Value Village ／ Before you come to Japan
This answer is a draft. It stays unpublished until legal review and source verification are complete.
Shopping in Japan often ends with a suitcase that will not close. The post office is the answer more often than an extra bag — Japan Post is cheap, reliable and everywhere — but the rules, the paperwork and the size limits are not obvious.
| Service | Speed | 5 kg to US/Europe (approx.) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| EMS | 3–7 days, tracked, insured to ¥20,000 | ¥10,000–15,000 | Max 30 kg; size limit 1.5 m longest side |
| Airmail parcel | 1–2 weeks | ¥8,000–12,000 | Tracking optional |
| Economy air (SAL) | 2–3 weeks | ¥6,000–9,000 | Suspended to some countries |
| Surface (sea) parcel | 1–3 months | ¥4,000–6,000 | Cheapest; fine for books, ceramics packed well |
| Small packet (up to 2 kg) | 1–2 weeks | ¥1,500–3,500 | For light items |
[Verify] Rates and services with Japan Post's international mail rate finder (they change yearly); prohibited items with both Japan Post and the destination's customs authority.
Airline excess-baggage fees run ¥5,000–15,000 per bag or per kilo band; a 5 kg surface parcel at ¥4,000–6,000 is usually cheaper if you can wait.
Any post office can accept international parcels, but small ones may have staff unfamiliar with the electronic form. Main post offices in cities have English forms and long hours.
Many destinations now require the electronic customs declaration; a handwritten CN22/23 alone can be rejected. Do it on your phone before you queue.
Perfume, aerosols and most cosmetics with alcohol cannot go by air; lithium batteries have strict rules; food depends on the destination (meat almost never). Ask at the counter with the item visible.
Import duty and VAT are charged at the destination, if above your allowance, and usually collected on delivery — except for the US, where Japan Post now requires duties to be prepaid via its app before the parcel is accepted. Declare honestly; undervaluation causes delays and fines.
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https://www.post.japanpost.jp/int/index_en.html
https://www.post.japanpost.jp/intmypage/
https://www.customs.go.jp/english/
⚠️ Editorial note: the source URLs above were identified by search. Our working environment cannot reach go.jp domains, so the contents have not been checked against the text. Verify every source before publication and record who checked it and when.
What we share here are ideas and everyday practices passed down among people living in Japan, together with general information drawn from public sources. They are not official recommendations, and they are not professional instruction. Practices vary between households and regions.
This is general information. Results vary from person to person and depend on your own conditions and surroundings.
Please decide for yourself, using your own judgement, whether any of this suits your situation. We cannot accept responsibility for any damage, loss or injury arising from following this article.
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