EN
Sign in
#Q&A How to ship things home from Japan: EMS… Answer ↓

How to ship things home from Japan: EMS vs airmail vs SAL vs surface mail, costs, and what you can't send

By BestJapanBuy editorial teamUpdated 9 sources

As of October 2026, Japan Post offers four ways to send packages abroad: EMS (about 2–4 days), airmail (about 3–6 days), Economy Air/SAL (about 6–13 days, only to some countries) and surface mail (1–3 months). Postage depends on where you send from, the destination, the item type and the weight; check it with Japan Post's official calculator. Perfume, nail polish, spray cans and power banks can't be mailed; alcohol only up to 24% ABV; lithium batteries installed in devices only under conditions and only to some destinations. Mailing tax-free purchases out of Japan yourself was abolished on March 31, 2025, so ask the store if you want them shipped.

Sending a package abroad with Japan Post: 5 steps

  1. Check whether it can be sentLook through Japan Post's list of non-mailable articles, then check the destination's conditions (国・地域別情報, Japanese only). The same item may be accepted by one country and refused by another.
  2. Choose a serviceEMS (about 2–4 days) if you need it fast; airmail (about 3–6 days) or SAL (about 6–13 days, some destinations only) if you don't; surface mail (1–3 months) for heavy items that can wait. Items under 2 kg can go as a Small Packet.
  3. Check the postage with the official calculatorIn Japan Post's rate calculator, pick the item type (Package etc.), enter the weight, and choose the prefecture you're sending from and the destination to see the cost and delivery days for each service.
  4. Register customs data on International Mail My PageGoods must be sent with electronic advance data (EAD), and handwritten labels are no longer accepted for goods. Use Japan Post's free International Mail My Page (PC or phone) to enter the contents and value, then print the label and customs forms.
  5. Pack it and hand it in at a post officeJapan Post recommends a sturdy double-wall box with cushioning, and not taping several boxes together. Items to the US also need advance declaration under the October 2026 conditions (see below).

The short version (as of October 2026)

  • Services: Japan Post has EMS, airmail, SAL and surface mail; the faster, the pricier. We don't copy a rate table here because rates change; use the official calculator.
  • Can't be mailed: flammable liquids such as perfume, nail polish and hair tonic, spray cans, power banks and loose lithium batteries, and alcohol over 24% ABV.
  • Tax-free goods: mailing them yourself means no tax refund (the separate-shipment option was abolished). Carry them with you, or ask the store whether it ships overseas.

Which service to choose

Service Delivery time (Japan Post) Good for
EMS About 2–4 days Urgent or valuable items; top priority among international mail
Airmail About 3–6 days Most items; cheaper than EMS
SAL (Economy Air) About 6–13 days Not urgent, lower cost; only to some countries (see Japan Post's list)
Surface mail 1–3 months Heavy items that can wait; lowest rates

These are Japan Post's rough estimates; handling at the destination can add time.

How to check the cost

  1. Open Japan Post's rate and delivery-days calculator (in English).
  2. Choose the item type: for shopping, usually Package.
  3. Enter the weight (grams or kilograms) and the prefecture you're sending from, such as Tokyo or Osaka.
  4. Choose the destination to see the postage and delivery days for each service.

Example: sending a 5 kg box of snacks from Tokyo to Singapore. Choose Package, enter 5 kg, pick Tokyo as the origin and Singapore as the destination, then compare EMS and airmail. Japan Post also publishes a schedule of charges (PDF).

What you can't send

Japan Post says anything classed as dangerous goods for air transport can't be sent by international mail, whatever the service, surface mail included. The ones that matter for shoppers:

Item Can you mail it? Japan Post's reason
Perfume, nail polish, hair tonic ❌ No Flammable liquids
Spray cans (e.g. dust-removal spray) ❌ No Compressed gas
Power banks, loose lithium batteries, e-cigarettes ❌ No Other harmful articles
Lithium batteries installed in a device ⚠️ Conditions Must meet certain conditions, and only to some destinations
Alcohol ⚠️ Conditions Up to 24% ABV; some destinations refuse it
Disposable hand warmers ⚠️ Depends Japan Post says some sellers' products can't be sent
Swords and blades ⚠️ Conditions Airmail with blades over certain lengths needs a special label

Cosmetics, food and medicine also have to meet the destination's import rules. See Bringing Japanese cosmetics home: rules by country, Bringing Japanese snacks and matcha home and Bringing Japanese medicine home.

Sending to the US: October 2026 changes

Japan Post says nearly all post offices resumed accepting US-bound mail on October 15, 2026. For goods:

  • Items valued at US$2,500 or less must be declared in advance with duties prepaid through one of Japan Post's recommended providers (Zonos or SafePackage), with a DDP label and a 13-digit declaration number; the provider charges a fee.
  • Gifts between individuals valued at US$100 or less can skip advance declaration until January 19, 2027 (declaring is recommended).
  • Items over US$2,500 need no advance declaration; duties are collected from the recipient in the US.

Follow Japan Post's notice for the exact conditions.

Tax-free goods and store shipping

Frequently asked questions

Can I mail things I bought tax-free?

You can mail them, but you won't get the tax back. The Japan Tourism Agency says the option for travelers to mail tax-free goods out of Japan themselves was abolished on March 31, 2025; from November 1, 2026, tax-free goods must be carried with you and confirmed by customs at the airport to get a refund. Whether a store can ship overseas for you varies, so ask the store.

Can I mail Japanese whisky or sake?

Japan Post's FAQ says alcohol up to 24% ABV can be sent by international mail, though some destinations refuse it, so check the country conditions. Anything above 24% can't be mailed. The whiskies we list (Yamazaki and others) are 43–51% ABV, so they have to go in your carry-on or checked bag; the sakes we list are labeled 15–15.5%. See Can I take Japanese whisky and sake on a plane?.

Can I mail an electric toothbrush or shaver with a lithium battery?

Japan Post says lithium batteries installed in equipment (meeting certain conditions) can be mailed, but only to some destinations; loose lithium batteries and power banks can't. According to Japan Post's list of destinations (as of October 2026), the US and Australia accept them only by airmail, SAL or EMS, and the UK only by surface mail. Check the latest list before sending.

Can I mail a Japanese kitchen knife?

Japan Post's list of non-mailable articles doesn't name kitchen knives. It does have a rule for airmail containing bladed weapons: swords, spears and naginata with blades of 15 cm or more, and daggers and switchblades with blades of 5.5 cm or more, need a special label on the address side. Whether the destination accepts knives depends on its country conditions and customs. For carrying knives home, see Japanese kitchen knife buying guide.

Related categories and models

Related questions

Sources

Updated 2026-10-26Prices are for reference only; check in store.Markdown