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I was that dumb foreigner in Japan that got lost in a forest on an island off the Shimanami Kaido (I think it was Setoda IIRC). I had to get to a bus stop near

I was that dumb foreigner in Japan that got lost in a forest on an island off the Shimanami Kaido (I think it was Setoda IIRC). I had to get to a bus stop near a highway in a very rural area, and Google Maps led me through a (albeit gorgeous) winding path through farms and forests, until the underbrush started taking over the road. With the last bus time quickly approaching, and having to get to the next island over as that's where my next hotel was, I was starting to get desperate, rushing through vines and fallen tree limbs. The path ended with a gate, looking nothing like what Google was telling me the path should. Eventually I back tracked, and arrived just in time for my bus. I had leaves in my hair and my legs were all scratched, which left this gaijin looking even more like like a sore thumb in this rural island. All this to say, I was dumb and frankly a bit ill prepared for this particular leg of the trip. In very weak, tepid defence, organizing these smaller details in rural areas of countries whose language you don't speak can be at times challenging.

prmoustache 2y ago
> The path ended with a gate, looking nothing like what Google was telling me the path should. Really? Did you look at the satellite or street view? The regular map view only shows roads the way they are classified by the local administrations. If a dirt path is considered the same as a small rural road in that country, it will be shown the same. However you will see it if you take the time to check satellite view. Also, if there is no street view available, it also means that the operator of a google car choosed not going there so that gives you an indication. I guess they could use that information but do not because street view do not operate universally the same way or the frequency they visit most places is not high enough to be reliable.
- defrost 2y ago
  > Also, if there is no street view available, it also means that the operator of a google car choosed not going there If there is StreetView available though it doesn't mean a route is driveable. https://www.bibbulmuntrack.org.au/the-track-now-on-google-street-view/ https://www.bibbulmuntrack.org.au/the-track-now-on-google-st...
  - prmoustache 2y ago
    But you can actually see it.
- jszymborski 2y ago
  I was using neither street view nor satellite, just the road map directions (I was walking, so using the walking directions). Judging by the overgrowth and fallen vegetation, I would guess the road fell out of use, was fenced off for safety, and the map wasn't updated.

prmoustache 2y ago

> The path ended with a gate, looking nothing like what Google was telling me the path should. Really? Did you look at the satellite or street view? The regular map view only shows roads the way they are classified by the local administrations. If a dirt path is considered the same as a small rural road in that country, it will be shown the same. However you will see it if you take the time to check satellite view. Also, if there is no street view available, it also means that the operator of a google car choosed not going there so that gives you an indication. I guess they could use that information but do not because street view do not operate universally the same way or the frequency they visit most places is not high enough to be reliable.

defrost 2y ago
> Also, if there is no street view available, it also means that the operator of a google car choosed not going there If there is StreetView available though it doesn't mean a route is driveable. https://www.bibbulmuntrack.org.au/the-track-now-on-google-street-view/ https://www.bibbulmuntrack.org.au/the-track-now-on-google-st...
- prmoustache 2y ago
  But you can actually see it.
jszymborski 2y ago
I was using neither street view nor satellite, just the road map directions (I was walking, so using the walking directions). Judging by the overgrowth and fallen vegetation, I would guess the road fell out of use, was fenced off for safety, and the map wasn't updated.