Originally Posted by NickW

I'm in Osaka now; took a fast drive down the Tomei Expressway. Lots, I mean dozens of emergency vehicles with flashing red lights heading towards Tokyo, mostly fire trucks.

It's almost a free option. Cheap road tolls on the weekend, a tank of gas, I can get some decent okonomiyaki, and a few hundred extra miles between me and Daiichi-san.

Turns out I'm not the only one with this idea - asked at checkin at the Ritz Carlton whether I'm fleeing the earthquake; and I know at least one other person in my immediate circle who took the Shinkansen and is staying here as well.