Hitchhike from Tokyo to Osaka less than 6 hours

Today in only two cars and a short 260 yen train ride, I made it from Tokyo to Osaka, right to the location of my destination, in only 5 hours and 45 minutes! This is very good time considering the distance of 500 some kilometers. Normally when going to Osaka I”ll arrive after 8PM, but today 4:15PM. If traveling from Niigata it would take me normally from 10 to 12 hours. Once I did it in 8 hours, also a record.

The first driver took me from Kohoku PA on the Tomei expressway to Ebina service area. He is a 7/11 employee.

After waiting approximately 30 minutes at Ebina, a tanker truck that carries some dangerous liquid chemical took me the rest of the way, an older man 66 years old, and the owner of the company. He said his load of liquid was delivered and he is returning empty.

The man had only 4 hours sleep the previous night and was both tired and sleepy at times. I kept up a conversation with him to keep him awake. It worked and we arrived to Osaka without incident.