Japan is the third-largest e-commerce market worldwide, making it a great option to expand your business. The Japanese market brings in $144 billion a year and has an annual growth rate of 9.8%. With around 19,000 UK residents and up to 30% of the population speaking some level of English, Japan is a great destination to send parcels to.
While you’re probably eager to grow your customer base, shipping to Japan requires a bit of knowledge and planning. Fortunately, this article will explain everything you need to know, including information about Japanese customs and public holidays to be aware of.
Shipping to Japan: An Overview
Even though Japan is over 5,000 miles from the UK, there are various shipping methods at your disposal, including home delivery courier options and PuDo shipping methods.
However, if you want to thrive in the Japanese e-commerce market, there are a few things to consider. These include:
- Correctly calculating delivery times
- Understanding Japanese customs
- Knowing Japanese public holidays
- Automating and streamlining your operations
How Long Does It Take to Send a Parcel to Japan?
When it comes to countries outside the EU, shipping times can vary. However, shipping from the UK to Japan won’t take as long as you think; economy service shipping only takes 3-5 business days on average.
For quicker service, express delivery can get a package to Japan in 2-3 business days. However, delivery times may vary depending on the courier company you choose and the goods you’re shipping.
Japanese Customs: What Do You Need to Know?
Something that may affect shipping time is Japanese customs. It’s important to understand this process and know what documents you’ll need to avoid delays and get packages to your customers quickly.
Here is a list of what you need to send with each package to clear customs:
- Commercial invoice
- Packing list
- Signed bill of lading
- Air waybill (if sent by air)
To make the process smoother, ensure your commercial invoice is as descriptive as possible and include as details for every item you’re shipping.
In terms of what goods you can send to Japan, there are certain items that are prohibited and/or restricted. These include:
- Articles made of wood
- Works of art
- Printed books
- Furniture
- Narcotics
- Firearms
How to Format a Japanese Address
When shipping from the UK to Japan, it’s essential to format Japanese addresses correctly to avoid shipping delays and missed packages. There are a few differences between UK and Japanese addresses, all of which will be covered in this section.
First, the address will look different, as many Japanese streets are not named. Most towns and cities are divided into blocks and subareas, which you must include on the address.
Furthermore, when shipping overseas, you’ll need to write Japan in capitalised letters at the top, unlike UK addresses where the country name is last.
Here’s an example:
JAPAN
Mr. John Smith
5-2-1 Ginza, Chuo-Ku
Tokyo 170-3293
Japanese Public Holidays to Note
There are several public holidays that you should be aware of, as they may affect business hours. Here is a comprehensive list of all holidays in Japan:
- New Year’s Day
- Coming of Age Day
- National Foundation Day
- The Emperor’s Birthday
- Vernal Equinox Day
- Showa Day
- Constitution Memorial Day
- Greenery Day
- Children’s Day
- Marine Day
- Mountain Day
- Respect for the Aged Day
- Autumnal Equinox Day
- Sports Day
- Culture Day
- Labor Thanksgiving Day
How Can You Track Your Japanese Parcel Delivery?
If you’re looking to track shipments from the UK to Japan, the best way to do that is with a service like Pro Carrier.
The Pro Carrier Tracking Portal lets customers and merchants monitor their parcel’s progress — all you have to do is enter the tracking number. This portal will provide all the information you need at your fingertips, including order details and reports.
We understand the importance of providing regular updates to your customers. That’s why when you ship through Pro Carrier, your customers are guaranteed to get multiple updates in their local language, whether that is English, Japanese or otherwise.
Ship to Japan with Pro Carrier
If you’re looking to enter the Japanese e-commerce market or simply improve operations, Pro Carrier can help with that.
Our cross-border service conveniently integrates with existing e-commerce platforms, allowing retailers to manage deliveries from one dashboard. With Pro Carrier, you can get real-time visibility into your shipping operations, and our carrier-agnostic approach means that you can rest assured that you will be using the best final mile carrier suited to your specific delivery lane, allowing you to provide fast and accurate delivery times and costs.
If you want to learn more about entering the Japanese market with Pro Carrier, speak to an expert today.
