Japan goes out through DTDC's international network on a genuine DTDC air waybill. We publish no per-kilo price for it — international shipments are quoted per consignment once we know the destination, the billed weight and the contents. Japan itself is one of the easier destinations to satisfy on paperwork and one of the least forgiving on two specific categories: medicines and food of animal origin.
Medicines. Japan treats personal imports of medicine, health supplements and cosmetics as a regulated activity, not a private matter. There are quantity limits on what an individual may receive without prior approval, and above those limits the recipient needs an import certificate — a Yakkan Shoumei — issued by the regional health bureau before the parcel arrives. A month or two of ordinary prescription tablets in labelled original packaging is the sort of quantity that normally passes. A carton of assorted ayurvedic preparations for the whole family is not, and it is the single most common reason a Bangalore parcel is held in Japan. Tell us at booking exactly what medicine is in the box and how much.
Food of animal origin. Japan’s animal-quarantine rules are strict and they are enforced on small parcels, not just on freight. Meat and meat products of every kind — including dried, cured and shelf-stable ones — are refused entry without certification that a courier parcel will not have. Dairy is treated similarly. Fresh fruit, vegetables, plants and seeds fall under plant quarantine and are likewise refused. Sealed, factory-packed vegetarian dry goods with a printed ingredient list are the practical option.
Beyond those two, Japan is straightforward. Duty and consumption tax are assessed on arrival and paid by the recipient, and low-value personal shipments frequently attract nothing at all — Japan applies a de minimis on customs value, with some categories such as leather goods and knitwear excluded from it. We will not quote you a figure for what your recipient will pay; that is Japanese customs’ call, not ours.
Address the parcel the Japanese way. A Japanese postcode in the 000-0000 form, the prefecture, and a working local phone number for the consignee matter more in Japan than in most destinations, because final-mile delivery there depends on the courier reaching the recipient to arrange a time slot. An address without a phone number is an address that gets re-attempted rather than delivered.
Two hurdles: what DTDC accepts out of India, and what Japanese quarantine and customs admit.
Not sure whether your medicine crosses the personal limit? Ask before you pack — 9164995001.
Clothes, sealed snacks, festival gifts to relatives working in Japan. Straightforward once the meat, dairy and fresh-produce items come out of the box — which is usually most of what a family wants to send, so it is worth a call before you pack rather than after.
Employment paperwork, university admission documents, notarised certificates and signed agreements. Nothing to value and nothing to quarantine — the simplest thing we send to Japan.
Common, and the one that needs the most care. Original labelled packaging, a copy of the prescription, an honest quantity, and a conversation with us first about whether the amount crosses Japan's personal-import limit.
There is no published international card for us to copy, so Japan is priced shipment by shipment. Send us the postcode, the billed weight and a list of contents; the quote comes back off those three things and nothing else.
In a personal quantity, in original labelled packaging, declared — usually yes. Above Japan's personal-import limit the recipient must arrange a Yakkan Shoumei import certificate with the regional health bureau before the parcel arrives. Tell us the exact items and amounts at booking so we can say which side of the line you are on.
Japan's animal-quarantine rules apply to small parcels as firmly as to freight, and they cover cured, dried and shelf-stable meat, not just fresh. Dairy is treated much the same. Vegetarian dry goods in commercial packaging are the reliable alternative.
Because deliveries in Japan are commonly arranged by contacting the recipient for a time slot. A parcel with no reachable number gets re-attempted instead of delivered, and re-attempts are where days disappear.
Possibly. Japan assesses duty and consumption tax on arrival, payable by the recipient, and low-value personal parcels frequently attract nothing at all under the de minimis. The determination is Japanese customs' to make — we will not estimate it for you.
Prefecture, postcode, weight and an honest list of contents — that is all we need to quote it.