International Shipping from Japan: 2026 Prices, Speeds & Customs Rules

Returning to your home country? Sending a package to a loved one? Wondering what the cheapest options are for sending something from Japan? 

Finding the best way to ship something from Japan depends on your budget and the type of goods you wish to send.

US-bound shippers, take note. The US ended its duty-free exemption for low-value parcels in August 2025. Japan Post briefly paused US shipments, then resumed them in April 2026 under a new prepaid-duty system. We cover exactly what changed further down.

This article covers the 3 most used and trusted options for international shipping from Japan to your home country. Plus, we cover several of your most-asked questions!

The Japan Post Office—the cheapest international shipping from Japan

If you're looking for cheap international parcel delivery, the Japan Post Office’s international parcel post service allows you to send up to 30 kg per box with a 10 percent discount for business customers sending 10 to 49 parcels under a contract arrangement.

When sending your parcel via the post office, you can choose between the following types of international parcel delivery:

• Express Mail Service (EMS). Most costly, delivery in 3 to 5 business days on average (2 to 4 days to nearby Asian destinations)

• Airmail. Higher-end price, delivery in 6 to 13 days depending on destination

• Economy Air (SAL). A budget option between Airmail and Surface Mail. Delivery is faster than sea mail but slower than Airmail, and it isn't available to every country.

• Surface Mail. Cheap international shipping by sea. Low-cost option, delivery in 1 to 3 months

Use their online calculating system (English) to find the price you will pay per box. 

One factor to keep in mind is the size of your parcel. There are two standard sizes that countries will accept via post. The following image shows the two acceptable sizes:

Image. Dimensions for International Parcel Post, Japan Post Office. 

To find the applicable dimensions for a country, check out the downloadable PDFs here (Japanese). Or keep your box under the B dimensions listed above. That is, with a total size not exceeding 200 cm, the longest side under 105 cm, and total weight not exceeding 30 kg.  

Sending items through the Japan Post Office is a safe bet for those who are shipping souvenirs to loved ones or are shipping small-scale personal belongings home. The benefits include a discount for multiple boxes and thorough English documentation on how to send your items. Also, you get the option to insure the goods you send and free pickup service, too. This article gives you a step-by-step guide in English.

If you want to ship an item home that exceeds the permissible dimensions or weight (such as golfing equipment, furniture, or an appliance), choose Yamato Transport's International Moving Service. 

👉 Learn about luggage delivery services in Japan!

Yamato Transport’s International Moving service—the best choice for furniture and household goods

Japan’s leading delivery service company, Yamato Transport, handles furniture and appliance shipping. Here are the various door-to-door moving plans that they offer. 

• Standard Plus Plan. All-inclusive relocation services. Will ship furniture. Will help pack and unpack. Shipment by air or sea. Must request an estimate.

• Standard Plan. Their most popular plan includes everything in the Standard Plus except unpacking small items and only provides shipment by sea. Must request an estimate.

• Basic Plan. A cost-effective plan for those who can manage the packing of their goods by themselves. Yamato will pick up your goods to be shipped by sea and then deliver them to your destination. Must request an estimate.

• Tanshin Plan. A plan in which you get a specified number of boxes, depending on the course you choose within the Tanshin Plan. Shipped by sea. An online calculator on the Tanshin page (scroll down) allows you to look at the prices for their various courses.

• Ryugaku TAQBIN. This plan is for those who want to ship boxes starting from 1 parcel. The Ryugaku TAQBIN page has an online calculator (scroll down) to get a quote for the box you wish to send.  

Yamato Transport provides pickup services and communications handled in English. Their services are great if you don’t mind the higher price tag and are mainly interested in convenience.

Yamato Transport’s International TA-Q-Bin service—a top choice for speedy deliveries and sending perishables

Yamato Transport’s International TA-Q-Bin service allows you to ship up to 160 cm and 25 kg parcels. Rates are divided by region.

Here’s a rough idea of how much you can expect to pay for delivery to countries in Zone 1 and Zone 2. 

Yamato’s Zone 1

Zone 1 includes South Korea, Taiwan, China, Hong Kong, Macau, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

International TA-Q-Bin rates for Zone 1, Global Yamato.

