Air Freight from China to Sendai, Japan — Transit, Duty and Clearance
China → Sendai · via SDJ air / Sendai sea · clearance by Japan Customs (税関)
For buyers shipping into Sendai, the practical question is not the ocean or flight time but what happens after arrival. Sendai is Tohoku regional hub; cargo enters through SDJ air / Sendai sea, and allow +1 day for the inland leg on top of clearance.
Clearance itself is handled by Japan Customs (税関), and typical dwell at the gateway runs 1–3 days.
How this lane actually runs
Japan is a fast, high-compliance lane: Shanghai and Qingdao to Tokyo or Osaka is 3–6 days by sea and often next-day by air. Clearance itself is quick, but the standards regime is unforgiving — PSE and Giteki marking must be correct before the goods ship, because there is no way to remediate at the border.
| Air gateways used | NRT (Narita), HND (Haneda), KIX (Osaka Kansai) |
|---|---|
| Air transit, China to gateway | 1–3 business days |
| Gateway serving Sendai | SDJ air / Sendai sea |
| Inland leg to Sendai | +1 day from the gateway |
| Typical clearance / dwell | 1–3 days |
| Peak season to plan around | Sep–Nov |
Import duty and tax position for Sendai
Japan Customs (税関) assesses duty and tax on cargo arriving for Sendai consignees. Current regime: Consumption tax 10%; duty 0–15% on most manufactured goods, higher on leather, footwear and food, with a de-minimis position of JPY 10,000 customs value (some categories excluded).
Conformity is the part most first-time importers underestimate: PSE mark for electrical appliances; Giteki/MIC certification for radio devices; Food Sanitation Act notification for food-contact items. Getting this wrong is expensive because it usually cannot be fixed after the cargo has landed.
Restrictions and known friction points for Japan: Electrical products without a valid PSE mark cannot be imported. Radio devices need Giteki certification. Amazon FBA Japan requires an Importer of Record that is not Amazon, so confirm who the IOR will be before booking a DDP move.
What to sort out before the cargo leaves China
- Book earlier than the transit time suggests during Sep–Nov, when space on this lane tightens.
- Ask for the HS code in writing from your supplier and verify the Japan duty rate against it yourself.
- Put the Sendai delivery address, contact name and phone number on the invoice, not just the packing list.
- Use ISPM-15 treated pallets. Untreated wood is the most common reason otherwise-clean cargo gets held.
- Check the de-minimis position (JPY 10,000 customs value (some categories excluded)) against your invoice value before you decide how to split the shipment.
- Photograph carton markings and seal numbers before departure — it makes any claim far easier to settle.
Frequently asked questions
How long does shipping from China to Sendai take?
China to the Japan gateway is 1–3 business days. On top of that, allow 1–3 days of clearance with Japan Customs (税関) and a +1 day inland leg to Sendai.
What duty and tax will I pay importing into Sendai?
Japan Customs (税関) applies: Consumption tax 10%; duty 0–15% on most manufactured goods, higher on leather, footwear and food. The de-minimis position is JPY 10,000 customs value (some categories excluded). Under a DDP arrangement these are pre-paid, so nothing is collected on arrival in Sendai.
Can you deliver door-to-door in Sendai?
Yes. Delivery to a Sendai address is quoted as one figure covering freight, duty and tax owed to Japan Customs (税関), and the +1 day inland leg. Confirm whether your consignee wants the goods at a warehouse, a marketplace fulfilment centre or a shop front, because the last-mile requirement differs.
When is the busiest time on the China–Japan lane?
Space and rates tighten around Sep–Nov, plus the China-side windows of Chinese New Year in January or February and Golden Week in early October. Book one to two weeks earlier in those periods.
Is sea freight cheaper than air freight into Sendai?
Per kilo, yes — usually by a wide margin. The trade-off is time: 3–6 calendar days by sea versus 1–3 business days by air to the Japan gateway, before clearance and the +1 day inland leg. The crossover point is normally somewhere between 100 and 300 kg depending on the density of your cargo.
What certification do I need for Japan?
For regulated goods, plan for: PSE mark for electrical appliances; Giteki/MIC certification for radio devices; Food Sanitation Act notification for food-contact items. Missing conformity paperwork is the single most common cause of a hold, and in most cases it cannot be remedied once the cargo has arrived.
Other delivery cities in Japan
References & official sources
Duty rates, thresholds and conformity requirements for Japan change by ministerial decision, sometimes mid-year. The figures on this page are buyer-planning references, not a customs ruling — confirm the current position for your own HS code with Japan Customs (税関) or your broker before you ship.
- Japan Customs
- METI — Electrical Appliance and Material Safety Act (PSE)
- MIC — radio equipment certification
- WTO — Tariff Profiles (applied MFN duty by country)
- IATA — Lithium battery shipping guidance (PI 965–970)
- World Bank — Logistics Performance Index
- ICC — Incoterms 2020 rules (DDP, DAP, FOB definitions)
- IPPC — ISPM 15 wood packaging standard
Page data last reviewed: July 2026.
Get a rate for Sendai
This lane is quoted per shipment rather than from a published rate card, because the landed cost depends on the commodity, its density, the conformity requirements above and the delivery point. Send the cargo details and we will come back with a full DDP figure.