# Moving out of Japan: shipping luggage and household goods home

URL: https://japanhow.com/life/daily/ship-belongings-home-from-japan/
Author: JapanHow editors
Updated: Oct 29, 2026

## Summary

Japan Post ships household goods abroad as EMS or as an international parcel by air, economy air (SAL) or surface mail, up to 30 kg per parcel. As of October 2026, a 10 kg parcel to Asia outside China, Korea and Taiwan costs 6,600 yen by surface mail, 8,100 yen by SAL and 13,300 yen by air. Contents over 200,000 yen need a customs export declaration, dangerous goods are banned, and rates are revised in February 2027.

## Key facts

- 10 kg to Asia (zone 2): 6,600 yen surface, 13,300 air
- Max weight: 30 kg (varies by country)
- Customs: Export declaration over 200,000 yen
- Rates change: Revision from Feb 2027

Shipping to home country from Japan with Japan Post works as **EMS** or as an **international parcel** (国際小包) by air, economy air (SAL) or surface mail (船便), up to **30 kg per parcel**. A 10 kg parcel to Asia outside China, Korea and Taiwan costs **6,600 yen by surface mail, 8,100 yen by SAL and 13,300 yen by air**. Contents over **200,000 yen** need a customs export declaration, dangerous goods are banned, and rates are revised in **February 2027**. All as of October 2026.

**What this page does not cover:** We compared Japan Post only. We did not research private international movers, sea freight or airline excess baggage prices. Delivery times and each country's import rules were not checked, so confirm those with Japan Post's country page and your home country's customs.

## Which Japan Post service?

| Service | 10 kg to zone 2 (Asia) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| EMS (国際スピード郵便) | 13,350 yen | Japan Post's priority international service |
| International parcel, air (航空便) | 13,300 yen | Up to 30 kg |
| International parcel, SAL | 8,100 yen | Economy air. Available only to some countries, and Japan Post has said SAL for some services remains suspended with no restart date, so confirm for your country |
| International parcel, surface (船便) | 6,600 yen | Lowest rate |

International parcels offer three methods with different rates and times. A volume discount of 10 to 20% applies depending on how many items you send. Optional insurance is available in some countries.

## Rates for common destinations

Japan Post groups countries into zones. **Zone 2 is Asia excluding China, Korea and Taiwan.** It includes India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Pakistan, Bangladesh, the Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia and Myanmar.

International parcel to zone 2 (yen):

| Weight | Surface | SAL | Air |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 kg | 2,100 | 2,300 | 2,500 |
| 5 kg | 4,100 | 5,100 | 7,300 |
| 10 kg | 6,600 | 8,100 | 13,300 |
| 20 kg | 10,600 | 14,100 | 19,800 |
| 30 kg | 14,600 | 20,100 | 26,300 |

EMS by zone (yen):

| Weight | China, Korea, Taiwan | Asia (zone 2) | Europe, Oceania, Middle East, Canada (zone 3) | USA (zone 4) | Latin America, Africa (zone 5) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 kg | 2,200 | 3,150 | 4,400 | 5,300 | 5,100 |
| 5 kg | 6,400 | 8,150 | 13,000 | 15,100 | 17,100 |
| 10 kg | 10,600 | 13,350 | 23,500 | 27,100 | 29,700 |
| 20 kg | 18,600 | 23,350 | 44,500 | 51,100 | 53,700 |
| 30 kg | 26,600 | 33,350 | 65,500 | 75,100 | 77,700 |

The EMS zone 3 and 4 figures include special surcharges. These are Japan Post's list prices on the day we checked. Rates change; use Japan Post's calculator for your exact box.

**Rates will change.** Japan Post has announced a partial revision of international rates from **1 February 2027**. If you ship after that date, recheck.

**Worked example.** Ten 10 kg boxes to Manila by surface mail would be 66,000 yen before any volume discount. The same by air would be 133,000 yen.

