I expect to be traveling to Shizuoka more often for business in the future, so I’m considering approaching women from Shizuoka. For now, though, my business trips are to Nagoya or Tokyo. If I ask a woman from Shizuoka to meet in Nagoya or Tokyo, which location would she be more likely to accept? Also, should I cover her actual transportation costs separately? If anyone has experience with dates involving long-distance travel, I’d appreciate any advice on points to keep in mind.

I’m Fuu, a column writer. Before making an offer, why not ask the woman through the club which location would work better for her? If she lives in Numazu, Tokyo would probably be better, while Okazaki would likely mean Nagoya. If you’re hoping to continue seeing each other, choosing somewhere nearby would make things easier for her and would probably be appreciated. (If she’s interested in visiting the city, you could offer to cover the bullet-train fare, and she might say either location is fine.) Sounds promising. She probably doesn’t get many offers, so if she’s a good person, this could turn into a wonderful connection. And yes, please add transportation costs separately.

Maezawa from the President’s Office here as well. Tokyo–Shizuoka: Hikari bullet train, ¥5,940, 1 hour 1 minute Nagoya–Shizuoka: Hikari bullet train, ¥5,940, 54 minutes So it looks like the fares are the same, but the trip from Nagoya is slightly shorter. I wonder if the difference is because the train runs more slowly between entering Tokyo and arriving at Tokyo Station. That being the case, I think the better option depends on which city the woman feels more familiar or comfortable with. > Also, should I pay the actual transportation costs separately? Under the rules, in addition to the ¥5,000–¥10,000 allowance, you’re required to pay the woman’s actual round-trip transportation costs. If she can no longer catch the last train, you’ll also need to arrange a hotel where she can stay alone. If the man wants to stay together, he must first secure a separate room where the woman can stay alone, and then arrange another room for the two of them. This is because, without a separate room for the woman, staying together could become practically coercive. The goal is to create an environment where the woman is free to decline. A note for female members: If a room where you can stay alone hasn’t been arranged, contact Universe immediately. If it’s outside Universe’s business hours, book a business hotel or similar yourself, and make sure to keep the receipt just in case. It would also be helpful to record the conversation if you ask the man about arranging your own room and he refuses, saying something like, “It’s fine because we’re staying together, right?” Sorry for going off on a tangent, but since this is a long-distance date, please make sure you have plenty of time to catch the last train. > Are there any precautions for those who go on long-distance dates? I think it’s best to choose an initial meeting place that even someone unfamiliar with the area can easily find. In this case, I’d recommend meeting near the Shinkansen station, perhaps in a hotel lobby. If there are transfers involved, it can be difficult for someone who doesn’t normally live or work there to find their way around.

I’m Dai, a male member. First of all, if you’re asking someone to come from out of town, it’s standard to cover their actual travel expenses on top of the allowance. If she’s from Shizuoka, I think she’d accept an offer to meet in either Tokyo or Nagoya as long as you cover the bullet train fare. One thing to keep in mind is that she may not want to go on a date in cities like Shizuoka or Hamamatsu. The more rural the area, the greater the risk of being recognized… I’m based in Nagoya, and when I’ve actually made offers to women from Shizuoka, we usually ended up meeting around Nagoya or Toyohashi.