Shipping policy

Last Updated: May 2026

IMPORTANT MESSAGE FOR U.S. Customers:

New U.S. customs regulations apply to all imports from Japan. Please read the corresponding "U.S. Customers (Tariff Notice)" section to learn more about how it may impact your purchases.

ORDER PROCESSING

All products are crafted, inspected, and shipped directly from Japan.
Please allow up to 5 business days for order processing before dispatch.

Once your order ships, you will receive a tracking number via email.

If you need faster handling or have special shipping requests or instructions, please contact us at info@japanese-food-craftsman.com and we will do our best to assist you.

INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING

We proudly offer free worldwide shipping from Japan.
Shipping costs are included in product prices (excluding returns and customs if applicable).

We use trusted carriers:

Most countries: EMS Japan Post Express Mail Service, DHL Express
US Orders over $800: DHL Express

All shipments are securely packed and trackable.

COUNTRIES WE SHIP TO

We currently offer international shipping to the following countries*:

North America: United States of America, Canada, Mexico
Central America: Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Honduras, Jamaica, Nicaragua, Panama, Trinidad and Tobago
South America: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela
Europe: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark and Greenland, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom
Africa: Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo (Republic of the Congo),
Congo (Democratic Republic of the Congo), Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Nigeria, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda
East Asia: China, Hong Kong SAR China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan
Central Asia: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan
Middle East: Please note that shipping to the following countries is currently paused due to post office restrictions: Bahrain, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates
Southeast Asia: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam
South Asia: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka
Oceania: Australia, Fiji, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Independent State of Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Vanuatu

*Some items may be restricted in specific countries due to local import regulations. Please check with your local authorities for more information.

DELIVERY TIME ESTIMATES

United States and Canada: 4-8 days
Australia: 7-10 days
UK & Europe: 7-14 days
Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan: 4-5 days
Other Countries: Shipping times may vary. Please allow up to 2-3 weeks depending on final destination.

Delivery times are estimates and may vary due to customs processing, local postal service, rural location or holidays. Please check your tracking number once you have one or check with us.

Important Update for European Customers: As of March 2026, we have been experiencing slight shipping delays to several European countries due to recent conflict in the Middle East. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us. We ask for your kind understanding.

DUTY, TAXES AND CUSTOMS FEES

Import duties, VAT, or local customs taxes may apply once your order reaches your country.

These are set by your local customs authority and are not included in our product prices. We suggest contacting the responsible institutions to find more information.

They must be paid by the customer upon delivery.

EU Customers (About VAT and Import Taxes)

All international orders are shipped on a Delivered Duty Unpaid (DDU) basis. This means that import duties, taxes, and customs fees — including VAT for EU customers — are not collected at checkout and are the responsibility of the recipient upon delivery. Please note that we do not participate in the EU Import One-Stop Shop (IOSS) scheme. We recommend checking your country's import regulations before placing an order.

US Customs Duties & Taxes (Effective May 8, 2026)

As of May 8, 2026, all orders shipped to customers located in the United States include applicable customs duties and import taxes in the final purchase price shown at checkout.

All US orders are shipped on a DDP (Delivered Duties Paid) basis. This means that customs duties and import taxes are prepaid before shipment, and customers should not be required to pay additional customs fees upon delivery.

Our goal is to provide a smoother and more predictable delivery experience for our US customers, with no unexpected import charges after purchase.

Orders Placed Before May 8, 2026

Orders placed prior to May 8, 2026 do not include customs duties or import taxes in the purchase price.

For these orders, customs duties may:

be collected by the shipping carrier upon delivery, or
be prepaid directly to Japanese Food Craftsman prior to shipment if arrangements are made in advance.

Customers remain responsible for any applicable import duties, taxes, or customs clearance fees on purchases made before May 8, 2026.

Custom-Made Products & Duties Policy

All sales of custom-made products, including made-to-order and personalized items, are final from the time of purchase. These items are non-cancellable, non-returnable, and non-refundable once an order has been placed.

While most items are shipped on a DDU (Delivered Duties Unpaid) basis—meaning customs duties and import taxes are the responsibility of the customer upon delivery—custom-made products may, in certain cases, be shipped on a DDP (Delivered Duties Paid) basis for customers in select countries. In such cases, applicable duties and taxes will be calculated and included at checkout.

Please refer to the relevant product description page for specific shipping terms. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us at info@japanese-food-craftsman.com.

Refused Deliveries Due to Import Charges (DHL DDU customers)
Please kindly note that if delivery is refused because import charges are not paid, the carrier is still required to collect these fees. As a result, the package will be returned to us and the assessed duties, taxes, and return shipping costs will be charged back to us by the carrier.

After the returned item is received, we will refund your purchase price less any non-recoverable shipping costs and import charges incurred.

We understand that import fees can sometimes be unexpected and are happy to assist with questions prior to shipping to help avoid any inconvenience.

Returns, Refunds & Exchanges

Returns are accepted within 30 days of delivery if unused and in original condition.
Customer must pay return shipping costs.

If an item arrives damaged or defective, contact us with your order number and photos.
We’ll review each case individually and will work to find a satisfactory solution.

Responsibility & Compliance

We comply with Japanese export laws and international shipping standards.
We are not liable for:

Customs delays or inspections
Packages refused due to unpaid duties
Local import restrictions preventing delivery

If a package is returned to Japan, contact us for assistance.

Questions or Special Requests

Email us anytime at info@japanese-food-craftsman.com for assistance with shipping, product information requests, tracking, or customs.

Thank You

Your order supports Japanese artisans and keeps traditional craftsmanship alive.
We truly appreciate your trust and support.