can anyone verify if the Japanese immigration require proof of a BOOKED exit method from Japan before allowing entry. Would need to get there with the bike before arranging shipment to USA. Vlad to Fushiki

Thanks
tom

Hi Tom,
Slightly different case maybe but we recently shipped our car from South Africa to Kobe, Japan and flew to Osaka on a one-way ticket. Immigration there was satisfied with our explanation that we would take the car-ferry from Shimonoseki to Busan, South Korea. So no problems despite not having written proof.
Good luck,
Onno

I have never heard of overlanders having problems with immigration at the ferry up to now.
Westerners who are obviously traveling should have no problem. The main worry for immigration is people coming to work illegally. At worst, they may ask you to prove you have funds to cover your visit.
When you coming?

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Japan touring information

Thanks for the replies folks. Heading to Hiroshima after the visit to JAF then north to Tokyo where I will try to air cargo the GSA to LA?
Tom

Onno,
I am curious about your experience was with getting on the ferry to Busan.
I have heard that they won't sell one-way tickets for vehicles.
Did you have any problems?

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Japan touring information

Hi Chris,
Getting a one-way ticket for the Kampu Ferry proved to be a lot of work. We arranged the ferry through Nippon travel agency in the main train station in Kobe where the assistant manager fortunately spoke reasonably good english and she kept calling and faxing to the Kampu Ferry people. Kampu Ferry insisted on treating the car as cargo but after a dozen phone calls they relented. They actually contacted the customs agents that cleared the Carnet and called to customs in Korea as well and they wanted copies of all the relevant documents faxed to them (Carnet, car registration, international drivers licence etc). All in all it took us seven visits to the travel agent and only thanks to their persistance we got the one-way ticket. Fairly cheap as well, around 250 euro if I remember correctly for the car + driver and one passenger.
Another interesting thing happened on arrival in Busan. As it turned out the customs people there had never seen our type of Carnet (issued by ADAC in Germany). Supposedly the only type of Carnet they accept is an ATA Carnet. In all it took about four hours of discussion, answering hundreds of questions and researching every single document we had before they finally approved our entering with the car. They were all very friendly but it was a bit disconcerting to think that they could easily have made a different decision.
Anyway, we loved Japan very much, what a great country and Korea is very nice as well so it was definitely worth it.
Bye,
Onno