Skip to content

Live bookings open November 1, 2026. Get your exact price today, and we'll email you when you can book. Get my price

ONVOYO

Shipping boxes to and from Japan

Japan is orderly and predictable for boxes of personal belongings. A shipment with a total taxable value of ¥10,000 or less usually pays no duty or consumption tax, and for goods for your own use customs counts only 60% of the overseas retail price, a rule that ends on April 1, 2028. Moving to Japan, or coming home after more than a year abroad? Declare your boxes as unaccompanied baggage when you land, and your used belongings can come in duty-free.

Typical transit
2-5 business days from North America or Europe; 1-3 from elsewhere in Asia
Currency
JPY
Duty-free up to
Shipments with a total taxable value of ¥10,000 (about $64) or less are free of duty and consumption tax
Receiver ID
Not usually needed

Price a shipment to Japan

Box size

Choose where it's from and where it's going.

What it costs to ship boxes from the US to Japan

  • 1 medium box (16 × 16 × 16 in, 20 lb)$136.94delivered in 2 to 5 business days
  • 5 medium boxes (30 lb each)$684.69 totalabout $136.94 a box

Includes pickup at your door, express delivery, fuel and prepared customs paperwork. Import duties and taxes, if any, are set by Japan and paid by the receiver. Prices updated November 2, 2026.

Get my exact price

Sending to Japan

Duties and taxes12345678

Duty-free threshold
Shipments with a total taxable value of ¥10,000 (about $64) or less are free of duty and consumption tax. For goods for your own personal use, the taxable value is 60% of the overseas retail price, so goods worth up to ¥16,666 (about $107) at retail can qualify. Liquor and tobacco taxes still apply. Knitted clothing (including T-shirts and sweaters), leather bags, gloves, footwear, pantyhose, and ski boots don't qualify unless they are a personal gift to someone living in Japan. Boxes split from one invoice are added together.
Import tax
Consumption tax of 10% (national and local combined), or 8% on food, charged at import in addition to any duty. In shipments up to ¥200,000 (about $1,290), most goods pay simplified flat duty rates: free for rubber, paper, ceramics, and iron and steel goods; 3% for plastic, glass, base-metal goods, and toys; 10% for clothing that isn't knitted; 15-20% for a few items such as coffee, green tea, tomato sauce, and fur; 5% for everything else. Above ¥200,000, general tariff rates apply. A government proposal would cut the tax on food, including imported food, to 1% from April 1, 2027 to March 31, 2029, if the Diet passes it.
How value is worked out
Ordinary goods are valued CIF: the price plus shipping and insurance. For goods for your own personal use, customs instead takes 60% of the overseas retail price as the taxable value. Japan's 2026 tariff reform abolishes that 60% rule from April 1, 2028. Customs converts foreign-currency values into yen at a weekly rate it publishes: the average market rate from the week before last (¥155.39 per US dollar for September 27 to October 3, 2026). The ¥10,000 and ¥200,000 limits apply to the total of the shipment, and goods split from one invoice are added together. For used belongings, declare an honest current value and keep any receipts; customs can ask for them.
Who pays
Shipments are sent DAP. The receiver pays any duties and taxes before or on delivery. The courier may add a clearance or disbursement fee.
Moving there?
People moving to Japan to stay more than a year, and residents coming home after more than a year abroad, can bring their used personal and household effects duty-free if the boxes clear within 6 months of arrival. You must declare them when you land: hand in two copies of the Declaration of Accompanied Articles and Unaccompanied Articles, and customs stamps one for you. Customs can't redo this step later, and boxes that weren't declared can be taxed like any other shipment. Shorter stays still get the traveler allowances for boxes declared this way.

Worked example

Illustrative: a box of new ceramic dishes and steel pans bought abroad for ¥100,000 (about $640) and sent to yourself in Japan, not as unaccompanied baggage. Assumes customs treats them as goods for your own personal use, so the 60% rule applies, and charges consumption tax on the same taxable value.

Taxable value: ¥100,000 x 60% = ¥60,000, above the ¥10,000 limit. Duty: ceramics and iron and steel goods are free under the simplified rates, so ¥0. Consumption tax: 10% x ¥60,000 = ¥6,000.

About ¥6,000 (about $39), plus any courier fee. After the 60% rule ends on April 1, 2028, the taxable value for a box like this will be higher.

