Shipping policy

From Kyoto to the World since 1989

It is our mission to provide international practitioners of Japanese budo with genuine high-quality equipment, straight from the source. Shipping our goods internationally is what we do day in and day out.

Where do you ship to?

We work alongside internationally renowned and proven logistic providers as well as Japan’s excellent service providers to deliver packages and orders all over the world.

Shipping Options

When shipments are made using the free shipping option, the courier service selected will be the most cost effective option. As this is the case, these courier services in relation to delivery time or import/customs/VAT fees may vary. If there is a courier service prefered to make the shipping process of your item more convenient, we are happy to use whichever courier service we offer (DHL, FedEx, UPS, Japan Post EMS). However, if the cost of shipping these items with this service has a higher rate than the least expensive option, we will ask customers to cover the difference in this cost. For this option, please contact us prior to making your purchase so that these options can be arranged for you. 

 

 

Please bear in mind that delivery delays will likely occur due to reduced number of flights caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
It may take additional 1-2 weeks for Japan Post deliveries compared to previous estimations.
DHL and UPS show no major delays at the moment, however this may take longer depending on flight situations for individual countries.
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For destinations that Japan post (EMS, Epacket) is suspended or unavailable we deliver with UPS, DHL, or FedEx.

To some destinations, only express shipping is available.  An additional shipping fee at the checkout.

To Central America, South America and some remoted countries, orders that contain long or oversized items are subject to additional shipping fees depending on the destination. 

  

Shipments to Australia

Fulfilled mainly with UPS, DHL, FedEx.

For small orders there is an additional shipping fee at the checkout.

For long or oversized items additional cost may apply.

To addresses in remoted areas an additional shipping fees approx. 26 USD will apply.

*We will contact you for the additional cost if necessary.

Remoted Area List Click here

 

Shipments to South Africa

Although there are not any restrictions at the moment additional shipping fees might be required. For larger orders please contact us prior to order and we will check the additional shipping fees.

 

*Shipments to Belarus, Russia and parts of Ukraine are currently suspended.

** If you are unable to find your country, please contact us for updates on the current shipping situation in your locality. These regions and conditions are subject to change depending on global circumstances and the locality that is affected. 

For a list of countries that we often ship to that are currently not receiving JP Post shipments please refer to the below list. For a full list please visit JP Post's website here.

The only other locations we cannot ship to are one’s with closed international borders, active warzones or excessively remote locations. If there is ever an issue with the location where you would like to ship to, then we will contact you directly to discuss the best options for getting your order to the place you need.

Shipping Iaito – Please check prior to order.

Due to the authenticity and craftsmanship of our Iaito they are very easy to mistake with as a genuine katana. It is usually only upon inspection of the blade closely that it is identifiable as an Iaito.  Because of this we always declare the contents of our Iaito specifically as martial arts requisites to help with the customs process.

However, please bear in mind that different countries had different laws regarding importing swords and sword-like items.  It is the responsibility of the customer to check that it is safe and legal to import Iaito into their country.  We cannot be held responsible if customs organizations decide to impound or seize your Iaito. The best way to avoid this is to consult with your local customs authority clearly and understand the laws of your country regarding Iaito prior to order. In most circumstances there is no problem at all, but some countries with strict customs procedures have cause issues for our customers in the past.

Countries (that we are aware of) that require import licenses or other documents.

United Kingdom

For customers in the UK, prior to purchasing an iaito please contact the Sword Arts Organization to which the customer belongs, or Customs, for information on local requirements. Without proper documentation these items will likely be seized by affiliated offices in the UK and will likely be destroyed.

 

Greece, Israel, Malaysia, Philippines.

Please check with your local authorities / customs. 

 

Countries where Iaito cannot be imported.

China, Belarus, Russia, Brunei.

 

Do I have to pay for import taxes?

The method we are using for our delivery is Deliver Duty Unpaid.

That means that import taxes, duty fees, brokerage fees etc. may apply. 

Please bear in mind that the receiver/ customer is responsible for the settling

of all charges in order for customs to release the shipment and have it delivered.

If a package is refused due to settling import fees or should there be a refusal to provide specific information or other requirements to allow for the package delivery and the package is returned to us, it will not be eligible for refund.

