It is relatively easy for residents of Japan and Korea to go back and forth.
It only gets complicated when involving people/vehicles from "third countries."

You may want to have a talk with the Kampu ferry people on convincing them to allow non-residents to use their boat. Last time I talked to them they were more inflexible than a Japanese bureaucrat. Most of the legal issues are their presumptions, and they don't want to research issues they don't handle on a daily basis.

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Japan touring information

Thanks for the info, Chris.

Last night I heard from a friend in Japan who said he had been planning a similar trip to Korea about 5 or 6 years ago. He said he decided not to go, because it looked like it would take too long to get his motorcycle through customs, both on entering Korea and again on returning to Japan. Maybe half a day to a day or more, each way!

Do you (or anybody else) know if there is really such a long wait to get your bike through customs if you are a Japan resident, arriving at Busan, and also returning to Shimonoseki, on the Kampu ferry?

The ferry arrives at Busan at 8am. If I arrive on a Sunday, will I be stuck in customs for a whole day until somebody shows up on Monday morning to process me... and then lose most of Monday, too, getting the actual customs approval done, too? On a 5-day trip, I can't afford to lose a day and a half getting in and another day and a half getting out!

I hope you are right that the entry procedure is all a lot easier for Japan residents. But my friend's comments have me concerned and I just want to make sure. Thanks.

UPDATE: I just called the Kampu Ferry again to double-check. They insist that customs should only take about 30 minutes to an hour, even on a Saturday or Sunday! I think my friend either got some bad information, or else things have changed a lot since he researched the situation.

Still happy to hear any more info from experienced HUBBers.

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1997 Honda X4 ・ 2009 BMW R1200GS Adventure ・ IBA #42657

Just come ,, leave all your angst about the Korean customs, in Japan with the rest of the sxxx that is going on over there.