How customs clearance works in Japan135910

Express carriers usually clear the boxes through a customs broker on your behalf and deliver them to the door. The courier pays any duty and consumption tax to customs first, then collects it from the receiver in cash or by bank transfer, and may add a handling fee. For unaccompanied baggage, the broker also needs your stamped declaration and passport.

Formal entry
Above a total taxable value of ¥200,000 (about $1,290), the simplified flat rates no longer apply and each item is charged at its general tariff rate, so expect the courier to ask for a detailed invoice. Unaccompanied baggage that includes commercial goods or costly items may have to clear as general cargo.
How long it takes
Often 1-2 business days after arrival when values and paperwork are in order. Allow longer if quarantine, a medicine check, or an unaccompanied-baggage review is needed.
Inspections
Customs checks for drugs, weapons, counterfeits, and restricted goods, and banned items can be confiscated, destroyed, or sent back. Meat, plants, and other quarantine items go to animal or plant quarantine officers, and detector dogs work at international airports and post offices. Medicines and cosmetics above the personal limits need an import confirmation certificate.
If duties go unpaid
The courier holds unpaid or unclaimed boxes only for a limited time set by its own terms, then returns them to the sender or abandons them, usually with storage fees. For unaccompanied baggage, check with customs before paying a tax bill: once duty is paid, you may lose the duty-free treatment.

Moving to Japan: claiming duty relief345

  1. 01

    Check you qualify

    You're moving to Japan to stay more than a year, or you're a resident coming home after more than a year abroad. Shorter stays still get the traveler allowances.

  2. 02

    Label and address the boxes

    Write "unaccompanied baggage" on each box, the customs notice, and the invoice, and put yourself as the receiver. If you're moving, you can ship the boxes after you arrive.

  3. 03

    Declare on arrival

    Hand in two copies of the Declaration of Accompanied Articles and Unaccompanied Articles. Customs stamps one and gives it back. Visit Japan Web is recommended for the arrival declaration, but with unaccompanied articles customs still asks for the two written copies.

  4. 04

    Clear within 6 months

    Give the courier's broker the stamped declaration, your passport, a list of contents, and any receipts. Customs can't reissue a lost stamped copy.

  5. 05

    Pay only what's due

    Used personal and household effects come in duty-free within reasonable limits. New things count toward the ¥200,000 allowance (about $1,290), with flat traveler rates above it, 15% for most goods. If you get a tax bill for boxes that should be duty-free, ask customs before paying: once paid, the exemption may be lost.

Documents to have ready1391011

  • Itemized packing list with an honest value for each item; customs may also ask for an invoice
  • For unaccompanied baggage: the customs-stamped Declaration of Accompanied Articles and Unaccompanied Articles, your passport, a list of contents, and any receipts
  • Import confirmation certificate (Yunyu Kakunin-sho) from a Regional Bureau of Health and Welfare for medicines, cosmetics, or medical devices above the personal limits
  • Government inspection certificate from the origin country for any meat, dairy, eggs, or other animal products
  • Phytosanitary certificate from the origin country for any plants or seeds

Onvoyo prepares the commercial invoice from your contents list. You print three copies, sign them, and send them with your boxes.

Official forms35912

What you can pack, category by category125891011

What you can pack, by category
CategoryStatusWhat to know
Clothing and shoesMore on clothesAllowedUsed clothes are fine and duty-free as unaccompanied baggage. In ordinary shipments, knitted clothing (T-shirts, sweaters) pays general duty rates even under ¥10,000 unless it's a gift; other clothing pays a 10% simplified rate.
Books and papersMore on booksAllowedBooks, magazines, and personal papers are fine. Obscene material is banned.
ElectronicsMore on electronicsAllowedPersonal electronics are fine, with batteries installed in the device. Above the ¥10,000 limit, 10% consumption tax applies, plus any duty.
MedicationMore on medicineConditionsUp to 1 month of prescription and 2 months of over-the-counter medicine; more needs an import confirmation certificate. Stimulants are banned, and narcotic or psychotropic medicines can't be shipped.
FoodMore on foodConditionsNo meat products. Dairy, eggs, fruit, vegetables, and seeds need certificates and quarantine checks. Sealed snacks without meat are safest. Food pays 8% consumption tax when tax is due.
Cosmetics and toiletriesMore on cosmeticsConditionsUp to 24 standard-size units per item. No aerosols or nail polish.
Alcohol and tobaccoMore on alcohol or tobaccoNot allowedCouriers generally refuse them. If accepted, liquor and tobacco taxes apply whatever the value, ¥3,000 (about $19) per carton of cigarettes. Traveler allowances cover only baggage declared on arrival.
Sports and outdoor gearMore on sports and outdoor gearConditionsClean gear of soil and plant matter. No fuel canisters or sprays. Ski boots don't get the ¥10,000 exemption. Long blades need a permit.
Children's items and toysMore on toys and baby gearAllowedUsed toys are fine. Above ¥10,000, toys pay a 3% simplified rate. Remove loose batteries.
Documents and photosMore on documents and photosAllowedPersonal papers and photos are fine.
OtherConditionsPlants, seeds, animal-derived crafts, ivory, crocodile or tortoiseshell items, and swords need certificates or permits. Declare them clearly.

