxi company phone number was on the receipt. I gave them a call. In a few minutes, they called me back. No rail pass was left in the taxi.
Then I was really puzzled.
My mind was completely blank from the time I walked to the turnstile until I decided to take the taxi.
There was nothing left to do.
I decided to go to the station and look on the floor. Maybe I had dropped it.
The rain was still falling. I didn’t want to spend money on another taxi. This trip was a gift from one of my sons. Money is tight these days. Because of the pandemic, I have lost all income from leading tours and many of the classes I used to teach. I would save money and walk.
Then, not wanting to ruin my non-waterproof shoes, I opted to run.
I ran 2 km to the station.
I am not a runner. A swimmer, yes. A hiker, a walker. But running is not my sport. Yet, I did it with relative ease.
After patting myself on the back for my impressive stamina, I scanned the immaculately clean station floor. There was not a scrap of paper to be seen.
I went to the office window in the station. The gentleman assured me he had gone through every single ticket and my train pass wasn’t there. A woman stood beside him, looking like she wished she could help.
After some discussion about the lost pass, I explained that I would need it for my 6:45 train the day after tomorrow. Could I get it replaced?
“Not at this station. We are too small. We have no way to issue those passes.”
Then he asked, “Are you sure you don’t have it anywhere?”
“No, I checked all my pockets.”
He and the woman went into the backroom to do a little research as to how to help me.
It was then that I looked down.
My rain jacket has a pocket in exactly the same spot as my fleece’s dedicated ticket pocket.
I unzipped it.
There was my pass!
“Sumimasen!” I called to the station employees. “I found it!!”
They came out of the backroom, all smiles.
After profuse apologies and many bows from me, we all rejoiced in that happy ending.
Much relieved, I went out of the station just as a bus pulled up. I popped my head in and asked the driver if he would be going down the street that passes my hotel.
“Sure, hop on!”
It was a grand adventure in the rain.
…but it did leave me wondering about my mental state.
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