Hello

I am reading the stories of this forum for a while and I even joined the facebook thingy.
A while back I posted about a japanese guy I met in france, I joined him as we had the same route (Eurotunnel) for the day.
Posted in on facebook HERE
Since then we stay in contact, he sadly had a harsh crash in switzerland and has to abort his adventure.

We mailed a lot and my mind slaps me for days to ride to Japan. So I started to search here for detailed infos (thank you Chris of Japan!) and I think this is possible.

I am not entirely new to motorcycling, I rode several in your eyes smaller tours (~4000km) in 2 week vacation blocks and enjoyed camping a lot.

But this is something completely different, am I right here? I mean I just travelled Europe, not much offroading, plenty of gas stations and so on.
Vladivostok is 12000km from my hometown, in far eastern Russia, or in my eyes on the other side of this planet

So I consider myself a newbie to that kind of long distance riding and I would like to know what you guys think of it.

Especially when it comes to gear, I own a 2012 KTM 990.

Please forgive me if I did miss some search terms, if there are recommendations for total newbies please refer me to them.


Many thanks in advance and safe travels

__________________
Thomas

Thomas, Hallo and welcome to those who desire to come to Japan!

As Chris might already have told you, it is not that easy, due to import restrictions. However, people have done it in the past and I am sure that people will do it in the future, too!

Anyways, maybe you want to read Heidi and Bernd Kleine's website, concerning their experiences. You can find it here: welt-tour.com - Reisetagebuch Panamericana

This should give you lots of information, connections, points of contact and so on. (Sorry, I am not available for "housing" anymore, due to family "affairs").

If you have any questions, I am sure they will gladly assist, so will I (and others)! You can send me an e-mail at: klausdorth (at)web.de.

Happy planning!! Und viel Erfolg!! Ach so, ja, und Gruesse aus der ehemaligen Nachbarschaft (Ex-Solinger)

__________________

Hi,
I´m about to go to Japan in about a week (as long as my bike arrives in time from Magadan...)

To ride to Japan you need to crosss russia. I´m really enjoying russia and it is not much different from Europe, fuel everywhere, good roads (if you stay on the main road), hotels and restaurants all along the road and if you like camping, you won´t have trouble finding a campspot in russia. People are great and helpful. So don´t worry about that part!

When do you want to ride to Japan?
You might be able to take the ferry from Sakhalin to Hokkaido. It´s a way cheaper option then the ferrycrossing fom Vladivostok to Japan. Plus customs are supposted to be more easy going in Hokkaido so you won´t have any trouble with getting your bike into Japan. You will need an insurance for Japan, and a Carnet de Passage...

good luck

Thank you so much
Klaus, die Welt ist ein Dorf

I did not start planning yet, but I am reading the site Klaus linked at this very moment. Fun to see Eichsfelder travelling as I some of my best friends are from that area

As this is my first time with that kind of travel I think I am done planning in 2 years. I need to safe up some funds as well

I am drawing a rough route through Russia to Sakhalin Island with a little dip to Mongolia, there was a web series called Races to Places where I have seen some stunning footage of Mongolia, and it appears to be kinda close.

__________________
Thomas

And here I come again with a little follow up question.
As mentioned the way from Sakhalin Island to Hokkaido Island is what I plan to do.
But as I am that far east I would like to visit Magadan. I heared great stories about the roads there and many have been there already.

Do you know any elegant solution to get from Magadan to Vladivostok or Sakhalin Island?

By road it would be the complete road back, and I cannot find a shipping route here.
Did somebody do this already and I am again just too stupid to find it here?

Thank you all for your help

Tom

__________________
Thomas