Shipping Policy
We always strive to ship your order with the utmost care and attention. We carry out any legal documentation required to ship your order in accordance with Japanese export regulations and customs formalities.
Free Shipping Worldwide
We offer free shipping worldwide, and all orders are fully insured.
"Free Shipping" means that the purchase price displayed in our online store is the full amount we charge for the products and shipping service. However, unless explicitly stated otherwise, "Free Shipping" does not mean that customs duties, VAT, GST, sales taxes, import fees, brokerage fees, or other government-imposed charges are included.
Depending on the destination country, additional charges such as customs duties, VAT, GST, state taxes, import taxes, or handling fees imposed by customs authorities or local courier services may apply. These costs are not included in our listed prices and remain the responsibility of the customer.
Customs Duties, Taxes, and Import Fees
The purchase price shown on our online store does not include possible charges imposed at the destination, unless explicitly stated otherwise.
Depending on the country, customs duties, VAT, GST, state taxes, import taxes, or handling fees required by local customs authorities or courier services may apply. These additional costs are determined by local authorities and couriers and are beyond our control.
As applicable regulations and fees vary by country, we are unable to estimate these costs in advance. For more information, please consult the customs authorities of the recipient’s country and/or the local courier service.
Shipping to the United States
Effective August 29, 2025
As of August 29, 2025, the U.S. government has suspended the de minimis rule, which previously permitted duty-free imports of goods valued under 800 USD from Japan and other countries. Consequently, shipments arriving in the United States on or after this date may, in principle, be subject to customs duties and additional import-related charges regardless of the order value.
Please note, however, that for customers in the United States, the prices displayed on our online store already include applicable customs duties and taxes. Accordingly, in most cases, no further charges will be incurred upon delivery.
For official information, please refer to the following announcements:
Shipping to Canada
Information last updated on 13 August 2021
Under the regulations outlined in the Postal Imports Remission Order, for items exceeding 20 CAD in value, the recipient may be required to pay applicable customs duties, Goods and Services Tax (GST), Harmonized Sales Tax (HST), Provincial Sales Tax (PST), and any customs processing fees based on the item's value.
Additional details can be found on the following website:
https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/import/courier/menu-eng.html
Shipping to Europe
Changes in E-Commerce EU VAT from 1 July 2021
Under the VAT rules effective from 1 July 2021, all commercial goods imported into the European Union from non-EU countries are subject to VAT regardless of value.
In addition, customs duties may apply to goods with a value exceeding EUR 150, depending on the type of item.
At the time of import clearance, the recipient may be required to provide:
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Tax Identification Number (TIN) and/or EORI Number
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Country of issue of the above number
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Additional customs information requested by local authorities
For further information, please contact the relevant customs authority or visit:
https://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/
Shipping to the United Kingdom
Changes in E-Commerce UK VAT from 1 January 2021
Under UK VAT rules effective from 1 January 2021, imported commercial goods may be subject to UK VAT and customs-related charges depending on the value of the goods and the applicable regulations at the time of import.
For further information, please visit:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/vat-and-overseas-goods-sold-directly-to-customers-in-the-uk
Customs Clearance and Customer Cooperation
For international shipments, customs authorities or the courier may contact the recipient directly to request additional information, documentation, identification numbers, payment of duties and taxes, or other actions required for customs clearance.
It is the customer's responsibility to monitor communications from customs authorities and the courier and to provide any requested information or complete any required procedures within the specified deadlines.
Failure to respond to such requests, failure to provide required documentation, failure to pay customs duties, taxes, or handling fees, or failure to complete customs clearance procedures may result in delays, return of the shipment, abandonment of the shipment, or other actions determined by local authorities.
Kyoto Handicraft Center shall not be responsible for any delays, storage charges, customs penalties, destruction of goods, or additional costs resulting from the recipient's failure to comply with customs requirements.
Refused, Unclaimed, or Returned Shipments
If a shipment is refused by the recipient, remains unclaimed, cannot be delivered due to incorrect or incomplete address information provided by the customer, or is returned as a result of unpaid duties, taxes, customs fees, or failure to complete customs clearance procedures, all costs incurred will be the responsibility of the customer.
