Ever wondered what actually happens inside one of Japan’s massive used car auctions? This article follows Car Dealer Magazine editors James Baggott and Jon Reay as they tour a major auction site in Yokohama with vehicle import specialists from Nichibo, learning how to Source European cars from Japan. From showroom-quality stock to rare imports and the live bidding process, they explore how Japanese auctions work — and why more dealers from UK and worldwide are turning to them to source high-spec, low-mileage used cars.

Showroom-Quality Imports

Walking from level to level, James and Jon could hardly believe their eyes. Even decade-old models looked almost brand new – as one auction host pointed out, “even 10-year-old models looked factory fresh”​. A first-generation BMW 1 Series, which in Europe often shows its age, looked like it had just rolled off the showroom floor. A seven-year-old Volvo V60 showed no rust or dents, and the Audi A1 had upholstery so clean it could have been a demo unit.

The lack of road salt in Japan’s winters and diligent owner care definitely helps. Many Japanese drivers keep their cars in garages and rarely drive them, so mileage stays low​ James quipped that at home “we’d be lucky if a 2014 A1 was this sharp,” while Jon marveled at how the auction staff had washed and detailed every car to perfection. In this building it seemed every steering wheel was scuff-free and every panel unmarred, lending a surreal feeling that these were new cars – just imported.

Rare Finds and High-Spec Highlights

As they admired the impressively clean catalog of cars, the pair also kept an eye out for special models and high-spec features. One standout was a fully loaded Alpina B5 wagon – a rare European performance model – parked gleaming in one corner. James couldn’t hide his excitement: the Alpina’s dual-turbo inline-six and luxury trim was eye-opening, and he told the camera “I’ve never seen one this crisp at an auction.”

Nearby was a decked-out Audi sedan complete with remote key-start and an in-dash TV/DVD unit. Jon had to try the button himself, exclaiming “No way – it even has a TV screen in the dash and remote start?!” The car’s Bluetooth and entertainment package had both of them grinning at the gadgetry. A humble Volkswagen Polo also caught their eye – a fresh-looking, top-spec hatch complete with all its badges and alloys – and Jon declared it “one of the nicest Polos I’ve ever seen.”

In short, the Yokohama auction was full of surprises: from hot hatches to luxury sedans, every find had a story. As Nichibo’s UK Chay Anderson observed, many dealers “turn their noses up at imports, but when they see the quality of the cars and how well looked after they are, that soon changes”. Clearly, any skepticism evaporated once James and Jon walked these aisles.

Bidding on UK-Friendly Cars

After a few hours of camera-friendly gawking, it was time for the real mission: picking some cars to bid on. The team narrowed it down to three models they knew would sell well back in the UK. James took a shine to a cherry-red Volkswagen Up, a cheerful city car with low mileage and a good spec – perfect for budget-conscious buyers. Jon set his sights on a metallic grey Volvo V40 (the compact estate version, with a high trim and sunroof) as a family-friendly choice, and on a sporty Polo GTI in a bright color, complete with performance upgrades. By mid-morning they were huddled with Nichibo’s auction experts, signing up to bid. Back in your country, dealers can browse thousands of cars on Nichibo’s AutoSearch platform and place bids online​; on-site, Nichibo’s buyers press the buttons for them.

In Yokohama it was a bit different – James and Jon joined the frenzy themselves. When each car came up, they hit the bid button alongside a sea of Japanese dealers, hearts pounding as the countdown ended. (The auction is high-tech – there’s no hammer, just a three-second “press to bid” sprint.) In the end, they successfully placed bids on all three: the VW Up, the Volvo V40 and the Polo GTI. It was a rare thrill to compete for cars on the other side of the world, but the payoff could be huge. And thanks to Nichibo’s system, they even knew their total cost up front – our platform quotes a “landed” price for each car that includes shipping and taxes​, so there were no surprises on import fees. That feature will be available to you in our platform every time you Source European cars from Japan.

The Nichibo Advantage

Nichibo`s AutoSearch platform gives dealers access to hundreds of Japanese auctions – over 145,000 vehicles a week from more than 100 auction sites. That means you can easily Source European cars from Japan with our plataform. Nichibo’s team of over 20 trained inspectors personally checks every car on-site​, so buyers get detailed condition reports before they commit.

For a dealer Worldwide, Nichibo handles the entire process. You bid online or through our app, and once you win, Nichibo’s local buyer pays for and secures the car. We arrange the pre-export checks (odometer certification, Takata airbag inspections, etc.), and we manage shipping – whether by Roll-on/Roll-off or container – all the way to your port of choice. In short, our platform literally takes you inside Japan’s auctions and back out again with the car in hand. Nichibo even displays the final price up front, so you bid with confidence.

For James and Jon it was an unforgettable day: not only did they tour an amazing collection of pristine European imports, but they got hands-on experience buying across the globe. And thanks to Nichibo’s service, even readers who haven’t been there can get in on the action – whether they’re a UK dealer or any dealer Worldwide, they can now explore Japanese auctions and import cars with expert help and transparency​. No flashy marketing – just a smart, straightforward way to bridge two worlds of car trading.