travelling from vancouver to japan then onto russia
 

Hi could anyone help me finalise my RTW plans -thinking of using air canada frieght for my bike and seperate flight for myself from Vancouver to tokyo (june 10 2012), then ship from wakkanai to Sakhalin (early july) then ship to Magadan ( 1 week later). Is this possible? do i need an exit route from Japan before I enter, ie a ferry ticket to sakhalin? :scooter:

You usually need a round-trip airline ticket if entering by air (which is often cheaper than one-way). The bike needs a carnet. I don't think it is possible to get a ferry ticket before arriving in Japan. The ferry company doesn't have online booking. Maybe a Japanese tour company in Canada such as JTB could get reservations for you, but I don't know.

ok thanks chris,ive got the carnet sorted and I will probably use a return ticket from vancouver. Another question, how can I get the japan bike forum translated to english, I clicked on it the other day to try and couldnt navigate around it?

The otherway
 

Looking at doing this the other way round, I'm I going to need my transport out of japan sorted before I'm allowed in??

Or if I come in on the ferry does this not count??

I think Chris' website (Japan touring information ) explains it all?

For more information about Japan get with the "Japanese Community"!
Lots of people always ready and willing to help!

What japan bike forum are you talking about?
Google can "translate" sites, but usually not very well. It has a hard time with forums and the like where people don't usually write with correct grammar and spelling.

All I can say is that I never heard of anyone being denied entry by ferry with a one-way ticket. Airlines usually won't let you board without proof of onward travel or a valid residence visa.
Do be able to say what your onward plans are, though. You don't have to go through with the plan, but you raise red flags with immigration in any country when you say "I'll hang out for a few months then decide what I want to do."

Looks like this is the page on their site for online reservations:

https://reserve.heartlandferry.jp/pc/index.php

Only in Japanese, though...

Only for domestic routes.
No online reservations for the Sakhalin route.

No Idea about a ferry to Sakhalin, I thought Sak was still a restricted area. The current route is via South Korea with DBS Ferry's. It leaves Tottori Prefecture, onwards to Dong Hae in Korea, then up to Vlad.

I'd be bloody surprised if there is a ferry from Japan to Sakhalin Island. But please prove me wrong.

Don't know why you didn't bother with the links provided the above posts, but I can tell you with absolute confidence, there IS a ferry to Sakhalin. They even announced the dates for this summer already. :D
Granted I have never used it, but I have friends who have. Even just googling the 3 words ferry, japan, sakhalin would have alleviated your doubts.

Please do your homework before you deny something's existence. :nono: