How to Cut Your Shipping Costs from Japan: A 5-Step Guide

Pay less to ship from Japan: actual vs. volumetric weight, free consolidation, packing notes, figure box reduction and how to pick the best method.

Savings guide

Shipping from Japan · 送料

How to cut your
shipping costs

Your international shipping isn’t charged by what you buy, but by the weight and size of your box. With these 5 steps it leaves lighter, smaller and cheaper.

Start → Try the simulator

Free storage

Consolidation included

Real price before paying

Aiyu Japan mascot popping happily out of a box

Aiyu Japan mascot with a coin purse full of coins

Example · 3 purchases

Separately

~~10.6 kg~~

With 5 steps

3.0 kg

−72%

Your savings route

1Combine it all
¥0 storage and consolidation 2Ask in the notes
What else to remove · free 3Reduce figures
¥300 service per figure 4Pick the method
By how each one charges 5Limits and coupons
< ¥200,000 · 30 kg · coupons

Basics

Which weight is charged?

Your purchase goes through 4 weights. This guide’s example: sneakers, a figure and clothes.

1

Before consolidation

10.6 kg

3 store boxes, by volume (3.5 kg actual).

2

Consolidated actual

3.0 kg

What the scale shows for your final box.

3

Volumetric

5.9 kg

The box’s space: length × width × height ÷ 5,000.

4

Chargeable

5.9 kg

The one you pay: with DHL or Aiyu Air, the greater; with EMS, the actual (3.0 kg).

Box measuring 42 by 32 by 22 centimetres with its dimensions

length × width × height (cm) ÷ 5,000

42 × 32 × 22 ÷ 5,000 = 5.9 kg

Each method charges by

EMS · Airmail → actual weight

DHL · Aiyu Air → the greater: actual or volumetric

UPS → box size

The 5,000 divisor is Aiyu Air’s and serves as an example: each carrier applies its own. The final price is confirmed once your box is measured.

Step

Combine it all in one box

We store your purchases for free with no general time limit. Wait for everything to arrive: one big shipment costs less than several small ones.

Arrive

3 store boxes

Leaves

1 Aiyu box

≈40%

less vol.

We remove for free

Store shipping boxes

Filler: paper, air pillows, plastic

Shipping bags and envelopes

We keep

The product’s original box

Blisters, manuals and accessories

Manufacturer seals and labels

Included and automatic: on many shipments this alone cuts volume by around 40%. The exact saving depends on what you bought.

Collector box? Tell us in the notes and we’ll look after it. Batteries, liquids, size or value may require splitting into several boxes.

Step

Ask in the notes what else to remove

When you request shipping there’s a notes field. It’s free: say which item and what to remove.

Notes · example

備考

Please remove the Onitsuka Tiger shoe box and ship the sneakers protected only with bubble wrap or paper.

You can ask, at no cost

Remove a shoe box and ship the shoes protected.

Remove outer boxes or cardboard sleeves.

Remove plastic bags or covers.

Flag a collector box so we keep it intact.

For safety, we don’t apply an instruction that would leave the product without enough protection.

Step

Figures: reduction for ¥300

Figure boxes are full of air. We flatten them so they take up less space.

Without the service, the note isn’t applied

Add the service when you request shipping. It’s paid together with international shipping, once your box is ready.

Assembled figure box with the figure inside

No service

Travels assembled

With air, cardboard and plastics.

Reduction · ¥300

Flattened

Inserts and plastics travel flattened inside your box.

Reduction + instruction

Just box and figure

We discard inserts and plastics; the figure goes in bubble wrap.

How to request it

1

Select your items and request shipping.

2

In additional services, add “Figure volume reduction” to each figure.

3

Should we discard inserts and plastics? Write it in the service instructions.

4

You pay for it with international shipping.

Example instruction

Figure reduction: discard inner inserts and plastics. Ship only the flattened outer box and the figure in bubble wrap.

You save most with DHL, UPS and Aiyu Air (they count volume or size). With EMS only what’s discarded lowers the weight.

Collect boxes? Once flattened it will have folds: if you want it perfect, don’t add the service for that figure.

Other services · paid with shipping

Remove invoices or receipts

¥200 / package

Individual protection (fragile)

¥500 / item

Deconsolidate a packed box

¥1,000 / package

Aiyu Japan mascot on a plane with a parcel

Step

Pick the method for your box

Each method charges differently. Before paying you see the available ones and the real price.

Economy Airmail

Japan Post

Charges: Actual weight

Up to 2 kg · length + width + height ≤ 90 cm

No insurance

Ref. 15–21 days

Best for: Small, light items: photocards, light clothing.

