Discusses the prevalence and reliability of express delivery firms within the country, time from large U.S. cities, and relevant customs procedures, including de minimis amounts.
Last Published: 9/6/2019
In Japan, there are multiple options for express delivery for domestic and international shipping. Both FedEx and UPS operate within Japan and offer overnight shipping between Japan and the United States. Cost and delivery time will depend on the type and size of the package as well as the delivery location. Amazon Prime Japan members receive domestic overnight shipping services; however, international shipping rates can vary.

The Japanese postal system has approximately 24,000 post offices nationally, and consistently ranks among the world’s finest for service and reliability. Due to Japan’s compact size, most domestic packages tend to arrive using standard shipping within 1-2 days. Same-day special express delivery service starts at roughly ¥800 and is available within each of the 5 major cities in Japan. Postage fees of international shipments using Japan Postal Service are set based on size, weight, and destination and starts at roughly ¥1400.

Customs procedures for international mail are fairly straightforward. Mail sent from Japan is subject to the customs regime of the receiving country. Mail arriving to Japan is forwarded to Japan Post to be delivered directly if found to be duty-free. Packages with a customs value of a certain threshold must undergo a customs inspection. If the total customs duty is less than ¥300,000, the recipient will receive a “Notice of Assessment for International Mail” and the statement of payment. When the item is delivered by the Japan Post, payment of the duty alongside a ¥200 yen per a parcel fee is payable on delivery. Documents and letters are non-dutiable and delivered after an initial inspection.
UPS Japan
FedEx Express Japan
Japanese Postal Service
Amazon Prime Japan
Japan Customs
 
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Japan Trade Development and Promotion Transport and Logistics