Driving to Japan
Discussion
Mars said:
I'm following with interest. I had a crazy idea to drive to Sydney, Oz to visit with my cousin in an overland-equipped camper but I couldn't find a route that made sense either.
There are no scheduled ferries to cross much of that part of the world either, so now that Russia is a no no, I just can't work out how it'd be possible. You have to go into Iran and then wend your way across to the Chinese border via Pakistan, India and Bangladesh... which I'm not sure is even possible in a UK registered vehicle.
Once you get to Vietnam, I have read that you can't take a right hand drive car into the country anyway. And if somehow manage to get that far, once in Indonesia, there is no way to get a vehicle across to Malaysia, Indonesia and into Australia.
I think my idea is impossible.
However to get to Japan seems achievable but only through China which, as you've noted, involves a chaperone.
I think I'm just going to ship my camper to Canada and see what that continent has to offer a lone traveller.
An old school classmate of mine did this, and wrote a book about it. 16 years ago now, though, so border crossing etc will all have changed. You can read about his adventures here:There are no scheduled ferries to cross much of that part of the world either, so now that Russia is a no no, I just can't work out how it'd be possible. You have to go into Iran and then wend your way across to the Chinese border via Pakistan, India and Bangladesh... which I'm not sure is even possible in a UK registered vehicle.
Once you get to Vietnam, I have read that you can't take a right hand drive car into the country anyway. And if somehow manage to get that far, once in Indonesia, there is no way to get a vehicle across to Malaysia, Indonesia and into Australia.
I think my idea is impossible.
However to get to Japan seems achievable but only through China which, as you've noted, involves a chaperone.
I think I'm just going to ship my camper to Canada and see what that continent has to offer a lone traveller.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Are-Nearly-There-Yet-Dad-...
JuanCarlosFandango said:
It might be missing the point but could you go the other way? Ship to the east coast of Canada/US, then drive across to west coast and ship the car from there to Japan. I know it has more sea and less romance than the silk road but it would still be a heck of an adventure. All the more so if you could ship the car from Mexico.
Drive to Denmark, ferry to Iceland via Faroe Islands maybe, do a few laps, then ship to Canada/US?CivicDuties said:
An old school classmate of mine did this, and wrote a book about it. 16 years ago now, though, so border crossing etc will all have changed. You can read about his adventures here:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Are-Nearly-There-Yet-Dad-...
That sounds like a great book - I've just ordered it thanks!https://www.amazon.co.uk/Are-Nearly-There-Yet-Dad-...
river_rat said:
CivicDuties said:
An old school classmate of mine did this, and wrote a book about it. 16 years ago now, though, so border crossing etc will all have changed. You can read about his adventures here:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Are-Nearly-There-Yet-Dad-...
That sounds like a great book - I've just ordered it thanks!https://www.amazon.co.uk/Are-Nearly-There-Yet-Dad-...
LRDefender said:
The border between Georgia & Russia is open, I was there (on the Georgian side) a couple of months ago and everything appeared quite normal. I use the Military Road from Tbilisi and stay well clear of South Ossetia & Abkhazia.
Only you can decide whether travelling across Russia is acceptable. Western travellers are entering Russia atm and those I’ve spoken to have experienced no problems with the locals. Russians have told me that infrastructure outside the main cities isn’t being repaired or maintained well. I believe foreigners can get the relevant entry permits/paperwork in Yerevan to enter Russia.
Noted, thanks.Only you can decide whether travelling across Russia is acceptable. Western travellers are entering Russia atm and those I’ve spoken to have experienced no problems with the locals. Russians have told me that infrastructure outside the main cities isn’t being repaired or maintained well. I believe foreigners can get the relevant entry permits/paperwork in Yerevan to enter Russia.
If it's possible, doing the bulk of the trip on the trans Siberian highway is by far the easiest way, it certainly was until the war, an absolute doddle even, but war is a pretty significant change in circumstance.
Mr Penguin said:
I've always wanted to do this, but now is a really bad time to do it IMO. Pretty much any route will take you through countries we aren't on best terms with and all you have to do to be accused of spying and be arrested is get lost and drive too close to a prison, power station, military base etc.
I cant remember the exact details but I remember a story about a guy who wanted to drive across or into Russia or something like that. He got the tap on the shoulder and was asked to take some photos. Which he did. I seem to recall he made it quite far and was spotted eventually where he had no explanation when the KGB turned up for a chat.I cant remember the exact details think I read it in a book. I am sure the feds just shrugged and said "not one of ours".
Perfect machine for the job! Easy to fix in the back of beyond and readily bodgeable if it can't be fixed. We did it a Fiat Doblo van.
Couple of points - diesel was hard to find in Uzbekistan if you find yourself there. We ended up having to buy it from a farmer which involved following a tractor into a barn in the middle of nowhere and filling it up out of 2 litre plastic coke bottles. It was easy to find and cheap elsewhere though, stupidly so in Iran. 7 pence a litre sticks in my mind and one filling station owner insisted on covering the cost to show his appreciation of our visit!
