How to send stuff from Japan to Germany

This is mostly a note to myself as I have to look up how to send stuff every time. (There is also a very comprehensive guide in Japanese1!)

Prerequisites

  • No dangerous stuff (the usual)
  • Nothing exceeding 45 Euros in total! 2 (otherwise the recipient needs to pay customs)
  • Usually keeping things below 2kg makes everything cheaper (because then you can use 小形包装物)3

Step by step

1. Note down the prices when you buy stuff

You will need to enter this later in the online form.

2. Weight the stuff

You will need to enter the weight for every item later.

As mentioned earlier usually you want it to be less than 2kg.

3. Calculate the price

Use the calculator on 国際郵便の料金・日数を計算する to see which option is cheapest / reasonably fast. Usually 小形包装物 is the cheapest that doesn’t take several months.

小形包装物 vs 国際eパケットライト

As I understood it, 国際eパケットライト is basically 小形包装物 but with tracking and thus 370 JPY more expensive4.

4. Create the label

Access ラベルの作成 and register the stuff either using your smartphone (or PC). I recommend using the page for the smartphone as with that you can print the label at the post office instead of needing to print it yourself.

Enter the HS-Code!

When registering the things for Germany you should also enter the 6-digit “HS-Code” (HSコード). Failing to enter this code my lead to delays or even to an increase in customs fee for the recipient5.

You can use the list published by the Japan Post to search for HS-Codes.

有償／無償?

If it is a present it is 無償. If you plan to sell it it is 有償.

5. Pack everything

Put everything in a package and seal it. Depending on what you selected as shipping option there might be limits on how big the package is allowed to be. As I usually go with 国際eパケットライト or 小形包装物, I use the B5 cardboard from DAISO.

6. Go to the post office with the package and the QR Code

Present the QR code, print the label sign everything and done!

Sources and Annotations

Footnotes

  1. 日本からドイツに荷物を送る方法！郵送料金・日数・関税も徹底解説. (n.d.) トリセド. https://torisedo.com/46801.html ↩

  2. Zoll online - Geschenksendungen. (n.d.). Zoll online. https://www.zoll.de/DE/Privatpersonen/Postsendungen-Internetbestellungen/Sendungen-aus-einem-Nicht-EU-Staat/Zoll-und-Steuern/Geschenksendungen/geschenksendungen_node.html ↩

  3. 商品・サービス一覧. (n.d.). 郵便局 | 日本郵便株式会社. https://www.post.japanpost.jp/int/service/index.html ↩

  4. 国際eパケットライト. (n.d.). 郵便局 | 日本郵便株式会社. https://www.post.japanpost.jp/int/service/epacketlight.html ↩

  5. EU加盟国等宛て郵便物に関するHSコード類などの送信について. (2024, March 1). 郵便局 | 日本郵便株式会社. https://www.post.japanpost.jp/int/ead/europe.html ↩