Yamato’s Zone 2

Zone 2 includes Australia, New Zealand, the United States of America, Canada, Mexico, and India.

International TA-Q-Bin rates for Zone 2, Global Yamato.

For other zone rates, go to this page and scroll down. Please note that Yamato Transport will not ship suitcases. You must pack all items in a box that conforms to size guidelines. This service is separate from Yamato Transport’s International Moving service, but they have an English language contact/pickup request form. 

Yamato's International TA-Q-BIN service offers next-day delivery to major cities in covered Asian countries (delivery times to regional areas may vary.) Or speedy delivery to other locations that Yamato services. For example, if you send a box on Monday, the minimum delivery time for it to arrive in a major US city is Friday or Saturday.

Use Yamato Transport’s calculator to get international shipping times and your parcel's approximate fee and time frame.

For more specific requests, contact their English customer service via their inquiry form or telephone during business hours 9:00 - 18:00.

• Toll-free from Japan: 0120-17-9625

• From overseas: +81-3-6757-1061

Compare all your shipping options at a glance

Not sure where to start? This table compares every option in this guide side by side.

Prices are approximate and change over time. Always confirm current rates on the carrier's own site before shipping.

Other shipping options from Japan for you to consider

• DHL provides services for shipping from Japan to 200 countries worldwide, an option to consider if you have a pallet’s worth of items to ship home. (Pallet dimensions 120 x 120 x 160; maximum pallet weight 300 kg.)  

• UPS is another option for shipping from Japan. Use their online calculator to get a quote. If you're flying home soon, excess baggage is worth comparing too. Airlines often charge less than a courier for extra weight on your own flight. (See JAL’s excess baggage fee chart or ANA’s excess baggage fee chart.) If you choose this option, Yamato Transport provides an airport delivery service, allowing seamless pickup and drop-off when checking in for your outgoing flight.

• Go here for more English-speaking moving services in Japan!

• Learn about mail forwarding services in Japan.

Popular shipping destinations from Japan

There are 3 popular destinations that people ship to from Japan: America, Australia, and the UK. For these locations, you’ll need to fill out Electronic Advance Data (EAD) if you are using Japan Post.

If you are having trouble, I’d recommend going to a larger Japan Post Office where they have more experience handling international shipping from Japan. 

Shipping from Japan to the USA

The shipping cost to America doesn't vary much between states.

What changed for US-bound parcels in 2025 and 2026

Sending a package to the US now works differently than it used to. Here's what to know before you ship.

• August 29, 2025: the US ended its $800 duty-free exemption for low-value parcels. Most US-bound packages can now incur customs duties, no matter their value.

• August 27, 2025: Japan Post paused accepting US-bound mail valued over $100, in response to the change.

• April 14, 2026: Japan Post resumed full US-bound service. Senders must now prepay customs duties through a CBP-certified app before the parcel ships.

What this means for you: budget for duties on top of the shipping cost below. Check Japan Post's current US service page before you send, since the prepayment process can change.

For example, shipping a 1kg parcel to California from Tokyo via Airmail costs about 4,200 JPY, with delivery in the 6 to 13 day range noted above. Shipping the same parcel to New York costs the same and takes a similar amount of time.

The cheapest shipping from Japan to the USA is 2,600 JPY for up to a 1kg parcel via Japan Post’s SurfaceMail, even though delivery takes 1-3 months.

Plus, no matter which shipping method you choose, you’ll receive a tracker to ensure your package is delivered to its destination.

Shipping from Japan to Australia

Because of the distance, shipping to Australia from Japan is relatively less stressful. 

Shipping options include air and sea freight options with varying prices depending on the delivery time.

If you were to ship from Japan to Australia for a 500 gram package, it’d take about 8 days and cost 3,150 JPY with Japan Post’s EMS.

Shipping from Japan to the UK 

The cheapest shipping option from Japan to the UK will be Surface Mail from Japan Post, which costs around 2,500 JPY for a 1kg parcel. It will take about 1-3 months for it to be delivered.

The fastest method, Japan Post's EMS, costs about 3,150 JPY for a parcel up to 500g. Delivery takes about 5 days.

