Driving Through Japan

W. Robert Moore wanted to travel the length and breadth of Japan in a private motorcar, in 1933.  He was advised that their vast, efficient railway system was the preferred method of travel, yet it was possible to travel by motorcar.  Motor Trails in Japan, National Geographic Magazine, March, 1933, is his record of his adventures, for better or worse!

Moore admits, "To be sure, many of the roads are "sunshine roads," which means woe to him who attempts to travel them during the rainy seasons, when light bridges across flooding streams often become unsafe for heavy traffic or float away entirely," (p. 303).  Another hazard Moore passed, one of which we moderns of 2014 are well-acquainted, was "speed cops are stationed along the way to check up on motorists trying more than the permitted 25 miles an hour!. . . Not only are the roads generally narrow and full of turns, but up and down them passes a multifarious traffic," (p. 307) oxcarts, bicyclists, dog carts, pedestrians, and children everywhere.  "And there seems to be little inclination on the part of any of them to share the road," (p. 308).

Mr. Moore's favorite daytime pleasure was "To roll and jolt along for many hours over some gypsying trail and then come upon some secluded and unspoiled Japanese inn," (p. 312).  He especially enjoyed and described the tea ceremony, the communal bath, and dinner of such inns.

Apparently, the Japanese love to travel.  "Every temple or sacred place attracts hosts of pilgrims;  every noted place of scenic beauty has its crowds of Nature lovers."  At one point on his journey, the author crept along a road through a village in the midst of a local festival. "What a jarring contrast my modern motorcar must have presented in the narrow streets of that celebrating village, among lantern bearers, flutists, chanting burden carriers. . . It was an anachronism on a page torn from the historic story of yesteryear," (p. 319).

A place that particularly welcomes Japanese tourists in our times is HAWAII, U.S.A.  Last summer, I visited Hawaii with daughter #4, Theresa.  There were more Japanese tourists than American tourists!  We noticed that while the American children got hot, cranky, and whined loudly, the Japanese children were perfectly well-behaved.  In Hawaii, all the signs and even the restaurant menus are bilingual: English and Japanese!