So I made it to Japan. And now what?
 

Hello all!

This is Teo, the Spanish guy on a RTW trip with a r1200gs.

I made it through Central Asia, Mongolia and Russia. In Mongolia I had a big breakdown (look for submerged bmw r1200gs thread). So I decided to skip Magadan and come to Japan via Shakhalin. I got robbed most of my luggage on that road (i will post about it soon) but I finally made it to Japan.

The bad news is that the ferry guys broke my EWS unit. So the bike is now in a BMW dealer in Sapporo and I am stuck in a hostel... which is not that bad because clearly I needed some rest.

Now a few questions... I will have my bike up and running by the end of next week (around 23rd or 24th) and I already would have consumed a big chunk of my time in Japan.

Starting in Sapporo, what route would you take in Japan having two or three weeks?

Any recommendations for accommodation and ways to make the trip cheaper? (my tent was stolen in Russia, so I guess buying a new one is a good idea for this)

At the beginning or middle of September I will continue my trip. My original plan was air freight to Vancouver. But if I stay longer in Japan it may get too cold for Canada. Anyhow... suggestions for how to get out of Japan to Canada or USA? Shipping companies? Ports?

Thanks a lot!

Personally, I would spend a week or so in touring Hokkaido. It is a lot cooler than the rest of the country, and less traffic.
You may be interested in traveling the Pacific ocean side and see how the recovery is going in the wake of the 2011 tsunami. I hear that most of the roads are in decent condition now. You will have to go inland from Fukushima prefecture, as the road is still closed near the nuclear power plant.
The mountains inland from Fukushima are nice, though.

Air freight from Japan is, unfortunately, very expensive. Sea freight will probably be your only option.

If any tent will do (you don't need a really good one), you can get a cheap one at any "home center" (hardware/home improvement store). You will need to go to an outdoor gear shop for a good tent.

See here for some shipping companies:
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...erth-via-45987
I think the street address for Nippon Express has changed, though.

Thanks Chris!

Will relax while the bike is fixed and then I will tour Hokkaido as you suggest. I am planning to extend my stay here as much as possible... And I will buy things as I need them.

Thanks for the link with the shipping companies, just emailed all of them. Hope I start getting answers as soon as they get back to work.

Cheers!

If you don't get a reply by Tuesday, you may want to try telephoning. Shipping companies don't always reply on a timely manner,...

I see. Do you think they will speak English?

Probably better than many of the natives,, Gee
 

Give it a try ,,
Above all ,, enjoy the people of Japan ,,
Still one of the nicest people on earth ,, despite the recent assxxxx,, imperialist remarks by Abe ad his cronies.

Looks like you had to tell a story bier

Hope you will find time for a writeup soon :-)

Surfy

I'm lazy so I made a video... but it is in Spanish and it does not have subtitles sorry!

Robo en Siberia - YouTube

Probably.
Did you try yet? The biggest task is getting transferred to the person who speaks English.

When you have time, let us know about the ferry to Japan and finding a shipping company to North America.

You are right, being transferred to the person who speaks English. No luck with most of them, but I just got a fairly good quote from A-CROSS Corporation - The Japan Moving Company | Japan International Moving

By Ro/Ro ship 3 weeks to LA Port Yen 194,000
Next vessel departs Yokohama 24/09 to arrive LA on 17/10
By Liner ship 3 weeks to LA Port Yen 221,000
Weekly service available
By air 10 days to LA airport Yen 800,000 approx.

So I guess I will be shipping by boat to LA at the end of September.

Regarding the ferry from Shakhalin to Wakkanai, this is the schedule:

http://www.heartlandferry.jp/english/index4-1.html

I got the ticket from an office in the same street as the ferry terminal, but I cannot remember their name. I found them trough a travel agency in Khabarovsk, Dalgeo Travel.

I got the ticket from Vanino to Khlomsk from Dalgeo and the Ferry from Korsakov to Wakkanai from this other agency. It all was fast and expensive, because I arrived to Shakhalin the day before the ferry to Japan was departing, on the afternoon. So I was happy to have someone taking care of the paperwork. I don't think I could have made it myself. I don't speak Japanese nor Russian.

Costs...