Quantity limits1259

Quantity limits for Japan
ItemLimit
Low-value shipmentsTotal taxable value of ¥10,000 (about $64) or less: no duty or consumption tax. Liquor and tobacco taxes still apply, and knitwear, leather bags, and footwear are excluded unless they're gifts.
Unaccompanied baggage (travelers only)Counted together with what you carry: 3 bottles of alcohol (about 760 ml each), 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars, 2 ounces of perfume, and other goods worth under ¥200,000 (about $1,290) in total overseas value. Items worth under ¥10,000 each don't count. Doesn't apply to ordinary shipments.
MedicinesUp to 1 month's supply of prescription medicine and 2 months' supply of over-the-counter medicine, for the receiver's own use. More needs an import confirmation certificate.
CosmeticsUp to 24 standard-size units per item.
Cash (travelers)Declare cash, checks, or securities over ¥1 million (about $6,440), or gold bullion over 1 kg, when entering or leaving Japan. Couriers won't carry cash.

What you can't send to Japan12591011

Not allowed

  • Aerosols, spray cans, and compressed gas cylinders
  • Flammable liquids and solids: fuel, lighter fluid, paint, nail polish, matches
  • Loose or spare lithium batteries and power banks not installed in a device
  • Cash, gift cards, checks, and other negotiable items
  • Firearms, ammunition, replicas, and weapon parts
  • Perishable food, and meat, dairy, or fresh produce
  • Cannabis, CBD, and THC products, even where they are legal at origin
  • Stimulants, including medicines that contain amphetamine or methamphetamine, such as some ADHD medicines
  • Narcotic and psychotropic prescription medicines, and medicines containing stimulant raw materials, sent by post or courier. Patients may only carry them in person, with a permit where required
  • Narcotics, opium, MDMA, psychotropic drugs, and designated substances
  • Explosives, gunpowder, chemical-weapon materials, and pathogens such as anthrax
  • Counterfeit coins, bank notes, securities, and forged credit cards
  • Obscene material and child sexual abuse material
  • Counterfeit brand goods and pirated copies
  • Meat products such as jerky, ham, sausages, bacon, and meat buns without a government inspection certificate from the origin country, even if cooked or vacuum-packed

Allowed with conditions

Medicines
Without extra paperwork: up to 1 month's supply of prescription medicine, up to 2 months' supply of over-the-counter medicine, and up to 24 standard-size units per item of non-prescription creams, eye drops, and other external medicines. Above that, get an import confirmation certificate (Yunyu Kakunin-sho) from the Regional Bureau of Health and Welfare first. It replaced the old Yakkan Shoumei in September 2020. Some high-risk medicines need a doctor's prescription whatever the amount. The medicine must be for the receiver's own use, never for others.
Cosmetics
Up to 24 standard-size units per item, for example 24 lipsticks in total whatever the brand or color. More needs an import confirmation certificate.
Medical devices and contact lenses
One set of a household medical device, and up to 2 months' supply of disposable devices such as contact lenses. Individuals can't import devices meant for medical professionals.
Dairy, eggs, and other animal products
Items from cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, deer, horses, poultry, dogs, rabbits, and bees, including dairy and eggs sent by parcel, need a government inspection certificate from the origin country. Finished goods such as leather bags and wool sweaters are exempt. Illegal imports can bring up to 3 years in prison or a ¥3 million fine (about $19,300).
Plants, seeds, fruit, and vegetables
Need a phytosanitary certificate from the origin country and a plant quarantine inspection, whatever the purpose or quantity. Some plants can't come in from some countries at all. Declare them clearly on the packing list.
Swords and knives
Swords with blades of 15 cm or more, and double-edged knives with blades of 5.5 cm or more, need a possession permit from the prefectural public safety commission before they can be imported.
Endangered species products
Ivory, goods made from sea turtle, crocodile, or some snakeskins, tiger or leopard fur, and traditional medicines with musk, tiger, or bear ingredients need CITES documents.
Knitwear, leather goods, and footwear
Knitted clothing, leather bags and gloves, footwear, and ski boots don't get the ¥10,000 exemption unless they're a personal gift to someone living in Japan. Knitwear, footwear, and leather goods such as bags are also left out of the simplified rates, so general tariff rates apply.

