Oh, the pros and woes of responding to your queries. Great advice, personal experience — even the odd wakeup call. Here are some responses to our Nov. 16 column on "How to do Japan — in a VW camper van":
Douglas Brooks and his wife, of Vermont, leased a Mazda diesel van in Tokyo in February 2003 and took off on what became a 10,000 km road trip.
Douglas says that the dealer who leased the van to them was convinced that its Tokyo plates would have local police all over the country stopping them for checks. He even gave the couple his cell phone number and insisted they call him if they were questioned. But this happened just once the entire trip.
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