Japan - Buy Register Vehicle?
 

Hi

In a couple of years we are heading off on our trip from Australia via Asia, Japan, Russia, Mongolia etc.

We want to spend a year in Japan first on a long term visa and travel around by 4wd camper. There are tonnes of these for sale in Japan. I am aware that you can buy and register a Motorcycle in Japan through some bike business's.

Has anyone achieved this with a vehicle or now a contact?

I figure it would be the same as a bike, just needing a fixer I s'pose?

Cheers

beer

Homer

Why not follow the same path as the bikes?
The vans are cheap however, because it is costly to pay road tax + inspection. Better buy a van that has some inspection lasting on it for more than your travelling time in Japan.

However, the inspection/road tax will run out when you are abroad. So try not to use a private person for registration or address. Because I think they want the license plates back at some point.

About the vans:
Use yahoo auctions among other to find vans. But the car export sites have better pictures (pictures of bottom, very important).

You have to choose between luxury/space or how good the 4x4 is.

The Toyota vans offer more space, and I think a bit more luxury. They also sometimes come as camper, or at least with a high roof making a big difference. However, Hiaces on the local market are only permanent 4wd.
The Mitsubishis are smaller but have proper 4x4 with low-gearing.

Just out of curiousity, which visa are you applying for which allows you to stay for a year?

Wealthy tourist visa. Need 30’000’000¥ in savings.

6 mth with 6 mth renewal.


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Thanks LTW.


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You can also use a 90 days visa and extend it 2 times giving you 9 months. Or fly to South Korea and back.

We are actually thinking of buying a holiday home in Japan, maybe on the Izu peninsula. That would make life much easier. But that may not happen for a bit.


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To be honest I think it is all a bit overkill. You can just take the 90 days and extend it, and somewhere half-way, fly to South-Korea and back or take that ferry just as a passenger and back. Could also be worth it if South-Korea is not in your travel plan. The DBS ferry stops at South Korea, but we didn't get of either, because it almost doubles the price if you do Russia-Japan in 2 seperate trips. (and we wouldn't have proper time)
So you can have a few days in Seoul, visit the history museum and some sites, and get back with a new 90 days visa/stamp in Japan.

Good info, thanks! We were bummed that we had to leave Japan after 90 days. Six or nine months would give us a good opportunity to buy a bike and spend more than one season there.

Do you know whether the wealthy tourist visa would enable you to get a residence certificate (juminhyou)?
I bought a camper last year, and needed the residence certificate to register it.

I’m not sure but will continue to research.


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I can help
 

As someone who lives here in Japan and is a permenant resident I can help a bit with working Thru.
Here is the thing to buy a bike is easy enough and the embassy will help you get the paperwork you need so as you can register it.
A camper might be a bit more difficult to do and a heap more expensive.
Bikes from 251cc and up need to have a Shaken ( inspection ) every 2 years not a big deal so if your buying a bigger bike make sure how much time is left on the shaken.
Ive had friends buy a bike and I kept it for them when they left or till they decided to sell ...
Their are certain dealers that I would steer clear of, some are quite shady. Yes in Japan we have shady dealers.....
When traveling on a bike stay off the highways ( toll roads) 3 reasons
1 they are expensive
2 they are boring as hell
3 you miss all the cool stuff and roads.
Sure it takes longer BUT its not about the destination its about the journey.

Thanks Racer.


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