So I’ve been in Japan for a little while now and gotten settled with the missus, but I’ve still got a lot of my stuff in a storage unit back in the USA. Most of this stuff is just memories and nostalgic stuff and I’m sure it would be cheaper to just replace it instead of bringing it. Also realistically it’s things I’ve lived without for a while now but it would be nice to get my camping and fishing gear sent along with some books and my older gaming systems and a paddle board and a few other items. If anyone has any suggestions for the best way to bring this stuff here, I’m all ears.
5 comments
When we moved a bunch of stuff (including some furniture), we contracted out with a shipping company that would handle everything door to door. It’s not cheap, and took months for the stuff to arrive.
We made the arrangements while on a trip to The States, and when we entered Japan we declared it all as personal effects that would arrive as “unaccompanied baggage”, and as such we didn’t have to pay any customs fees or taxes.
You should rent a shipping container. It might cost you a couple U.S. grand, but if your things have more value and don’t wish to replace, that’ll be the way to do it. The thing to keep in mind is the season you ship it out, as containers with AC are pricer and you want to avoid putting something that can melt in the summer
Kuroneko Yamato if possible.
Better to collect it on a trip when you go back. Most airlines allow you 2 check luggage and you can substitute a “sporting good” for a bag. So you could travel light with a carry on, then check the “paddle board” as a sporting good, and pack a large luggage with the other crap, just mind the weight, general economy is 23kg and business/*a gold is 30kg on ANA I believe. Jus check the airline policy. I think that just the shipping the paddle board by itself through UPS or Fedex, even USPS might be the cost of a flight ticket and this way you get a trip home too.
So when entering the country, you need to fill out a customs form. on that you have to check the box that you have unaccompanied items. This gives you a 6 months window to get your stuff shipped into Japan without having to pay import taxes on it.
For the logistics part, a shipping container would be the cheapest and easiest solution.