International and Domestic Shipping
Once you have decided what you want to take back to your home country or to your new home overseas/in Japan, the next step is to go online to receive a free estimate or schedule for someone to come to your apartment to inspect the items you want to ship and get an estimate. It is advised that you do this early on so that you can get as many estimates and find which one is most convenient and economical for you. There are many other companies out there; however, the following shipping companies are only suggested companies who have worked with JETs in the past and that can address questions/concerns in English.
PARCEL POST (http://www.post.japanpost.jp/english/index.html): Recommended for those sending minimal volume of belongings. Tel.: 0570-046-111
*Mailing Options
ØSurface Mail: Sent by surface, and takes 1-3 months to reach destination. Cheapest way to send items.
ØSurface Air Lifted (SAL): Service where international mail is handled as surface mail in Japan and the destination country and as airmail between the two countries. The service is faster than surface mail while the cost is lower than airmail.
ØEMS (Express Mail Service): Top priority is placed on your package if sent by EMS. Takes approximately 2-4 days to reach destination and is sometimes cheaper than airmail.
ØAirmail: Fees are relatively high since all items will be sent by air. Takes approximately 3-6 days to reach destination.
*Parcel Post Rates: Get more specific rates and EMS rates at the following website:
http://www.post.japanpost.jp/cgi-charge/index.php?lang=_en
Weight / Zone 1 / Zone 2 / Zone 3 / Zone 4East Asia, Guam, Midway,
Marshall Islands, Micronesia & others / Southeast Asia,
Southwest Asia / Oceania, North America, Central America, Middle East, Europe / Africa, South America
Airmail / SAL / Surface Mail / Airmail / SAL / Surface Mail / Airmail / SAL / Surface Mail / Airmail / SAL / Surface Mail
5 kg / ¥4850 / ¥4200 / ¥2500 / ¥7500 / ¥5000 / ¥3300 / ¥10150 / ¥7300 / ¥4000 / ¥15800 / ¥9800 / ¥4000
10 kg / ¥7850 / ¥6700 / ¥3750 / ¥12500 / ¥8000 / ¥5300 / ¥17650 / ¥12550 / ¥6750 / ¥27800 / ¥17050 / ¥6250
15 kg / ¥9850 / ¥8200 / ¥4750 / ¥16000 / ¥10000 / ¥6800 / ¥22400 / ¥16050 / ¥8500 / ¥35800 / ¥22050 / ¥8000
20 kg / ¥11850 / ¥9700 / ¥5750 / ¥19500 / ¥12000 / ¥8300 / ¥27150 / ¥19550 / ¥10250 / ¥43800 / ¥27050 / ¥9750
25 kg / ¥13850 / ¥11200 / ¥6750 / ¥23000 / ¥14000 / ¥9800 / ¥31900 / ¥23050 / ¥12000 / ¥51800 / ¥32050 / ¥11500
30 kg / ¥15850 / ¥12700 / ¥7750 / ¥26500 / ¥16000 / ¥11300 / ¥36650 / ¥26550 / ¥13750 / ¥59800 / ¥37050 / ¥13250
*Insured Mail (保険付 Hoken tsuki)
You can insure your packages against loss or damage. Insurance for goods valued up to 20,000 yen is 400 yen, and for every additional 20,000 yen or fraction thereof will be 50 yen extra. (Eg. Value worth 25,000 will be 450 yen)
*Discounts
If you plan to send 10 to 49 packages at one time, you can receive a 10% discount. If you plan to send 50 or more packages, you can receive a 20% discount.
*Size/Weight Restrictions
EITHER the sum of all dimensions must not exceed 3 meters and the length not exceed 1.5 meters OR the sum of all dimensions must not exceed 2 meters and the length not exceed 1.05 meters. Weight must not exceed 30 kg.
*Sending Books Home
There are special mailbags (特別郵袋印刷物 Tokubetsu Yuutai Insatsu Butsu) available for those who plan to send books, magazines, letters, cards, datebooks, diaries or playing cards in large quantities. It is generally cheaper to send printed material in the special mailbags, which are only available at the Sendai Central Post Office (near Itsutsubashi Subway Station) and Ishinomaki City Post Office.
Postal Rates for Special Mailbags
Weight / North America/Oceania / UKEMS / Surface Mail / Airmail / SAL / EMS / Surface Mail / Airmail / SAL
5 kg / 8200 / 2200 / 5000 / 4100 / 9400 / 2200 / 5000 / 4100
10 kg / 14000 / 4450 / 9000 / 8100 / 16200 / 4450 / 9000 / 8100
15 kg / 19500 / 6700 / 13000 / 12100 / 22700 / 6700 / 13000 / 12100
20 kg / 25000 / 8950 / 17000 / 16100 / 29200 / 8950 / 17000 / 16100
25 kg / 30500 / 11200 / 21000 / 20100
30 kg / 36000 / 13450 / 25000 / 24100
SHIPPING COMPANIES
Prices will vary depending on the point of departure in Japan and destination, extra services including insurance, etc. Typically, freight is shipped and charged by volume rather than weight. The following information serves only a guide, and it is advised that you receive free estimates from as many companies as possible.
*DHL (http://www.dhl.co.jp/publish/jp/en/services/exp_services/time_definite/Service_Line-Up/jumbo_box.high.html)
DHL Easy Express is a service that gets your belongings to your door step in a short time. Two ready-to-assemble boxes are offered free of charge. This is recommended for those shipping minimal amount of items. (Tel.: 0210-39-2580; E-mail: )
DHL Express Easy / Major Asian Countries/Oceania / North America/Major European Countries / Other regionsUnder 10 kg / ¥17500 / ¥23000 / ¥46000
Additional charge/kg for shipments over 10 kg and under 14 kg / ¥700/kg / ¥1400/kg / ¥2500/kg
14.1 kg to 25.0 kg / ¥22800 / ¥34200 / ¥2500
Additional charge/kg for shipments over 25.0 kg / ¥700/kg / ¥1400/kg / ¥2500/kg
*Economove (http://www.economovejapan.com/): Offers 5% discount to all JETs. Free estimate available online.
*Econoship (http://www.econoship.net/): Free estimate available. Boxes are sold for an additional price and crating is also available. Tel.: 0210-222-111, E-mail:
*Japan Luggage Express (http://www.jluggage.com/index.html): Door-to-door service by sea or air. Storage is available at 250 to 500 yen per cubic meter per day for sea shipments and 50 yen per kilogram per week for air shipments. ※Check the website or contact Japan Luggage Express for others areas in the world.
U.S.A. / Los Angeles, San Francisco / 750 yen/kgOther / 950 yen/kg
Canada / Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal / 850 yen/kg
Australia and New Zealand / 850 yen/kg
Europe A (London, etc.) / 850 yen/kg
*Kuroneko Yamato – Black Cat (http://www.kuronekoyamato.co.jp/english/services/worldwide.html)
This is recommended for those shipping minimal amount of items. Tel. 03-3541-3411.
Size
Size / Total: Height+Length+Width / Weight60 / Within 60 cm / Up to 2 kg
80 / Within 80 cm / Up to 5 kg
100 / Within 100 cm / Up to 10 kg
120 / Within 120 cm / Up to 15 kg
140 / Within 140 cm / Up to 20 kg
160 / Within 160 cm / Up to 25 kg
How to measure package
Price
Size / Asia / Australia, New Zealand, U.S., Canada, Mexico, etc. / U.K., France, Germany, etc. / Other60 / ¥2,700 / ¥3,600 / ¥4,100 / ¥6,300
80 / ¥5,400 / ¥7,400 / ¥8,500 / ¥14,400
100 / ¥9,200 / ¥12,600 / ¥14,600 / ¥24,700
120 / ¥12,800 / ¥17,600 / ¥20,400 / ¥34,100
140 / ¥16,400 / ¥22,500 / ¥26,300 / ¥43,600
160 / ¥20,000 / ¥27,500 / ¥32,100 / ¥53,000
*Nittsu Nippon Express (http://www.nipponexpress.com/moving/index.html)
Call to receive free estimation. Shipping by air (for minimal amount) and sea is available.
Sample Price List for Shipments by Sea (Self-pack combi) – By volume (number of boxes) and not
weight, but the boxes should be light enough for one person to carry.
Country / Region / Estimated # of Days / 1 Pack(5 boxes) / 2 Pack
(10 boxes) / 3 Pack
(15 boxes)
U.S. / SF, Seattle, LA / 35-45 / \75,000 / \130,000 / \185,000
NY, Philadelphia, DC, Boston / 50 / \75,000 / \130,000 / ¥185,000
Chicago, Detroit, Atlanta, Houston / 45-55 / \75,000 / \130,000 / \130,000
Canada / Toronto, Vancouver, Greater Vancouver / 40-50 / ¥97,000 / ¥152,000 / ¥207,000
U.K. / Greater London/London / 50-60 / ¥75,000 / ¥130,000 / ¥185,000
Australia / Sydney / 50 / ¥92,000 / ¥147,000 / ¥202,000
Moving within Japan
If you plan to move within Japan, the moving companies mentioned above also offer domestic services, as well as the following companies. Note that most of the following domestic moving company websites are in Japanese and may only correspond only in Japanese. Movers will also come to your home to evaluate your belongings, give you an estimate and wait or call you to find out if you are going to use their services. Most of the companies generally offer the same services, including moving procedures with gas, electricity, etc. It is just a matter of price.
q 0123 (http://www.the0123.com/): Look for Doraemon on the trucks
q A-ku Hikkoshi Center (http://www.0003.co.jp/)
q Kuroneko Yamato Hikkoshi Center (http://www.008008.jp/)
q Nippon Express (http://www.nittsu.co.jp/hikkoshi/)
q Sakai: (http://www.hikkoshi-sakai.co.jp/): Look for panda on the yellow trucks
q Many more companies. Go online and search for “Hikkoshigaisha” 引越会社
Useful Phrases
Japanese / Romaji / English Translation郵便局 / Yuubinkyoku / Post office
中央郵便局 / Chuo Yuubinkyoku / Central Post Office
こわれもの / Kowaremono / Fragile (Items)
印刷物 / Insatsubutsu / Printed Matter
特別郵袋印刷物 / Tokubetsu Yuutai Insatsu Butsu / Special mailbags
小包 / Kozutsumi / Parcel/Package
航空小包 / Koukuu kozutsumi / Air Mail (Parcel)
SAL小包 / Saru kozutsumi / Economy Air Mail (Parcel)
船便小包 / Funabin kozutsumi / Surface Mail (Parcel)
重量制限 / Jyuuryou seigen / Weight limit
大きさの制限 / Ookisa no seigen / Size limit
保険付 / Hokenzuke / With insurance
引っ越し（引越） / Hikkoshi / Moving
見積もり / Mitsumori / Estimate
下見をする / Shitami o suru / Preliminary evaluation
転居届 / Tenkyo todoke / Change of Address Notice