From Italy to Japan through Balcans, Caucasus and Russia
 

Hello, my name is Francesco, I'm 26 and I come from Italy, near Firenze (Florence).
I'm planning my "life trip" for the next year, leaving in may/june from Italy, to far East Asia, hopefully to Japan, but who knows...
No bonds, no prerogatives, hopefully for how long I like (depending on money).
This is the route that I thought some time ago (I have to cancel Kazakhstan because of the visas), the only great doubt is about the BAM road, I'm willing to find someone to travel with, there..

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/...pscc662ff7.jpg

I'd like to spend my time not only wandering but also visiting great places; I will leave anyway, doesn't matter if I'll be alone; the trip will be as low cost as possible, like max 3000€ to get to far east Asia.

I will ride my special bike made by a Super Ténéré 750, now it's my Hyper Ténéré 850.

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/...psd5c43fe6.jpg

For first...I'd like to know about the BAM road from Tynda to Vanino..how it is?
I want to get there to get on a ferry to Sakhalin, going south to Korsakov and then ferry again to Wakkanai, Hokkaido, Japan.
How's the road in Sakhalin?
I will feel more safe if someone is going to ride the BAM with me.
Another question, will I find some knobbly tires in Irkutsk (or near, also in Ulan Ude or Severobaikalsk) that fit my bike (Super Ténéré 750 rims) to ride on the bam? Or it's not necessary to have knobbly tires to ride the BAM?

Any other advice, story to tell about..etc..I will appreciate it, thanks!

Why are you avoiding Kazakhstan? You say visa issues but I don't really follow??

Japan is going to ad a lot of expense to your trip, check out the threads on here about importing your bike to Japan.

I'm planning a similar trip next year, and was going to finish in Japan to visit a friend who is settled there (married, kids, the whole lot!!) , but have abandoned that plan.:thumbdown:

Ah well such is life!!

The problem is about the russian visa, I can not get the multi-entrance visa because it's the 1st time that I request the russian visa.
So, having only one option to exit and re-enter in russia (double entrance visa, 90 days) I prefer to visit Mongolia instead of Kazakhstan.

I sent an email to the japanese customs, the same evening they called me (but I didn't answer because I didn't know the number); so it followed an email response, it said me that I don't need the carnet de passages, I only will have to pay an import tax (8 of the value of the bike...that is about 1000-1500 euros).

I travelled the northern europe (scandinavia) so I know how is to travel in expensive countries...and I'm good in saving money :thumbup1:

Other people have got multiple enrty russian visas without having previously had a visa though.

Who told you that?

Several travel agencies.

However, it's not "Kazakhstan" the topic...now I'm most interested in the BAM road and how to get to Sakhalin.

Please do yourself a favour and search for Colebatch posts here and reports on advrider and you'll find plenty of infos about the BAM.
Knobbly tires will not be your only problem...

I talked to Peter Foulkes and Jon Brookbanks, they rode the BAM till Tynda, but I have no news about Tynda to Vanino.
I will read and talk also to Colebatch...unfortunately I know that knobbly tyres are not the only problem, but not to find them could be a greater problem.

Hi, i never had a Russian visa before and obtained in February, without problems a one year multi entry visa. I used RealRussia and it was fast and efficient ...
But some others agencies had a fit when I spoke about a business visa for what is basically a holiday. Chose the right agency, you can get a business visa. You do not need to provide any business doc or reason....

I think they gave you information about PERMANENT import, not TEMPORARY import. There is no import tax for temporary import. If you permanently import, you cannot ride without registering the bike (very expensive).
I recommend you enter at Wakkanai via Sakhalin. It is the easiest port. Other ports usually (but not always) ask for a carnet.
If you send me the e-mail you got from customs, I can probably decipher if they are talking about temporary or permanent import.

Thanks for the reply. Maybe I can find the right agency, but now, due also to money, I think I will avoid kazakhstan.

I think it's a temporary import, in fact I specified in the subject "Import a bike (temporarily) to Japan".
But if you give me via PM your email address I'll forward you the whole discussion.

If there is no import tax for temporary import is even better!

A friend told me that if your bike was built in Japan (mine was built in Iwata by Yamaha) you don't have to pay import taxes...anyway!

I don't think that is true. I can't find any Japanese law that say so.

Actually, there is no import tax on motorcycles. The 8% you were told is consumption tax (sales tax, VAT).

