Air Mail
Max Shipping Weight: | 2kg |
Tracking: | No |
Insurance: | No |
Delivery Time: | ~14 days |
This shipping method is fast and cheap but does not allow to track or insure the parcel. Our responsibility ends when we successfully hand-over your parcel to Japan Post. The risk of loss is with the buyer.
Registered Mail
Max Shipping Weight: | 2kg |
Tracking: | Yes |
Insurance: | Yes |
Delivery Time: | ~14 days |
Please be aware that certain countries have limitations with regards to the use of PO boxes as a signature is required upon delivery (e.g. Packstation in Germany).
Express Mail Service (EMS)
Max Shipping Weight: | 120kg |
Tracking: | Yes |
Insurance: | Yes |
Delivery Time: | 4-5 days |
Express Mail Service is a very reliable and fast service of Japan Post. You can track the progress of delivery and we insure parcels up to an amount of 2 million Japanese Yen.
SAL
Max Shipping Weight: | 120kg |
Tracking: | Yes |
Insurance: | Yes |
Delivery Time: | ~14 days |
The parcel is handled as airmail between Japan and your country but handled as surface mail within each country. It is low priority airmail using vacant space left after high priority mail is loaded.
Surface Mail
Max Shipping Weight: | 120kg |
Tracking: | Yes |
Insurance: | Yes |
Delivery Time: | 2-3 Months |
The parcel is transported by sea and it takes 2 to 3 months until delivery. This shipping method is ideal for large parcel that are not urgent. Please note: that we do not recommend shipping perishable food items through sea mail.
Each product page includes a shipping rate estimator that allows to calculate the shipping costs for the available shipping methods for each country.
You find this estimator under the "Estimate Shipping Rates" tab below the product description.
Unless a handling time until shipping is specified on the product page, each order is usually shipped within 2 days after payment confirmation including week-ends and public holidays. We immediately contact you in case we can foresee a delay. As soon as your parcel is picked up by the shipping company, you'll receive a shipping confirmation e-mail. In order to avoid damages, our dispatching team takes the greatest care to protect the products. We have ample experience to also protect delicate goods such as bottles or ceramic.
Please be aware that delays in shipping and customs may occur. Unfortunately, we cannot be responsible for this type of delay. Please track the status of your delivery and contact your local post office and ask if a parcel is waiting for you in case of delay. From our side we can initiate a search request, which often speeds up local delivery.
If you have a product that was damaged during delivery, please e-mail us within 3 days after receiving it and include pictures of your damaged item.
In case your order is severely delayed, please contact us. For shipments with insurance (Registered Mail, EMS Express, DHL Express, Surface Mail) we can issue a search request with the postal services. If the parcel is not located after 8 weeks, we can issue a refund or reshipment. Air Mail does NOT include tracking and insurance and is not eligible for a search request.
Please note all inquiries must be made within 6 months after the order was shipped. After this, the postal services are no longer able to start an investigation and we cannot offer a solution.
If you believe there has been a mistake with your order, we will do all we can to remedy the problem. Contact us and we will take care of it.
Shipping products from Japan can be subject to custom fees and other taxes in the country of delivery. These fees are the responsbility of the buyer. customer. Please contact your country's customs to confirm which products and from what amount such fees apply.
*From July 1, 2021 all imports to the EU will be subject to import VAT, regardless of the order amount.
All documents required for customs clearance are inside the pouch attached to the post.
We are fully aware of your concerns about custom fees. Please understand that NIHON ICHIBAN ships products often available in Japan only at Japanese retail prices - giving you good value for money including all related costs.