When you are sending a large shipment by sea and have small items that need to arrive sooner than the sea shipment…

When shipping only a few boxes that total less than one cubic meter in size…

When you need to have your shipment arrive at the destination as soon as possible after you depart from Japan…

Then take advantage of our speedy air service!

Procedures for Shipping Personal Effects by Air

Packing & Pick up:

Shipmates offers a full packing service for air shipments including custom crating of fragile items. You are welcome to pack on your own. However, please remember that all items must be in cardboard boxes or securely wrapped with cardboard. * Refer to FAQ’s on packing tips.

Pick up is available throughout Japan using Narita, Kansai, Fukuoka and Chubu (Nagoya) International airports as the port of departure. The transit time for shipments by air is generally around 5-7 days from the date of pick up to delivery to your destination airport. Storage prior to export is available free of charge for 3 weeks (depending on season).

Customs & Documentation

For export customs clearance Shipmates will require the following documents:

1) Photocopy of Shipper’s passport including information page, picture page, and passport number.

2) Completed and legible packing lists

3) Your airline information for your departure from Japan, we require the airline name, flight number, date of departure and destination.

This is required to ship your items as unaccompanied personal effects.
Japanese Customs requires that the shipper will or has left Japan in order to ship items as personal effects. Shipmates will contact your airline and obtain a Reservation or Boarding Certificate.

Insurance Coverage
Optional insurance coverage is available at a premium of 1.3% of the total value of your goods as declared on your packing list(s).

Delivery Service at the Destination:
Import customs clearance and delivery of your air shipment at the destination is available through Shipmates Worldwide Moving at additional cost.
* Door delivery may not be available at some destinations


Pricing:
Air shipments are charged by the total weight of the shipment. In some cases, shipments may be charged by the Volumetric Weight.

Regarding Volumetric Weight:

The volumetric weight will be charged if you ship an item that is large in size and light in weight. Take for example the carton box below. If the box were filled with items light in weight such as linens and clothing and the actual weight of the box comes out to 20 kg/s, the box will be charged the volume weight of 25 kg/s. Calculated as follows: L x W x H of the box divided by 6,000.

Box Dimensions are (in CM) 60 x 50 x 50= 150,000 ÷ 6,000 = 25 Since the volumetric weight of 25 kg/s is greater than the actual weight of 20 kg/s, this box will be charged the volumetric weight of 25 kg/s.