Shipping from China to Yokohama, Japan — Freight Guide [2026]
China → Yokohama · via NRT air / Yokohama sea · clearance by Japan Customs (税関)
For buyers shipping into Yokohama, the practical question is not the ocean or flight time but what happens after arrival. Yokohama is major port city adjoining Tokyo; cargo enters through NRT air / Yokohama sea, and the inland leg is same-day, so the clearance date is effectively the delivery date.
The clearing authority is Japan Customs (税関). Historical dwell on this gateway is around 1–3 days, and it lengthens in Sep–Nov.
What you will pay on arrival in Japan
Japan Customs (税関) assesses duty and tax on cargo arriving for Yokohama 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 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 Yokohama | NRT air / Yokohama sea |
| Inland leg to Yokohama | Same day from the gateway |
| Typical clearance / dwell | 1–3 days |
| Peak season to plan around | Sep–Nov |
Before you book: Yokohama checklist
- Confirm the consignee in Yokohama can act as importer of record — Japan Customs (税関) will not release cargo to an unregistered party.
- Ask for the HS code in writing from your supplier and verify the Japan duty rate against it yourself.
- 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.
- Use ISPM-15 treated pallets. Untreated wood is the most common reason otherwise-clean cargo gets held.
- Put the Yokohama delivery address, contact name and phone number on the invoice, not just the packing list.
- Plan around the China-side windows too: Chinese New Year and Golden Week both compress capacity on the Japan lane.
Air, sea or overland into Yokohama?
| 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 Yokohama and 1–3 days of clearance.
Mode guides for Yokohama
Frequently asked questions
How long does shipping from China to Yokohama 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 Yokohama.
What duty and tax will I pay importing into Yokohama?
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 Yokohama.
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.
How is the chargeable weight calculated for Yokohama?
We compare actual gross weight against volumetric weight — length × width × height in centimetres divided by 6000 for air — and bill the greater of the two, rounded up to the next kilogram. Light, bulky cargo is almost always billed on volume.
Which port or airport does cargo for Yokohama clear through?
Cargo for Yokohama is routed via NRT air / Yokohama 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.
Can you ship batteries or sensitive cargo to Yokohama?
Yes. Battery cargo by air follows IATA PI 965–970 depending on how the cells are packed, and moves on certified channels via NRT (Narita), HND (Haneda), KIX (Osaka Kansai). Surcharges apply and the declaration has to be made before booking.
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 Yokohama
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.