Sending from Japan

Shipping boxes out of Japan1412

Sending your own belongings out of Japan is straightforward. The courier's customs broker files the export declaration for you, usually for a fee. People leaving Japan for good can export household effects within 6 months of departure under the simpler traveler's baggage procedure, unless an item needs a permit.

Documents

  • Itemized packing list with fair values
  • Export/Import Declaration for Consigned Articles, in two copies, if you want customs to certify the export of your household effects
  • Antique Art Export Certificate (Kobijutsuhin Yushutsu Kansa Shomei) from the Agency for Cultural Affairs for antiques and art, with copies of the registration certificate for registered swords
  • Export approval from the trade ministry (METI) for export-controlled items such as guns or high-performance computers

Can't leave the country

  • National Treasures, Important Cultural Properties, and Important Art Objects can't be exported in principle
  • Customs may ask exporters of antiques to prove an item isn't one of these
  • Guns and high-performance computers are controlled under the Export Trade Control Order
  • Illegal drugs, child sexual abuse material, and counterfeit goods can't be exported
  • Plants, animals, and meat products may need export quarantine checks
  • Endangered species products need CITES documents

Before pickup

  • Apply for the Antique Art Export Certificate early. It normally takes 10 business days but is taking longer now, and each certificate covers one export within a year.
  • Moving out of Japan? Ship household effects within 6 months of your departure.
  • Check the destination's rules. Many countries limit food, medicine, and plants, and the receiving country decides duties.
  • Describe contents clearly. Vague lists slow checks.

Addresses, delivery and timing

Writing the address

Write the receiver's name, building and room number, block number (chome-banchi-go) and district, city or ward, prefecture, and the seven-digit postal code. English works if it's clear; Japanese is best. Include a Japanese phone number.

Hana ExampleExample Heights 3051-2-3 Examplecho, Setagaya-kuTokyo 154-0000JapanPhone: +81 90 0000 0000

Example only; not a real address.

Delivery coverage

Fastest to: Tokyo, Yokohama, Osaka, Nagoya, Sapporo, Fukuoka, Kobe, Kyoto, Sendai, Hiroshima.

Remote areas: Okinawa, the smaller outlying islands, and rural Hokkaido can take an extra day or two.

Delivery inside Japan is fast and reliable. Receivers can usually choose a delivery time slot once the parcel clears, so give a phone number the courier can reach.

When things slow down

Expect slower service around New Year (roughly December 29 to January 3), Golden Week (late April to early May), and Obon (mid-August), when many businesses close and couriers are busiest.

Advice for your situation

Students

Students staying more than a year can bring used belongings duty-free as unaccompanied baggage. Shorter stays still get the traveler allowances, and clothes and personal effects in reasonable amounts are free. Either way, declare the boxes on arrival and ship them to yourself.

Returning home

Residents coming home after more than a year abroad can bring used personal and household effects duty-free if the boxes clear within 6 months. Declare them when you land. New purchases count toward the ¥200,000 allowance.

Expats and relocations

Moving to Japan for more than a year? Declare your boxes on arrival and clear them within 6 months; you can even ship after you arrive. When you leave, household effects exported within 6 months of departure use the simpler traveler's baggage procedure.

Tips for a smooth delivery

  • Moving to Japan? Declare your boxes as unaccompanied baggage when you land, on two copies of the declaration. Keep the stamped copy: customs can't redo it later.
  • Write "unaccompanied baggage" on every box, the customs notice, and the invoice, and address the boxes to yourself.
  • Several boxes sent together count as one shipment for the ¥10,000 limit. T-shirts and sweaters don't get the exemption unless they're a gift.
  • Check every medicine first: stimulants are banned, and narcotic or psychotropic medicines can't be sent by courier at all.
  • Leave out meat products, dairy, eggs, plants, and seeds, even if sealed or cooked.
  • Expect higher bills from April 1, 2028, when the 60% valuation rule for personal goods ends.

