Hongkonger complains of reckless driver on Osaka day trip

Japan has long been a favored travel destination for people from Hong Kong, with trips so frequent that many humorously refer to it as "returning to the hometown."

However, a recent incident left a sour taste for one Hong Kong resident during a day trip in Osaka. The traveler shared their experience online, detailing how the driver of their tour was reckless and flouted traffic regulations.

Last Tuesday (Feb 18), the complainant and their companions booked a one-day Osaka tour through the website Klook. The itinerary included visits to Wakayama and Shirahama, as well as a stop at Kishi Station to see the famous Station Master Cat, Tama.

From the onset, the driver appeared hurried, instilling a sense of unease in the passengers who resorted to recording the journey. The video captured the driver making emergency stops on the highway and switching lanes abruptly.

The situation escalated when, during the final leg of the tour, the driver departed prematurely with only six of the eight group members on board. Realizing the mistake, the driver returned to pick up the two left behind.

The tour guide and driver, identified only by the surname Hui, were the subjects of a complaint the traveler promptly posted on Klook. 

Following the complaint, customer service reached out, offering to facilitate a 10,000 yen refund on the condition that the negative review be removed.

Klook's administration also responded to the post, asking the complainant to submit their video evidence for further investigation.

Despite having hosted over 100 participants, the tour's online rating stands low at 3.2 out of 5 stars, according to the Klook website. 

This post prompted discussions among netizens, with one suggesting that the police should have been contacted to potentially suspend the driver's license due to reckless driving.

Another netizen questioned the decision to join a tour with a low rating, to which the original poster responded that the rating was at 4.2 out of 5 when they booked the tour.