Importing Bike to Japan

[brianh1967]

Can Anyone give me some Tips or Advice on getting my BMW R100R into Japan to ride around for 10 days then I am heading accross to Russia.

[CourtFisher]

Originally Posted by brianh1967

Can Anyone give me some Tips or Advice on getting my BMW R100R into Japan to ride around for 10 days then I am heading accross to Russia.

To start:
http://www.bmwmoa.org/global/BeyondEurope.htm
(page down to...)
JAPAN
A number of non-Japanese tourist riders have ridden independently in Japan, using shipped or rented bikes....
Non-Japanese registered bikes can be shipped to Japan and imported for personal use up to 12 months with a Carnet (see 'Carnet' discussion above) verified by Japan Automobile Federation-JAF-after bike import, www.jaf.or.jp/e/carnet.htm. Without a Carnet, Japan Customs may impose a returnable bond up to100% of vehicle value. Bikes imported for temporary personal use must also obtain minimum mandatory 3rd party vehicle insurance from Japanese broker; broker contact lists available from Carnet-issuing national auto clubs, or from JAF, International Affairs Dept, Att: Mikihiko Sugisaki, tel +81/3 3436 2811, fax +81/3 3436 3008, or fax +81/3 3578 4911, sugisaki@jaf.or.jp, or kokusai@jaf.or.jp.

An excellent guidebook to Japan motorcyle touring is Guy de La Rupelle's Motorcycle Vagabonding in Japan, from Whitehorse Press, 800-531-1133, www.whitehorsepress.com.
See also Owen Stinger (contributing author to Vagabonding)'s "Gaijin Bikers in Japan" website, www.gaijinbikers.com; and the separate Gaijin Riders Forum, www.gaijinriders.com.
Japan Garmin GPS mapping from www.uud.info
Street-level English language local maps also online from Japan National Tourist Office, hwww.jnto.go.jp/eng/map/index.html.

The website, www.japanbikerentals.com is also an excellent introduction to Japan riding. even though it's primarily for organized rental/ tours.

[petefromberkeley]

Yep, you definitly need a Carnet and you should ship into Tokyo, not Osaka. After that it's easy. Plan on camping- it's beautiful.

[Fastbike (japan)]

Originally Posted by brianh1967

Can Anyone give me some Tips or Advice on getting my BMW R100R into Japan to ride around for 10 days then I am heading accross to Russia.

Need any help just send us a Pm... also 10 days is a bit short......

http://www.gaijinriders.com/Forum/

Check out the Geezer walk about tour

Fastbike

[petefromberkeley]

gaijinriders.com?

Now you tell me (I should have known).