We all know that it can be lonely traveling alone. Even if you do happen to visit a new city with your loved ones, there may be times where they don’t want to go on the same excursions that you do and you are wishing that you had a buddy to share the good times with. In Japan, you can actually rent a friend while traveling. Surprisingly, it’s more affordable than you might think.
What It Is
There are more than 10 companies located throughout Japan where you can rent a friend. For less than $30 you can take your new friend to have lunch, see a tourist attraction or just grab a cup of coffee with. Locals are even taking part in this, especially when they have a special event, like a wedding to attend. They also have a “rent a husband” program where women can hire a man to help the kids with their homework or take them to a sporting event.
Alternatives
As out there as this may sound, it’s not surprising that you can rent a friend. With many of us glued to our phones, tablets or computers, we don’t really even need to leave the house to socialize. However, this can still leave you feeling isolated, especially while traveling. So, if renting a friend isn’t exactly your cup of tea, you can easily make some friends while traveling in several ways.
Book A Tour. When on a tour, you will meet others that have the same interests as you so it might actually be easier to strike up a conversation and become travel buddies.
Go On A Cruise. Think you are the only only one cruising by yourself? Think again! A lot of people tend to want to get away from it all, even if they do it alone. On a cruise, there are a lot of different activities and you will be bound to meet a variety of people.
Ask Others For Advice. When out at a restaurant or local coffee shop, strike up a conversation with others. Ask them if there are any attractions that they recommend seeing or any restaurants that they think you should try. This is a great way to make a new friend and to even discover places in the city you are at that you hadn’t even heard of.
In conclusion, while things like renting a friend is great for some (and definitely an interesting concept), you really don’t need to waste your money. Put yourself out there and don’t be afraid to talk to others. You might be amazed at how many friends you can make while on vacation.
