Japan Carnet Process
 

A Carnet is required for Japan.

The only unusual thing about taking a bike into Japan on the Carnet is that you need to work with the Japan Auto Federation (JAF)(their AAA) to get the Carnet approved for the customs guys PRIOR to picking the bike up.

The contact at JAF is:

Madoka Ueda

International Affairs

JAF Headquarters

14F, Jidosha Kaikan, 1-1-30, Shiba-daimon,

Minato-ku, Tokyo

Tel: +81 03-3578-4910

Fax: +81 03-3578 4911



email: kokusai@jaf.or.jp



Map: : http://www.jaf.or.jp/e/head.htm

The JAF and Madoka are very professional and the whole thing took about five minutes.

They will need you to fax them a copy of the Carnet (the cover and a coupon page) in advance of your arrival and send them the following info.

The JAF will give you a stamped/signed document that you will present to the customs guys at the airport. Stop by the JAF HQ *BEFORE* you go to the airport to pick up your bike. The guys at the airport customs office were super helpful and processed my paperwork in less than five minutes during their regular lunch hour. The JAF will also give you a document to present to any police who pull you over explaining that the bike is OK for use in Japan.


Sample Email to JAF:

From: "Douglas Hackney" <dhackney@egltd.com>

To: "'JAF International Affairs'" <kokusai@jaf.or.jp>

Sent: Wednesday, July 28, 2004 6:20 AM

Subject: RE: Temporary vehicle importation to Japan



Madoka,

Thank you for providing the information regarding temporary importation of our motorcycle into Japan.

Following is the information I believe you require:

1. Attached are copies of the front cover and page of the Carnet, as well as the rear cover

2. Persons that will drive the vehicle in Japan:

Douglas Hackney

14-10 Ginza 6-Chome

Tokyo, 104-0061

(this was our hotel address for the first few nights, used the same address for the insurance)

US address:

Douglas Hackney

XXXXXXXXXX

XXXXXXXXXX

3. Holder's address in Japan:

Douglas Hackney

14-10 Ginza 6-Chome

Tokyo, 104-0061

(this was our hotel address for the first few nights, used the same address for the insurance)

4. Expected date and place for re-export:

12 September, 2004, Tokyo

5. No other persons will drive the vehicle.

6. We plan to use our motorcycle in Japan from 12 August, 2004 until 12 September 2004.

7. I will visit your headquarters offices on the morning of 12 August, 2004.

I will plan to visit your headquarters at:

JAF Headquarters

14F, Jidosha Kaikan, 1-1-30, Shiba-daimon,

Minato-ku, Tokyo

Please inform me via email if I need to provide you with any additional information or documentation.

It is my understanding that I will be able to visit your headquarters on the morning of 12 August, 2004 and receive an authentication of my Carnet. I will then present this authentication to the customs authorities at Narita in order to obtain release of our motorcycle for the purposes of temporary importation into Japan. Please inform me via email if I am mistaken in this understanding of the process.

Thank you,

Doug


Japan is worth the effort to get your bike there. Great riding out in the mountains and small villages. Stay out of the valleys, they are very crowded with traffic.

More info on this process at:
http://www.hackneys.com/travel/index-HowTo.htm


------------------
www.hackneys.com/travel

Good information Doug,

I tried e-mailing Madoka but got a bounce back. I suppose it has been quite a while! Here is a link to the carnet process on the JAF website:

JAF For Visitors Bringing Vehicles with Carnet de Passages en Douane

Ms. Ueda was transferred many years ago, I hear.
JAF will not accept e-mail. I tried to ask them to set up a public e-mail address, but they just said they would "consider it" (that is Japanese for "no").
Unfortunately, you can telephone or fax only.
Without carnet authorization, you usually cannot get through customs.

Thanks Chris,

We went to the JAF office in Fukuoka and it took a little over an hour to get it all sorted. We didn't have a chance to FAX or phone from China or I'm sure that it would have been quicker. As it turns out it took another 4 days to get to customs because of the Health and Sports Day holiday so we weren't in a big rush anyway. At customs it only took 15 minutes for them to process the carnet.