If you can get yourself to Hiroshima on the 8th of April
I have arranged a Mazda rotary engine factory tour.
This took a long time to negotiate.
Let me me know as soon as possible if you are interested.

Paul Lamar

How are you getting from Tokyo to Hiroshima? I see NWA flies

from

Detroit to

Tokyo,(only $795) but doesn't offer the second leg. Are they so

close

you take

the train?

--
-dave
mailto:dave@arb.net
http://arb.net

I think we are taking the bullet train.

Paul Lamar

The bullet train is usually the way to go in Japan unless you find a
good deal on airfare.  Round trip Hiroshima to Tokyo on the Train

cost

about $450 and takes about 4 hrs each way.  You have to do it though

if

you have never been on a train going 100mph.

David Leonard
The Rotary Roster:
http://members.aol.com/_ht_a/rotaryroster/index.html

Flying into Osaka (Kansai KIX) Dave and David. Lot closer to
Hiroshima. Latest cost is $520 for two people
round trip Osaka to Hiroshima on the bullet train.

National weekly car rental $541 at KIX

Why is 100 MPH in a train different than 125 MPH in a car on the

autobahn?

:)

I think you see more of the local culture in a car as you can take

side

trips
off the beaten path. Certainly true in Europe.

BTW if somebody wants to meet us in Osaka we can share the car cost as
long as
you don't have a lot of luggage.

Paul Lamar

When taking the car consider the cost of the Tolls.  The main highway
has very expensive tolls.  As I recall the cost in Toll alone to Tokyo
from Hiroshima as about the cost of 2 bullet train tickets (not to
mention rental costs and gas which are not cheap).  We only took the car
any place when we could get 4 or more guys in the car.  We also needed
to get Japan drivers licenses which required taking a test and a
statement from the USMC that we were "professional" drivers and their by
didn't need to take the test.  So check into driving rules for tourists.

There are no autobahns that I know of in Japan.  Speed limits are about
like ours.  The view from the main toll roads is about what you see from
the train - perhaps better in the train and that is much more relaxing.
Long distance travel OFF the toll roads is torture.

You are right that having a car would allow you to go see many of the
sites in the rural areas and make the most of your time in a given
destination.  Traffic in and around large cities can be very bad,
especially in rush hour (the toll road are seldom crowded because of the
cost).  In the am, the 20min  train ride (non bullet) from Iwakuini to
Hiroshima would take well over an hour in a car unless you took the toll
road.  Even then, it could take 15-20min just to get to the toll road
on-ramp.

IMHO you are better off taking the train (or flying if possible) between
cities and renting a car locally if interested in getting out of the
city. Taxis are reasonably priced considering how expensive everything
else is.  They can get you around town easily and show you whatever you
want to see.

David Leonard
The Rotary Roster:
http://members.aol.com/_ht_a/rotaryroster/index.html

It is less than 200 klicks (120 miles) from Osaka to Hiroshima.
We have plenty of time.

Paul Lamar
 
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