So after a few years of thought, I’ve decided that I’d like to start working towards moving to Japan from the US. This will be maybe 2-3 years from now.
I am a major cocktail enthusiast and have well over a hundred bottles of liquor at home, which I’ve collected over the better half of a decade.
Realistically, even if there were no regulations in place, I highly doubt I’d have room in my new place in Japan anyways, wherever that may be.
But does anyone know what it would entail to be at least get some of it over?
I only know that customs allows for three bottles at a time, but is there a shipping option that allows for more? I feel like if I just kept having three bottles sent, that I’d raise a few red flags lol. I also don’t want to get a commercial license for a hobby.
If anyone has experience or advice in regards to this, it would be most appreciated. Otherwise, I am perfectly happy starting my bar from the beginning once more, assuming that the move is something that is right for me.
Thanks in advance!
2 comments
>I only know that customs allows for three bottles at a time,
That’s the duty free limit. You can import more, you’d just have to pay duty on it.
Have a poke around on the customs website:
https://www.customs.go.jp/english/summary/index.htm
They sell bottle luggage typically made for cases of wine but I’m sure they could accommodate other bottles as well. I know people that being a case back from California that way every time they visit.
Customs allows for more than three bottles. Up to 10L. Three bottles is free but the payment on the additional bottles is minimal – a few hundred yen. Check [this thread from earlier this year](https://old.reddit.com/r/movingtojapan/comments/t88zxr/bringing_whisky_to_japan/) for some links, but a final conclusion for what to do for over 10L was never really reached.