Shipping to and from Japan: questions

How much can I send to Japan tax-free?

A shipment with a total taxable value of ¥10,000 (about $64) or less pays no duty or consumption tax. For goods for your own use, customs counts 60% of the retail price, so up to ¥16,666 at retail can qualify. Gifts follow the same rule, though a personal gift to someone living in Japan also escapes the exclusions for knitwear and leather goods.

What is unaccompanied baggage, and how do I declare it?

It's the belongings you ship separately when you travel or move. List them on the Declaration of Accompanied Articles and Unaccompanied Articles, hand in two copies when you arrive, and keep the copy customs stamps. The boxes must clear within 6 months of your arrival.

Can I send used clothes to Japan?

Yes. Declared as unaccompanied baggage, your clothes are duty-free. In an ordinary shipment, knitted clothing such as T-shirts and sweaters is taxed even under ¥10,000, unless it's a personal gift to someone living in Japan.

Can I send medicine to Japan?

Up to 1 month's supply of prescription medicine and 2 months' of over-the-counter medicine, for the receiver's own use. More needs an import confirmation certificate. Stimulants are banned, and narcotic or psychotropic medicines can't be sent by courier.

Can I send food to Japan?

Meat products are effectively banned, and dairy, eggs, fruit, vegetables, and seeds need certificates and quarantine checks. Food is charged 8% consumption tax when duty or tax is due. Sealed snacks without meat are the safest choice, but check the ingredients.

How long does shipping boxes to Japan take?

Express door-to-door usually takes 2-5 business days from North America or Europe and 1-3 from elsewhere in Asia, plus time for customs or any quarantine check.

How do I ship my belongings when I leave Japan?

Book an express courier and list every item with a fair value. The courier's broker handles export clearance. If you're leaving for good, household effects exported within 6 months of your departure can use the simpler traveler's baggage procedure.

What can't I send from Japan?

National Treasures, Important Cultural Properties, and Important Art Objects can't leave Japan in principle, so antiques may need a certificate from the Agency for Cultural Affairs. Guns and high-performance computers need export approval, and couriers refuse aerosols, loose batteries, and cash.

Official help in Japan

Official sources

Every section above is checked against these official pages. Rules change, and customs in Japan makes the final decision on every shipment. This guide is general information, not legal advice.

  1. 1.

    Japan Customs (税関)

    個人通関 2026：海外通販などに関する手続やその流れ (opens in a new tab)

    Customs · checked September 27, 2026

  2. 2.

    Japan Customs (税関)

    1006 課税価格の合計額が１万円以下の物品の免税適用について（カスタムスアンサー） (opens in a new tab)

    Customs · checked September 26, 2026

  3. 3.

    Japan Customs

    7103 Procedures for Declaring Unaccompanied Articles to Customs (FAQ) (opens in a new tab)

    Customs · checked September 26, 2026

  4. 4.

    Japan Customs

    7301 Procedures for importing/exporting of Household Effects for Home Relocation (FAQ) (opens in a new tab)

    Customs · checked September 26, 2026

  5. 5.

    Japan Customs

    Procedures of Passenger Clearance (opens in a new tab)

    Customs · checked September 26, 2026

  6. 6.

    Japan Customs (税関)

    外国為替相場（課税価格の換算） (opens in a new tab)

    Customs · checked September 27, 2026

  7. 7.

    Ministry of Finance Japan (財務省)

    「関税定率法等の一部を改正する法律案」について (opens in a new tab)

    Government · checked September 26, 2026

  8. 8.

    National Tax Agency (国税庁)

    飲食料品に係る２年間の消費税率引下げについて（令和８年９月） (opens in a new tab)

    Tax authority · checked September 27, 2026

  9. 9.

    Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (厚生労働省)

    医薬品等の個人輸入について (opens in a new tab)

    Health regulator · checked September 26, 2026

  10. 10.

    Animal Quarantine Service, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries

    Bringing animal products into Japan from overseas (by baggage, international parcels) (opens in a new tab)

    Biosecurity · checked September 26, 2026

  11. 11.

    Plant Protection Station, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (植物防疫所)

    郵便物：国際郵便物での植物類の輸入について (opens in a new tab)

    Biosecurity · checked September 26, 2026

  12. 12.

    Agency for Cultural Affairs (文化庁)

    古美術品輸出鑑査証明～文化財の海外流出を防ぐために～ (opens in a new tab)

    Government · checked September 26, 2026

What would your boxes to Japan cost?

Get my price