International Removals to Japan (2026)
Moving to Japan is one of the most rewarding relocations you can make, and one of the most exacting to organise. Between sea freight schedules, Japan Customs paperwork and the practical reality of delivering a full household into a compact Tokyo apartment down a narrow street, the details matter. Flyto Relocation is a European international mover that ships door-to-door to Japan, coordinates the whole journey through a single point of contact and gets your belongings cleared and delivered without unwelcome surprises. Rated 4.9 from more than 500 reviews, we combine our own European hubs with vetted local partners in Japan so that one team owns your move from your front door in Europe to your new home in Tokyo, Osaka, Yokohama or Nagoya.
Whether you are relocating for a new job or shipping a full household, the goal is the same: your belongings arriving safely, on schedule and cleared correctly through Japan Customs.
How Flyto works: our hubs, trusted partners, one coordinator
We are honest about our model because it is also our strength. Flyto operates its own moving hubs across Northern, Central and Southern Europe. That means the collection, professional packing, export wrapping and loading at the European end are handled directly by Flyto teams and equipment we control. For the Japan leg, your consignment travels by sea or air freight to the major Japanese ports, and at destination we work with carefully vetted, English-speaking local partners who handle customs clearance, delivery, unloading and unpacking to Japanese standards.
We do not run a Japanese office and we will never pretend otherwise. What we give you instead is a single Flyto coordinator who manages the European hub, the ocean or air carrier, Japan Customs and the destination partner as one continuous chain. You deal with one person who speaks your language, not a relay of disconnected agents. Most household shipments to Japan travel by sea to the container ports of Yokohama, Kobe or Tokyo, from where inland delivery reaches homes across the country.
Our services to Japan
We tailor the shipping method to the size of your move and your budget:
- FCL (full container load) for whole-home moves, giving you exclusive use of a 20ft or 40ft container and the fastest, most secure clearance.
- LCL and groupage (shared container) for smaller consignments, apartments and part-loads, where you pay only for the space you use.
- Air freight for urgent items or a small essentials shipment that needs to arrive ahead of your sea freight.
Every option is genuinely door-to-door: collection and professional packing at your European address, all export and import formalities, delivery to your Japanese home, and unpacking on request. We offer full packing and materials, secure storage at either end if your dates do not line up, and coverage across the main destinations of Tokyo, Osaka, Yokohama and Nagoya as well as smaller cities.
Japanese housing brings its own challenges, and we plan for them from the start. Compact apartments, tight lifts, narrow streets and buildings with restricted vehicle access are the norm in urban Japan. Our destination partners survey the delivery address in advance, arrange smaller shuttle vehicles or hoisting where required, and protect communal areas so that delivery day runs smoothly rather than turning into an on-the-spot problem.
What shipping to Japan costs
We do not quote invented figures online because an honest price depends on your specific move. The main drivers of the cost of an international removal to Japan are the volume of your goods (measured in cubic metres or by container size), the shipping method you choose (FCL is more cost-effective per cubic metre than LCL once you reach a certain volume, while air freight is fastest but dearest), and your European origin and its distance from our hub and the loading port.
Beyond the freight itself, your quote reflects the level of packing service, any storage you need, access conditions at both ends, insurance cover, and destination charges such as terminal handling and customs clearance. Because household goods on a genuine transfer of residence are generally duty-free, duty is rarely a cost factor. Tell us what you are moving and where, and we will give you a clear, itemised quote with no hidden extras.
Customs and paperwork for Japan
Japan Customs treats a bona fide move sensibly, but the paperwork must be done exactly right. Used personal effects and household goods you have owned and used are generally admitted duty-free and tax-free on a transfer of residence, provided they are consistent with a genuine relocation. The single most important document is the one many people have never heard of.
When you enter Japan, you must submit the Unaccompanied Article Declaration, Customs form C-5360 (the C-5360-B is the English-language version), in duplicate, to a Customs officer at your airport of arrival. Customs keeps one copy and returns the other stamped with an official seal. That sealed duplicate is what your clearing agent needs to release your sea or air shipment duty-free when it arrives later. If you do not declare your unaccompanied goods on the C-5360 at the point of entry, they can lose their duty-free status and be taxed. This is the single most common and most expensive mistake in a move to Japan, and it is entirely avoidable. You will also need a valid visa and your residence card (zairyu card), your passport, and a detailed packing list to support clearance.
Visas: most people relocating for employment enter on a work visa, and Japan’s Highly Skilled Professional (HSP) route offers a points-based fast track for qualifying professionals. Your visa status and residence card are checked as part of household clearance, so your immigration paperwork and your move need to be aligned.
Pets: if you are bringing a dog or cat, start early. Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) enforces one of the strictest pet-import regimes in the world: an ISO microchip, two rabies vaccinations, a MAFF-recognised blood titer test, advance notification to the Animal Quarantine Service, and a waiting period of up to 180 days from the blood draw. In practice the full process runs seven to eight months, so plan your pet’s timeline before you book anything else.
Why choose Flyto for your move to Japan
- 4.9 from over 500 reviews for a move most people make only once.
- Fully insured door-to-door transit for peace of mind on a long ocean journey.
- English-speaking coordination at both ends, so nothing is lost in translation.
- One dedicated coordinator owning the whole chain from European hub to Japanese doorstep.
- We know the C-5360 requirement and build it into your plan, so your goods stay duty-free.
- Own European hubs plus vetted Japanese partners, giving you control at origin and local expertise at destination.
How long does it take?
Sea freight is the standard for household moves and, depending on your European origin port, sailing schedule and the destination port of Yokohama, Kobe or Tokyo, transit typically takes around six to ten weeks from collection to delivery, once you include packing, port cut-offs, the ocean voyage, customs clearance and inland delivery. Air freight compresses the journey to roughly one to two weeks but suits only smaller or urgent consignments. We give you a realistic timeline for your specific route at the quoting stage and keep you updated at each milestone.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to pay duty when I move my household goods to Japan?
Generally no. Used personal effects and household goods on a genuine transfer of residence are admitted duty-free and tax-free, provided the paperwork, including the C-5360 declaration, is completed correctly at entry.
What is the C-5360 form and why does it matter?
It is Japan Customs’ Unaccompanied Article Declaration. You must submit it in duplicate to a Customs officer when you arrive in Japan; Customs returns one sealed copy, which is required to clear your shipment duty-free. Miss it and your goods can be taxed.
Which ports do you ship to in Japan?
Household sea freight normally arrives at Yokohama, Kobe or Tokyo, with onward inland delivery to your home anywhere in Japan, including Osaka and Nagoya.
Can you deliver into a small Tokyo apartment on a narrow street?
Yes. Our destination partners survey access in advance and arrange shuttle vehicles, hoisting or smaller crews as needed for compact apartments and restricted streets.
Can I bring my dog or cat to Japan?
Yes, but MAFF’s rules are strict and slow: microchip, two rabies vaccinations, a titer test and a waiting period of up to 180 days. Allow seven to eight months and start before you book your move.
Do you handle the whole move or just the shipping?
The whole move. Flyto packs and loads at our European hub, manages the sea or air carrier and Japan Customs, and coordinates our vetted local partner for delivery and unpacking, all through one coordinator.
Get your quote for Japan
Tell us what you are moving and where you are heading, and your dedicated Flyto coordinator will build a clear, honest, door-to-door plan for your relocation to Japan, C-5360 included.