Self drive from Osaka to Hiroshima

We will be arriving Osaka end of March, is it easy to drive from Osaka to Hiroshima?

Pls advice.

Why would you ever drive? It's 90 minutes by train.

Read each rent-a-car site.
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2024.html
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2354.html

[movie-1] Hoiroshima to Osaka of R2(National road : not Exp-way)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_x6aAZfDcE
x8 speed play (skip to 0:34)

[movie-2] Osaka to Hiroshima IC exit of Sanyo Exp-way
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCaf235irwo
x20 speed play (IC exit 12:14)

It's not easy if you compare it to taking a train! Why would you want to drive all the way and possibly pay more than for the train?
Depending on when you plan to come, there might be a lot of traffic jams as well!

Also, make sure you have the necessary documents for driving in Japan: http://zoomingjapan.com/life-in-japan/japanese-drivers-license/
Driving in Japan can be very annoying at times: http://zoomingjapan.com/life-in-japan/driving-in-japan/

Yes it is an easy drive on the expressway but be prepared for a toll of around 8,000Y.
If you are going direct, train is the best option but if you have a few passengers and luggage or if you want to stop off at some terrific little places along the way like Onomichi or Tomonoura, then do it. A lot of people discourage self-driving but we have found it to be great.
See http://japanophiletravelpage.blogspot.com.au/2010/11/normal-0-false-fa...

Having driven around Japan, I love a good roadtrip. But because of highway tolls and non-highway roads being slow and sometimes hard to navigate it's not always the easiest or cheapest option.

But like another poster mentioned, if you have a few people, big bags or plan on making detours, it could be worth it. For the most part, road signs are in English and Japanese and it's a pretty straight forward drive if not overly scenic on the express way.

The worst part of the drive would probably be in Osaka itself. There's one way streets and figuring out where you can turn and when can be frustrating and then you'll have to find/pay for parking.

So if you want to do it, it's perfectly do-able but it might not be the easiest option.

Very easy as long as you have GPS. Make sure the rental company has one that can operate in English (unless you're fluent in Japanese). As someone else posted tolls are expensive but worth it, the roads are amazing, they punch straight through mountains and are in excellent condition. Himeji Castle is well worth a stop on your trip. It's amazing, probably the best castle in Japan.

Thanks guys!