1- What do you think?
I think that the story about Kumiko Tsuchida is true because it has been reported in diferent magazins and newspapers. If it's the first time that you visit a place it's perfectly normal to take another way and at the end to get lost. If two places have similar pronunciation it is easy for foreign people to be mistaken.
2- Misunderstandings
When I was studying English in the University of Newcastle I ask for a sheet in the hall of residence and I mispronounced the word 'sheet', quickly the woman misunderstood and understood 'shit' and it produced a confused situation. After she started to laugh loudly when I explained her making gestures what I need, a sheet for my bed. At first I don't understand nothing but in the end we could laugh a lot.