Hi,

I am planning a trip and want to go from Russia to Japan.

I know that from Vladivostok there is a ferry that will take myself and bike to south Korea and then to Japan, however I am led to believe you must have a Carnet for the bike to enter in this way and carnets are expensive! Plus I want to move on from Japan to Australia and I dont want to use up precious expensive carnet time in japan when I hope to be in Austrailia for nearly a year.

So I read on here that if you enter Japan through Wakkanai you are able to get a special form for if you dont have a carnet that allows you to stay for a couple of months for free, which is ideal from my perspective!

Through my research iv found one ferry going to Wakkanai via Sakhalin, to get to this ferry there is one route which is from Vanino to Kholmsk then travel down to Korsakov where you can get the ferry to Wakkanai.

I am trying to work out if this route would end up being just as expensive as getting a carnet and going the easier way to Japan via Vladivostok or weather it would be cheaper.. It would also be more fun to go to Sakhalin and then do the whole length of Japan before having the bike sent to Australia.

So my question is! Does anyone have any experience or any information on this as I cant find much about doing it unless you go by foot!

Regards, Fletch

Sorry, no good news:

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...hokkaido-81084

One more:

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...hokkaido-84720

Hi Bubbla,

Bugger! There I was getting all excited . I have also just read this on the Heartlandferrys website http://www.heartlandferry.jp/english...rbikeGuide.pdf -- Not sure if this link appears for anyone but it basically says that you cant get onto the ferry or have your ticket until your Carnet has been cleared... Oh well Vladivostok and carnet it will have to be..

Regards, Fletch

Also thanks very much for your link! much appreciated!

When are you doing this trip?

'Bike on a Hike'. Available at WWW.Amazon.com

I think there used to be a ferry to Japan from Sakhalin--have you looked at that option? Not sure if it is still running.

Until now it won´t be running. I´m planning for Vladivostok...