Shipping from China to Tokyo, Japan — Freight Guide [2026]
China → Tokyo · via NRT/HND air / Tokyo sea · clearance by Japan Customs (税関)
Tokyo is the largest consumer and distribution market in Japan, and it is served through NRT/HND air / Tokyo sea. That combination is what actually sets your delivery date on this lane — the inland leg is same-day, so the clearance date is effectively the delivery date.
On the destination side, Japan Customs (税関) handles clearance; budget 1–3 days of dwell before the cargo is released.
What the routing looks like in practice
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 |
| Sea gateways used | Tokyo, Yokohama, Osaka |
| Sea transit, China to gateway | 3–6 calendar days |
| Gateway serving Tokyo | NRT/HND air / Tokyo sea |
| Inland leg to Tokyo | Same day from the gateway |
| Typical clearance / dwell | 1–3 days |
| Peak season to plan around | Sep–Nov |
What you will pay on arrival in Japan
Japan Customs (税関) assesses duty and tax on cargo arriving for Tokyo 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.
Air, sea or overland into Tokyo?
| Mode | Transit to gateway | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|
| ✈️ Air Freight | 1–3 business days | time-critical, high-value and low-volume cargo |
| 🚢 Sea Freight | 3–6 calendar days | volume cargo where cost per kilo matters more than speed |
Transit shown is China departure to the Japan gateway and excludes the same-day inland leg to Tokyo and 1–3 days of clearance.
Before you book: Tokyo checklist
- Get the conformity paperwork moving early: PSE mark for electrical appliances; Giteki/MIC certification for radio devices; Food Sanitation Act notification for food-contact items.
- Book earlier than the transit time suggests during Sep–Nov, when space on this lane tightens.
- 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.
- Budget for the inland leg: same-day delivery beyond gateway clearance to reach Tokyo.
- Compare gross weight against volumetric weight (L×W×H ÷ 6000) — the higher figure is what gets billed on air and express.
- Declare lithium batteries, magnets, liquids and powders up front — retro-declaring after booking usually means re-planning the whole shipment.
Mode guides for Tokyo
Frequently asked questions
How long does shipping from China to Tokyo take?
China to the Japan gateway is 1–3 business days by air, 3–6 calendar days by sea. On top of that, allow 1–3 days of clearance with Japan Customs (税関) and a same-day inland leg to Tokyo.
What duty and tax will I pay importing into Tokyo?
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 Tokyo.
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.
What documents does Japan Customs (税関) require?
A commercial invoice with HS codes, a packing list, the bill of lading or air waybill, a certificate of origin where it lowers duty, and any product certification (PSE mark for electrical appliances; Giteki/MIC certification for radio devices; Food Sanitation Act notification for food-contact items). We prepare and file these as part of the service.
Can you deliver door-to-door in Tokyo?
Yes. Delivery to a Tokyo address is quoted as one figure covering freight, duty and tax owed to Japan Customs (税関), and the same-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.
Which port or airport does cargo for Tokyo clear through?
Cargo for Tokyo is routed via NRT/HND air / Tokyo sea. Sea gateways for Japan are Tokyo, Yokohama, Osaka; air gateways are NRT (Narita), HND (Haneda), KIX (Osaka Kansai). We pick whichever gives the shortest total door time for your address.
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 Tokyo
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.