If you really care about laws and regulations, read on (Just read the bold parts and you will get the idea):
Under Article 17, Paragraph 1-10 of the Customs Tariff Law, vehicles for private use accompanied by the individual or shipped unaccompanied by persons entering Japan for purposes other than transferring their place of residence to Japan, are exempt from customs duties provided they are re-exported within one year of the day that import permission was granted.
Under Article 13, Paragraph 1-4 of the Law Concerning Levying of Domestic Consumption Tax on Imports, goods covered under Article 17, Paragraph 1-10 of the Customs Tariff Law are exempt from consumption tax.

Yes, in fact it was a consumption tax, but they were pretty sure about paying it...anyway I sent you a mail.
Thanks por copy-pasting that article, so I have 1 year.
And if I stay more? Do I have to pay consumption tax and then register the bike?

I contacted again the Tokyo customs that confirmed about the exemption on consumption tax.
They said "If you would like to get duty/tax exemption without carnet, it is necessary to declare the fact of temporary importation and re-exportation and give a security guarantee in advance. (the guarantee will be back after exportation, however you will have to come Japan again to get back the guarantee or will have to designate a Customs manager who has address or residency in Japan to do the procedure on behalf of you.)"
It's not really easy I guess.
I'd like to contact the Wakkanai customs, but I can only find a telephone number, do you have an email, Chris?
Thanks.

I think the decision on whether you need to give a guarantee is up to the customs inspector at the port of entry. I have never heard of this being required at the Wakkanai ferry.
I don't think there is a publicly available e-mail address for Wakkanai customs. I'll try to call them in the next couple days and ask if there are any changes this year. I am a bit busy today.

Good, thanks!

Meanwhile I sent a mail to the customs section of Wakkanai (Hakodate) - hkd-gyomu-sodan@customs.go.jp

They wrote me:

Thank you for your e-mail.

When you arrive in Wakkanai from Korsakov, you need the import clearance formalities of motorcycle. If you want to import motorcycle temporarily, you need to submit “DECLARATION OF TEMPORARY IMPORTATION OR EXPORTATION OF MOTOR VEHICLE”(Customs Form C 5014) to the Wakkanai Customs branch. So you are exempt from consumption tax. Originally, motorcycle is duty free. As for clearance formalities, you can ask Customs broker.

Hakodate Customs Counselor Section
(Tel 0138-40-4261)

So, it seems that a "security fee is not necessary as you said.

Sorry to be a bit off topic, but how did you do that map Francesco? (Which software I mean..)

Easy - Photoshop CS5

BTW, I got another answer from the Hakodate customs about the security fee:

"The security fee is calculated at the 8% of motorcycle price.
In principle, the security guarantee is necessary."

So, basically they said that I don't have to pay the consumption tax but I have to pay a security fee that is equal to the consumption tax...and to be refunded it's not as easy as I can guess...maybe...

E-mail or PM your correspondence with customs (so I know what questions you asked and the answers they gave you).
I will call Wakkanai customs (i.e. the people who will actually do the procedures) and check the actual procedures.
I think "in principle" means "usually." But when entering by ferry, they do not require it.

Chris

I spoke with Mr. Matsunaga at Wakkanai Customs, and he said that if you use the ferry, they will not charge a security guarantee.
This is a special rule that usually only applies if you use the ferry.
Here is a report from last year, if you did not see it.
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...rry-sept-73029

Last year, a rider was charged 22,000 yen by the customs broker, including insurance). This is less than what the tax would be (and a lot less than a carnet!!).

Thanks again for this informations!
22.000yen is a bit more than the 8% tax on my motorcycle (its commercial value is less than 1500€).
But no problem, as you say, it is a lot less than a carnet, especially because it includes also the insurance!

So, let's summarize, I will have to make 2 IDL, one for Mongolia and one for Japan (Vienna and Geneva convention) for 80€ in total.
I have to make the doublem Russian Visa (270€); the single Mongol Visa (60€).

I have done hepatitis A, typhus and cholera vaccine (70€ total); I will probably make a health insurance (for 180€ I will get one for 90 days from Europ Assistance).

This is the bureaucracy part...I think I don't need more things.

Can't you get by with just a Geneva (1949) IDL?
I know plenty of people from USA, Japan and other Geneva-only countries who go to Mongolia, Russia, etc.

The ministry of foreign affairs says Geneva 1949 for Japan, since december 2013, because before I could have driven there only with my italian driving license with an official japanese translation; and says Vienna 1968 for Mongolia.
Some friends told me that they never check your documents but for 40€ I think it's better not to risk.