Job Discussion Forums

[cbunn]

I'm from the US (Philadelphia, PA) and I'll be moving to Kitajima, Tokushima Prefecture in a couple weeks. I've been searching this forum and elsewhere to find a company to ship some belongings to Japan.

Yamato's Besso service seems nice, but too expensive. USPS doesn't do sea shipping anymore. OCS was another recommendation, but they have closed their New York shipment office, so I'd have to ship by FedEx to Chicago or Los Angeles first, increasing the cost significantly. I've filled out some quote forms on a couple of shipping companies, but still waiting for replies. And I've also considered extra baggage on the flight over, but that is also too expensive.

What I'd like to know is some first-hand experience from people who have shipped things recently. I think sea shipping is the way to go for cost reasons. I don't mind waiting a month or so. I'm interested to know what some good companies might be along with what others have paid and how long transport took.

Thanks!

[Maitoshi]

Used Yamato Transport last winter, but began the process almost two months ahead of the move. We chose sea shipping, and it was delayed due to the crate being stopped at customs (not so common, I hear).

Shipped from Los Angeles and Yamato was the cheapest we found. Packed the boxes ourselves, though.

Hope this helps!

[cbunn]

Thanks. Do you remember which specific Yamato service you used? Do you mind if I ask how much you shipped and what you paid?

If you packed yourself, it sounds like the Tanshin Plan. But for that, the minimum (10 small or 5 large boxes) is $1380 from Philadelphia. Even OCS with FedEx shipping to Chicago is less than that ($850).

[Maitoshi]

That sounds like the plan, but we moved more boxes. I can't recall the price, but we moved 17 boxes, 14 small and 3 large. We downsized considerably with the move. Still, we brought more than we needed.