Wheeling in Japan
 

I'm headed over again the middle of Dec. for about a month, and
something I've wondered about since my first trip is the "wheeling"
opportunities. Now I haven't seen it all by any stretch but what
country side I have seen has lead me to believe there are two types of
wheeling terrain. The flat as a pancake mall wheeler type terrain and
the "you might as well pitch your 4-by and buy a billy goat" type of
terrain. I'm not terribly optimistic as on my two past trips I saw
exactly one off-road quality wheeler and that was a Toyota truck (pretty
nice actually). Seems to me that was in the Osaka area, but possibly Kyoto.

Anyhow, I'm not really looking to do any wheeling on this trip as I'm
pretty sure it's going to be ate up with family visits and what not, but
I AM thinking about relocating there for a while and I'd hate to have to
give up one of my favorite pastimes for a few years.

Anybody out there have more extensive time in Japan that might be able
to shed some light?