You'll be much less conspicuous in the LDV than those who travel in convoys of new BMW GSs or in huge off road camper conversions and people will treat you better. Don't pay bribes if at all possible, we didn't pay any at all, offer cigarettes and pretend you don't understand if the police try it on. Above all, stay calm, friendly and smile as much as you can. They'll generally get bored before you do.
Couple of points - diesel was hard to find in Uzbekistan if you find yourself there. We ended up having to buy it from a farmer which involved following a tractor into a barn in the middle of nowhere and filling it up out of 2 litre plastic coke bottles. It was easy to find and cheap elsewhere though, stupidly so in Iran. 7 pence a litre sticks in my mind and one filling station owner insisted on covering the cost to show his appreciation of our visit!
You'll be much less conspicuous in the LDV than those who travel in convoys of new BMW GSs or in huge off road camper conversions and people will treat you better. Don't pay bribes if at all possible, we didn't pay any at all, offer cigarettes and pretend you don't understand if the police try it on. Above all, stay calm, friendly and smile as much as you can. They'll generally get bored before you do.
r3g said:
Be aware that if you go through Iran you'll be denied access to some countries in the future, notably the USA. So if that matters to you, you need to avoid Iran. Plenty of travel "vloggers" have found this out the hard way.
That is totally untrue about being denied access to the US, I have done both a few times. The only country I know that will deny you access if you go to Iran, is Israel.andyA700 said:
r3g said:
Be aware that if you go through Iran you'll be denied access to some countries in the future, notably the USA. So if that matters to you, you need to avoid Iran. Plenty of travel "vloggers" have found this out the hard way.
That is totally untrue about being denied access to the US, I have done both a few times. The only country I know that will deny you access if you go to Iran, is Israel.jasonrobertson86 said:
Interesting. What is the blog you're following?
That was back in 2018, I thought I had it on my favourites. I will see if I can find it, meanwhile here is an American guy who did the trip in a Landy, from Italy via Turkey to Iran.https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=O1...
Stick Legs said:
If the object of the exercise is one last big adventure then surely Hammerfest to Cape Town is just as impressive & safer.
this ^^^there is another question to be asked if you're still thinking of doing Russia - quite bluntly, sadly, are you Afro-Caribbean? If so I'd think very carefully about such a trip. Moscow was bad enough, I can (sadly) imagine that that some of the more 'provincial' areas would be a living hell.
The reason for Japan as a destination is that my son lives there and I'm a bit of a Japanophile of late. Shipping to the USA, driving East to West, then shipping across the Pacific would be a great trip, but so expensive and not the trip I'm looking for, ditto Cape to Cape Norway to Africa or the Pan Americana Alaska to Argentina. The destination and adventure is Japan. Thanks for the other suggestions, but they're unconnected, way off piste 
21st Century Man said:
The reason for Japan as a destination is that my son lives there and I'm a bit of a Japanophile of late. Shipping to the USA, driving East to West, then shipping across the Pacific would be a great trip, but so expensive and not the trip I'm looking for,
The destination and adventure is Japan.
What’s the cost of a chaperone in the countries going east that require them? The destination and adventure is Japan.
ecsrobin said:
What’s the cost of a chaperone in the countries going east that require them?
Just China.I haven't had a detailed quote. But it's going to be a guide, their hotels, meals and probably some other of their expenses along the way for maybe 3-5 weeks, vehicle has to be temporarily registered in China with Chinese plates and I'll need to get a Chinese drivers license as UK/International not valid, plus a detailed itinerary, day by day, stop by stop, with little to no room for deviation. That's got to add up? It's not entirely out of the question, and would be very interesting and might be great fun, with the right guide, although they'd probably be changed region by region.
I've found some costs, I doubt I'd have much change from £10k. Solo it's a no go.
Edited by 21st Century Man on Sunday 14th April 15:20
21st Century Man said:
LRDefender said:
The border between Georgia & Russia is open, I was there (on the Georgian side) a couple of months ago and everything appeared quite normal. I use the Military Road from Tbilisi and stay well clear of South Ossetia & Abkhazia.
Only you can decide whether travelling across Russia is acceptable. Western travellers are entering Russia atm and those I’ve spoken to have experienced no problems with the locals. Russians have told me that infrastructure outside the main cities isn’t being repaired or maintained well. I believe foreigners can get the relevant entry permits/paperwork in Yerevan to enter Russia.
Noted, thanks.Only you can decide whether travelling across Russia is acceptable. Western travellers are entering Russia atm and those I’ve spoken to have experienced no problems with the locals. Russians have told me that infrastructure outside the main cities isn’t being repaired or maintained well. I believe foreigners can get the relevant entry permits/paperwork in Yerevan to enter Russia.
If it's possible, doing the bulk of the trip on the trans Siberian highway is by far the easiest way, it certainly was until the war, an absolute doddle even, but war is a pretty significant change in circumstance.
Thanks LRD, this may well be the route, following the Trans Siberian as per my original plan.
Edited by 21st Century Man on Sunday 14th April 11:19
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