Shipping To Japan Advice

[SwordGuyJoe]

Hello all,

I am shipping a high value sword to Japan and was wondering who you would recommend for shipping, as I'll want about $10k insurance. USPS, UPS, or FedEx?

[Stephen]

Sad to say you cant go over 2500 for USPS

[jason_mazzy]

I believe 10k is the top for USPS... at least it was recently (edit.. it is 5k priority, 50k registered)

 

edit from the site: 

Protect Your Shipments Registered Mail

Get maximum security for your valuable items. Registered Mail items can be insured for up to $50,000 at your Post Office™.

 

edit again: PRIORITY EXPRESS Merchandise insurance coverage is provided against loss, damage, or missing contents and limited to a maximum liability of $100.00. Additional insurance under 4.1.1 may be purchased up to a maximum coverage of $5,000.00. Nonnegotiable documents are insured against loss, damage, or missing contents, up to $100.00 per piece, subject to the maximum limit per occurrence as defined in 609.

 

Registered mail fee:

 $23.15 + $1.60

per each $1,000 or fraction
thereof over first $5,000

 

http://pe.usps.com/text/dmm300/Notice123.htm#2648967

[Stephen]

maybe i have this mixed up, we had a thread on it and CB was surprised...maybe im thinking of Japan sending it back if over a certain amount, someone with a better memory please

[Eric Santucci]

Joe,

 

I recommend using USPS International Express (caution: not the Global Express Guaranteed, which eventually gets delivered by FedEx in Japan and messes things up with customs).

 

From experience, I've shipped USPS International Express on several occasions to Japan now with absolutely no issues at all. When considering insurance, I recommend you insure the sword via a private policy such as Fine Arts or similar thru your insurance company as opposed to the shipping company. Several companies offer their version of Fine Arts policies and are typically quite easy to set up if you have a pre-established relationship with them for car insurance, home owner's policy, etc.

 

Feel free to PM me if you have further questions.

[b.hennick]

Joe do you have someone to receive the sword at the airport and take the blade through the registration process? That is something that can't be over looked. 

[SwordGuyJoe]

I'm shipping to aoi art and will work with Tsuruta san to make sure all bases are covered.

[Guido]

Joe do you have someone to receive the sword at the airport and take the blade through the registration process? That is something that can't be over looked. 

 

It's not possible to have a sword registered at the airport, even if you bring it personally into Japan. In that case customs escorts the importer to the port police, which then will issue a temporary import permit. The importer has to contact the Prefectural Education Board for proper licensing.

 

If sent by mail, the sword is stored at the International Post Office, and a notification is sent to the recipient to attend registration. This takes place once a month at the International Post Office; after the tōrokushō is issued, the sword will be forwarded to the addressee (it can not be taken away directly).

[kunitaro]

One of our client tried to send a sword to Japan for polish.

He went to post office and declared the item as "Antique Japanese sword", the post office said he cannot mail weapons to Japan with out prior notice.

 

http://pe.usps.com/text/Imm/il_010.htm

 

Could someone advice how to ship the sword or how to describe times by USPS ?

[Stephen]

Japanese Nihonto Katana for restoration, over 100 years old, Id have him go to USPS.com and fill out the the paper work on line pay the postage there, less this is all recent changes

[Brian]

Yep..I think this is just another case of individuals making up the rules as they go along. I would just go to another post office.

Like Stephen said. Antique collectible katana for restoration purposes. I would also note "registration to be done on arrival" or something similar.

[kunitaro]

Thank you for quick reply !!!

[Derek]

Kunitaro San, I always label the package as Japanese antique nihonto. I have never had an issue this way. I purposely do not use the words sword or katana.

[Ken-Hawaii]

I agree with Derek on the wording, Kunitaro.

 

Ken

 

[Ed]

Joe,

I have sent a number of them to Japan and all around the globe using USPS.  The USPS employees have no idea what they can or can't ship.  

However, USPS will only allow a maximum insurance value of $5000

 

There is no Registered mail to foreign countries.

 

Be sure fill out the customs form using the correct tariff code: 9706.00.00

List it as an "Antique Japanese Sword".

 

If the postal employee balks, inform them that the item is an antique and it can be shipped as such.

 

Unfortunately for a item of that value, you may have to use UPS in order to have it insured.  

 

For higher value items it is better to ship with USPS using your own insurance.  Any value over $2500 is now subject to additional forms which are a headache.

 

 

USPS Prohibited International Items

• Aerosols
• Air Bags
• Alcoholic Beverages
• Ammunition
• Cigarettes
• Dry Ice
• Explosives
• Fresh Fruits and Vegetables
• Gasoline
• Nail Polish
• Perfumes (containing alcohol)
• Poison

[Ed]

Here is a USPS customs form where I sent a Japanese sword Internationally a couple of weeks ago.

The description clearly says WWII Japanese Sword.

 

[kunitaro]

Thank you very much for advices.

Wrote "Japanese Antique Nihonto", succeed sending out.

[Andy]

^{Hello  Everyone,}

^{I'm reporting that I finally mailed my blade to Japan for restoration with Kunitaro-san. I took Brian's advise and just went to another post office. I listed on the declaration form Japanese Antique Nihonto like Derek suggested but the person at the counter said I needed to be more specific. I was thinking to my self oh boy here we go again. So I proceeded to say a tanto and the person said again what is a tanto? And I finally replied it's a Antique sword, blade or dagger what ever you would like to call it, even a knife and they said to me, no problem. And that was that. I do believe that people make this stuff up as they go along.}

 

^{I guess I should have asked to speak with the supervisor at the first Post office but then again the who knows what that person would have told to me. In the end you can ship a sword, wakizashi and tanto to Japan through the Post office with no problem what so ever.}

 

^{Thank you to everyone for the advice.}

^Andy