China is Japan’s largest trading partner, largest export market & largest source of imports, and largest source of tourism revenue.

Both China and Japan are highly successful economies and powerhouses of international trade. Despite past conflicts, the two countries are now important trading partners. Freight transportation is of great significance to economies, as it represents the means to satisfy various demands and needs in society, and also enables international trade.

Shipping from China to Japan doesn’t have to be a hassle. It’s all about what is the optimal freight solution in terms of cost-effectiveness and the efficiency. CFC is here to make sure that everything goes smoothly during cargo forwarding. And, even if any problems do arise, we’re here to fix them.

Japan Customs

Any person wishing to import goods must declare them to the Director-General of Customs and obtain an import permit after the necessary examination of the goods concerned. The formalities start with the lodging of an import declaration and end with the issuance of an import permit after the necessary examination and payment of Customs duty and excise tax.

The Customs and Tariff Bureau of Japan’s Ministry of Finance administers tariffs. The average applied tariff rate in Japan is one of the lowest in the world. Simple average applied Most Favored Nation (MFN) tariff for Japan is 4.3%.

Harmonized System (HS) codes are used to determine the tariff rate. Japan shares the same HS trade classification system as China. Tariff categories are organized by six-digit HS code.

Correct packing, marking, and labeling are critical to smooth customs clearance in Japan. Documents required for customs clearance in Japan include standard shipping documents such as a commercial invoice, packing list, as well as an original, signed bill of lading or an air waybill if shipped by air.

Usually, a Customs broker files the declaration as a proxy for importers.
The commercial invoice should be as descriptive as possible for each item in the shipment.
The packing list should include the exact contents and measurements of each container, including the gross and net weights of each package.

The typical time between arrival of goods and the granting of import permission is between two and three days for sea cargo and about a day for air cargo (including time required under the “immediate import permission system upon arrival”). However, under the “immediate import permission system upon arrival,” import permission may be granted as soon as cargo entry is confirmed. To be eligible for this system, importers must file a preliminary declaration online (through the Nippon Automated Cargo Clearance System (NACCS) submitted before cargo entry and provides the results of the examination.

Japan has a simplified tariff system for low-value freight valued at less than ¥200,000 JPY, such as small packages, simplifies determination of tariff rates. This system eliminates the time necessary to classify the product and its precise value and minimizes customs broker charges. Importers can choose either the normal rate or the simple tariff, which could be higher or lower depending on the product.

Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership – RCEP

The RCEP, considered the largest FTA of world trade, is between the ten ASEAN members (Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam) and China, South Korea, Australia, Japan, and New Zealand.

The RCEP entered into force for Japan on Jan. 1, 2022.

RCEP Tariff Rates

A preferential CO allows the importer to pay lower or no customs duty when the trade under a Free Trade Agreement. With the certificate of origin – Form RCEP, preferential tariff rates are applied. Almost all China exports to Japan under the FTA are duty-free.

Contact CFC to issue your own certificate of origin – Form RCEP to benefit from the China-Japan FTA.

Sea Freight from China to Japan

Sea freight is the more cost-effective option compared to air freight. Since China and Japan are close, shipping by sea will not take too long. There are also two options: LCL and FCL shipping. More than 99% of Japan’s imports and exports rely on maritime transport.

CFC will take care of everything from cargo consignment to ship booking, customs clearance, and delivery.

Top Container Ports in Japan

Japan is a typical island country with 993 ports, including 5 international strategic ports, 18 international hub ports and 102 important ports. Here’s the top 10 container ports:

• 東京都 東京 Tokyo
• 神奈川県 横浜 Yokohama
• 兵庫県 神戸 Kobe
• 愛知県 名古屋 Nagoya
• 大阪府 大阪 Osaka
• 福岡県 博多 Hakata
• 沖縄県 那覇 Naha
• 静岡県 清水 Shimizu
• 福岡県 北九州 Kitakyushu
• 北海道 苫小牧 Tomakomai

Sea Freight Cost from China to Japan

Sea shipping to Japan can be on either a full load or part load basis. For goods sent as a full load, shipping costs are based on a lump sum for an entire shipping container, and will not vary, no matter how full or empty the container is.

For goods sent as a part load, the shipping cost will depend upon the amount of space your goods take up in the container. It is therefore important that you have accurate sizes of your goods for shipment so we can prepare an accurate quotation for your shipping costs.

⬇️How much is shipping to a business address in Japan by SEA?⬇️

51KG+	101KG+	301KG+
350 JPY/kg	280 JPY/kg	250 JPY/kg

The costs of forwarding services can vary significantly and also differ depending on your volumes and frequency. When requesting quotes for shipping and logistics assignments, make sure to cover the details of your request extensively and ask for additional costs that might apply.

Sea Freight Transit Time from China to Japan

Shipping time China to Japan is around 3-5 days for goods shipped by sea in a dedicated shipping container. For goods sent in a part load container the shipping time to Japan is around 7 days.

Air Freight from China to Japan

Airfreight is the fastest way of shipping goods from China to Japan, as well as the most expensive. If the cargo’s weight does not exceed 200 kg, it might not be much more expensive than sea freight. This method is recommended for smaller shipments. It is also generally deemed the safest option, so it is a good pick for fragile goods.

Japan has formed a well-connected air transport network with Tokyo Narita and Haneda Airports and Osaka Kansai Airport as the center. The main airlines include Japan Airlines (JAL), All Nippon Airways Co. (ANA), etc.

Top Airports in Japan

Japan’s most important international airports are Tokyo’s Narita and Haneda airports, Osaka’s Kansai Airport and Nagoya’s Central Japan Airport.

• Tokyo-Narita Airport is located near the capital. It deals with many direct international flights, including ones from China. It is also the hub for Japan’s leading cargo airline, Nippon Cargo Airlines.
• Osaka-Kansai Airport serves the cities of Osaka, Kyoto, and Kobe. Similar to Tokyo-Narita, it handles plenty of international connections.

Japan’s next largest international airports are Fukuoka Airport, Sapporo’s New Chitose Airport and Naha Airport in Okinawa. Many other Japanese airports have a small number of international flights, mainly from China.

Air Freight Cost from China to Japan

At CFC, we know that air freight forwarding is more than just moving goods from one point to another. It’s a service that requires precision, efficiency and reliability. Our air freight solutions are put together to ensure your air cargo reaches its destination both on time and in pristine condition.

⬇️How much is shipping to a business address in Japan by AIR?⬇️

22KG+	51KG+	101KG+	301KG+
780 JPY/kg	740 JPY/kg	720 JPY/kg	700 JPY/kg

Our streamlined processes and industry expertise allow us to offer competitive rates without compromising on the quality of our service.

• Express service
• Door to door service
• Direct connections to Japan

Air Freight Transit Time from China to Japan

Air shipping time to Japan is around 1-2 days. We offer daily departures from major China airports so delivery time from China to Japan is normally no longer than 3 days.

Working with CFC

CFC is the company looking not only to satisfy, but to exceed your needs and requirements. Our sea/air freight forwarding employees are the top experts in the market. We have enough experience, know-how, and capability of handling any problem that might appear along the way. We know how to take care of the entire process, from the transport documentation to the actual shipping door-to-door.

• Top quality service
• Safety for your cargo
• Affordable prices fitting every budget

We provide consistent and comprehensive freight services for companies between Japan and China. CFC can manage all your shipping needs from China to Tokyo, Yokohama, Osaka, Nagoya, Sapporo, Fukuoka, Kyoto, Kobe, Hiroshima and other city in Japan.

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