We are delighted to sail in Japan. The various archipelagos are fantastic: beautiful nature, well-preserved local culture, delicious food etc. and well-sheltered free harbors: it’s a sailor’s paradise!

Pre Arrival

You can easily get the “pre-arrival procedure form” (mail to Japan Coast Guard (JCG) prior to landing) with a simple web engine search. The pre-arrival procedure form is rather long, detailed, and clearly designed for large vessels, thus no worries if you can’t fill in all boxes.

In your mail to JCG, ask them to arrange landing location with the Naha port authority, (+81) 098 862 2328, as they don’t speak English either.

Arrival in Naha

Upon arrival in Okinawa from Tahiti (French Polynesia), we were instructed by the Japan Coast Guard (+81) 098 951 0120) to clear in at Naha harbor. It is best to communicate via email (they reply quickly – using an online translator): jcgbnahakq3-8f5m@mlit.go.jp. They had required that we arrive between sunrise and sunset / during daylight. Tamm Ha Tamm landed around 10 am, which gave us plenty of time to deal on the same day with most paperwork and visits of official representatives on board.

Naha Port

Our landing position at Naha commercial harbor: Quay 5 – N26°12’34 E127°40’22

Fee: approx. 300 Yen/night (based on tonnage – 5 tons)

Customs office at Naha Port:oki-9a-k-sokatsu@customs.go.jp (+81) 098 862 8529

All Customs procedures are explained and relevant forms available at:http://www.customs.go.jp/english/law/customsform/form_C_e.htm

For tax-free fuel, you need Customs form C2160 – “Declaration of loading of  ship’s stores of domestic goods.From our understanding, you need to fill this form with the fuel provider who should deduce directly tax from the total amount you pay for the refill. Then you should send the original form to Customs Office. We have not yet used the form.

Clearance Procedures

The entry procedures are really satisfactory and went smoothly and quite rapidly. Naha Port management was first to show up, rapidly followed by Japan Coast Guards, later joined by Quarantine and Immigration representatives. The whole process took about 4 hours and followed the steps listed below:

1. Quarantine (2 staff) initiated the process. It was fairly easy for us as there was no pet or fresh produce on board. They inquired about fumigation, which we have never done so we replied that it is not compulsory in French Polynesia and that was it. They did a rapid check of the boat and asked questions to fill in their form. They also checked the body temperature of the crew. Of all the authorities the quarantine representatives in Naha were the most ‘relaxed ‘.

2. Customs (4 staff) proceeded with an extensive/meticulous search of the boat (approx. 1hour / 35 feet…) and asked questions to fill in their form.

3. Japan Coast Guards (4 staff) were on board during the Customs search and interview. They also asked questions at the same time to fill in their own form.

4. Immigration (4 staff) came in a car fully equipped for recording fingerprints and taking ID pictures. They conducted their procedure on the quay: checked and stamped passports, and issued a vias valid for 90days.

Overall Japanese authorities were very nice, polite and efficient. It was a bit tedious to answer the same questions over and over, but overall we are very impressed with their efficiency

Closed Ports Permission

After they all left, we took a taxi to the Okinawa General Bureau (OGB) of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MILT) which is responsible for granting foreign sailors with the closed port permissions. We received the official authorization (1 page-document in Japanese) around 5 pm, so it took less than 3 hours to get it! There’s a big mall close by OGB where it’s convenient to wait and chill out.

OGB Contacts:

Adress: 2-shome-1-1 omoromachi, Naha

Tel: (+81) 098 866 0031

www.ogb.go.jp

Since we left Naha port we encountered no problems with using the official closed port authorisation. It seems local port management officers and cost guards are familiar with the new regulation introduced in May 2018.

Although the permission allow foreign sailors to enter any closed port in Japan, it is still necessary to report your arrival and departure to/from each port to both the JCG and Customs Office (local branch in each prefecture ex. Okinawa, Kagoshima, etc.).

So far we systematically had visits from of the JCG and Customs representatives in every port we landed. The procedure is rather quick and simple: they will ask you questions to fill in a short form containing the usual info about your ship, captain, crew, last port of call, etc.

Moving to Fisherina Marina

Sailing boats can’t stay in Naha commercial port. Shortly after completing all entry formalities, you will be asked to move for example to Ginowan marina (West coast) or Yonabaru marina (East coast), you are free to go anywhere you’d like as long as you got your closed port permission.

We moved to Itoman fishing port “Fisherina”, where we stayed 1 week at a floating pontoon. The Fisherina office is closed on Wednesday. No English is spoken but there were friendly and helpful staff with whom we could ‘easily’ communicate through real-time voice translation app.

Mooring coordinates: 26° 07″43′ N, 127° 39″ 04′ E

Tariffs: 1500 Yen/night (based on boat length – our boat is 35′ feet long)

Gasoil/Diesel: delivery by truck at the pontoon upon request (provider called by Fisherina office)

Freshwater at the pontoon: 50 Yen/hour (long hose available upon request at the office)

Facilities: WC, showers (hot water – 200 Yen/shower), beverages (vending machines)

No Internet / WIFI but if needed, possibility to get connected at the Fisherina office

Free public WIFI networks widely available in Okinawa (e.g. BeOkinawa, NahaCity, etc.)

SY Tamm Ha Tamm (Little by Little in Breton)

The opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not reflect the view of noonsite.com or the World Cruising Club.