Hello guys!
Quick question, there is very little information on Carnet requirements for Japan if you arrive by ferry - do we need one?
We don't need one according to this link - https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ge...t-of-countries

Do we need to still temporarily import our vehicles? How much does that cost?
Any tips from people that have done this would be greatly appreciated!

Tim

I'm just copying this message here from a friend who had been in contact with the Japanese Customs:

Response from Japan customs :-) Dear Sir/Madam,

Thank you for your e-mail.

For temporary importation, if both of you and your vehicle will arrive at Japan by a ferry and will leave Japan within 1 year since entry, you can enjoy tax exemption system. When you will arrive at Japan, please make temporary import declaration with the customs form C No.5014. With this customs declaration, your vehicle can be exempted from taxes under the Customs Tariff Law, Article 17. Please note that if you will not re-export your vehicle within 1 year since entry, taxes which are exempted at entry will be imposed.
You can download this customs form from the following site.
http://www.customs.go.jp/kaisei/yous...m_C/C5014a.pdf

On the other hand, if you can prepare with ATA carnet for your vehicle and you will re-export your vehicle within 1 year since its issue, you can take simplified import procedures with ATA carnet and taxes are exempted.
For more detailed information, please refer to the following site.
http://www.customs.go.jp/.../c-a.../...uso/7306_e.htm
(Export/Import Procedure for Private Automobiles Using a Carnet (Foreign Carnet)) JAF For Visitors Bringing Vehicles with Carnet de Passages en Douane (JAF For Visitors Bringing Vehicles with Carnet de Passages en Douane)

On the other hand, if you will not arrive at Japan by a ferry or not prepare with ATA carnet for your vehicle, the importer has to make ordinary import clearance with required documents.
http://www.customs.go.jp/.../c-answe...msanswer_e.htm
(Customs answer (FAQ))
Articles from 1102 to 1117 explain import clearance procedure.
In this case, you will be able to import them after duty/tax payment. In general, the duty rate on cars is FREE, but 8% of consumption tax will be imposed.

For just information, when you will use your vehicle on the public road, after import permit, you have to register your vehicle to MLIT, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.
For further information, please ask the MLIT directly.
http://www.mlit.go.jp/english/inspect /etop.html

Hope this information will be helpful to you.
Respectfully yours,
Aya KODERA (MS.)
Customs Counselor’s Office
Tokyo Customs

Check here for the message [link]

Adventurous greetings,
Coen

p.s. let us know how it went as we are shipping over via ferry from South Korea in November....

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- On the road since 2003 in a vintage Land Cruiser

It is possible to get in without a carnet in some cases if you arrive by ferry. But I recommend you having one. If you don't have a carnet, is it possible that the customs just says "no" when you arrive.
Before the ferry from Sakhalin was discontinued, Wakkanai customs started requiring a carnet in all cases, even by ferry (supposedly because there were cases of people abandoning their vehicles in Japan). If customs lets you in using just Customs Form C5014, the cost shouldn't be much more than $100 for various fees (in addition to ferry passage). This is an option if you have the time and flexibility to risk being refused entry.

mailking's information is not completely accurate.
An ATA carnet is not valid for driving on the roads. You need a Carnet de Passages en Douane. (They are two different things.)
Also, if you do an ordinary import and pay the taxes you will not be able to ride without having the vehicle inspected and registered (which is practically impossible).
With temporary import, you can use your bike in Japan for up to one year without registering.

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Japan touring information

Mailking has now done it, and you don't need a Carnet de Passage when coming with the ferry (in their case, from South Korea but it is the same boat as from Vladivistok of course)
They mention that you get a Temporary Import Document.

There is also somebody replying that it was even more hassle to get the Carnet stamped (they had to go with a taxi to a car club kind of thing?).

I guess there is always the "randomness factor" of the possibility that something changes and it would have been better to bring a Carnet. Or even that the rules have been changed. But the info from mailking (landcruisingadventure.com) is pretty recent to me.
So this will probably mean that we go in without a Carnet. As Japan would be the only country for us requiring a Carnet.