Such costs may include, but are not limited to:
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Return shipping charges
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Storage fees
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Customs handling fees
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Disposal fees
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Reshipping charges
If the customer wishes the returned package to be reshipped, all applicable charges must be paid in advance before reshipment can be arranged.
When Delivering Your Order to a Different Recipient
If the recipient is different from the purchaser—for example, when sending a gift—please be aware that the recipient may be held responsible for any customs duties, taxes, or clearance fees that arise.
If you wish to prevent the recipient from being charged directly, we recommend entering your own email address instead of the recipient’s. This way, courier notifications regarding any additional fees will be sent to you, allowing you to settle the payment directly.
Please also note that we do not provide gift wrapping services, as packages may be opened during customs inspections.
Couriers (No P.O. Box Delivery)
Our contracted shipping couriers are DHL and EMS. We primarily ship orders via DHL; however, in certain cases, such as when shipping swords or when DHL service is unavailable, we may use EMS or another suitable carrier.
We generally do not ship to P.O. Boxes because many courier services require direct delivery to the recipient. If you only have access to a P.O. Box, please contact us before placing your order.
If you wish to use EMS, please confirm whether EMS service is available for your destination:
https://www.post.japanpost.jp/int/information/overview_en.html
Shipping Processing Time and Delivery Time
If the purchased items are in stock, orders are usually shipped on the same business day or the following business day after payment confirmation.
Orders placed on weekends, public holidays, or outside business hours will generally be processed on the next business day.
If an item is temporarily out of stock, shipment may take several days or several weeks depending on availability. In such cases, we will contact you by email as soon as possible.
Estimated delivery times:
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Asia: 2–5 business days
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USA, UK, and Europe: 3–7 business days
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Canada, Australia, and New Zealand: 3–10 business days
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Remote areas and islands: 2–4 weeks
These delivery times are estimates only and are not guaranteed.
Customs Delays and Delivery Delays
Customs inspections and clearance procedures are conducted solely by the authorities of the destination country and are beyond our control. As a result, delivery may occasionally take longer than the estimated transit times shown above.
Kyoto Handicraft Center is not responsible for delays caused by customs inspections, customs clearance procedures, government agencies, courier operations, weather conditions, transportation disruptions, or other circumstances beyond our reasonable control.
Tracking
Once your order has been shipped, you will receive an email containing your tracking number.
You can track your shipment using the following websites:
DHL:
https://www.dhl.com/jp-en/home/tracking.html
EMS:
https://trackings.post.japanpost.jp/services/srv/search/?locale=en
We recommend monitoring your tracking information regularly until your shipment has been delivered.
If you wish to request a change of delivery date, delivery address, or delivery instructions after shipment, please contact the courier directly. Such requests may not always be possible and may incur additional charges.
If your tracking information stops updating for an extended period or you believe your shipment may be lost, please contact us immediately.
Shipping Information
For international shipments, providing a complete shipping address, phone number (preferably a mobile number), and email address is mandatory.
Customers are responsible for ensuring that all shipping information is accurate and complete at the time of purchase.
We are not responsible for delays, failed deliveries, additional fees, or returned shipments resulting from incorrect or incomplete information provided by the customer.
If you notice any errors in your shipping information, please contact us immediately.
How We Pack Your Orders
All customer orders are inspected and packed by hand.
To ensure safe delivery, we use appropriate protective materials and packaging methods based on the nature of the products being shipped.
In some cases, we may ship an order in multiple packages. If this occurs, tracking information for each package will be provided separately.
Shipping with DHL GoGreen Plus
CO₂ Reduction via Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)
We proudly utilize DHL GoGreen Plus, which incorporates Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) to reduce CO₂ emissions associated with air transportation.
Through this program, we aim to support environmentally responsible shipping while maintaining reliable international delivery services.
Force Majeure
We shall not be liable for any delay or failure in delivery resulting from circumstances beyond our reasonable control, including but not limited to natural disasters, severe weather conditions, war, terrorism, civil unrest, labor disputes, transportation disruptions, pandemics, governmental actions, customs restrictions, cyber incidents, or other force majeure events.
Questions
If you have any questions regarding shipping, customs procedures, or delivery, please contact us at: