is an airline ticket out of Japan necessary
 

We are planning on starting our trip in Japan then ferry across to Sakhalin Island. The travel agent says that we must have an airline ticket out of Japan. Has anyone got experience with this? comments appreciated.

Simon

Can't say from recent experience, but in the past people have come on one-way tickets. Proof of a ferry reservation may be sufficient for your airline. In practice, I don't think that immigration in Japan usually checks westerners for onward tickets.
Note, however, that one-way is often more expensive than round-trip. A cheap round trip may cost you less than one-way.

Thanks for that Chris. Haven't looked at price of return tickets but I guess it is worth exploring even though we know we won't be returning via Japan. so far have been offered a Sydney Tokyo via Malasia flight for $900 which is cheap enough.

Simon