Air express shipping from and to Japan offers one of the most reliable and efficient methods for international parcel delivery.
With major air logistics hubs such as Narita International Airport (NRT), Haneda (HND), and Kansai (KIX), Japan connects seamlessly to Asia, North America, and Europe - ensuring 1-3 business days within Asia and 3-5 business days globally.
Whether you're sending business samples, important documents, or ecommerce parcels, air express in Japan provides door-to-door service, precise tracking, and streamlined customs clearance, ideal for exporters, importers, and online sellers.
Air Express Services
Air express shipping connects senders with global courier networks. Parcels are picked up from your location, processed through export customs, flown to destination hubs, and delivered directly to the recipient - typically within days.
While air freight is ideal for large cargo, air express provides priority handling, door-to-door delivery, and real-time tracking. It's the preferred method for smaller, high-value, or time-sensitive shipments that require faster customs clearance.
Air express rates are based on volumetric (dimensional) weight. Using compact, protective packaging ensures lower costs and faster customs inspection.
Rates can fluctuate during Golden Week, Obon, and New Year holidays, as well as during global peak seasons like Christmas and Black Friday. Booking in advance secures better pricing and space.
Customs clearance is regulated by Japan Customs.
All shipments are processed through NACCS (Nippon Automated Cargo and Port Consolidated System), enabling faster clearance for express deliveries.
Use sturdy, water-resistant cartons with clear bilingual (Japanese-English) labeling. Include invoices and documentation externally for customs visibility.
Japan prohibits narcotics, weapons, explosives, perishables, cash, and counterfeit goods. Certain electronic devices, batteries, and cosmetics may require special permits or certificates.
Japan's dynamic ecommerce sector - led by Rakuten, Amazon Japan, Yahoo! Shopping, and Mercari - depends on fast, transparent cross-border shipping.
iContainers helps sellers expand internationally with automated customs handling, VAT/consumption tax compliance, and real-time parcel tracking.
All ecommerce shipments feature digital tracking, automated customs declarations via NACCS, and transparent tax management, ensuring efficient and compliant global deliveries.
Usually 1-5 business days, depending on destination and customs processing.
Up to 70 kg per piece or 120 cm in length, depending on service.
Narita (NRT), Haneda (HND), Kansai (KIX), and Chubu (NGO).
Air Waybill, Commercial Invoice, and Packing List are required. Customs declarations apply for exports and imports above simplified limits.
Weapons, narcotics, perishables, live plants, and hazardous materials.
Japan Customs - Ministry of Finance
https://www.customs.go.jp/
Japan - Import Tariffs (U.S. International Trade Administration)
https://www.trade.gov/country-commercial-guides/japan-import-tariffs
Japan - Import Requirements and Documentation (Trade.gov)
https://www.trade.gov/country-commercial-guides/japan-import-requirements-and-documentation
Narita International Airport (NRT) - Cargo Operations
https://www.narita-airport.jp/en/business/cargo
PwC Japan - Consumption Tax Overview
https://taxsummaries.pwc.com/japan
NACCS - Nippon Automated Cargo and Port Consolidated System
https://www.naccscenter.com/
JETRO - Japan External Trade Organization
https://www.jetro.go.jp/en/
Statista - Ecommerce in Japan
https://www.statista.com/topics/2438/e-commerce-in-japan/