Shipping a car from far eastern Russia (Vladivostok) to Japan
 

Hi everyone !

I know this topic has been discussed before but I haven't been able to find any "final" info, so I'll try to post my questions here to be as precise as possible.

So, next year (starting April) a friend and I are travelling from our hometown in Spain, hopefully, to Japan, with our small cute old van (a Nissan Vanette C22). Our planning is turning out pretty good and have been able to solve every problem we have encountered so far. All but this one.

We want to ship from any port (easiest/cheapest one which seems to be Vladivostok) to any port in Japan (we don't care at all).

We have contacted Fesco, which seems to do the job but no answer from the guys in Russia and their representatives in Spain have given up and gave us some alternative contacts.
We have also contacted a guy who has done similar trips but with no luck since he never did that route and could only recommend us to negociate on the spot.

Looking around this forum and expeditionportal and advrider I have found a couple of individuals I will contact as well as "Storm Marine" and "Lucky tours".
Oh, and also those guys:
siroccoverland
whiteacorn (dot com)


I seems to me that the way to go is to find someone you can contact beforehand and will help you out but after hours and hours of research we are really clueless.

Any help would be more than appreciated. Thank you so very much !

Hello


Just take the ferry.
DBS Cruise Ferry


my trip:
From Sakaiminato, Japan to Vladivostok, Russia - May, 2013 | Horizons Unlimited


sushi

Thanks for the answer, sushi2831, did you book the ferry beforehand or contacted the agents beforehand or did you just arrived at the port and booked ?

Hello
I had email contact before entering Japan and made a reservation but payed cash on departure.
In may 2013 there were only 2 bikes and one truck on the ferry, so the issue was to get a cheap bed.
Dont know how easy it is on the russian side, best to contact DBS or Yuri Melnikov.
sushi

It is simple procedure as firstowal you have to have Carnet de pasage and has to be scanned and Emailed to the JAF ...Japanis automobile association at least 14 days before arrival. for pre approval...in a port you can purchase ticket for you`r self and car ...oh not to forger IDL is a must so no need for any brokers ...somebody who can help with translation ...in general it can be accomplished easily.

safe ride

Thanks for the info kawazoki, there are a couple of questions that popup:

Can you point to a website where I read about the CDP procedure (scan + send) so I can find out to what address I have to send it too, I have been unable to find any ?

What is IDL ?

Thanks for that !

Link:
JAF For Visitors Bringing Vehicles with Carnet de Passages en Douane
International drivers's license, more commonly called IDP (International international driving permit)

Thanks Chris :) I start to get the vibe of it, I think. I already have the IDL/P and I've opened a new thread regarding the customs procedure around here (your site was of great help) http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...914#post552796

Cheers !

Cris ...was faster for this answer...:thumbup1:

Safe ride

Hi,
This is definitely a good info for me and others who need to cross (rider and vehicle)from Russia to Japan. Im doing a research of the most practical and easiest way to ferry my bike from Vladivostok to S.E Asia and have taken note on the shipping info from Vlad to Bangkok in other thread. Ferry my bike and myself Vlad to Japan could be another option.
For info, I will be riding from the Netherland into Russia and onward to S.E Asia during Summer next year. Anyone doing the same route are most welcome to share info. Safe ride all.

Amzah

:thumbup1:

Hey just to make sure I'm reading this right

DBS Ferry;
Its US$900 (one way) for a car from Vladivostok > Sakaiminato, and a further USD$110pp for an economy cabin?

Is this the standard pricing?
Thanks

Hello guys,
just a quick question: If i go by DBS ferry from Vlad straight to Japan, can I just buy the tickets, let the bike load and all I need is the C5014 form? Or do i have to do it with some agent (Yuri?), as there is more paperwork to do?
Thanks!

You probably will need Yuri's help to get OUT of Russia. Ask the ferry company about need for export assistance.
As for Japan, last I heard from customs in Sakaiminato last year (actually, I had a friend ask when he was there) you might be able to get into Japan without a carnet. You must tell them you are re-exporting by FERRY (even if you don't). If you say you are shipping by container, they will probably reject you. If you don't have a carnet, it is best to have an alternate plan in case they don't allow you in.

Probably it is good to say you are also getting back with the ferry to keep things simple. I might have a quote already for the shipping out of Japan (not by container, Japan has a lot of cheaper roll-on roll-off ferry lines to Europe) but I agree it will make things complicated. Because the vehicle is coming into the country as luggage, entering together and leaving together is the intention.

This is what I found some time ago on some overlanding facebook group or something (not sure from where anymore)

But this was a message from June 2017, about not using a carnet:

As other people have done it this way (including someone with same nationality as me), it is sufficient for me to try it.
A backup plan would be nice, but I guess that will just be shipping it away again directly. Can't think of anything else.
Because I don't wish to arrange a Carnet only for Japan.