Buying from Japan
The practical side of ordering a gift from a Japanese shop: import duties and taxes, shipping and timing, warranties and returns. Written from Japan, using what the shops and customs authorities actually state.
Ordering a Gift from Japan in Time for Christmas: What Actually Decides When It Arrives
Will a gift ordered from Japan arrive by Christmas? What the shops actually state about shipping, last year's holiday schedule, who pays the duties, and why you should open the box the day it lands.
Ordering from Japan to the US in 2026: What You'll Pay in Duties, and When
The $800 duty-free allowance for small US imports has been suspended since August 2025, so almost every order from a Japanese shop now owes duties, taxes or fees. What changed, why a 'gift' label doesn't help, the two ways you end up paying (at checkout or at the door), and what to check before you order a gift from Japan.