The Dark side of Japan Tourism.

Just caught up on this thread; best wishes to @drron and @mrs.dr.ron . Currently driving around France and will be exercising even more caution after reading this and also will be checking the insurance papers tonight. Hopefully nothing quite as bad as this would happen in France but a serious motor vehicle accident would not be an enjoyable experience in any country.
 
auriga said:
I was contemplating a driving holiday in Hokkaido sometime in the near future.
After reading this, I don't think I will.
It just sounds too scary if something were to go wrong.
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My Taiwanese friend was adamant that instead hiring a car, I should hire a driver over there. She may have been farsighted. Besides, it was more fun and informative that way.
 
Tiki said:
What happened in Chile? I was considering renting a car but even before I read drron's report I had decided it was cheaper to use public transport, some Ubers and a couple of day trips with a tour agency to see what I want to see. I would have needed an automatic, maybe a small SUV with insurance plus petrol and car ferry to Chiloe.

The other thing that puts me off car rentals is the possibility of corrupt cops shaking down tourists for bribes, criminals targeting tourist in rental cars and I even heard of things like people having small accidents on purpose to get insurance payouts.
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I rented a car for a week in Santiago, Chile. There are too many tunnels, and there is a fork every few hundred meters in the tunnel. The mobile phone signal is not quite good in the tunnel, making it difficult to navigate. I drove the wrong way several times and it took a long time to get back. The police there, according to the information from the front desk of the car rental company, only care about money and like to fine. Fortunately, everything went well for me. Until I read this story, I think I should carefully consider whether to rent a car when I go to a country I have never been to.
 
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Tiki said:
What happened in Chile? I was considering renting a car but even before I read drron's report I had decided it was cheaper to use public transport, some Ubers and a couple of day trips with a tour agency to see what I want to see. I would have needed an automatic, maybe a small SUV with insurance plus petrol and car ferry to Chiloe.

The other thing that puts me off car rentals is the possibility of corrupt cops shaking down tourists for bribes, criminals targeting tourist in rental cars and I even heard of things like people having small accidents on purpose to get insurance payouts.
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Given KIZI's experience was just a matter of navigation and a story told by the car rental company, I think you should consider hiring a car in Chile. I have done it a number of times, without incident (but then drron did too!!), most recently last December where I drove south from Santiago for five days. Another time drove right down to Puerto Montt and then east into Argentina. I can't say I heard or saw that the police there are particularly different from many jurisdictions.
 
RooFlyer said:
Given KIZI's experience was just a matter of navigation and a story told by the car rental company, I think you should consider hiring a car in Chile. I have done it a number of times, without incident (but then drron did too!!), most recently last December where I drove south from Santiago for five days. Another time drove right down to Puerto Montt and then east into Argentina. I can't say I heard or saw that the police there are particularly different from many jurisdictions.
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Nah, after drron's story I am just too spooked to rent a car overseas with the possible exception of NZ. The Santiago part of my trip is just to Reserva Los Cipreses accessed from Rancagua and I can get there by train from Santiago, then join a guided day trip to the park.
 
Sheepbopee said:
I, admittedly just signed up to AFF to see if I would have some luck with lounge invite giveaways. Attracted by the title, I proceeded to scroll through the whole post, holding my breath throughout the detention. I shed a tear when I saw DrRon and MrsRon's reunion and was absolutely gobsmacked by the whole ordeal. I am glad it all worked out in the end, yet I was left disgusted by the Japanese justice system and the lack of basic human rights.
I'm a little late to the party now. I hope you're home safe now, @drron and @mrs.dr.ron. It’ll take a lot of time to process the whole experience and let it sink in. Take care.
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Welcome to AFF @Sheepbopee
Lots of knowledgeable folk here and many have posted in this thread.

@drron and @mrs.dr.ron have shared many TR's but particularly this very personal experience and we all wish them well. I too was emotional with their reunion.

Happy and safe travels to you all ✈️
 
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Wow that was a shocking read. What a terrible ordeal! An eye-opening insight into Japanese legal system.
 
Frightening. :eek:

I think I could stay clear of all things mentioned in those YT videos, but for a complete accident out of the blue as experienced by @drron, it is really scary.

'Hostage justice' is an appalling concept.

After all this, I would choose never to drive in Japan.
 

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