Leaving Japan permanently or leaving Japan temporarily? Check out our 2 guides on the topic:

• Leaving Japan Checklist: Say Goodbye With Peace of Mind

• Leaving Japan Temporarily? Your FAQs Answered

More frequently asked questions about international shipping from Japan

Is Japan Post still shipping internationally?

Japan Post continues to ship internationally. US-bound service was paused from August 2025 to April 2026 due to changes in US customs rules, and similar disruptions can happen for other countries. Refer to Japan Post's “Service delivery by country” for timeframes, precautions, and other matters to remember when sending your parcel. 

What is the cheapest international shipping from Japan?

Japan Post's International Parcel Delivery is the cheapest international shipping from Japan via surface mail.

To see comparison charts for your parcel, input your details in Japan Post's online calculator. 

Japan Post’s International Parcels Rates via Surface

Price chart of International Parcels via Surface from Japan Post

What is the fastest international shipping from Japan?

If you are shipping to a major city in Asia, the fastest shipping from Japan is Yamato’s International TA-Q-BIN service. The service provides next-day delivery to major cities in Asia with TA-Q-BIN offices. If you are shipping to the rest of the world, Japan Post’s Express Mail Service (EMS) provides delivery within 3-5 business days on average.

What is Electronic Advance Data (EAD)?

Japan Post no longer accepts handwritten labels for international packages to the US and other countries. Customers must input shipping destination details online, using Japan Post’s International My Page Service. These details are converted to Electronic Advance Data (EAD), and you get a shipping label to print.

Image. Flow chart of how to use Japan Post’s International Mail My Page Service to print a shipping label and transmit Electronic Advance Data.

Do I have to pay customs duties when shipping from Japan to the USA?

Yes, in most cases. The US ended its $800 duty-free exemption on August 29, 2025. Most US-bound parcels can now incur duties, regardless of their value. Japan Post resumed full US-bound shipping on April 14, 2026, but senders must prepay duties through a CBP-certified app before the parcel ships.

What is the cheapest way to ship from Japan to the USA in 2026?

Japan Post's Surface Mail remains the cheapest option, at 2,600 JPY for a 1kg parcel. Delivery takes 1 to 3 months by sea. Remember to budget for customs duties on top of this shipping cost, since the US duty-free exemption no longer applies.

How long does shipping from Japan to the UK take?

Delivery time depends on the method you choose. Japan Post's Surface Mail takes 1 to 3 months and costs about 2,500 JPY per kg. EMS takes about 5 days for a parcel up to 500g and costs about 3,150 JPY.

How long does shipping from Japan to Australia take?

A 500g package sent via Japan Post's EMS takes about 8 days and costs 3,150 JPY. Surface Mail is cheaper but slower, typically taking 1 to 3 months by sea.

What's the difference between Japan Post and Yamato Transport for shipping from Japan?

Japan Post is generally cheaper and better suited to small personal parcels and souvenirs. Yamato Transport costs more but includes English-language pickup, packing help, and dedicated moving plans for furniture and household goods.

Check out "How to Register for Japan Post" by Jevon Allen, which walks you through registering and printing a shipping label.

Final thoughts

Japan Post is the most affordable option and offers solid English documentation and an online calculator to estimate costs. If you want full English-speaking pickup and customer service, Yamato Transport is the more convenient choice at a higher price point.

Related articles and guides on Japan’s postal system

• Japan’s Postal Symbol and Other Amusing Mail Trivia

• Japan Post Forwarding: How to Forward Mail Online [With Pictures]

• What Is a Virtual Mailbox Service in Japan? [Your FAQs Answered!]

• Hisoka Maejima, the Father of Japan’s Postal System

• Your Easy Guide to Japan’s New Year’s Greetings Cards, the Nengajo

• Undeliverable Item Notice from Japan Post? Here’s What to Do

• PO Boxes in Japan: What to Know & How to Use

• Use our Japan Postal Codes tool to help you find the postal codes for places throughout Japan!

Tomoko Matsuoka is a contributing editor and writer for MailMate, Shoeboxed, and a number of online resource libraries. She writes guides on life in Japan and covers Japanese business news, digitalization, and productivity tools and software.