There have been significant changes to international shipping since the COVID-19 pandemic the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. This post has been updated several times from when it was first posted in 2020 in order to reflect the still changing shipping situation for various parts of the world. Please read through this post for info about shipping options.
Can you ship packages to my country?
For the most part, YES. Where you live may affect which options are available though.
Middle East and Africa:
Packages can be shipped with Japan Post (EMS, Registered Airmail/ePacket, and Surface Mail) or Yamato Transport/UPS for locations I commonly ship to (including Israel, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates).
Europe:
Packages can be shipped via both Japan Post and Yamato Transport/UPS for most countries in Europe, except Russia. Shipping is completely suspended to Russia.
Via Japan Post:
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- EMS service has returned to all countries in Europe.
- Registered Airmail/ePacket has returned to most countries in Europe EXCEPT the United Kingdom, France, and Germany.
- Surface Mail is available to all countries in Europe.
Via Yamato Transport/UPS:
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- UPS Shipping is available to all countries in Europe EXCEPT Portugal.
Oceania:
Packages can be shipped with Japan Post (EMS, Registered Airmail/ePacket, and Surface Mail) or Yamato Transport/UPS for locations I commonly ship to (including Australia and New Zealand). Please note, shoppers in Australia have reported that Registered Airmail/ePacket shipping tracking does not update within Australia.
South America:
Packages can be shipped with Japan Post (EMS, Registered Airmail/ePacket, and Surface Mail) for most destinations
Yamato Transport/UPS is also available for most destinations, but not Argentina, Paraguay, Brazil, and Venezuela.
North America:
- USA: Packages can be shipped with Japan Post via EMS and Surface Mail or with Yamato Transport/UPS. Registered Airmail/ePacket IS NOT AVAILABLE for the USA.
- Canada: Packages can be shipped with Japan Post via EMS and Surface Mail. Registered Airmail/ePacket and Yamato Transport/UPS ARE NOT AVAILABLE for Canada.
- Mexico: Packages can be shipped with Japan Post via EMS, Registered Airmail/ePacket, and Surface Mail. Registered Airmail/ePacket may be very slow. Yamato Transport/UPS IS NOT AVAILABLE for Mexico.
Asia:
Packages can be shipped with Japan Post (EMS, Registered Airmail/ePacket, and Surface Mail) or Yamato Transport/UPS for most locations, exceptions listed below.
India and China: only EMS and Surface Mail are available.
Philippines: EMS, Registered Airmail/ePacket, and Surface Mail are available. Yamato Transport/UPS is not available.
Shipping conditions to your country may suddenly change!
You can check the status of your country with this list that Japan Post created. Please note that even if it says “airmail for parcels” is available for your country, this may not include “Registered Airmail/ePacket” which is the affordable type of Airmail for small packages. Parcel Post Airmail is pricey and is nearly never a better option than EMS.
***IMPORTANT NOTE***
Japan Post SAL shipping was suspended completely, worldwide, in April 2020. It is unclear if/when it will resume.
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What about private shipping companies like DHL, FEDEX, and UPS? I heard you are offering shipping via Yamato Transport, what’s that?
FedEX does not operate in my area of Japan at all. DHL does not offer pick up in my area and is prohibitively expensive to ship from the one drop of location in my area. I cannot ship via FedEX or DHL.
I can ship via UPS via their partnership with Japanese courier Yamato Transport. Please click the link to read more about this service.
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What is EMS?
EMS is Japan Post’s fastest shipping service (Express Airmail Service). It has tracking and offers free insurance coverage up to 20,000 yen and very affordable coverage over that amount. I will automatically fully insure the package for at least the value of the items themselves unless you specifically mention other instructions. Delivery time is around 4-7 days, but may take longer in some cases. *As it is the most secure, EMS is my recommended shipping method!
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What is Registered Airmail/ePacket?
Registered Airmail/ePacket is an affordable shipping method for small packages (max 2kilos, length + width + height must be 90cm or less). It has tracking but can only be insured for a max of 6000 yen. If you request shipping with Registered Airmail for something worth more than 6000 yen and the package is lost or damaged, you accept the risk of only being able to get a maximum 6000 yen back. Delivery time is 1-2 weeks, but may take longer in some cases (up to a month).
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What is Parcel Post Surface Mail?
Parcel Post Surface Mail (also known as Sea Mail) is shipping via boat with Japan post. It has tracking, but only while the package is on land (you will not be able to see any updates while it is on the boat). Insurance may not be available for some countries. The base price is around $20, so it is not always the most economical choice, especially for small items and considering the long delivery time. Delivery time is estimated at 2-3 months.
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Can you ship to an address within Japan (a forwarding service, hotel, a friend residing in Japan, etc)?
Generally, yes! My only issue with doing this is that the shipping address on your Paypal account will not match your Japanese shipping address because Paypal usually doesn’t allow you to register a shipping address in a foreign country. If you have little or no feedback, and we have no shopping history, I may have to refuse as Paypal is strict about where sellers ship packages. If you can pay by domestic Japanese bank transfer then I have no issues shipping within Japan. If you need shipping within Japan, please mention your situation in your request form and we can discuss further.
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My package was returned to sender, what happens now?
If your package was returned to sender because you did not collect it in time, did not pay customs fees, or you provided an incorrect shipping address, I can re-ship it to you, but you will have to pay the shipping fee again. Please check your tracking number so you don’t miss your package.
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My package has not been delivered and I am worried it is lost. What do I do?
This will depend on what shipping company you used. If a reasonable amount of time has passed and your package has not updated or been delivered, please contact me. Delays are common, so do not panic if the package is running a little late.
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My package arrived, but it is damaged or items are missing due to the package being mishandled/ripped open. What do I do?
This will depend on the shipping company, but DO NOT discard any of the packaging, including the box and any stuffing/padding materials. Take pictures of the damage to the package and any damaged items. You have to report the damage to the shipping company in your country before I can start the claim process in Japan, so it is imperative that you have evidence of the damage. Please contact me for more details.