If I remember well, 200 € for the first ferry, from Dalgeo. It was expensive, but they do a pretty good job helping you in the terminal.

The second ferry to Japan, was 285 €. Once in Japan I was asked for a passenger fee in the customs office of 9000 Yen. When I arrived there was a fixer from Nippon Express waiting for me and the bike was put on storage for one day. This cost 15000 YEN more.

So total cost of going from Russia to Hokkaido, around 670 €

Cheers!

Hey Hicks,

Talked to you two days ago on facebook.

Any way, their might be a cheaper way to get your bike to North America:
You should try to get in touch with WWL: Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics - Asia routes
They have an office in Tokyo, they are specialized in Ro/ro, last year two friends of mine used their services to ship from tokyo to singapour and tokyo to changmay (thailand). I checked, they also have a ro/ro Japan to North America.
Price for Japan to South East Asia were 500 usd for the shipping and shouldn't be more expensive for the shipping to North America....
But, this being Japan, then you need a forwarder; get in touch with mr omori, at kazuhisa.omori@ethik.co.jp from Cross Knowledge Co.,Ltd. It will cost you another 500 usd.

Good luck mate,

See you maybe on the road of Japan!

Cool! Thank you! I will contact them!

Have fun in Japan!

Hi MrHicks46

Maybe you want to have a look at this. He's a spanish guy who lives in Japan some years ago and writes a blog about his life in that country.

GuíaJapón – Kirai – Un geek en Japón


Cheers!

Te veo en Facebook, Twitter y ahora aquí...a disfrutar!

Were you able to get ahold of Mr. Takahashi at Air Sea Express?
He has been very helpful to travelers in the past.

If you decide to stay in Japan longer, there is a travelers' meeting in October.
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...965#post434291

By the way, it is possible to do customs procedures yourself. But some shipping companies want you do use an agent. (I helped travelers do customs before, but I can't anymore because I don't live in Tokyo now.)

Conzoco... conozco ;)

He did not answer my emails :(

October is definitely too long I guess :-/

An agent? On top of that? Do you mean those prices I got from A-Cross Corporation don't include customs procedures? I will find out!!

Thanks again for your help :)

Cheers!

I hear that Mr. Takahashi often does not answer his e-mail.
That is why I said to call.
I think that he mistakes mail in English for spam instead of looking at it in detail. If you are satisfied with A-Cross, it is fine. But, I think you might get a better price.

Always find out exactly what is included with the shipping company quote.
The often do not tell you in advance. Also, ask what the costs at the destination are!!

Thanks! Will try to call Mr. Takahashi and find out about any extra expenses with these guys. Will let you know.
Cheers!

Well...

After much email-sending with some different companies and forwarders, I think I will finally do this:

Send the bike via RoRo from Yokohama with a-cross (24 Sept). Their price includes customs clearance in Japan and the boat will drop my bike in Vancouver (12th Oct). Once there, I will travel south before its too cold (I hope mid Oct is not too cold already).

I was thinking about LA instead of Vancouver, but someone told me that customs is easier in Canada. Also, I want to travel from north to south, so starting in LA does not make sense.

Once in Vancouver, I plan to either do customs clearance myself or find a fixer if it is too complicated. Anyone knows about this? I am specially worried to find out if there is anything I need to do in advance as timing is becoming to be a little tight.

If people following this post do not know about this, I will start a new post with these questions specifically.

Thanks!

CC in Vancouver
 

Hombre,,
Let the ship arrive in Vancouver,, then ask them... the shipping company,, who they will recommend as a freight forwarder to do the customs clearance.
As far as doing the CC in Canada ,, perhaps they are more lenient towards EEC spec vehicles vs USA.
Expect to pay 1- 300 CDN ,,
Money talks.
Hope you enjoyed Japan ,, leave before you eat more of the Fukushima nuke contamination. Hearing it is real bad now.

Ok, thanks for the info. It all looks feasible now.
I am still enjoying Japan and I love it! I still have some days to tour in the main island and I think I will stay in Tokyo while my bike travels by sea.

Temporary bike import into Canada
 

Should read this thread,,

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...t-canada-51070

Thanks I did! And also this one... is very very helpful http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...nada-air-70266