Nope! I haven't a clue 🤷‍♂️ (competition)

[Skygod44]

When I first moved to Japan, I expected to simply "know" where to buy groceries, meds, go out to eat, or anything else.
"Shops are the same, the world over", I thought.

But, I was so wrong, as I'm about to show you.

***

In this competition - which I'll run for a few cycles - post an image of a place, the purpose of which is a mystery.
Except, to the locals

- you can guess as many times as you want.

- if possible, there should be some 'clue' in the image.

- try to include as much of the building/sign as is reasonable.

After I've used up all the shots I took today, I'll hand over to the first person who guesses the last one correctly.

And the first couple are, I think, really easy.

So, here you go...
What can you do here?

 

[Terry McDaniel]

Co-op garden?

 

[Skygod44]

Co-op garden?

Thanks for having a guess.

But as this is the first photo, I'll give this one away, and in an hour or so, I can post the next one.

"Co-op" is a run-of-the-mill supermarket chain - so it's a fruit, veg, meat, shop.

There are "co-ops" in the UK too.
So I thought this would be guessed immediately by a Brit.

Cheers for now,
Simon

 

[Skygod44]

Place #2.

What can you do here?


This is the last "easy" one.
The next places really got me foxed.

 

[Terry McDaniel]

Rent a Toyota

 

[Skygod44]

You couldn't be more right if you tried.

Car rental is on the sign...
...and that's the end of the "easy".


So, try this one


The really frustrating thing is, that to Japanese people, it's so obvious.

 

[Levina de Ruijter]

The really frustrating thing is, that to Japanese people, it's so obvious.

My guess is the written text would be a great help…

 

[Skygod44]

Exactly right!

They just read it, and everything makes sense.

I can read some signs like this, but if not, I always revert back to imagining the design of a European or UK shop...
...which is wrong

This one, is an optician/seller of spectacles.

Next:


If you look for it, you might find the clue

 

[Levina de Ruijter]

This one, is an optician/seller of spectacles.

The crazy thing is, I thought it was because of the plate in the door on the left. The symbol in there reminded me of the tool opticians use, where they drop in glasses until you have perfect vision?

 

[DavidWatts]

The equivalent of a Dollar Store? (the sign kinda hints at that)

 

[Skygod44]

The equivalent of a Dollar Store? (the sign kinda hints at that)

You would've been right a few years ago but very weirdly, many items in this ¥100 store now cost ¥200 or ¥300+



Time for the next shot.

And I've had an idea to expand this thread:
After this one, if anyone has any item which has a mysterious use, that can be posted too

So here's my last image:

This is a....?

 

[OhLook]

Exactly right!

They just read it, and everything makes sense.

I can read some signs like this, but if not, I always revert back to imagining the design of a European or UK shop...
...which is wrong

This one, is an optician/seller of spectacles.

Next:
View attachment 36146

If you look for it, you might find the clue

Toy store, art supplies?

 

[Redlegrangerone]

Doctor's office

 

[Skygod44]

Toy store, art supplies?

Nope.
But good guesses

 

[Skygod44]

Doctor's office

It does look like some kind of dismal entrance, doesn't it.
But not for a doctor.

One last guess, anyone?

And then I'll open this up to:

Any place or object, the purpose of which is tricky to know.

 

[DavidWatts]

Apartment building?

 

[Skygod44]

Apartment building?

Nah...
It's too cruel to carry on, because almost nothing here "makes sense".

Would you believe that this is the central police station.


So...

Let the gates open -

Photographs of any place or object, the meaning/use of which is obscure, unless you already know.