EMS

Japan Post

Charges: Actual weight

Up to 30 kg · length ≤ 1.5 m · length + girth ≤ 3 m

Covers ¥20,000; for ¥500 more, up to ¥2,000,000

Ref. 4–10 days

Best for: Large but light boxes: volume doesn’t count.

DHL Express

Courier

Charges: Greater: actual or volumetric

Ref. 2–5 days

Coverage per carrier terms

Taxes: paid by the recipient on delivery

Best for: Speed. Compact the box: every centimetre counts.

UPS

Courier

Charges: Box size

Size = length + width + height (60, 80, 100, 120…)

60 size ≤ 2 kg · 80 size ≤ 5 kg

Coverage per carrier terms

Best for: A few centimetres less can drop you a size.

Aiyu Air

Paraguay

Charges: Greater: actual or vol. (÷ 5,000)

Departures on the 15th and at month-end

Mandatory ¥500 insurance, up to USD 1,000

12.5% of declared value, prepaid

Best for: Shipping to Paraguay. Volume counts: compact.

Which one suits me?

Small box, up to 2 kg

Economy Airmail

Large but light

EMS (charges by actual weight)

Heavy and compact

Compare: actual weight rules

You need it fast

DHL Express

Shipping to Paraguay

Aiyu Air

Your quote shows the methods available for your box.

Girth = 2 × (width + height). Times are indicative, from dispatch; not a guaranteed delivery date.

EMS is usually the cheapest and most efficient on average, because your country’s national post delivers it. But where that post is slow, as in Ecuador or Colombia, it can take around 3 months: compare with DHL or UPS there.

Aiyu Japan mascot with a Paraguay scarf and tereré

Shipping to Paraguay? Use Aiyu Air

Cut-off dates, price, duties, pickup and delivery: all in its guide.

Paraguay guide →

Step

Stay within limits and use coupons

Everything in one box, as long as it meets these limits. If your order exceeds one, we split it into several boxes.

Value

< ¥200,000

per package. For now we don’t ship packages worth ¥200,000 or more.

Weight

30 kg max.

per box, with any method.

Size

Per method

See step 04.

Batteries

2 lithium

per box, installed in devices the route accepts.

Each product must also be allowed into your country: restricted items →

Before paying, check

Shipping coupons

For selected shipping methods or services.

Purchase coupons

For purchases made through Aiyu Japan.

Aiyunboxing credits

Share your unboxing: up to ¥5,000 per shipment.

We publish them on the website, Instagram and by email. Enter the code at checkout and check its conditions (dates, service, minimum). Coupons → · Balance and credits →

Try it

Same 3 purchases, 3 results

Sneakers, a figure and clothes. Choose how the box leaves and the method.

Box

Size

Actual

Volum.

EMS

DHL · Aiyu Air

UPS

Separately

3 boxes

3.5 kg

10.6 kg

3.5 kg (3 shipments)

10.6 kg

100+100+80 size

Consolidated

42×32×22 cm

3.0 kg

5.9 kg

3.0 kg

5.9 kg

100 size

+ notes and reduction

38×28×14 cm

2.6 kg

3.0 kg

2.6 kg

3.0 kg

80 size

FAQ

Frequently asked

Short answers. Tap a question to open it.

Q1 Why am I charged more kilos than my box weighs? ▼

Because some methods charge for the space the box takes up (volumetric weight) when it’s greater than its actual weight.

Q2 Does EMS charge by volume? ▼

No. EMS charges by actual weight, up to 30 kg per box.

Q3 Do notes cost anything? ▼

No, for instructions such as removing boxes or bags. Anything that is an additional service, such as figure reduction, only applies if you add the service.

Q4 When do I pay for additional services? ▼

Together with international shipping, once your box is consolidated and ready.

Q5 Do you keep my products’ original boxes? ▼

Yes, by default. We only remove or flatten it if you ask us to.

Q6 Can you declare a lower value to pay less tax? ▼

No. We declare the real contents and value. To save, we review the packing and the method with you.

Q7 Can I change the box after it’s packed? ▼

Yes, but deconsolidation costs ¥1,000 per package. Decide everything beforehand.

Q8 Is combining always worth it? ▼

Almost always. Not if the box exceeds a limit or a very large item forces a pricier method. Before paying you see the real options.

Your next box

Lighter. Smaller.
Cheaper.

1Combine

2Use notes

3Reduce figures

4Pick method

5Limits & coupons

Estimate my shipping

Aiyu Japan mascot with a full shopping cart

Aiyu Japan mascot with takoyaki and an Osaka bag

More information

Shipping methods → Shipping costs → Consolidation → Storage → Fees → Calculator → Customs and taxes → Restricted items → Paraguay guide →

Based on aiyujapan.com policies and service fees as of October 2026. Examples are illustrative and times indicative: the final amount is the one on your quote. Aiyu Japan · SERRUDO LLC, Osaka.

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