Don't be afraid to rent a car in Japan. I have rented cars all over Europe 
too as well as Australia several times

I'm a 60 years old Canadian widower and traveled around Japan by car earlier 
this year.

If you try and stay off the expressways (quick way to get from A to B but 
VERY EXPENSIVE !), it can be cheaper than by train. It also gives you a lot 
more flexibility and lets you go where and when you want to.

I'm going back later this year and will be renting again.

"Colonel Legno" <ColLegno@optonline.net> wrote in message 
news:090920032053415377%ColLegno@optonline.net...
> We are two Americans in our fifties-sixties.  We have traveled
> extensively in Europe and like to rent a car and drive in the
> countryside, staying at small hotels.  We would like to do this in
> Japan, visiting the National Park area along the north coast of Honshu.
> We get mixed reports of the advisability of such travel and would like
> to hear from folks who have done this or could advise us one way or the
> other.
>
> thanks - colonel and mrs. legno