Japan is known for its high-tech technology, with bullet trains, heated toilets and robot cafes.
But the human dimension is never far away, as this stunning image shows.
It shows a hidden employee emerging from a ticket machine at a train station – Wizard of Oz style – to assist a customer.
The photo was taken by tourist Henry Burrows, during his trip from Osaka to Nara.
He wrote on Flickrwhere he posted the photo: ‘Can’t figure out how to use the ticket machines at the station? A helpful man will jump out and press the buttons for you.’
This photo, taken in Japan by tourist Henry Burrows, shows an attendant emerging from a ticket machine to assist a customer. Photo courtesy of Creative Commons-
This service is activated when a customer clicks the ‘help’ button.
The peculiar ticket booths, also called ‘tobidashi-hito’, have disappeared from some modern Japanese stations, but can still be found in older ones.
Haroun Khan, on Japanese Rail PassMailOnline Travel told: ‘These stations feature automated booths where a staff member or customer service representative appears through a hidden panel to assist customers.
‘This setup is actually quite common in older or less modernised train stations, where full-time staff are not always present or where there is not enough space for a more traditional customer service desk.
‘It works by using a panel or window that blends into the wall, often with a small sign or button so that passengers can easily see it.
The strange ticket booths with people inside them, known as “tobidashi-hito,” have disappeared from some modern Japanese stations, but they still exist in older stations.
‘When someone needs help, they press a button and an employee slides open a window or door to provide face-to-face service. These systems perfectly balance the need for human interaction with space efficiency. It’s a textbook example of Japan’s innovative approach to customer service!’
A tourist who said they used the system in Japan wrote on Reddit: ‘It happened to me in Fukouka at the train station. The guy was super helpful and his English was excellent! Go to Japan!’
Despite the efficient system, Japanese railway staff are busy, so tourists should only press the button if they really need help.
