Shipping To Japan From USA: Ultimate Guide

Cost & Delivery Speeds For Shipments To Japan From The US:

The Japanese eCommerce market is evolved, and the placement of quick and free deliveries is a hygienic customer expectation. Your business wishes to locate a shipping accomplice that ships within a day or two while charging low-priced rates.

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USPS offers flat-rate box transport to Japan ranging from $40.55 to $106.55 for delivery within 6 to 10 days. And we calculated the following fees using each carrier's pricing calculator for a constant instance of a 2.2 lbs package in November 2021. Exact fees are a situation to change.

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How To Choose A Shipping Carrier?

Apart from delivery time and costs, when choosing a shipping partner, you must determine whether they can provide flexible charge preferences to Japanese customers.

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Four necessary US carriers suit this invoice and ship items to Japan.

Here are some highlights and advantages/challenges of using different transport carrier providers:

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USPS PROS

• Offers flat rate shipping

• Allows for drop-off at several locations in the US 

• No pickup fee

• Levies fewer surcharges 

• Works best for less fragile parcels

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USPS CONS:

• It isn't as reliable as the other three carriers

• Not preferred for urgent shipments

• It does not offer good last-mile tracking support

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Related: FedEx Vs. USPS - Which Shipping Company Should You Use For Your Online Store?

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FEDEX ‍PROS

• Offers excellent shipping reliability and also a last-mile delivery tracking

• Offers significant US presence, which makes drop-offs much easier

• Guarantees fast delivery

• It comes with insurance for all international shipping

• Accepts parcels that weigh up to 150 lbs for shipping

• Gives discounts on bulk shipping

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FEDEX CONS

• Higher rates of shipping

• Charges a pickup fee for one-time shipments

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Related: How To Slash Your Shipping Costs With FedEx One Rate

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UPS ‍PROS

• Thanks to its large domestic footprint, picking up packages is easier

• Deals with multiple shipping partners to reduce logistics costs

• Picks up parcels from your doorstep

• Best services for large shipments

• Offers additional discounts to small businesses that use their services regularly

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UPS CONS

• Relatively higher shipping costs as compared to USPS

• Charges a pickup fee

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DHL ‍PROS

• Has a greater international focus 

• It does not charge pickup fees

• Employs environmental-friendly practices

• It comes with insurance for international shipping

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Related: Shopify International Shipping: The Complete Guide

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DHL CONS

• Challenging to locate drop-off points owing to the limited presence in the US

• Shipping costs are pretty high compared to FedEx, UPS, and USPS 

• Levies higher surcharges

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Shipping To Japan With UPS

This 114-year-old package deals with shipping companies that connect organizations and people in 220+ countries. It is barely more expensive than USPS however is regarded as providing more reliable and on-time services.

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When to use UPS to ship from the US to Japan

UPS Worldwide Service is the cheapest international choice from this carrier. Pick this service if you want your parcel delivered to customers in Japan within 1-3 working days.

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Shipping To Japan With USPS

USPS provides courier services to 180+ countries, including Japan. This independent business enterprise of the United States federal government executive department has a high-quality US network, making shipping goods much more accessible.

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When To Use USPS To Ship From The US To Japan

Choose USPS when you are in a tight price range and flexible on the transport timeframe. The service provides a flat rate for parcels of specific dimensions, making it low-cost shipping to japan to send heavier items to Japan.

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Priority Mail International is the lower-priced option that ensures transport to Japan within 6 to 10 working days. Whereas USPS GXG Envelopes guarantee transport within 1 to 3 days at a higher cost.

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Shipping To Japan With FedEx

FedEx is a US-based carrier with a massive presence in its domestic country, making courier drop-offs convenient. At the same time, its international shipping offerings are very reliable. While it does levy a top class for its services, you additionally get to revel in discounts on bulk shipping.

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Related: How Do You Track A FedEx Package Without A Tracking Number?

