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Japan

Check our destination guide for postal restrictions and requirements

Prohibitions

The following items are prohibited from importation, meaning they won't be allowed to enter the destination country, territory or region.

To check which items are considered dangerous and prohibited for sending from Australia, download our dangerous goods guide (1.2MB).

  • Arms and ammunition and parts thereof
  • Copyright violations
  • Coffee, tea, mate and spices
  • Cereals
  • Counterfeit, defaced or imitation stamps
  • Dairy and birds eggs
  • Documents or goods from or made in North Korea
  • Fertilizers
  • Firearms and imitation firearms (including components and accessories thereof)
  • Fish
  • Live animals and animal products
  • Lottery material
  • Meat and edible meat offal
  • Narcotic drugs
  • Oil, seeds, grain and fruits
  • Organic chemicals
  • Patent violations
  • Pharmaceutical products
  • Plants (unless accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate)
  • Products of the milling industry
  • Psychotropic substances
  • Publications of books, newspapers and products of the printing industry- offensive by nature
  • Publications, including video tapes, prejudicial to public order or morality
  • Trademark violations
  • Vegetable products
  • Weapons, parts and accessories thereof

Transporting food of any kind, cash and perfumes are prohibited under International Courier.

Batteries

All types of batteries and devices containing them are prohibited from being sent via International Courier services.

Import restrictions

If an item is subject to import restrictions, it means that provisions must be met before it will be released from customs in the destination country, territory or region.

We recommend you confirm import restrictions with local authorities before posting:

  • Animal products
  • Arms and ammunition and parts thereof
  • Beverages, spirits and vinegar
  • Foodstuffs
  • Firearms, imitation
  • Mineral Products
  • Pharmaceutical products
  • Plants and plant products
  • Resins
  • Rice and straw goods
  • Tobacco and tobacco substitutes
  • Vegetables
  • Wood and articles of wood

Please note the following restrictions for International Standard articles being carried by the EMS network:

  • Ammunition
  • Animals
  • Antiques
  • Asbestos
  • Bees
  • Biological substances
  • Bullion
  • Coins
  • Counterfeit
  • Currency
  • Fur
  • Human ashes
  • Human remains
  • Ivory
  • Jewellery
  • Leeches
  • Live
  • Narcotics
  • Perfumery
  • Perfume
  • Perishables
  • Pornography
  • Precious metals
  • Precious stones
  • Silkworms
  • Watches (only if over $150.00)
  • Weapons

Okay to send? Send responsibly.

As the sender, it's your responsibility to make sure your items don't break any laws or rules – both within Australia and in the destination country.

Restrictions and conditions can change at short notice so the information on this page should be used as a guide only. For the latest information, you should check the UPU prohibitions & restrictions (PDF 3.2MB) or contact the destination country's customs, postal trade or government authority.

It's also your responsibility to check if the destination country imposes any duties, taxes, brokerage fees or any other fees on the item you're sending. If you're unsure, please contact the consulate office of the destination country.

Special documentation

In addition to our customs forms, authorities in the destination country, territory or region require further documentation for some items.

Items containing merchandise or samples require an invoice in duplicate. Articles more than 200,000 Japanese Yen in value require a certificate of origin. Senders should clearly mark all articles with the purpose of the shipment; for example, gift, merchandise, samples, or unaccompanied goods.

Japan Post requests that any items valued at more than 200,000 Japanese Yen must have a commercial invoice and certificate of origin is attached. Any items received over this value that do not have the attached will be subject to delays.

Delivery locations & exclusions

Before sending to this destination, it’s worth noting a few more details about our international delivery services.

Delivery locations & exclusions data (Personal)

  • International Express and International Standard (carried via the EMS network) - Parcels deliver to all destinations

    International Express and International Standard - Parcels does deliver to a Post Office Box and Poste Restante.

  • International Courier

    Check our International Courier page for more details.

    Shipments must be lodged at the counter at a participating Post Office (PDF 832kB) by the cut-off time, which may vary by outlet. Please fill out the online CN23 customs form prior to visiting the outlet.

    International Courier does not deliver to a Post Office Box or Poste Restante.

    Metropolitan delivery to (valid postcodes in brackets):
    • Tokyo (1000000 to 1000014, 1003131 to 1900192, 1901200 to 1980089, 1988510 to 2088585)
    • Osaka (5300000 to 5598729)
    • Nagoya (4500001 to 4680836)

For more information from the overseas carrier, check the Japan Post website.

Make sure it's safe to send

Some items are considered dangerous and unsuitable for sending from Australia, even if they’re not prohibited by the destination country.

Download guide (PDF 1.2MB)