From the station? I live about 10 minutes from Sendai Airport (Natori). The last time I was in a 'hurry' to get to Tokyo was over 10 years ago. It doesn't come up often, if ever. I go to Chiba about 3 times a year, but I always drive. Sometimes I'll even drive along the coast down Route 6. Time and money aren't really a problem.

I love driving. Nothing feels better than downshifting and gunning it down the Touhoku Expressway hitting 200km/h at night with no one around, but it is more fun when a stranger in an equal or faster car joins you. I have a radar and pretty much memorized where all the speed cameras are, so I don't worry. I wouldn't trade it for riding in a train with a loud kids, chatty babas, and inconsiderate tourists.