Yep, I was there earlier this year and I never had anyone offer to help me with directions, but that was probably because I never had a map, and was using my cellphone to get around, and never looked lost. It's so easy with a SIM card and Google Maps.

But when I had a problem using an automated bikeshare machine in Kanazawa, some guy and his girlfriend were more than helpful, even calling the bikeshare place on his phone to work out the problem.