## Limits and what cannot go

- **Weight:** up to 30 kg, but the maximum differs by country.
- **Size:** limits differ by country (standard A or B, and some countries use another). Check the country page before you buy boxes.
- **Banned:** dangerous goods and anything the destination country bans. After acceptance, Japan Post can X-ray parcels and return what is not allowed before it goes abroad.
- **Plants:** special rules apply to plants such as bonsai or fruit.
- **Fragile items and liquids:** Japan Post publishes packing instructions.
- **USA:** mail to the USA has CPSC pre-registration rules from 8 July 2026.

## Customs on the Japan side

For a counter visit, see [using the post office in Japan as a foreigner](/life/admin/post-office-japan-foreigners/).

## When to ship relative to leaving

- Surface mail has the lowest rate. Delivery times differ by method, so check Japan Post's calculator for your country and send heavy boxes early.
- If you sell items instead, see [selling used items in Japan](/life/daily/sell-used-items-mercari-japan-foreigners/).
- Big furniture is usually not worth shipping. See [garbage and recycling rules](/housing/living/garbage-recycling-rules-japan/) and [moving companies](/housing/moving/moving-company-japan/).
- Do the admin too: see the [leaving Japan checklist](/visa/leaving/leaving-japan-checklist/) and [closing your bank account](/money/banking/close-bank-account-leaving-japan/).

## Questions people ask

### How much does it cost to ship a box from Japan to my home country?

With Japan Post to Asia outside China, Korea and Taiwan (zone 2), a 10 kg parcel costs 6,600 yen by surface mail, 8,100 yen by economy air (SAL) and 13,300 yen by air. EMS for 10 kg is 13,350 yen to zone 2, 23,500 yen to Europe or Oceania and 27,100 yen to the USA, as of October 2026.

### What is the weight limit for Japan Post international parcels?

Up to 30 kg, but the limit differs by country. Size limits also differ by country. Check the country page on the Japan Post site before you pack.

### What cannot be sent from Japan by international mail?

Dangerous goods and items the destination country bans. Japan Post may X-ray parcels after acceptance and return anything not allowed before it goes abroad. Some mail to the USA also has pre-registration rules from 8 July 2026.

### Do I need a customs declaration to ship my things?

Yes for value over 200,000 yen: contents worth more need an export declaration and customs permission. Every parcel also needs electronic customs data, since handwritten labels that do not send it cannot be accepted. The destination may charge duties and consumption tax.

### Which is the cheapest way?

Surface mail (船便) has the lowest rates, then economy air (SAL), then air. Delivery times differ by method, and not every country accepts every method, so check the country page and Japan Post's delivery-days calculator.

### Will the shipping rates change?

Yes. Japan Post has announced a partial revision of international postal rates from 1 February 2027. Check the calculator on the day you ship.

## Sources

- [料金表（国際小包：第2地帯）](https://www.post.japanpost.jp/send/oversea/charge/list-parcel/zone2.html), Japan Post (日本郵便) (accessed Oct 29, 2026)
- [国際小包取り扱い国・地域 第2地帯](https://www.post.japanpost.jp/send/oversea/charge/list-parcel/zone2-list.html), Japan Post (日本郵便) (accessed Oct 29, 2026)
- [料金表（EMS：取り扱い国すべて）](https://www.post.japanpost.jp/int/charge/list/ems_all.html), Japan Post (日本郵便) (accessed Oct 29, 2026)
- [国際小包](https://www.post.japanpost.jp/service/send/oversea/list/delivery/i_parcel.html), Japan Post (日本郵便) (accessed Oct 29, 2026)
- [海外あて郵便物の重要なお知らせ](https://www.post.japanpost.jp/service/send/oversea/information/important.html), Japan Post (日本郵便) (accessed Oct 29, 2026)
- [国際郵便料金の一部改定のお知らせ（2027年2月1日から）](https://www.post.japanpost.jp/service/send/oversea/information/fee_revision_2027/), Japan Post (日本郵便) (accessed Oct 29, 2026)