 

How does free shipping work?

We provide free international shipping to North America, Europe, Oceania and Asia. However, currently due to the global circumstances, small item orders to many countries are unable to receive free shipping and will be subject to additional shipping cost. Larger orders will remain free per our original shipping terms. 

Thanks to our long-term relationships with world class logistics providers like UPS and DHL, built up over decades of experience in shipping internationally, we receive the best rates in the business allowing us to eliminate the headache of shipping costs to our customers.

For orders outside of the above regions, regions affected by unexpected circumstances or remote locations we will contact you directly with individual rates and options. This is to cover the additional logistical challenges involved in shipping to these regions.

In some cases, remote locations, or PO Box addresses for example, incur additional fees. If this is the case with your order, we will contact you directly to organize a solution that suits you best.

Our logistics team personally prepares and packs your order in to the most efficient packages possible for the items purchased and then ships using the carrier that is best suited to your order contents and shipping address. This allows us to provide the most economic and effective delivery of your items.

We will always pack your items into the minimum number of packages possible and ship them all together as one consignment to save you money when it comes to customs duty. If you would like particular items sent separately, please make a separate order for them.

If you want us to ship by a specific provider, please get in touch and if we can ship it for free, we will, but it may cost additional shipping fees depending on the location and carrier.

Who are your carriers?

We have been working closely with UPS, DHL, FedEx and Japan Post ever since we started business – we have a great relationship with our carriers and if you need anything specific at all we are more than happy to discuss any requests you may have.

All of our shipments are tracked, and we provide you with all the tracking information upon shipment via email so you can follow your package’s progress.

UPS

We use UPS primarily to North America and Europe because of their fast and reliable service in these regions. Delivery takes between 1 and 3 working days in most cases and clears customs extremely quickly.

UPS has many locations throughout the world so you can arrange pick up from their warehouses if that is more convenient for you.

DHL

When shipping to Asia, Oceania, parts of Europe and South America we use DHL. They are also extremely fast and professional delivering in between 1 to 3 working days after shipment.

DHL also has many access points and pick up locations worldwide making them very convenient and simple to work with.

EMS/SAL

To locations where it is not economical to ship via a direct courier, we use Japan Post’s tracked EMS or SAL service that then hands over to a local postal service provider at your location.

This service takes 5 to 10 working days to deliver after shipment, but this can vary as it can take some time to clear customs. We use this service when there is no viable option to use our preferred couriers like UPS or DHL.

ePacket

This service from Japan Post is not fast, but it is an economical and trackable method for sending small items internationally. This allows us to ship small items individually without charging excessive prices. Delivery takes somewhere between 10 to 15 working days and it will clear customs in the same time as EMS.

Once the parcel arrives in your country it is handed to your local postal service provider which will complete deliver.

Can I return my order?

We strive to provide the best possible service, but if you order the wrong size or receive the wrong items, we are more than happy to arrange a return for you. Please refer to our Return Policy for details.

What if my package is lost or damaged?

If you fear that your package is lost or unreasonably delayed for whatever reason, please contact the carrier directly in your region as well as letting us know.

If the package arrives damaged please contact the carrier immediately and take pictures of the packaging to show them and us. If you need please contact us as we are more than happy to support you.

Packages that are returned to sender

If by mistake or misfortune you are unable to receive the package please contact the carrier right away, it is usually possible to rearrange delivery or arrange pickup from a local depot.

If the package is returned to us in Japan, we will contact you, but please contact us in advance if this occurs – we cannot cover the costs for the package returning to Japan. We are happy to arrange another shipment, but we will have to charge shipping costs. In case there is no answer about the return package within 7 days after we have contacted you, the case will be consider closed and we will refund the amount that is left after deducting the shipping fees. *For packages that return because the import fees were not settled refund will not be eligible. Please kindly note that sometimes return shipping fees are charged and in these cases we will refund the amount left after deducting the initial shipping and return shipping fees. 

Let us know if you are not happy with our carriers’ service!

If feel for whatever reason you have received poor or unacceptable service from our carriers or their representatives in your country, please do not hesitate to contact us and let us know.

We want to offer you the best in terms of customer service and are always looking to improve – so let us know if you have any feedback regarding our carriers or deliveries, we are happy to hear from you!