Shipping

Shipping Policy

Last updated: May 2026

Every order ships from our Tokyo team within 1 to 3 business days of payment confirmation, Monday through Friday (Japan Standard Time). Orders placed on weekends or Japanese national holidays ship the next business day. During Japanese national holiday periods (Golden Week, Obon, New Year), processing may take longer; we’ll note this on the homepage when relevant.

Carriers we use

We ship via Japan Post using one of two services, chosen automatically based on your order’s weight and destination:

• ePacket Light — tracked international airmail for orders typically 2 kg or less. Most cost-effective option for most countries.
• EMS (Express Mail Service) — fully tracked priority international service for heavier orders or speed-sensitive shipments. Insured up to ¥20,000 (approximately USD 130).

We may add additional carriers (express options) as we grow.

Transit times

Estimated transit times from Tokyo, after handover to the carrier:

• United States, Canada, UK, Western Europe, Australia, New Zealand: 7–14 business days (ePacket Light) or 3–7 business days (EMS).
• Latin America, Eastern Europe, Middle East: 10–21 business days.
• Asia (Singapore, Hong Kong, Korea, Taiwan, etc.): 5–10 business days.
• Africa and remote destinations: 14–28 business days.

Transit times are estimates from carriers, not guarantees. Customs clearance in your country can add additional days.

If we cannot ship your order within the stated processing time, we will contact you with the revised estimate. If the delay is material, you may choose to accept the delay or cancel for a full refund before shipment.

Shipping costs

Shipping is calculated at checkout based on the package weight, dimensions, and destination country. We do not inflate shipping rates — you pay what the carrier charges plus a small handling fee.

Customs, duties, and import taxes

United States

This applies regardless of order value. Following Executive Order 14388 of February 20, 2026, the United States suspended duty-free de minimis treatment for low-value imports. Japan Post resumed U.S.-bound mail service on April 14, 2026 under a duty-prepayment arrangement, and we participate in that program so our U.S. customers don’t face surprise charges at delivery.

Other countries (UK, EU, Canada, Australia, etc.)

For non-U.S. destinations, your country’s customs authority may charge import duty, VAT or GST, and brokerage or disbursement fees. These charges are not included in the price you pay Tokyo Carry, and they are the responsibility of the buyer.

We declare the actual sale price of your order on customs forms, and ship as “Sale of goods” (commercial). We cannot mark packages as “Gift” or under-declare values to reduce duties — doing so violates customs law and may result in your shipment being seized.

General guidance for major destinations (rules change frequently — check with your country’s customs):

• United Kingdom: VAT and customs duty rules depend on the consignment value. We do not currently collect UK VAT at checkout, so VAT, duty, and carrier handling fees may be collected before delivery.
• European Union: VAT may apply to imported goods regardless of order value. For consignments above applicable thresholds (typically €150), customs duty may also apply. We do not currently collect EU VAT through IOSS at checkout, so charges may be collected before delivery.
• Australia: GST may apply to low-value imported goods (customs value of A$1,000 or less), and additional import charges may apply to higher-value consignments. If GST is not collected at checkout, charges may be collected at import.
• Canada: imported goods may be subject to GST/HST, provincial taxes, duty, and carrier handling fees. Japanese-origin goods are not covered by CUSMA preferential tariff treatment.

If you’re unsure about potential charges in your country, please check with your local customs office before placing your order. Refusing to pay duties or taxes does not entitle you to a full refund of the original purchase price (see Returns Policy for details on refused or returned shipments).

Tracking

Every shipment includes a tracking number, sent to your email when the package leaves Tokyo. You can also view tracking on your order page. If you don’t see tracking updates within 7 business days of the dispatch email, please contact us and we’ll investigate with the carrier.

Lost or damaged shipments

If your package arrives damaged, please photograph the damage and the packaging within 7 days of delivery and contact us. We work with the carrier to resolve damage claims and will issue a replacement or refund.

If your package shows no tracking activity for more than 14 days after dispatch, it may be lost. Contact us and we’ll open a carrier investigation. Most lost packages are eventually found and delivered, but if it’s confirmed lost, we’ll issue a full refund or send a replacement.

Address accuracy

Please double-check your shipping address at checkout. International shipping is much harder to reroute than domestic. If you spot a typo immediately after ordering, email us right away — if the order hasn’t shipped, we can usually fix it. If a package is returned to us as undeliverable due to an address error, we follow the rules in our Returns Policy.

Restricted destinations and items

Some items cannot be shipped to certain countries due to local restrictions or international air-cargo safety rules — for example, items containing batteries to certain destinations, alcohol-based products, food, and items containing strong magnets. Some product categories are also temporarily disabled while we complete additional compliance review (including knives). We will notify you and refund your order if your item cannot be legally or practically shipped to your address.

See our Restricted Goods Policy for details.

Questions?

Email us at hello@tokyocarry.com with your order number and we’ll respond within one business day (Japan time).