Job Discussion Forums

nicyvesweet · Joined: 21 Dec 2004 Posts: 90

Do I have to go through customs to ship things in or out of the country for personal use?

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

nicyvesweet · Joined: 21 Dec 2004 Posts: 90

Is it a difficult process? Is it restricted to when I'm traveling, or is this whenever I send anything out of the country?

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

Not a difficult process, I've done it twice when going into Japan. Once was with 18 boxes and the other with 2 boxes. At the shipping office, they give you a form that YOU HAVE TO submit to customs upon arrival in Japan. (Once I forgot and then it delayed the shipment by about 3 weeks). Then you take a form to the customs desk at the airport. It only took about 5-10 minutes. I don't know anything about exporting out of Japan. Sorry.

homersimpson · Joined: 14 Feb 2003 Posts: 569 Location: Kagoshima

If you're shipping things in boxes I'd suggest you use the post office and send it seamail (or regular/airmail if you need it quicker). I've done this many times. The post office asks you to fill out a form and "declare" what's in the box, but there is no on-site searching process. I usually just write "personal items," "used books," etc. I've also received items from overseas via the postal service. It's the best option in my opinion.

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

Maybe the most convenient option, but not the cheapest for large packages. I shipped a 30 kg box from Canada to Japan for $100 CAD. Canada Post was going to charge me about about double that amount.
I can't say what Japan would charge from this end but I doubt it would be very cheap.

nicyvesweet · Joined: 21 Dec 2004 Posts: 90

Is it terribly expensive to ship overseas? Say a box full of kitchen equipment from Japan?

Celeste · Posted: Mon Jan 24, 2005 10:25 am Post subject:

Yes, terribly expensive. A box of stuff (a couple of kilos) cost me 5000yen SURFACE MAIL! Jettison everything that holds no sentimental value.

shmooj · Joined: 11 Sep 2003 Posts: 1758 Location: Seoul, ROK

Tenoji · Joined: 30 Nov 2004 Posts: 7 Location: Osaka

I want to do the same, but had a look at the Japan Post site and it states that maximum weight is 30kg and max size is 3m (a+b+c+d+e) dimension of the box

http://www.post.japanpost.jp/english/fee/intel/sal.html#emssize

Airmail is around 25,000 YEN
Economy Air (SAL) is 24,100 YEN
Surface Mail is 13,450 YEN

Anyone knows how long it takes from Osaka to australia?

any better ideas?

also where can I get a strong box?

Cheers

big dog · Joined: 19 Jan 2005 Posts: 12

Is there any rules on taking a multivitemn into Japan along wiht some other stuff such as flaxseed oil?? protein powder?

Are these things easy to get in japan?

Mike L. · Joined: 28 Feb 2003 Posts: 519

shmooj · Joined: 11 Sep 2003 Posts: 1758 Location: Seoul, ROK

AndyH · Joined: 30 Sep 2004 Posts: 417

DITTO WHAT HOMER SAID. The Post office is an easy way to send stuff home, and if you don't think you'll need it right away, save the money and send it "surface". Also, I think it would be a waste of money to send kitchen stuff, unless it is something that has some sentimental value or is impossible to find outside Japan. The customs forms are easy to fill out.

Tenoji · Joined: 30 Nov 2004 Posts: 7 Location: Osaka

I called PAKMAIL shipping/packing company and they said they have a 20kg limit as well with surface or sea mail and max dimension of 200cm. 50cm more than Japan Post.
But how come on Japan Post website for EMS it states that the maximum weight is 30kg??? isnt that misleading?

Where can I find an office depot in OSAKA for a sturdy box?

thanks