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

Paul,

Having been to Japan 3 times myself, you are absolutely correct in your

assessment of travel modes.  It is far better to travel by train and taxi
than by car or bus even if you have a Japanese driver.  City and side
streets are often very narrow and congested, and side roads and even main
highways in the country can be narrow and winding.  Throw all that in with
driving on the wrong side and you have a hand full.  Trains go everywhere
and that's the way to go IF you can figure out the stations- I still have
trouble with that.

Bob Lemings

I changed my mind. I am going by car. I have driven on the wrong side of

the road

all over the world for years. The green roads are toll roads. The big

orange road

below it is mainly autobahn. Tolls run about 30 cents US a klick. I'll get

a better map

when I get there.

Nothing like getting off the train at the wrong station and not knowing

where you are.

With a car it is no big deal.

Paul Lamar

Yeah, right!

You are just hurting to get your fingers on a Japanese RX-8!!

Guys, no cure for that!

Thomas J.

As far as I know the RX8 in Japan is exactly like the one I have here.

Paul Lamar
 
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