Entering Japan with a foreign car

I have a complicated question, I want to know if its possible to enter japan for 3-6 months, im Germany so i know I as a person can enter, but I want to enter with a foreign car, so that I can travel around japan. How hard is it or where can I find information regarding type of vehicles, license plates and things like that?

Thank you.

I would not recommend this for a few reasons:

1) You are not going to be there enough time to warrant spending thousands of dollars just to ship your car there.

2) Unless you're driven a left side steering car in Britain for a while, you're not going to be accustomed to driving in Japan either.

3) Your papers and emissions testing will not be adequate. You'll have to pass the tests and perhaps register your car there, which leads back to issue number 1.

It's not worth it.

www.jaf.or.jp/e/carnet.html

You have apply for ATA Carnet, which allow you to import your car temporary for up to one year.

Check above link from JAPAN AUTOMOBILE FEDERATION JAF on Carnet. In addition you'll still have to deal with the Custom for import/export clearance. From above, seems like car from Germany must be inspectea and registered in Japan upon arrival. What it mean you hate to check wit JAF.
www.apexmoto.jp/travellers/
Mention about insurance requirement. Although this site is for motorbike, note the last part about Exception-Carnet for bike from Germany. Seems more troublesome to bring in compare to other countries.


Procedure for import, register,inspection and re-export
http://www.customs.go.jp/english/c-answer_e/keitaibetsuso/7306_e.htm

http://japan.angloinfo.com/transport/vehicle-ownership/importing-a-veh...

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/community/2011/01/25/how-tos/carnet-crucia...


Check with JAF for more details or someone in the forum with similar experience.
Google can work wonder as well.

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/northern-asia/japan-cdp-vs-custo...

Might be useful for you. Should direct your inquiry to above forum. They are more into those thing.

Will be great to hear your experience here if you manage to get it done.

Good luck.

Thank you everyone, seems like too much money and work for traveling to be honest, but thanks for the info!

It is expensive and there is a lot of paperwork, however it may be comparable or cheaper than renting long term. It may also be possible to buy a used car temporarily, but honestly that is not a very realistic option in Japan as the requirements to buy cars are exceedingly costly and time consuming especially for non-residents.