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When To Use FedEx To Ship From The US To Japan

Online corporations unique about last-mile shipping tracking, fast delivery, and having their parcels insured must pick FedEx.

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FedEx International Economy is the carrier's cheapest alternative to Japan for shipping within four working days. Meanwhile, pick its quickest alternative (International Priority) that ensures shipping within two days.

The provider has also collaborated with Japan Post to control the logistics better as soon as the package deal reaches the vacation spot country.

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Shipping To Japan With DHL

With its massive global network of over 220 nations, DHL is perfect for long-distance shipments to Japan. This German provider has a small home presence but is a relied-on associate for cross-border pickup, delivery, and e-commerce returns solutions.

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When to use DHL to Ship from the US to Japan

Consider DHL if the price range is manageable and you want to ensure that your cargo reaches Japan quickly and with minimal disruptions.

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As one of the most diagnosed and dependable shipping services, it presents shipping insurance and doorstep courier services. It also doesn't charge pickup fees. Businesses that care about the environment must also comprehend that they are committed to enhancing their operations to decrease greenhouse gasoline emissions.

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Prohibited Items When Shipping To Japan

Even the United States lists what can and cannot be added to the country.

Japan restricts the entry of various items, along with alcohol, dairy products, fertilizer, medicine, sugar, and toys for babies, into its borders. You need to apply for a special license from the Japanese government to export these objects from the USA.

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Also, here are some of the objects that are illegal to ship to Japan:

• Narcotics

• Weapons

• Agricultural and meat products

• Counterfeit goods

• Obscene materials

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Be sure to check with the legitimate Japanese customs website earlier than sending your goods, as the listing of constrained and banned objects tends to evolve with time.

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Shipping To Japan From USA FAQS

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How Much Does It Cost To Ship To Japan?

This relies upon the courier provider you are using. Each courier organization has its prices regarding the cargo of goods.

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How Long Does It Take To Ship To Japan?

This depends on the courier provider you are using. Still, in most cases, the time your bundle stays in transit relies upon whether or not you're delivered domestically (within Japan) or internationally. If you use Japan Post to ship a package overseas, you can count on a roughly two weeks transit time. However, depending on your destination and other factors, it may take up to 4 months.

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What Are Shipping Methods Available To Japan?

There are a lot of different preferences, and it is up to you to choose anything more appropriate for you. Some of the courier services are:

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• USPS

• UPS

• FedEx

• DHL

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Do I Need To Pay Customs Or Import Duties When Shipping To Japan?

In Japan, import obligations are calculated based on the delivery fees and value of the shipped product, additionally recognized as the CIF value. Only if the declared value of the objects is, more than ten thousand JPY will make the cargo appeal to import taxes in Japan.

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Additionally, all items sold in Japan attract a VAT/GST tax of 10% with a tax threshold of 10000 JPY.

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Here are some of the merchandise that typically entice import duty:

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What Items Are Restricted Or Prohibited From Being Shipped To Japan?

Japan strictly prohibits the entry of any narcotics and other related utensils, firearms or their parts and ammunition, explosives or gunpowder, precursor materials used for chemical weapons and germs that are likely to be used for bioterrorism, counterfeit items or imitation coins or currency, obscene materials, or goods that violate their law.

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How Do I Track My Shipments To Japan?

You can track your shipment to Japan by monitoring the serial supplied by the courier you are using. The tracking Id will let you forget the transport procedure via their website.

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What do I need to Know about the Address Formats when Shipping to Japan?

The most ordinary way of writing Your postal Address for Japan is as follows:

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1st Row： First name Last name

2nd Row: Name of the building, an apartment building. and room-wide variety (if applicable)

3rd Row： House number, street, town/village

4th Row： City, Prefecture/State/Province

5th Row： Postal Code, Country

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Are There Any Issues When Shipping To Japan?

Cultural barriers, including Japanese/English language barriers, expectations for first-rate and consumer service, and relationship issues and expectations amongst companions and distributors.

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