🇯🇵 Moving from the US to Japan: Logistics, Customs & Relocation Guide.
Transit from the US West Coast is one of the shortest ocean lanes in the world, but Japanese delivery is where the budget goes: containers are devanned at a depot and shuttled into cities by small truck.
Average shipping cost
from $5,000
Door-to-door, 20ft FCL entry point
Transit timeline
4–6 weeks
Ocean freight 12–16 days from the US West Coast to Yokohama or Kobe
Major ports of entry
Yokohama
Yokohama · Kobe · Nagoya · Tokyo
Japan customs & Transfer of Residence: step by step
Required registration: Customs Form C-5360
- 1
Declare unaccompanied baggage on arrival
Form C-5360 must be stamped when you first enter Japan and presented when the shipment clears, within six months.
- 2
Provide a bilingual packing list
Japan Customs expects itemised detail. Vague descriptions such as 'kitchen items' invite a physical inspection.
- 3
Plan for depot devanning
Urban access restrictions mean the container rarely reaches your door. Costs for shuttle vehicles and extra handling should be quoted upfront.
- 4
Measure before you ship
Japanese doorways, stairwells and elevators are compact. Oversized US sofas and refrigerators frequently cannot be delivered.
Import VAT avoided with relief
10%
Filed with Japan Customs (Zeikan) via Form C-5360 — Declaration of Accompanied/Unaccompanied Articles, filed within 6 months of arrival.
Primary visa pathways
- • Engineer / Specialist in Humanities
- • Highly Skilled Professional
- • Intra-Company Transferee
- • Spouse of Japanese National
Short West Coast sailings, safety and infrastructure, large corporate and contractor presence.
Importing a vehicle into Japan
Imported cars need JAI inspection and Shaken roadworthiness certification, plus proof of a registered parking space (Shako Shomeisho) before plating.
Calculate landed vehicle taxesPopular expat destinations in Japan
| City | Profile | Cost index |
|---|---|---|
| Tokyo | Largest expat base, strict street-width and delivery-hour rules | $$$$ |
| Yokohama | Port city, easiest container access, family housing | $$$ |
| Osaka | Commercial hub, lower rents than Tokyo | $$$ |
| Nagoya | Manufacturing corridor, spacious housing stock | $$ |