Declan Murphy wrote:
> Smith wrote:
>
>>> Indeed. Though car is still the only way I can get to/from/around
>>> work. Same situation for most people outside large Japanese cities.
>>
>>
>> I do wonder if it's a misconception that Japan is the land of good
>> public transport. Apparently even Nagoya is hard to get around without
>> a car.
>
>
> Of course its a misconception. The average ride-by-gaigin hasn't seen
> much beyond Tokyo, Kyoto & Hiroshima, travels by train and in many cases
> uses some rort called a railpass. For me its cheaper to drive, not only
> to and around Nagoya (gawdbless Toyota), but even to Tokyo and back.
>
>> Many cities are quite spread out and it's hard to imagine effective
>> public transport in those areas. I haven't been outside Toyko much,
>> but I remember Gifu city (500,000 ppl) was very poorly serviced.
>
>
> There are small pockets with decent bus services (though not at nights),
> and intercity transport is usually pretty good, but while I can get from
>  Okazaki to anywhere between Tokyo and Kobe in 2.5 hours, for the
> station, airport, shops, restaurants, cinema, parks, work etc driving is
> usually a no brainer. Not a complaint - just a fact, and I wouldn't
> trade here for anywhere on the Yamanote line.

It's a bit like the girl with the curl: when it's good it's very good,
and so on, and so forth.

Dan