We have been packed and ready to ship since the end of January, however shipping delays and the availability of a ship, has meant the actual chosen vessel the Hoegh Jacksonville was only just loaded on the 5th April and sailed yesterday with an ETA into Kobe on the 20th April.

With a high roof Expedition Vehicle it is a RoRo ( Roll on-Roll off ) this time and not a container as we have previously shipped; the process is slightly different.

See RoRo Shipping to Japan.

Japan also has it’s own unique import requirements.

See Arrival Japan and Customs Clearance. ( coming later )

Packing:

Everything loose was removed from the vehicle cabin, I even took out the UHF radio  - it was not going to work or be used in Japan in any case.

In the module almost every item was removed from the draws and storage areas and placed in the 2 large voids under the bed.

The lid screwed down and a carpet type material covering the under bed floor

The vehicle with full 190 lts water, 190Lts fuel and everything we need for 4 months of travel in cool and hot climates weighed in at 5,280Kg.

There is quite some logistics to ship to Japan and its taken some research. Carnet, CTP in Japan, ID license, shipping ex Brisbane etc etc.

The GPS tracker in the vehicle showed the final movement from the storage parking area into the Hoegh Jacksonville.

We are booker to fly out on the 18th April, with and ETA of the ship on the 20th April - already delayed by 2 days.

I was hoping that the unloading and some customs work would be finalised before our arrival but ..

I have photographed and listed every item in the vehicle so I have a list of contents in readiness to declare to the Japanese Customs. On the flight one is given a landing card and one section asks for ‘Unaccompanied baggage’.

Here I list a ‘Camping Car’ and ‘ personal effects’ attaching the printed list and photographs. The value of same matches the Carnet.

??? the adventure begins !