Ferry from Japan to Sakhalin (Russia)
 

Hi,

coming back from Siberia and Central Asia, I wanted to recommend the ferry connection from Northern Japan (Wakkanai, Hokkaido) to Russia (Korsakov, Sakhalin). It's a six hour journey on a very nice Japanese ship.

Please find more information on TIMETABLE & FARE & RATE INFORMATION - ƒn[ƒgƒ‰ƒ“ƒhƒtƒFƒŠ[@heartlandferry

If you like to stay in the best hotel in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, this is the Mega Palace at ca. US$ 150 per night. Really nice. www.megapalacehotel.ru/?main_eng

The best hotel in Wakkanai is the ANA, right at the train and ferry stations, for ca. US$ 120 per night.

There is a number of flights from Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk to Vladivostok (Air Vladivostok), Khabarovsk (S7), Novosibirsk (S7) and Moscow (Aeroflot).

The ferry from Sakhalin (Kholmsk) to the mainland (Vanino) takes 18 hours and seems a little more rough than the one from Japan. The onward journey can be done on the BAM train to Krasnoyarsk, or on the road (and if you like the Amur ferry) to Khabarovsk.

Now why in the world would any biker on a budget want to stay there??!
There are Rider Houses in Wakkanai where you can stay for less than $10.

Because he is not on a budget :mchappy:

If that's the case, he should upgrade his membership to Gold;)

Reliable information is a luxury and has its costs just as the MegaPalaceHotel does!

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/membership

And to add even a little more ....
 

.... whenever you go to Wakkanai you should stay at the Red Baron Bike Station. It is near the airport, easy to find and very affordable. 1 room with 2 beds, free shower, laundry, dryer and kitchen use all for Yen 2.000.

I checked out the RB website, and that is the price for Red Baron membership card holders. Regular price is double, unless they make a special exception for foreign travelers. (I believe membership is like 200~300 dollars unless you purchased a bike from them.)
Midori-yu Rider House is listed in Lonely Planet, so they are used to foreign travelers. Other rider houses would probably be all Japanese guests, but mostly motorcyclists so no problem.
For those who do not know, a rider house is a type of lodging for motorcyclists and bicycle tourists, mostly in Hokkaido, that is basically just a roof over your head. You usually need to have your own sleeping bag.

Chris,

of course you are right. But I am pretty (very) sure, that for RTW riders they would make an exception. Have seen this a couple of times already for "regular" motorcyclists.

And "rider houses" - they got their pros and cons - as for me, I will avoid at least some of them.

Anyway, thanx for the clarification!!

Greetings from countryside island to the capital ..... :clap:

:whistling: But he is not into status either ... :surrender:

There is always the tip jar on the top left corner of the screen.:thumbup1:
That way you can help out without being 'into status' :D
Then everyone is happy!! :cool4:

:oops2:

"There is no tipping in Japan!"

Japan FAQ--Japanese Manners and Etiquette

This has nothing to do with status and your attempt at a red-herring is interesting:confused1:

IMHO, I think anyone who's taken/planned a trip and used the HUBB realize what a tremendous resource, a privelege and a community the Forum is.


When you consider the costs of overlanding from vehicle, farkles, shipping, lodging etc.; it ain't free…so why should the benefits(shipping contacts in Vlad, how to sell ones Rover, etc.) be free to some?

If you're willing to pay $150 a night without a blink, then tossing a few quid towards the HUBB would definitely be appreciated. It would support current/future travellers and help pay the debt of gratitude for the support the community may have provided you during your travels.

But again this is my $.02 pence…:palm:

wakkanai
 

Hai,

on hokkaido you will find a lot of ridershouses for very little money, enjoy the people you meet.

I slept in 2003 in wakkanai outside the big hotel in the park next to the bike, guess that saved me 150 usd.

see, I am a gold member here ;-)

hi Chris, good to read that you are still taking care of bikers coming to japan, I will be on the road soon again by bike ... heading east ... maybe in a few years time in japan again. take care my friend.

Greetings

Mika

We stayed at the Riders Rest in Wakkanai last year. Only $US6/night. Good people as well, and a great little Onsen down the road. Red Baron in both Wakkanai and Tokyo would only let riders stay if you had purchased a bike from them. They did not care that where we had ridden from.